Chapter 9
Shadows were crawling across the buildings by the time Cassie had finally screwed up enough courage to make the trek into the western town. Her lips twitched. Riding in at this hour made her feel a little like a gunslinger from a spaghetti western. She already had the horse and the white hat. Obviously, she was the goodie in this scenario.
But even that was a thought she couldn’t chase too deeply. She wasn’t all that good. She’d been pretty selfish, allowing her insecurities from the past to get in the way of what Jesus would do. Jesus, who preached love for one’s enemies, even if occasionally Jesus had also used a whip on some of them. Not that she’d be using any whips today. Her smile twisted, faded. For while Harrison Woods was not exactly her enemy she knew she definitely had some making up to do. Especially as the Holy Spirit hadn’t let up from those feelings of conviction stirred up earlier by Poppy’s words. The verse in Romans about “as far as it depends on you live at peace with all men” was now emblazoned on her soul.
Harrison might not be a Christian, but as one of Christ’s followers she wasn’t called to love only the lovely. And while Harrison might qualify as handsome, he’d been definitely unlovely in some other aspects. But then, so had she.
Harrison wasn’t like Mark. And just as Mark had arrogantly treated her, like she was dumb, so she’d been treating Harrison, like he had nothing to offer. Which wasn’t Christ-like—or true—at all.
So, after finding Ainsley’s missing apron, then continuing the tedium of stock take, then working on estimates for a cowboy-sci-fi mash-up movie, she’d known she needed to come here. Today. Well, tonight now. To apologize. To say thank you. And hopefully, forge a new path with this man who left her feeling so unsettled.
She knocked on the door. No answer. She counted to three and knocked again.
Then he opened it.
She swallowed, dragged her gaze from his bare chest up to his face. “Um, hi.”
“You came.”
His face, his tone, was soft, like he couldn’t believe his eyes. Like he really had wanted her to visit.
She thrust the package in front of her. “I, um, came to say thank you for rescuing me last Saturday.” Gosh, could her words sound any more robotic? “So, yeah. Thanks.”
His mouth curved, as if he too recognized the extreme lack of gallantry in her manner. But she’d said what she needed to, and as soon as he took the peace offering of her mom’s cookies, she could leave.
She shoved the package at him blindly, not wanting to look at the sculpted perfection of his chest again. She wasn’t one of those girls.
His hand trapped hers, then drew around her fingers. Her breath hitched, then she tugged her hand away. “I gotta go.”
“No, you can’t.”
“Excuse me?”
“You just got here. And I,” he swallowed. “I’d like to talk to you.”
Her insides tensed. He probably wanted her to explain her rudeness. Which would prove problematic as she couldn’t really explain it to herself.
“Look, I said thanks, and I don’t know what else there is to say.”
“Have you had dinner yet?”
“What?”
“Have you eaten dinner yet?”
She’d snatched a piece of fruit when she’d called in at the ranch house to sneak some of her mom’s cookies to give to Harrison. “Does an apple count?”
“No.” He smiled.
Her heart fluttered, and she frowned to quash it. Okay, so maybe she was starting to see why some women liked him. The man had a certain appeal. A certain amount of dangerous appeal. She had zero desire to get sucked into falling under the spell of a handsome man. Not again.
“There. What did you just think of?”
“I beg your pardon?”
“You just frowned. I want to know why.”
“That’s a little forward of you.”
“Is it?” He leaned against the doorframe. “See, I don’t really know what it is that I’ve done to upset you, but it’s clear that I’ve done something wrong, and I wish you’d tell me what it is.”
Her stomach clenched. What was she going to do with a challenge put so bluntly? Everything he’d done seemed so trivial now. How could she explain in a way that didn’t make her appear like a petty child?
“Whatever it is I did, I didn’t mean to upset you, and I’m sorry,” he said softly.
His apology, with that note of sincerity that made her think he actually meant it, met her own remorse, which spilled out to say, “I’m sorry, too. Truly.” She scuffed her boot on the dusty step. “And it wasn’t you.” Her sisters’ words reared up, shaking the truth from her. “I…I’ve probably been over-committed with a few things, like my brother’s wedding this weekend, and I’m not handling things like I should, so I’ve let silly things become bigger than they warrant.”
“Hey, we all do that at times.” His voice grew raspy. “I just hate feeling like I’m someone that people are trying to avoid.”
He thought that? Her heart fisted. This must be why God wanted her to come here to apologize. How awful that her actions had made him feel that way. But apologies were only spoken air if there was no behavior that proved one’s heart was changed. She was going to have to try harder. “I’m sorry. I…” She shook her head, as emotion appeared from nowhere, like a glacier avalanche, and she pivoted on her boot, and hurried away.
