All But the Fall

by Kim Turner

  Gabe urged the horse toward the opening. “They’ve been working on the ramp since early morning. It looks like the plans you drew up, footage and all.”

  Aaron nodded. “They said they would have it done by this afternoon. We can check later this morning.”

  “I took a look at the landing area; it’s about ten feet, so that jump will be fine if Maxus can get over being up so high.” His brother’s concern was evident as his own.

  “I’ll see about having the crew help with putting down dirt and clear the area of rocks. He’ll do it with some practice, but I won’t be able to rush him, though filming that scene’s a ways off,” he added.

  “I don’t think I need to remind you Maxus is unpredictable,” Gabe warned.

  “He can do it.” And he could. Maxus was smart. It didn’t take him much to learn, and he’d made further jumps.

  “I keep hearing about the jump, for episode five?” Jenna walked over to them, following Lily who scampered around the barn.

  He nodded. “The episode calls for the bounty hunter to jump off the side of a bridge over the river with the horse and keep riding. We’ll do it on the scaffolding to mimic the bridge, jumping Maxus across about ten feet to level ground. He just needs to get used to the ramp.”

  Jenna’s face held a bit of concern. “Do horses do that?”

  “Maxus does tricks and plays on T.V.” Lily hugged herself to Aaron’s side, glancing up at Jenna.

  He let Lily finish then answered. “Maxus jumps like a champ, even from a ramp, but this really isn’t far at ten feet across or so.”

  “So there isn’t really another way?” Jenna questioned.

  “We got this.” He gave her a smile and changed the subject. “I’m taking the munchkin here for some breakfast in the mess tent, you hungry?”

  Jenna nodded with a smile.

  “You can sit by me.” Lilly grabbed Jenna’s hand leading the way.

  Jenna smiled. “Of course, I bet they have pancakes this morning. I could smell them when I got here earlier.”

  “Me and Daddy love pancakes,” Lily added, loud with excitement.

  Aaron walked behind them, as they both chatted, instant friends. Something about that felt good, very good and the bit of nerves he’d had with the introduction faded.

  As they entered the catering tent, the smell of pancakes and sausage scored through the air, mingling with the musty odor of wet earth, the latest rains having left things around them damp.

  “So pancakes for all of us?” He grabbed a tray and got in line behind Lily and Jenna.

  “With lots of syrup,” Lily added, standing on her toes to see the food in tin containers all down the buffet line.

  “Lots of syrup on mine, too.” Jenna smiled as he handed her a tray.

  “I’m onto that sweet tooth of yours,” he whispered. “And, of course, coffee with all the goods.”

  “Well, it is pancakes,” she defended, setting her tray on the line and picking up a plate of cakes and helping Lily with hers.

  “Seems I remember someone didn’t eat until dessert arrived the other night.” He reminded her of the night they’d shared dinner. She’d pushed her food around on her plate until the chocolate cheesecake arrived. Then she’d pretty much devoured that, all but the one bite he’d taken of it.

  “Well, that was dark chocolate drizzled chocolate cheesecake and women need chocolate,” she added, her amber eyes sparkling.

  “A proven medical fact huh?” He grabbed a platter of pancakes teasing her.

  Jenna smiled. “Everyone knows that dark chocolate is heart healthy.”

  “Uh-huh.” Aaron gave her a wry look, thinking of a few places he might drizzle a bit of dark chocolate. He shook his head. That would take a bit of time he supposed.

  “Good morning, Lily pie.” Sally came from around the counter scooping up Lily for a hug. “Oh my, you are getting so big.”

  “Daddy says I better stop growing up so fast.” She smiled as Sally set her back to the ground where she grabbed the tongs struggling to add sausage to her plate.

  “I think he’s right.” Sally assisted.

  “Good morning.” Jenna greeted Sally with a smile.

  “Morning and how was your shift yesterday?” Sally asked.

  “Fine, just busy,” Jenna answered as she turned to head to one of the folding tables under the large tent.

  Aaron met gazes with Sally who lifted a single brow in knowing. Why couldn’t women let things go? It wasn’t enough he’d endured the narrow escape from the barn.

