Chapter 14
Cassie herded the steers into the corral and shut them up, ready for loading to market. Her phone buzzed in her pocket. She pulled it out, checked the number. Why was Ainsley calling her?
“Hello?”
“Oh, Cassie. Have you got a few minutes?”
“Uh, sure.” She moved away from the noise and leaned against the wooden barn. “What can I do for you?”
“See, that’s exactly it.” Ainsley sighed. “I might’ve got myself into a little bit of hot water and I’d really appreciate it if you could help me out.”
Ainsley? The golden child of As The Heart Draws in hot water? “What have you done?”
“I might’ve got into an argument with Mal and Jerry, the lead writer. We had a meeting on set today.”
Cassie’s brows rose. “And you want me to help how?”
“Look, you probably know by now that I’m the one who recommended that you could be the substitute stunt rider in an upcoming scene.”
“I’d wondered.”
“The thing is, at our meeting today some of us discussed how bad it looks for the show to constantly reinforce women as being inferior to men and needing to be rescued by them all the time, which is what you said, right?”
She winced. “Yes. And Mal wasn’t too happy about that.”
“Well, I don’t know how happy he was about me saying it either. But I did, and Dana and Harrison agreed that it sends the wrong message, when men are always portrayed as the heroes.”
Her pulse glitched. “Harrison said that?”
“He did.” Ainsley giggled. “He might’ve also mentioned how a certain cowgirl rescued him, but don’t tell him I said that.”
Cassie swatted at a fly, smiling. He’d said that about her?
“He also shared that he got saved recently. Not at the meeting, just privately to me, but isn’t that awesome? I’m so excited for him! I’ve sent him a link to Lincoln Cash’s new group for Hollywood-based believers, and he’s told me he has already reached out and attended his first Bible study.”
Her throat was tight. “He has?”
“It helps when it’s online.”
“I’m so glad.” It sounded like he really was growing in the things of God.
“Me too. He really is maturing, and we’re praying together and everything.”
Jealousy bit. But how could she complain when she’d basically ignored him? She couldn’t blame him for finding spiritual encouragement where he could. She wondered if her father had been in touch with him.
“Anyway, back to the point, which is that I think you may get a phone call from Mal asking if you’d reconsider the role. I’m pretty sure he now wants to change it, and you may find that it ends up being a little bit bigger than what was originally proposed.”
“What do you mean?”
“Look, I’m not privy to all of what Mal and Jerry have planned, but I hope that you will consider it.”
“But I’m not an actor. Wouldn’t I need to have an agent and union membership and all that kind of thing?”
“I can talk to Rosie, my agent, and I’m sure we can sort all of that out. The more important question is, would you like to do it?”
Her hat tilted forward as she considered. Sure she could keep doing what she’d always done, but Poppy was right. Opportunities passed. They didn’t pause. And depending on what it was that Mal suggested, this might be an opportunity she didn’t want passing her by.
Cassie’s phone buzzed with another notification. She glanced at the screen. Her heart tensed. “It’s Mal.”
“Then take it, and let me know what you decide.”
“Will do. Thanks. And bye.” She switched calls. “Hi Mal.”
“Cassie, have I caught you at a bad time?”
“Nope. I’m all yours. Shoot.”
He chuckled. “You really are a cowgirl, aren’t you?”
She watched a tumbleweed roll past. Darn tootin’.
“Look, I’m gonna cut to the chase. It’s about that role I mentioned to you before. You’ll be pleased to know that we’ve tweaked a number of aspects of that scene, and I’d like you to think about whether it’s something you might like to do after all.”
“In what ways has it changed?”
“We seem to have a number of people who agree with you that women in the show have not always been represented in the way that most would prefer. The suggestion was made that it could be a mutual rescuing situation where she helps him and he helps her.”
“So she’s not a helpless female?”
“No. I didn’t personally feel that was what would be portrayed, but some of the other cast members disagreed. And we’ve listened to their concerns.”