“Cassie, wait.”
She paused. What kind of person would she be to make an injured man chase after her? Especially an injured man who had gotten injured because of her? Ugh. She was such a terrible person. She turned and faced him again. Somehow between the door and here, he’d managed to locate and put on a shirt. Thank goodness. Heaven forbid anyone had seen her with him shirtless in the shadows of the western town like this. They’d likely be thinking they were having a tryst.
Her shudder at that thought sharpened her word to hold a bite. “What?”
“Look, I just want you to know that if I have done something to upset you, I hope you’ll forgive me.”
Her heart stilled. Forgive him? She held back a sigh. What choice did she have as a Christ follower but to follow the Lord’s command? “Of course.”
“Can we be friends?” He held out his hand.
“Friends?” Now that was pushing things. She eyed his hand, then her gaze trickled back up to him. “I don’t know how to be friends with Hollywood people.”
His hand fell. “I’m pretty sure it’s the same as with anyone else.”
Was it? But when you scarcely saw a person, and their lives were splashed across the TV, how could you have any real connection? But then, her thoughts swung again, the same could likely be said about Hannah, and Cassie had managed just fine this past year to stay in contact with her…
“Besides, aren’t you friends with Ainsley?” he persisted.
“I wouldn’t dare to presume to call us friends. I like her, she’s really sweet, but I’m pretty sure she just thinks we’re acquaintances. It’s not like my friendship with Hannah.”
“That’s not how Ainsley sees it. She stopped by earlier after her scene and mentioned you’d helped her out today.”
“That was nothing.”
“I’ve heard her say how much she appreciates spending time with people who are honest and real, and go the extra mile like you do.”
Really? Her chest glowed. “I didn’t know that.”
“So now you do.”
How crazy to think someone like Ainsley might think of her that way. Harrison was probably exaggerating—actors told stories and embroidered truth for a living, after all. “Well, thanks for telling me.”
He smiled. “You’re welcome.”
Silence stretched between them, until it was broken by the screech of a bird. Was that what he wanted to say to her, or was there more?
“So, if you’re friends with Ainsley, then maybe you could be friends with me too?”
His question slammed into her chest like a runaway train, propelling her back a step. “But…but that’s different.”
“How?”
“She’s a woman.”
“You don’t have male friends?”
“Not really.”
Although that was perhaps untrue. She was friendly enough with her brother’s friends and teammates, people like Mike Vaughan, and Tom Chavez. They were nice enough, and those two were at least Christians, even if Mike was married, and Tom was often hanging around Jess whenever events drew them into the same circles. She bet he’d be asking Jess to dance at Franklin’s wedding this weekend.
Which reminded her. “I need to go.”
“You can’t stay a little longer?”
She shook her head. “It’s my brother’s wedding this weekend and I still need to get lots of stuff done.” Like oil the pews in the chapel tonight so they’d have time to dry and not stain anyone’s clothes on Saturday.
“Is everything coming together okay?”
“It will.” Especially if God gave her an extra five hours each day. Or she didn’t sleep. “I, uh, bet you’re glad to get a long weekend. Are you going away?” She mentally high-fived herself. See? She could do nice.
“Yeah. I still don’t know where I’ll go. I’d wondered about Banff.”
“That gets pretty busy in summer, so you might need to book ahead. But you’ve got the whole weekend off, plus the Canada Day holiday on Monday. Why wouldn’t you go see friends or family?”
His face closed.
Oh. Her heart softened. That said a lot.
He cleared his throat. “Poppy mentioned you were busy doing stock take or something.”
She groaned. “Don’t remind me.”
He shrugged. “I was good at math, and could help if you like.”
Oh! That was unexpected. Maybe the man wasn’t like Mark, after all. “Thanks, but I got it sorted.” His face fell, which hurried her to add, “But I do appreciate the offer. Really.”
His lips tweaked into an almost-smile as he nodded. “Well, I know you’re busy, so I don’t want to hold you up.” His palms faced her.
“You wouldn’t be the good guy if you did that, would you?” She tipped her hat like the hero in one of those old westerns.
He appeared to catch her reference to a hold-up as he chuckled. “Or a friend?”
His tentative intonation and raised eyebrows held an invitation. One she wasn’t sure she would be wise to explore. Because how could a woman be a friend with a man without emotions getting in the way, sooner or later? What would Jesus do? Lord?
She swallowed. Nodded.
His smile broadened, edged with what looked like relief. “Well, thanks for keeping me from being too lonely.”
