"I can't grow a marigold in a pot of fertilizer and these poor things don't even have soil!" Jennifer said as she bent on hands and knees to look closer. "They're so dainty they almost make you cry." She turned and looked up at the Deans. "Even 'spectacular' has degrees. Everything you've shown me this afternoon was unbelievable, but nothing can beat this. I don't think my mind could process it if it did." The Deans just smiled, pleased at sharing part of their beautiful world.
Cynthia continued to utilize her camera, apologizing for her time-consuming perfectionism. Jennifer dismissed her concerns, expressing a wish that she had Cynthia's ability to capture this mountain beauty.
"I'm a rank amateur," Cynthia replied. She explained how a Bird Song guest, Brandon Westlake, who was a first-class photographer, had given her pointers. "Mr. Westlake taught me the importance of setting up each and every shot. I have few opportunities like this and the season is so short. I want to make the most of it. I'm sorry to take so long."
"I could spend a lifetime here," Jennifer exclaimed as she rose and began to stroll through the blossoms. "It hurts my eyes, they're so beautiful."
Jennifer wanted to know the names of each flower and Cynthia was able to respond to most of her questions. While Dean didn't share his wife's intensity, he was proud of it, and his lack of interest in the names didn't lessen his love of the scene. Added to it was the pleasure of seeing Cynthia, after all she'd undergone, so utterly enjoying the day.
"This is what you own," Dean said, with a spread of his arms as they had wandered far from the Jeep about Jennifer's property.
Jennifer looked in awe. "No one can own it," she said with reverence. "The best we can do is preserve and protect it so a hundred generations from now will see the same thing and love it as much as we do." She turned to them and Dean could see a tear on her cheek. "Paul was so right. It is incredible-the whole area-but especially here. I just wish he'd lived to return with me." Her reverie passed quickly and she seemed embarrassed by it. "Look at me. Getting all maudlin on this happy outing." She turned, doing a pirouette-a full circle, hand shading her eyes like an Indian scout. "Where's the mine that everyone is so concerned about ?"
Before Dean could answer, Cynthia had started toward the trail. "Up here," she called over her shoulder. They huffed their way, with Jennifer laughingly stopping to catch her breath every few steps. "God," she said. "I thought I was in pretty good shape!"