  “I see they are working on the ramp thing. Jeremiah says Maxus will be fine with it, but it looks so high.” Sally made small talk though he wondered of the fact she and his brother were talking or at least must have been at some point.

  “Ahh, Maxus can do it.” He shrugged off her concern as he had Gabe’s and Jenna’s inside the barn. It seemed to him everyone worried for no reason. Maxus had done further and higher jumps but each jump was new. He’d raised both Maxus and Thor since yearlings, and they were both good at following commands.

  “Oh, you stunt men never worry, but it scares the heck out of me. Is Jeremiah coming in today?” Sally asked as she began cutting up Lily’s sausage.

  “Working at the station.” He eyed her with interest. “Why would you ask?”

  “Oh, well. No reason, gotta get back to work.” She escaped, and he let out a chuckle.

  “So Sally and Jeremiah?” Jenna titled her head in question.

  He shrugged. “They have this on again, off again kind of thing, not sure.”

  “Then you weren’t being nice.” Jenna gave him a grin and a soft elbow to the ribs.

  “Sally flusters so easily. It’s fun.” He smiled at the fact she’d noticed.

  “Jeremiah gives her kisses when no one is looking. Gabe says he likes Asian babes.” Lily took a bite of her pancakes, dancing in her chair as she chewed. “Are you gonna kiss Jenna, Daddy?”

  He set his plate on the table. It was bound to happen sooner or later. This kid was a handful of surprises with a big mouth for a five-year-old. He wanted to cringe but looked at Jenna. “Yep, probably. Eat. I think your uncles are educating you a bit too fast these days.” When he met glances with Jenna again, her cheeks were pink but she held his gaze. Those amber eyes were worth every bit of his discomfort and hers.

  “Hey, Aaron, we got the ramp up, needs some reinforcements, wanted you to come and take a look to make sure on the angle before we sturdy things up.” Trey Simmons from production walked up, pushing back his baseball cap.

  “I thought you guys might not be finished until the afternoon.” Aaron stood and shook the man’s hand.

  Trey nodded, “I’ve had the men on it for several days now so we could build it the way you and Gabe suggested. Your brother’s already there, taking a look, but he’s in a shoot-out in a minute.”

  He needed to see the ramp and tossed his napkin down, glancing at his uneaten plate of breakfast.

  “Lily and I can go to the medical tent for a little while and put band-aids on all her dollies, does that sound like fun?” Jenna offered, getting a squeal out of Lily whose mouth was full of pancakes.

  “Are you sure?” he questioned.

  “It’s fine, come find us when you are done. We’ll finish eating, grab our Horsie backpack and head that way.” Jenna glanced from him to Lily, who remained all smiles.

  Aaron forced himself to look at Lily. “Mind your manners and you stay with Jenna until I come to get you.” He kissed the top of her head.

  “Okay, Daddy.” Lily dipped her sausage in the remaining syrup on her plate and stuffed it into her mouth.

  “Thanks.” He touched Jenna’s shoulder and grabbed a pancake, rolling it around a sausage and left the tent on a trot.

  Moments later, he was eyeing the ramp with Trey. “If this meets your standards, we’ll have it moved out on the set by the river, near the bridge for your horse to get used to it.”

  “You used the wood I
suggested and the steel bolts and screws? Did you reinforce the base?” He wanted to make sure no corners were cut. He shook various parts of the ramp’s lower stands, finding them sturdy.

  “The best wood we could find and real steel. If anything needs to be changed, we have permission to do it. Leland wants to keep you guys happy.” Trey offered, shoving his hands into his jeans pockets.

  Aaron glanced at Gabe who stood beside them dressed as an Indian, wearing braids and feathers in his hair. “What ya think, Tonto?”

  His brother smirked, folding his arms and slinging the braids from off his shoulders as if they were irritating. “It’s solid, put in those extra flat boards at the base and there won’t be much give. This long hair stuff is overrated.”

  “There’s strength in hair like Samson.” Aaron bent to his knees looking at the base of the ramp and running his hand along the edges. Smooth and sanded, crafted well.

  “Samson, my ass.” Gabe studied the fittings, beside him.