Her heart twisted. But she had to stay strong. She might have agreed to be friends with the man, but no way could she afford to get sucked into this man’s charm.
“Have a good night, Harrison.”
“It’ll be a better one now.” His half-smile arrowed straight to her chest again, leaving her flustered.
So she turned on her heel and mounted Ginger, and rode quickly away, without a backward glance.
The restof the week passed, and while she hadn’t gone out of her way to avoid Harrison, God was kind to her and ensured that either she or Harrison were busy elsewhere. She’d half expected to see Harrison around the western town on her way to supervising the setting up for the chapel, but Lance had said the leads were off shooting promotional, now that Harrison’s leg was better. Which was just as well, considering all the prep that needed to be done for the wedding.
But now, standing here in the chapel’s opened front doors on Saturday morning, she knew all her hard work had been worth it. Everything looked perfect. The chapel was beautiful, all vintage looking in soft whites and mellow timber. The pews had been freshly oiled, the roses stood in vases on their pedestals, the white drapery interspersed with pine leaves and twinkle lights. Everything was just as she’d imagined.
She smoothed hands down her jeans, hoping her hair would stay neat under its scarf. Honestly, she could almost channel Audrey Hepburn with this get-up. From the chin up, anyway. In a few moments, she’d take the ATV back to the house where she’d get changed into the dusty pink gown, a halter neck like what her sisters were wearing as bridesmaids. She’d snuck away just to double-check, half wondering if Harrison had left as he’d said he would, or whether he’d lingered. But no. He’d gone, along with nearly all of the rest of the cast and crew, just as the contract had stipulated. Only Hector remained on site, guarding the gate to the backlot.
Oh well. She squinted up where a cloudless sky promised heat, meaning the old-fashioned parasols that she’d sourced from the prop barn would be appreciated. They stood ready in another vintage umbrella stand, along with a sign painted by Poppy that declared “Ladies, please help yourself” in an olde-worlde font.
She glanced at her phone, winced, but paused to take a few quick snaps, before gunning the ATV and roaring down the western town’s dusty main street, past the white tent and caterers, and over the hills and back to the ranch.
“All good?” her dad asked, as she rushed through the door.
“Looks great.” She gestured to his suit. “So do you.”
He winked at her and she raced up the stairs.
A quick shower later, then she was in her dress, and Poppy was smoothing her hair as the makeup artist wielded her magical brushes and sticks. Hannah had already had her makeup done and was getting pictures by the barn, and Cassie and her sisters would join her as soon as this was done.
“Whoa.” Cassie’s insides sparked as she finally glimpsed her reflection.
“You like?”
“I love.” She smiled wryly at the makeup lady. “I know I’ve never looked this good before.”
“It’s all about enhancing one’s natural features and creating a little bit of drama.”
Her chest tightened. A tiny part of her wanted Harrison to see just how good she could look. She quickly snuffed it. Today wasn’t about him. And while she might’ve agreed to be friends—well, sort of agreed—it didn’t mean one should take a selfie and send it to a man, like an announcement about what he was missing. She didn’t have his number anyway, so that was that.
“Come on, stop staring at how beautiful you are in the mirror.” Poppy grabbed her hand. “Let’s go take some pictures!”
“It all looks so beautiful,”Sylvie, one of Hannah and Bree’s friends, said. Cassie had come to know Bree’s friend last year when Sylvie had come west to help when pregnancy had adversely affected Bree’s health. Sylvie had gone north for family reasons of her own, so Cassie hadn’t spent as much time with her lately. But it looked as though the snarky Goth girl had gone through her own transformation recently. Even though her tattoos were still on display under the dark blue chiffon dress, she appeared softer, somehow. Or maybe that had something to do with the reason she was holding onto the arm of Edmonton hockey player Ryan Guillemette.
Cassie smiled. “We’ve gone for rustic chic.”
“And did I hear that As The Heart Draws was filming here recently?”
Her heart tensed. “Yes, it’s been exciting.”
“And Harrison Woods is staying here?”
Oh, who had spilled the beans? She really hoped it wasn’t someone from last weekend. “Mm hmm.”
“Cassie?” The minister—from Franklin and Hannah’s church—needed her attention.
“Excuse me.”
A short time later Cassie was standing at the front of the chapel, watching as her brother pledged his life and devotion to Hannah, his soft expression filled with love. She was pretty sure she’d seen him wipe away a tear when Hannah entered the chapel, escorted by her mom.
