She nodded and slipped off her mud-encrusted sneakers. She padded into the room as Adam disappeared through another door. Following, she admired not only the inviting feel of the kitchen, but the fact that a bunch of ranch hands managed to keep it so clean. She crossed to the double sink and washed the muck off her hands.
“This movie thing is crazy.” Adam spoke from what appeared to be a mudroom. “Did you see what they did to the lawn? They spray-painted it. Like it wasn’t green enough. And that’s not the half of it. You should see what they’ve done on the inside of the house. The rooms they’re using look like something out of Lonesome Dove.”
Adam emerged, his arms full of clothing and a pair of cowboy boots. “You can change in the bathroom, just down the hall. If you bring out your muddy stuff, we can toss it in the washer.”
Gingerly, she took the jeans and boots from him. She went into the bathroom and changed, pleased with what she saw in the mirror. She actually felt kind of stylish.
Gliding out into the living room, she did a little fashion-model twirl.
He whistled. “Hey, now. I have a better eye for size than I thought.”
“Do I look like one of the guys?”
He ran a hand through his thick hair. “Believe me, the guys aren’t nearly as cute.”
Lucky for her, he headed for the kitchen and missed the blush that spread across her cheeks like a Malibu brush fire. Cute? A smile worked its way over her lips as she trailed after him.
Once they were in the enclosed back porch, he nodded toward a big work sink. “We can rinse your things off before we throw them in. I washed most of the mud off your shoes, but I assume they can go through the machine.”
She dipped her chin, and followed his instructions. He cranked on the water and continued to scrub her shoes while she set to work on her jeans. A quiver danced up her spine as she noted that she was close enough to smell peppermint on his breath.
“So, you got your bottled water okay?”
She grinned, grateful for his easy conversation. “My D’eau Douce was here when I arrived this morning. Thank goodness.” Her eyes rolled. “One of the teamsters trucked it in from the airport in Helena. The poor guy’s been up since 4:00 a.m. just to make sure the star stays hydrated.”
“You movie folks must be used to rising early. I noticed your crew here before dawn getting set up.” He sprayed a brown spot on her shoe with something from a red bottle. “They start as early as we do.”
She wrung out her jeans, then stepped around him to drop them into the machine. “I hope they’re not interfering too much with your work.”
“It’s okay.” He tossed the shoes on top of her jeans, then measured out some powdered detergent and sprinkled it on top. “I’m just hoping the novelty wears off for the guys pretty soon. Now that they’ve all gotten an eyeful of what a real movie star looks like, maybe they’ll go back to focusing on their own work.”
“I wouldn’t bet on it. Angela Bijou has a way of drawing male attention to her wherever she goes.”
He lowered the lid and turned some dials. “I guess that’s what they call ‘star power.’”
She nodded, uncomfortable at the reminder of her assignment. She might not get another opportunity to speak to Adam in private, and she was here to do a job, after all. Still, what a shame to ruin their nice conversation.
She swallowed hard and steadied her voice. “So, what do you think of Angela?”
He shrugged, leading her back to the kitchen. “She’s good, I guess.” He opened the really cool retro refrigerator. “Want a root beer?”
“Please.” She calculated her words. “So, Monday is our day off.”
“I know.” He twisted the caps off a couple of brown bottles and handed her one. “I’m counting on it being nice and quiet around here.”
“Right.” She took a sip of the soda, a sickening feeling of guilt spoiling her enjoyment of its sweetness. “So, you’re working then?”
“We pretty much work six days a week in the summer. Sunday’s off, of course.” He took a long swig from his bottle.
“Of course.” She fumbled for the right words. Why couldn’t she just be a professional and spit it out? “So, Ms. Bijou...Angela...won’t be busy on Monday and I was wondering if you might have some free time....”
His eyes flashed from something that looked like fear to delight. Courtney’s heart sank a little. Even though her job was at stake here, she had secretly hoped he’d laugh off the idea of spending time with Angela.
Instead, he seemed enthused. “Oh, well, that sounds real good. I mean, I could knock off a little early if the guys are productive.”
“Great.” Now all that remained was to sort out the details. “So...what do you do for fun around here?”
He thought for a moment. “How about horseback riding?”
“Horseback riding?” She almost laughed at the thought of Angela on a horse. She started to say “no,” but she somehow blurted out, “Sounds perfect.”
His eyes twinkled. “Maybe dinner after? Something casual?”
She bit her lip, feeling as if they should shake hands or something. Suddenly remembering herself, she checked her watch. “Oh, I really need to get back. They’ve probably started shooting by now and Ms. Bijou—”
“I need to get back, too.” He leaned in. “Pepper is known to be a diva herself, to tell you the truth.”
She smiled and stood. As they walked back toward the set, shame and sadness coiled together to form a knot in her throat. She felt terrible about her participation in this plan to lure Adam into Angela’s web, but even worse that he didn’t seem to mind.
A deep breath forced all emotion aside. She was just doing her job, after all. Besides, Angela would probably fire her anyway when she found out the planned activity for the cowboy rendezvous.
