After shopping and lunch, they walked for nearly an hour around campus, which Roseanne found wonderfully enjoyable. Even though Estes Park was fairly close to Boulder, she hadn't been to the campus in several years. The weather was perfect for late December, and she found Lisa's parents to be delightful.
But after they'd returned to the hotel, she wasn't ready for her time with Lisa to come to an end. So she suggested another outing.
"A quick drive to the park to look for bighorn sheep and elk," she said. "How about it?"
They were alone in the lobby, Lisa's parents having already gone up to their room. Lisa nodded immediately.
"I'd love to."
So back in the Jeep they went, and Roseanne drove them north of town and headed to the national park. It was still an hour before dusk, plenty of time to make the loop to Bear Lake and back. They were sure to see elk, but she wasn't always successful with bighorn sheep.
"You love it out here, don't you?"
"Yes." She turned to Lisa. "I could live here."
"At the hotel?"
"Well, if I lived at the hotel, I'd need something a little bigger. And a real kitchen. I like to cook."
"Do you? I'm never in one place long enough to do any cooking," Lisa said.
"So you live out of a suitcase?"
"Yes. And it's exhausting."
"I imagine so. Like I said, I'm a bit of a homebody. I would get tired of all the travel," she said.
"It's all I know, really. But...well, after what happened, I'm not sure when I'll go back." She glanced at her. "Or even if," she said.
"Well, as I suggested the other day, you're chasing the wrong things," she said. "Even though I know you're successful at what you do." She slowed. "Sheep!" she said excitedly, pointing to their right. "See them?"
Up on the hill, not far from the road, was a small herd. They blended in well with the rocks and winter vegetation, and she'd almost missed them. She pulled to a stop on the side of the road, trying to get a better look. When she got her binoculars out of the console, Lisa laughed.
"Great. I was hoping you'd have a pair."
She smiled as she handed them over to Lisa. She'd seen bighorn sheep many times before. She doubted Lisa ever had.
"There's a nice big ram in the back," Lisa murmured as she continued to stare out the window. "He's gorgeous."
Roseanne's eyes were on Lisa, not the sheep. As if sensing her watching, Lisa lowered the binoculars and turned.
"You want to look?"
Roseanne shook her head. "No, you go ahead. Enjoy."
Lisa turned back to the sheep and watched them for another few minutes before turning. "I counted at least twenty-five," she said. "There were four rams that I saw. Do they travel like that? You'd think the rams would have a harem or something."
Roseanne nodded. "In the winter, after mating season, they travel together in larger herds. You'll only find them here in the foothills during winter too. Once spring comes, they move up into the high country, then split up. The rams travel together in what they call bachelor groups."
"You seem well versed," Lisa said.
"I've always been interested in nature, animals," she said. "And I visit with the rangers some when I'm here."