The stained glass of the chapel’s altar window filtered rose and gold over the happy couple, the place filled with prayers and consecrated love. This was what love looked like, anchored with patience, kindness, hope. Franklin and Hannah had certainly had their ups and downs, but it had shaped them, readying them for this moment where they promised each other forever.
Her gaze swept the congregation members, so many of them in couples, or families, all smiling, as if remembering—or imagining—their own wedding days. Bree and Mike Vaughan. Brent and Holly Karlsson. Jai and Allie Mullins. Chris and Diana Thomas. Ryan and Sylvie. The hockey players that Franklin had come to regard as his Christian brothers, who stood with him while he pledged his life to Hannah.
Her heart tugged. She wanted that too. Someone who loved God and who loved her. A face flitted through her mind. She instantly batted it away. He neither loved God nor her. And while he might say he wanted to be her friend, everything felt too weird and uncertain and impossible. There could be no future, even if God did do a miracle and somehow drew the man to Himself. She blinked, hitched her smile up another peg, and refocused. Today wasn’t about herself, or anyone else, but making sure Franklin and Hannah’s day went as smoothly as possible.
After the ceremony, and yet more photos, it was time to go to the large white tent set up just outside the western town.
She glanced around the space, the laughter, the chatter, the smiles. Gratitude filled her heart. Everything was going on without a snag.
“You’ve done such an amazing job,” Hannah said, as their main courses were cleared away. It would be time for cake soon.
“Thanks for all you’ve done. You’re the best, sis.” Franklin squeezed her shoulder.
“You’re only saying that because somebody is over there chatting up Jess and Poppy.” She gestured to where Franklin’s teammate, Tom Chavez, was laughing with both girls.
“I’m not, because I really do appreciate you. We both do, don’t we sweetheart?” He kissed Hannah’s cheek.
Hannah smiled. “It’s been a dream come true. I can never thank you enough, Cassie. I don’t know how you managed it with everything else you did.”
She barely had, but, “God was gracious, so it’s all good.”
“Amen, and amen.” Franklin’s brow furrowed as he glanced at Tom.
“What’s wrong, honey?” Hannah asked him.
“Do you think he’s interested in one of them?”
“I think big brother might need to keep an eye on them.” Cassie smirked.
He cocked a brow. “Do I need to keep an eye on you too?”
“As if.”
Hannah’s smile held mischief. “Have you seen anything more of a certain person who-shan’t-be-named?”
“Whoa, now this sounds interesting.” Franklin’s eyebrows pitched up. “Are you talking about the actor at your girls’ event last weekend?”
Franklin knew?
Hannah’s look held an apology as she murmured, “I didn’t mean to tell him, but I don’t like us to have secrets, and I figured he should know in case anything got said about last weekend. I didn’t want any whispers about a Hollywood actor at my girls’ afternoon tainting things.”
Fair enough. She glanced at her brother. “And no. He’s not a Christian, so you don’t need to worry.”
He nodded, but his head tilt said he wasn’t convinced.
But he didn’t need to worry. Neither did she. Not about a certain actor, and definitely not about the reception. Everything was going so smoothly.
Her heart swelled with satisfaction as the dancing commenced. Hannah and Franklin were wrapped in their happy bubble, murmuring softly to each other. Her parents were dancing together, Jess was talking to Tom, while Poppy, the most graceful dancer on the dancefloor, was dancing with another of Franklin’s teammates.
She glanced at the table where Franklin’s hockey friends were placed. Most of them were dancing too, except for Luc Blanchard, who was sitting by himself, tugging at his bowtie like he couldn’t wait to get out of his suit. She’d heard him declare—several times—that nobody would catch him dancing as he didn’t want to squash some poor woman’s toes. She smiled. She bet Poppy could make him boogie.
She studied her parents, then her sisters, then Franklin and Hannah again. And while she felt a sense of relief that this was now done there was also a degree of sadness that it meant her family had changed forever. Not that she didn’t love Hannah, and wasn’t glad about her joining the James family, but it was yet another sign that things would never be the same.
Who’d be next to marry? Maybe Jess. She and Tom had certainly hit it off. Poppy didn’t seem too interested in any of the guys who tried chatting her up. As for herself…
Her aunt had asked her that question earlier. Cassie had responded with a peppy-sounding “Nope, I’m still single and happy to mingle.”
But was that true? Maybe she should check out a Christian dating website. She knew several of her college friends had found love that way. There was a new one, Dream Match, which apparently specialized in helping singles in rural areas find someone with shared interests. Shared interests, like a heart for God, would be a good start. Even if it obviously ruled out some people completely.
* * *
Who knewthat a man could get so bored of luxury living?
