the ramp to the horses he had trained to do the stunt work. “How are you guys doing?” he spoke in a soothing voice as he ran a hand over Toby’s rump. A high pitched whinny told Reece that both animals wanted out. Now. He unfastened Toby’s reins, then gently nudged the horse to back up. It took some time, but he got the horse down the ramp. Toby immediately began to dance around in the grass, letting Reece know he wanted to run.
“Sorry, fella, there isn’t time right now.” He led the horse to the corral fence and tied him there and went back to the trailer.
He was bringing a black mare, Shadow, down the ramp when he heard a female voice say, “I see you found your way.”
Reece swung around to find the brunette waitress standing beside the trailer. This time she was dressed in jeans, boots and a blue blouse that matched her eyes. Damn, if she didn’t look even better than she had in her uniform.
“Yeah, thanks for the directions.” He led Shadow to the corral railing and tied him securely. He glanced over his shoulder to discover the woman was following him. “Look, if I led you to think you and I could…get together…I’m sorry. Like I said I’m going to be real busy—”
Her back straightened. “You think I followed you because I want to start up something with you?”
“Look…it’s not that I’m not interested, it’s just that I’ve got my hands full right now.”
Emily was fuming. If he hadn’t been tending to his horses she would have hauled off and smacked him.
“Pretty sure of yourself, cowboy,” she said from between clenched teeth. To think she rushed out here to put in a good word for him with Nate. Of course she’d told herself it was strictly for the child. “I only came out here to help you.”
“Well, I thank you, but I can handle things from here.” He went back to the truck leaving Emily with her mouth open.
She went marching after him. “I doubt it. Not if you came here looking for work. Nate is—”
“Hey, Em,” the familiar voice of her brother called to her. “I knew you couldn’t stay away.”
Nate Hunter was dressed in his khaki sheriff’s uniform. His tenure as the town’s lawman was soon to be a thing of the past. His retirement was only a few months away. He would be hanging up his sheriff’s hat about the same time his son was to be born. Then he could be a full-time rancher, wood carver and most important to Nate, a husband and father.
“Someone has to keep an eye on you guys,” she told him, still miffed that everyone wanted her out of the way while they finished the movie set.
Her big brother’s attention turned to the new arrival. “Hi, I’m Nate Hunter.” He held out his hand.
The man shook it. “Reece McKellen.”
Nate smiled. “We’ve been expecting you.”
Emily was totally confused. “You’ve hired him?”
Nate gave her a strange look. “No, sis, Jason did. Remember? The movie’s producer?”
Emily could feel the heat rise to her cheeks. “I didn’t realize.” She sent him an accusing glance. “You could have said something.”
If it were any consolation Reece looked just as confused as she did.
“Em, meet Reece,” Nate continued. “He’s the wrangler and stuntman on the movie. Reece, this is Emily Hunter, the author of Hunter’s Haven.”
Reece sure didn’t see this one coming. He quickly recovered and tipped his hat, murmuring, “Ma’am.” Then he turned headed back to the truck. So the Good Time Café waitress was also the screenwriter and author Emily Hunter. Just Great. Not that he had any hangups working with a woman, but there was no denying that there were sparks between them and that could mean trouble. If he let it. He shook away the thought. No way. He had to concentrate on just two things, this stunt job and his new role as Sophie’s parent.
He opened the truck door and realized that even with the air going it was still warm inside. So was his niece.
“I’m sorry, sweetheart.” He unbuckled her seat belt and lifted her out of her seat in the truck and onto the grass. Then reached in the cooler he always kept in the cab and took out a bottle of water. After he made sure that Sophie drank enough, he took some himself.
He’d always liked movie work, and he was good at his job. The one positive thing about his time in foster care was he’d been sent to live on a ranch. He’d taken to horses immediately and as long as he’d gotten his chores done, he’d been allowed to ride. As he gotten older, he’d become somewhat of an expert rider, and one of the best around to do horse stunts.
According to the director of this movie, Trent Justice, this movie’s stunts would be a piece of cake. Just some fast riding scenes and saving the leading lady, Jennifer Tate, from a runaway horse.
Not for the first time Reece wondered if this particular job was more trouble than it was worth. Maybe it would be too much of a hassle to work while Sophie was still adjusting to her mother’s death. Would it be better if he cut his losses and headed to Texas? He could get a job as a ranch manager. Though it wouldn’t pay as well as stunt work, he could put a stable roof over Sophie’s head.
And there would be no Emily Hunter to distract him. She was the kind of woman who could cause him to lose his focus. She might even make him think about completing his family. Not that his track record had been good when it came to relationships. It seemed every person he’d come to care about left him one way or another. He tightened his grip on Sophie’s hand. He wasn’t going to lose her.
Reece turned to see the movie’s screenwriter heading his way. His gut tightened. No denying she was one good-looking lady, and he definitely needed to stay cool. She was Hollywood bound. A career woman. And after this movie, he was leaving Hollywood behind to make a home for Sophie. He released a long breath.
Life sure would be simpler if she was still only the pretty waitress at the Good Time Café….
Chapter Two
Thanks to our neighbors, the barn is finally built. And if the weather holds, I promised Becky I would start the cabin. Although, she deserves to live in a stately mansion, she said all she wants is a home right here, with me.
Jacob’s Journal
“Why didn’t you say you were associated with the movie?” Emily asked as she stood in front of the truck.
“I could ask you the same thing,” Reece countered, helping Sophie drink some water. “Also why are you moonlighting as a waitress?”
“I was just helping out. Sam Price, the owner, is a family friend.”
Before he could say anything else, Nate appeared behind her. “Tell the truth, sis,” her brother began and looked at Reece. “Emily decided the set builders would finish faster if she made herself scarce.”
“That’s right. You and Shane didn’t run me off, it was my decision to help Sam.”
“And it was a good choice,” Nate teased, then glanced down at the child. “We