* * *
Adam’s heart beat a little quicker than normal as he worked his way back to the big house. In spite of his trepidations about getting involved with Courtney, he liked that she was interested in spending time with him. Whatever her intentions, what was the worst that could happen? They’d have some fun, maybe strike up a friendship. They had a nice rapport together, and he should just enjoy that.
He walked into the kitchen and snickered. Janessa sat at the window peeking out between the curtains like a secret agent on a mission. He crept up behind her like he used to do when they were kids.
“Anything unusual going on out there?”
She jumped, putting her hand to her chest, then flashed him a blistering glare. “You just about scared me out of my skin.”
He laughed. Janessa had been the one who’d wanted this movie to shoot at the ranch and it was obvious she was more than a little starstruck.
“You’ll never guess what happened.” She spun full around in her chair, her dark ponytail snapping. “They had Angela Bijou make her entrance from our front door out onto the porch. She was waiting in our entry hall forever with hair and makeup folks and people with headsets. It was so awesome. Someone came in and asked me to get a glass of water for her and I did. I actually got to hand it to the person who handed it to her. Isn’t that exciting?”
“Water in a glass?” He furrowed his brow. “And she drank it?”
Janessa frowned. “Of course she drank it. You’re missing the point.”
He chuckled. What a prima donna. That whole business about the bottled water had apparently been a big power play. Poor Courtney. It was just like when he had a wild filly to tame, except worse. At least his horses respected him.
Janessa went back to peering out the window. “Who was that girl I saw you talking to?”
He took a glass out of the cupboard and tried to sound casual. “Her name’s Courtney. She’s Miss Bijou’s gal Friday.”
She huffed. “Lucky gal.”<
br />
“Yeah, real lucky.” He filled his glass with water, then held a beat. “We’re going horseback riding on Monday.”
Her eyes lit up as she whipped around. “You have a date?”
He lifted a hand. “Not a date. Just horseback riding.” Janessa and Mama were concerned that he didn’t date more. Or at all, really. He didn’t want to make this out to be more than it was.
Janessa leaned forward. “Who asked who?”
“What?”
“On the date. Did you ask her, or did she ask you?”
Uncomfortable with this line of questioning, he tried to downplay it. He and his sister were close, but he really didn’t want to get into the complexity of his feelings. The last thing he wanted to do was admit that he might be getting in over his head. “She just mentioned that Monday is her day off, and the next thing I knew—”
“The conversation just naturally led to you asking her to go horseback riding.”
He tried to clench back a grin. “Something sort of like that, yeah.”
“Well I think it’s great. It’s about time my brother did something besides work and go to church.”
He cast her a loving but playfully irritated glance. “I’m not sure it’s that great. I mean, she’s obviously not going to stick around here after the movie’s done shooting. It doesn’t make sense for me to start something that’s got no future.”
She folded her arms and gave him a long look. “Wow. You must really like her.”
“I don’t know—”
“You like her. If you didn’t, you wouldn’t be so worried.”
He opened his mouth to argue, but no words came out. It was no use trying to fool Janessa. She knew him way too well.
Chapter 7
After parting ways with Adam, Courtney hurried around to the front of the house. Her heart quickened at the sight of Angela standing on the porch, engaged in a discussion with the director, Mr. Kingsley. Thinking quickly, Courtney darted over to her campstool and lifted an icy bottle of D’eau Douce from the cooler next to it. She stepped carefully to the edge of the set, making sure Angela could see her if she looked. With any luck, she’d assume Courtney had been there all along.
“I’m not getting Jessie’s motivation here.” Angela swung out a reedlike arm as her voice rose to an unnecessarily high volume. “She loves Cord, so why would she let him leave?”
Mr. Kingsley rubbed his chin and gave her a long blink. “It’s spelled out in the dialogue, Angela—”
“Well, I’m not seeing it. We’ll just have to change the dialogue.” She wheeled around to charge down the porch steps, her clearly aggravated director in tow. “I don’t care what century this is. I can’t have her appearing to be so weak.”
Courtney straightened as Angela neared. Following after her, Mr. Kingsley seemed to be practicing his yoga breathing.
“Fine,” he said, exasperation barely concealed behind a smooth tone. “We’ll take a short break while I convene with the writers.”
“That would be lovely.” Angela reached out as she approached Courtney and took the bottle from her hand. “I’ll be in my trailer.” She turned and patted Mr. Kingsley on his unshaven cheek. “Don’t be too long.”
As Mr. Kingsley veered off with a shake of his graying head, Angela took a swig of water and started toward her trailer. Courtney relished a long breath. It appeared that no one had noticed her absence while she was off talking to Adam, but she’d have to be careful not to get so sidetracked. Smiling to herself, she fell into step behind Angela.
“Court-neeey.”
Courtney stopped just short of slamming into Angela, who now stood there examining the bottle in her hand. “Yes, Ms. Bijou?”
“What is going on with my water?”
Oh, great. Had Angela figured out yesterday that something was wrong but was only now remembering to chew her out about it?
“I’m not sure I—”
“This bottle just doesn’t taste as good as yesterday’s. What’s the deal?”