  He chuckled. Neither of his brothers had ever worn their hair as long as he had. His own long hair had started out as rebellion when Amos took him and his brothers for a haircut years ago. He’d refused, trying to get a rise out of his new father, who let the issue ride, much to his annoyance. He’d worn it longer through school and college, cutting it when he’d gotten his first job, the one he’d left several years later preferring to run the ranch and work odd jobs instead, especially with his father’s ailing health. It mattered little except where steady income was concerned. He’d never missed wearing a tie and clocking in and out for someone else.

  “How about adding supports here.” He pointed to areas along the base.

  “Like I told you, solid. I’ve walked it a few times, trying to check every bolt myself. We’ll take care of it.” Trey waited.

  “It’s sturdy.” Aaron moved up the ramp followed by Gabe, both looking at every fitting, tracing hands along the wood, pulling and pushing and shaking the ramp, but it gave little even with their combined weights and harsh efforts.

  “Did you double the supports at the top?” Gabe leaned back over the railing yelling down to Trey.

  “Yep, and we added more support beams to each end and the middle. It matches the bridge close enough to keep Leland from blowing a gasket.” Trey kicked at the dirt and glanced back up at them.

  Gabe laughed. “Wouldn’t bank on that.”

  Aaron gave his brother a sarcastic smirk. Those who fell for a television show or movie often watched it enough to find mishaps people behind the lens and directing hadn’t seen. Regardless, Gabe was right. Horace would find the differences as simple as a glance through the camera and playbacks. The ramp had to look exactly like the bridge or Leland wouldn’t complete the shoot.

  “It looks good. You guys can get it down to the river in place. I’ve got heavy cross ties outside the barn you can move down to add weight to the base.” Aaron climbed back down the ramp and jumped to the ground before hitting the end.

  “We’ll get ’em and put it all together so you can practice the horse by the afternoon,” Trey offered.

  “That’ll work.” Aaron nodded, as Trey headed out talking on his radio.

  “What’d you do with Lily?” Gabe jumped to the ground beside him, the fringe on his shirt and pants snapping back in place.

  “She’s with Jenna.” He said, avoiding his brother’s gaze.

  Gabe grinned. “Uh-huh.”

  “What’s that mean?” He growled.

  “It means you must be hot.” Gabe burst out laughing and grabbed Charger’s reins and headed off to the set.

  “You’d be wise to pipe it down Tonto, you and Jer are teaching Lily a little too much these days,” Aaron yelled after him. Who was he kidding? Even if he hadn’t admitted it to himself, his brothers and everyone else were onto his interest in Jenna. He followed the small trail behind the old west town to the medical tent, shaking his head.

  Entering, he found Jenna sifting through a small box of supplies and Lily playing with her dolls on the small cot in the corner. All of them were covered in various sizes of band-aids and wraps.

  “This must be the new hospital in town.” He smiled walking closer to where his daughter played.

  “Daddy, Jenna knows how to play doctor really good. And she has a baby boy at home named Mason.” Lily turned back to her work.

  Aaron met Jenna’s gaze with a smile. So they were sharing secrets.

  “We’ve had a great time; she’s really no trouble at all,” Jenna added handing Lily a small sack. “Here are some things you can take home in case these sweet dolls need more bandages.”

  Lily took the bag, grinning and turning back to her play.

  “Hey, what ya say?” Aaron scolded.

  “Thank you.” Lily never turned back around.

  “So how is the ramp?” Jenna folded her arms walking closer.

  He shrugged. “Good. They’ll have it in place by afternoon, for a little beginning practice with Maxus.”

  “Why do I feel like this is a bigger deal than you are making it?” she asked sitting on the table, her legs dangling.

  “All the stunts can be a big deal if we aren’t careful.” He walked closer, taking a peek to see that Lily was still playing, chattering with her dolls. He leaned in closer when Jenna smiled and placed his lips to hers, settling between her knees with a growl. Well, that wasn’t going slow was it? “She says you are really good a playing doctor.”

  Jenna pushed him back and whispered, “Not the time or place. There were a lot of questions after you left us at breakfast about our kisses.”