“What would I have to do?”
He explained, and she nodded, and they talked logistics, like actor’s membership and scripts. Her words would be few, and she’d be forced to work with Harrison, just like Mal had mentioned before.
Her heart skittered. Work with Harrison. Him rescuing her, she helping him. Equal. Partners. Together. She shivered.
“So what I want to know is whether this is something that you feel like you could do.”
Riding a horse was something she could do. Pretending to get in trouble in a creek was something she could do. Being in such close proximity to Harrison without it affecting her? That was trickier.
“Cassie? You still there?”
“I’m interested,” she said cautiously. “But I need to check with a few people and see if I can make this work.”
“I understand. I know this is a lot to consider, especially with all your work at the ranch.”
Yeah, talking to her dad about ranch work wasn’t who she meant. “How soon do you need to know?”
“By five today?”
She inhaled sharply. “Okay, I’ll do my best.”
It looked like she’d be talking to Harrison at last.
* * *
Harrison placedhis head in his hands as he studied his script. The afternoon’s shooting was scheduled soon, and would involve his encounter with Ainsley outside the general store on Main Street. This type of scene made him glad he was staying here, with a simple walk into town rather than a hike over the hill. It looked straightforward enough, he had five lines, she had six, the exchange a simple way of keeping the potential for a relationship between Abigail and Nathaniel alive. As The Heart Draws had multiple storylines to give viewers several hooks to stay engaged, but the biggest draw was always who Abigail was romantically involved with.
He knew who he would like to be romantically involved with, and it wasn’t Abigail or Ainsley. But she hadn’t spoken to him since that last Sunday. And while he was trying to find comfort in his new relationship with God, he felt a degree of anxiety about this strain with her.
What could he do to prove that he had changed? Ainsley said it would just take time. Lincoln Cash, in his Bible study, had said the same. People needed to see that Harrison had changed. Which meant things like forgiveness and repairing relationships and all kinds of things to show he wasn’t the same man as before. But unless he talked with her, she’d never know. Unless she’d talked with her father and Derek mentioned something.
Harrison hadn’t wanted to bother Derek too much, but the man had been persistent, and had contacted him several times, checking up to make sure Harrison was reading his Bible, connecting with Christians. He was, and each day he read the Bible he was sinking into deeper wonder about the promises of God. God, his Heavenly Father, who promised to never leave or forsake him. What a contrast to his own father who, when Harrison had tried to reach out last weekend, had ignored his call, and hadn’t even replied to his text. He knew his dad had seen it too, because it had been marked as Read. His heart panged, but he’d also found that verse that said as far as it depended on him to live at peace with others, so he was leaving his dad up to God. Heaven knew that his dad needed God too. Which was an excellent reminder…
“Hey God,” he closed his eyes. “I know that I’m new at all this stuff, but I want to trust You for my dad’s salvation. I know I’m a long way short of perfect, but that’s okay because You’re perfect. And if You can raise the dead, and if You can change my heart, then You can change his too.” His eyes watered. “And I wanted to say thank You for my salvation. Thank You for giving me a new start. And I’d really like it if You could somehow help Cassie see that I’m not the same man I used to be. And wherever she is today, please bless her. And bless my dad. And bless Derek and Leonie. And Ainsley. And Cassie. Amen.”
Cassie.
He drew out the brooch that his grandmother had given him. Studied the profile, the one so similar to that photo of Cassie from the wedding. With her hair all fancy, it could be the same person, the same graceful line of neck, jaw and nose. She might be tough, but there was a gracefulness she possessed too. She wasn’t hard, not like some women he’d met. And the fact God was working in her heart proved it even more so.
“Lord, bless her.”
His phone buzzed on the table next to his script. A reminder. Thirty minutes until show time. He needed to get into his Mountie uniform then get ready for hair and makeup, something that could be done on site because it just involved a quick brush and a minute applying what he called face paint. He thanked God for the hundredth time he wasn’t a woman and had to spend hours in a chair. His lips twisted. Just another discrepancy between men and women on this show.
