Джерри Хилл - Gulf Breeze

She walked on until the oak motes became too dense, the underbrush growing so thickly she could not penetrate. She wondered how the deer managed to get around in there but knew they did. She also knew that Dr. Cambridge planned on thinning the underbrush in places and allow the oak trees to grow unimpeded by the thick cover.

Much to her surprise, she found a newly hatched nest of cardinals in the low brush. The male was not at all happy with her appearance so she stayed back and sat for nearly a half-hour until the parents grew accustomed to her and continued to visit the nest. She shot nearly a roll of film on the nest alone.

Finally she stood, her aching muscles complaining at having been cramped too long. She made her way back to her Jeep and drove to the ranch house. Carly's Jeep was parked out front and Pat debated whether to drive right past or stop. She decided to stop.

Carly and Elsa were both on the floor, flat on their stomachs as they pulled cables behind the built-in desks. Elsa insisted that they move them and Carly, knowing little about the workings of computers, agreed. A loud voice behind them startled them.

"Am I interrupting?"

Carly banged her head on the desk and cursed. Elsa poked her head out without hitting anything, her eyes widening.

"Mi Dios," she murmured.

Carly looked up, right into long, tanned legs. Her eyes followed their length, finally stopping at the amused face of Pat Ryan. Shit.

"Dr. Cambridge, hello again," she said, squatting down beside the prone woman. "Busy doing environmental stuff, I see."

I hate her. Carly sat up and faced Pat Ryan, her smiling face only inches away.

"You're a little late, aren't you?" She reached behind her and rubbed her head where she'd smacked it.

Pat laughed and leaned back on her heels, away from Carly.

"I was here at sunrise, thank you. Where were you? Still in bed? There's land to preserve, you know. Wildlife to save."

Carly gritted her teeth and ignored the soft chuckle from Elsa. She stood, moving away from the photographer. Pat stood, too, and pulled the cap off her head, letting her dark hair cascade around her face.

"I wanted to shoot the Visitor's Center before the men showed up but I ended up playing with some cardinals instead. I'll try to get it tomorrow," she said.

Carly stared at the woman before her, high cheekbones now framed in dark hair, blue eyes shining back at her. But only for an instant. Pat Ryan secured her hair again and slipped the cap back on.

"Cardinals?"

"Yeah. Found a nest in the brush. Thought it might look good on one of your little brochures," she said.

"Good. Glad you're working."

"I don't believe we've met," Elsa finally said, standing as well. "I'm Elsa Sanchez. Computer nerd."

"Nice to meet you, Elsa. Pat Ryan. I volunteered to photograph this…work in progress."

"Yes. I hear your aunt is very persuasive," Elsa said with a smile.

Pat laughed again. "I see you've heard. But, I'm sure it will be enjoyable. Entertaining, at least," she said and smiled at Carly.

"Don't you have to get going and…develop something?" Carly asked, suddenly feeling uncomfortable in the woman's presence.

"Well, I can help you down on the floor there, if you need?"

This time Elsa laughed and Carly neatly ignored both her and Pat Ryan. I hate them both.

"We don't need any help, thank you. In fact, we were nearly done."

"Well, then I guess I'll go…develop something." Pat grinned at Elsa. "Nice meeting you. I'm sure I'll see you about."

"Same here."

Pat tipped the bill of her cap then turned and walked purposefully from the room, leaving both women staring after her.

"Dios," Elsa said again.

"I really wish you would quit saying that."

"She's…outstanding," Elsa murmured. "Do you think she's…?"

"Do I think she's what?"

"You know, gay?"

"How the hell should I know?" Carly exploded. "And why the hell should I care?"

"Sorry."

"Don't start, Elsa," Carly warned.

"Don't worry. I wouldn't dream of it."

"Because for one thing, I don't even like the woman. She's arrogant. I can hardly stand to be around her."

"Yes, I can tell."

"And another thing, she's…insufferable," Carly said for lack of finding another suitable word to describe the obnoxious Pat Ryan.

"Yes, insufferable."

"Obnoxious."

"Yes, obnoxious."

Carly turned on Elsa, hands on hips as she glared at her. "Are you mimicking me?"

"Me? Why in the world would you think that?"

Carly pointed at her, shaking her finger in Elsa's face. "Because I know you and I can see the wheels turning. Don't even think about it."

"I wouldn't dream of it."

"Are you two fighting?" a male voice asked and they both turned to see Martin watching them from the doorway.

Carly recovered first. She moved away from Elsa and towards Martin.

"Of course not, Martin. We don't fight. She just delights in irritating me," Carly said and tossed a glance back at Elsa who stuck her tongue out at her, causing Carly to laugh.

"I'm glad you're here, Martin. You can help me with these cables. Dr. Cambridge has…environmental stuff to do," Elsa said.

"I hate you," Carly whispered, but Elsa only grinned, pulling Martin with her. The smile that Martin gave Elsa caused Carly to raise her eyebrows. It appeared Martin was smitten with her assistant.

For all of Pat's skill as a photographer, she lacked the patience to develop her own color prints. Her darkroom was used only for the occasional black and white that she shot. But she was on a first-name basis with a lab in Corpus and she dropped off the three rolls of film she'd shot that morning.

"I'll have it tomorrow, I promise."

"Don't wash out my cardinals, okay?"

Randy grinned. "You're never going to let me live that one down, huh?"

"No. It keeps you on your toes."

"Sure it does. Maybe it makes me nervous," he said.

"Hardly. You're the best."

"Thanks, Pat. Coming from you, that means a lot. I've seen your color prints."

"Yeah. Now you know why I come here. I'll see you tomorrow."

Pat and Randy had a similar conversation nearly every time she dropped off film. At first, he thought it scandalous that a photographer with her reputation would allow someone else to develop her film. But she trusted him completely.

She drove across the bridge back to the island, her thoughts on the ranch and what she would shoot tomorrow. The Visitor's Center, for sure. She wanted to get some shots before it was completely done and Carly said only a few more weeks before they started on the interior. The ranch house, too, looked like it was nearing completion. She wondered if they'd taken any photos of it before they started the renovations. Probably not.

Wonder if Carly will be out and about in the morning, she thought. Probably. She suspected the woman practically lived out there. Then she grinned, remembering the sight of the doctor sprawled on the floor, her tanned legs spread out behind her.

Pat chuckled. The satisfaction she felt at flustering the doctor amused her. She wanted to dislike Carly Cambridge, for all her pompous views, but she'd enjoyed their banter that morning. She assumed the woman wanted to dislike her just as much. And maybe she did.

Carly was dismayed to find Pat Ryan's Jeep already at the site. The sun was barely up and she assumed she would beat her there this morning. Her own Jeep was loaded with some of her things from her apartment. Elsa and Martin had convinced her to start moving into the apartment upstairs. She spent so much time driving back and forth the way it was, it made sense. And Martin was certain that the workers would be out of her hair in two weeks.