  He nodded. “Guess the word’s out.”

  To his surprise she grabbed the front of his jacket and tugged him in for another whisper. “I told her we were just friends.”

  “Good answer.” He kissed her again but Jenna pulled back, clearing her throat with a glance behind them.

  He turned, stepping away from her.

  “Daddy, Jenna is the doctor; she needs to come to the hospital, right away.” Lily turned back toward the cot, as if their kiss or at least close proximity had been nothing.

  He took a deep breath and let it out thought a puff of cheeks.

  “The doctor is needed.” Jenna hopped up, pushing him out of the way with a grin. “Why don’t you let her play in here for a while? She’s fine. If I get a call I’ll take her with me.” Jenna walked toward the back of the tent.

  Aaron gave a little growl, she could go play doctor, but he was in need of a cold shower. “I’ll be back a little later. I’ve got my cell.”

  Jenna grabbed her phone out of her pocket. “Wait; call mine so I will have it in my phone.”

  Aaron snatched the phone from her hand as he got to her. “I’ll put it in for you.”

  “Hey.” Jenna tried to grab the phone back but he turned from her pushing buttons, keeping it higher than she could see, laughing.

  After a minute he handed it back to her. “I’ll text you.”

  “All right, then.” She grabbed the phone and turned back to Lily.

  He left the tent heading back toward the barn. He did have plenty to do, and it was always more challenging with Lily. He took a deep breath. Those two kisses had nowhere been enough, and if he had his way, there would be no going slow at all with getting to know Jenna Wilder up close and personal and soon.

  Chapter Nine

  Jenna sat on the cot listening to the chest of the doll Lily was holding. She smiled, having a great time, thinking it had been a long time since she’d played dolls—though she was good at playing with trucks and balls with Mason. She’d left her sleeping son with Ms. Lucy for the eight hours on the set, but there was no doubt he’d enjoy playing with Lily if they ever had that chance.

  She studied Lily as she played. She had long curly brown hair and large green eyes like Aarons. She had chuckled softly when Lily referred to one of her dolls as Munchkin as her father called her. They’d been in the tent playing most of the day, leaving to grab san
dwiches from the catering tent for lunch and she was surprised Lily hadn’t asked once of her father.

  It was on the walk back from the catering tent she had seen Aaron on Maxus in the distance, riding the horse up the ramp and back down a few times and then racing off on gallop away from the set. He was so handsome, as if he belonged on horses, his hair blowing in the wind like the horse’s mane. She’d held that picture of him in her mind thinking she could use the description of him as one of her old west cowboys. She had wanted to stop and watch him, but Lily had been bouncing along toward the medical tent ahead of her, moving so like her father it was almost as breathtaking.

  Lily handed her a doll. “She is here for her check up. Does your little boy like to play hospital?”

  “He’s only one so not yet but maybe when he is a little bigger.” Jenna handed the doll back to Lily who laughed and scampered back to play. She had so many actions and mannerisms like Aaron, she stopped to watch. Her brown curling hair was much like Aaron and her expressions gave no doubts at her belonging to Aaron. She was just precious, smart, and feisty.

  Jenna’s phone vibrated, and she lifted it from her pocket, sliding her thumb across the screen and smiling. The text was from ‘Stuntman’ and it read ‘Tonight, dinner my place?’

  She began texting back, unable to hold back a grin.

  ‘Dolly hospital busy but will wind things down and join you.’

  She put the phone back in her pocket. “Nurse Decker, your father says it is time for dinner. Want me to help you get everything ready to head back to the camper?”

  “Okay, but I have to put my bag of band-aids in my backpack.” Lily began gathering all her dolls and the small sack of bandages and shoving them in her backpack, dolls crammed in between bandages.

  “Let me help.” Jenna assisted her tiny hand to zip the overstuffed bag, their hands touching. Lily was such a sweet child, and Aaron had done so well with her.

  “I’m going home with Gabe. He’s taking me for pie at the diner with Grandpa Amos,” she explained as Jenna helped her with the backpack.

  “That sounds like so much fun,” Jenna answered, raising her voice an octave.