Courtney stared at the bottle Angela held up at face level. There was no way she could have accidentally given her one they’d filled at the well, because Angela had downed the last of those last night. The bottle she held in her hand was from the case that had been delivered that morning. D’eau Douce—the real thing.
It slowly dawned on Courtney that Angela’s complaint wasn’t with the makeshift well water, but with the stuff that had been jetted in straight from France, via the Von’s in L.A. She pulled in a relieved breath, even though she still brooked Angela’s angry demand for an explanation. “It tasted better yesterday?”
Angela held the bottle out in front of her as if it repulsed her. “You’d better explain this to me.”
Courtney thought fast. “There have been studies of spring water that say the taste is affected by the mineral content, which can change daily. Most people don’t have discerning enough palates to detect the subtle difference.”
“Oh.” Angela’s heated expression dropped, and she took a delicate sip from her bottle. “Well, I am very discriminating.”
Courtney gave her a reassuring smile, making a mental note—when in doubt, stroke the diva’s ego.
As Angela recommenced walking, Courtney fell into a confident half step back. “So, I have news about Adam.”
“Oh?” Angela’s carefully shaped eyebrows arched. “Do tell.”
“You have a date with him on Monday.”
“Wonderful.” Her sultry visage faded to uncertainty. “What will I wear?” She pointed the bottle at Courtney. “Go online and find me the perfect outfit in a size zero. Prada or Armani, you choose.”
Courtney braced herself. “How about Straus?”
“Straus?”
“As in ‘Levi.’”
“What?”
“See...” Courtney gave her words careful consideration. “Adam is a cowboy and he wants to take you horseback riding.”
Angela’s eyes widened with horror as she stopped short and stared at Courtney. “Horseback riding? But wouldn’t that involve touching one of those filthy creatures?”
Courtney shrugged. “Unless someone’s figured out a different way to do it.”
“Impossible.” She reached for the door of her trailer. “I’ve never ridden a horse before. I might break a bone...or a nail. I might...” Her eyes lit up. “Whose idea was this?”
“Well, Adam said that—”
“And you agreed, right?”
“Uh...yes, but—”
“Courtney, you’re brilliant. Remind me to give you one of those things people give for good service.”
“A tip?”
“Yes, one of those.” Angela stepped into the trailer. “You might not believe this, but I’ve never actually been on a horse before.”
Courtney followed her inside. “No?”
“No.” Crossing straight to the makeup table, Angela sat down and started to primp. “N2M is my first Western, and my character, Jessie, doesn’t have any riding scenes.”
Courtney nodded, as if this was news to her.
“Of course, Jeffrey has several, and he can’t even get on the thing. Do you know why?”
Edging closer to her boss, Courtney laced her fingers together.
Angela lowered her voice conspiratorially. “He’s afraid of animals. All kinds.”
“Oh.” Wincing, Courtney recalled the scene in The Pharaoh’s Tomb where he had shared a canteen with a camel. “That must be...inconvenient.”
“Who cares?” Angela’s bowlike mouth twisted. “Anyway, you’ll go with me in case I have any trouble.”
Anxiety wedged in Courtney’s throat. “You want me to go with you?”
Angela waved a hand. “I know Monday is your day off, but what
else is there to do in this town?”
I don’t know. Courtney wanted to cry. Laundry. Sleep. “What do you need me to do?”
“Well, since I’ve never ridden before, I might need you to help. When I’m ready to be alone with the cowboy, I’ll dismiss you. Got it?”
She nodded, her smile weak. She wasn’t sure which she dreaded more—going on the date with Angela and Adam, or leaving them alone together. The thought of both made her stomach hurt.
* * *
Seated next to Angela in the back of the Lincoln Town Car, Courtney stared out at the blur of trees and pondered a means of escape that wouldn’t involve severe bodily harm. What was she doing here? Angela had probably been on enough dates in her life to impress even Mr. Guinness. Why did she need Courtney along? Besides, the closer they got to the ranch, the more embarrassed Courtney became. This setup just felt so awkward.
It didn’t help that Angela looked like a million bucks in the perfect outfit Courtney had internet-shopped for her. Although the off-the-shoulder, fuchsia Marrika Nakk stretch-velvet top wouldn’t have been Courtney’s first choice, it did accentuate both Angela’s Barbie-doll shape and her movie-star status.
As Angela stretched out her mile-long legs in her vintage Levi’s, a pang of regret jabbed Courtney in the ribs. Why had she talked Angela out of the less form-hugging tiered-chiffon skirt she had seen on a Western wear designer’s website, just because it would be impractical for riding?
“But the model is on a horse,” Angela had protested.
“The model is lying on a horse,” Courtney had responded. “And that was most likely Photoshopped.”
Now, Courtney glanced down at her own scrawny figure in the same borrowed jeans and boots from the other day, which she’d paired with a pink T-shirt she’d owned since college. Adam had called her “cute” but she was definitely Mary Ann to Angela’s Ginger. The only upside to Angela’s alluring outfit was that Adam most likely wouldn’t even notice Courtney was there.
“Remember—” Angela took out a compact and checked her lipstick “—I need you to help keep the horse under control.”
Lights, Cowboy, Action Page 4