Harrison studied the view of Lake Louise, the famous aqua-blue lake pictured on a million calendars. Heck, the photos could’ve been taken from his lavish suite’s balcony. A dream, a complete contrast to how he’d grown up, in that hovel nobody in Hollywood had ever heard him mention. His agent had agreed that Harrison’s past could be airbrushed a little. Or a lot. Like, completely.
But now that he thought about it, it wasn’t the leaky ceilings and bathroom plumbing that had been the problem. It was more the lack of connection with his family, the lack of love. Mom had loved Harrison’s dad, but hadn’t fought hard enough for her son. His grandma might’ve loved him, but she’d also died too soon. And Harrison’s dad had only ever really loved himself, despite what his new girlfriend might think. You couldn’t put a price on healthy, non-dysfunctional love.
And now, despite these fancy digs, he felt a similar yearning for more. No, not more gold-plated fixtures, but a yearning for those bonds that tied people together. Like what he’d witnessed last weekend at Hannah’s bachelorette party. Like he could see between Cassie and her sisters, Cassie and her parents. He wanted that same sense of connection.
For what good was a view like this if there was nobody to share it with? Nobody to reminisce over the fine dining, or go hiking or swim with. And while the hotel had done their best to keep his stay private—although he bet their instant upgrade to a suite when he’d given his name was designed so he’d post about it on Instagram—the fans had soon found him. Which left him feeling a little trapped, like he couldn’t go anywhere without people whispering about him.
And no, he sure didn’t want to sound like he was complaining. Yes, the western town barber’s bedroom had a cozy rustic charm, and was plenty comfortable, but it wasn’t exactly chateau suite luxury. Yet he couldn’t help compare this hotel to the wide open spaces on the ranch, and the feeling of freedom there. The fact that there, he could climb a hill and see no sign of humans, and feel a sense of peace, just himself and nature. Contrast that to the fact it was peak tourist season here, and even though they were surrounded by wilderness, there were just so many people, talking in a hundred languages. Simplicity and ease felt like a million miles away.
Or maybe that uneasy feeling was exacerbated by the questions roaming through his heart since last Monday.
He drained his water and leaned forward, elbows on knees, head in his hands. He closed his eyes, shutting off the famous view, as his mind tracked back to when he’d last spoken to Cassie. She’d no doubt appreciate this place, this view. And while her brother might be a well-paid hockey star, and her family couldn’t be doing too badly if they owned ten thousand acres of prime cattle country, he wondered if she’d ever stayed at a place like this.
But he bet she’d more appreciate the beauty of nature than the million-thread bedsheets or the fact the waiters called him sir. She didn’t seem to want that stuff, instead taking pleasure in simple things. And that fact drew him as much as her eyes, eyes that held more than a hint of the color and depths of the lake just outside his window.
A groan escaped. He didn’t want to be attracted to her. She might appeal, but how could a life ever work out between them? She was committed to the ranch, to her family and work there. He lived out of a suitcase, traveling wherever the next role took him.
But something about her, and her family, made him greedy to want more. Maybe there was a way he could put down roots and finally find a home.
His fingers clenched, as he remembered her question, about why he didn’t want to take advantage of a full weekend off and spend it with friends or family. Truth was that he had none. None that were genuine. His friends were mud-puddle deep and about as constant, only checking in on him when something was reported on E-news. And what did it say about a man when even his own father, the father who used to mock him for playing make-believe, now only talked to him when he wanted money? What kind of man did that?
He didn’t want to play pretend with his dad, nor the woman he was currently with. How could he pretend to like the woman who’d broken his mom’s heart and sent her to an early grave? Harrison sure didn’t have enough acting chops for that.
What he wanted was the cozy family he’d witnessed at the Three Creek ranch. He’d instantly sensed the affection between them all, a tight unit of love, of what family should be like. That’s what he yearned for. Someone to love, someone who could tease and relax with him, who smiled at him like she did with her sisters and friends, someone who didn’t play pretend but was solid and real and smart and hardworking and every shade of wonderful.
He wondered what she was doing now, how her brother’s wedding had gone, what she’d worn, what she looked like, who she smiled at, danced with, more.
He tugged at his hair. Rolled his shoulders. Stretched to relieve the tension.
But why was he still even thinking this when she’d barely agreed to be friends? She hadn’t even looked back when she’d trotted out last Monday, like she didn’t pay him another thought. She probably hadn’t, which meant all of this was just in his mind.
Loneliness must be sending him mad.
He glanced at his phone, counting the hours until his stay ended. He couldn’t wait to return to the ranch.
And to Cassie.