A knock came at the door. Maxine, most likely, here to remind him.
He opened it, then nearly fell backwards. “Um, hi.”
Cassie’s smile was tentative. “Hi. I’m really sorry for intruding like this, but I’ve wanted to talk to you about something.”
“Um.” He winced. “I hate to say this, but I’m kind of in a rush. I start shooting at two.”
Her nose wrinkled. “How long will that go for?”
“A few hours, probably.”
“Oh.” Her face fell. “Okay.”
It clearly wasn’t okay. “We can talk after. I’d love to talk to you too. And I promise, I won’t make it weird or anything—or at least I’ll try not to make it weird, but with me there are no guarantees.”
She half-smiled. “Okay. I need to give Mal my answer by five. I just wanted to talk to you about it first.”
“Your answer?” His heart thumped. “Is this about the role? Are you gonna do it?”
“I thought it sounded interesting, although I was sad to hear about Brenda.” She eyed him. “Mal mentioned that you encouraged her to report the domestic violence.”
He nodded. “My dad used to beat my mom. And me.”
Her breath hitched. “Oh, Harrison.”
He half-shrugged. “That’s why I couldn’t watch another woman face that. Not like my mom did.” He shook his head. “I should’ve stood up for her more.”
“But you must’ve been young. Just a boy.”
“It doesn’t change the fact that I still regret not standing up for her more.”
Her eyes were soft, her compassion palpable. “I’m so sorry this happened.”
His lips tweaked. “But I don’t want to live in the past. I’ve learned a lot in recent days about letting go and letting God have His way.”
“Me too,” she murmured, gaze still fixed on him.
His heart flickered. Did that mean she might see him as part of her future? Why else would she have asked that question before?
He cleared his throat. “So, does this mean you’ll consider the role?”
Her smile twisted. “I have to confess that I’ve never once dreamed of being an actor, and I’m pretty sure that I couldn’t act my way out of a paper bag, but it does sound like an interesting opportunity.”
“Wait—did you just say you’ve never once dreamed about being an actor?”
“I used to dream about being Annie Oakley,” she said with a shy-looking smile.
He laughed. “Of course you did.”
“Whereas I bet you dream about getting Golden Globes, huh?”
They might not have known each other too long, but she knew him so well. “Maybe.”
He beckoned her inside, but she shook her head. Then he realized what it would look like if she was inside his room should Maxine or someone else come along. Wise woman. “So what was it you wanted to ask?”
“Didn’t you need to get ready or something?”
“This sounds more important.” His heart swelled. “You are more important.”
Her lips flickered, like she wasn’t sure whether to believe him. “Well, that’s the thing. Could we—you and me—can we do this?”
“Act together? Or…?” He arched a brow.
She blushed.
Aw, who would’ve thought the cowgirl knew how to blush. He liked it. A lot. And he liked the fact she was affected by him. Surely that meant there was hope.
“Act together.”
“Well of course we can.”
“But without it getting weird.”
“Like I said earlier, weird is part of my DNA, so I can’t promise no weirdness.”
“No, I mean you and me, and, um…”
He leaned against the doorframe. Maybe it was mean to be loving the awkwardness she was displaying, but the fact she couldn’t articulate the attraction that throbbed between them had to mean she felt something, right? “And um…?”
She exhaled. “You’re enjoying this, aren’t you?”
“Maybe a little bit.”
“Fine. Okay, I’ll spell it out in one syllable words. Do you still like me?”
“Darn straight.”
“I mean as, um, more than a friend?”
His heart picked up speed. “One hundred percent.”
“Will you make it weird if we have to be together and um, touch, and so on if I was to take the role?”
He avoided pointing out that “together” was three syllables, his amusement dying at the pleading look she gave him. He desperately wanted to hold her hand, but knew this wasn’t the time. He’d let her take the lead and make the decisions on anything like that. “If you take the role I promise you that I will be a perfect gentleman. I won’t get into your space, I won’t have any expectations. I care about you, Cassie. I really care about you.”
Her breath hitched. “But why?”
His heart panged, her question revealing some of her own insecurities. Who had dared hurt this woman to make her question her self-worth? “You are unlike any woman I’ve met. You’re so strong and that makes me want to be a better man. Yet you also have this sweet softness, and godly values that reminds me of my grandma, and she was the best woman I’ve ever known.”
Her expression that had owned skepticism at being compared to his grandmother melded into surprise then a tentative smile.
Phew. Note to self: do not tell the woman you’re hoping to impress that she’s like your grandmother.
“Anyway,” he continued, “I like you, but God is teaching me to be patient, not to want my own way. I have to admit that’s really hard because I have been pretty selfish for the past thirty years.”
“I’m not great at being unselfish either,” she admitted. “But I’m trying to do better.”
“Thank God for the Holy Spirit helping us, huh?”
Her eyes widened. “You really have changed.”
Pride pinged inside his chest. Well, except pride was a sin, he knew that now. He’d go with gladness instead. Thanks God that she noticed. “I’m still a work in progress.”
Her mouth twisted wryly. “Aren’t we all?”
“I’m just so grateful for people like your dad and Lincoln Cash and Ainsley, who have taken time to help me grow and understand.”
She wet her lip, and he had to breathe out against the desire to rush and kiss her. He wouldn’t. Not now. He was a changed man.
Cassie steadily gazed at him, and he at her, as the connection between them flared. He could study this woman all day. She fascinated him with her mix of strength and vulnerability, raw beauty, smarts and sass. Her smile grew, and it was getting increasingly hard to tamp down his desire for more.
He exhaled. “I hope that answers your question, Miss Cassie.”
She nodded. “It does.”
“But I have one for you.”
Her head tilted. “What is it?”
“If you should happen to, I don’t know, decide that you like me, then I’m totally okay with you letting me know.”
“That’s not a question.”
“You’re right. But I mean it just the same.”
Her gaze pinned him, the air trembling with emotion, promise and potential. “You like me.” She said it almost as a question, like she couldn’t believe what he’d said before.
Clearly he needed to make things more plain. “I do.” He held his hands up, an act of surrender. “And yes, I want to get to know you more, with a view to having a relationship with you that lasts, that isn’t a summer fling. And I know the only way I can really do that is by letting you take the lead. So I will be right here waiting for you to let me know when that right moment will be, for however long that might take.”
“Th-thank you.”
“I mean it. I’m here for you, and want to explore what having a relationship might look like. And I know that could get tricky, with you here, and me wherever work takes me, but I don’t think God brings people into each other’s lives without it meaning something. I like you, and I’m really hoping this conversation means that you like me.”
Her smile widened and she dipped her chin.
He internally fist-pumped. Then smiled. “But why?” he gently teased, returning her question from before.
Her chuckle was like a warm hug on a cold day. He needed more of that in his life.
“Because you care about people, and you’re willing to be brave and face your fears, and even be brave enough to admit your mistakes. That takes real courage.”
He might’ve been on movie screens around the world, but he’d never felt quite so seen. He swallowed a lump of emotion.
“And you’re kind of fun to hang out with,” Cassie continued.
“Only kind of?”
She gave another burble of laughter. “And there I was thinking you maybe weren’t so arrogant after all.”
He grinned. He’d missed this banter, the snap and crackle of a witty woman. But this time there was no animosity behind it. Instead, he sensed something good. Something God-honoring. Something that may well have enough substance for a future. “So let’s commit all this to God, and see where He takes us.”
She swallowed, her gaze steady, sure. “Okay.”
“Okay?”
She nodded. “So go on then. Pray.”
Wow. Good thing he’d had some practice praying aloud with others recently. He wondered if he should hold her hand or whether that was simply temptation calling him, then figured God could probably hear him even if he didn’t. He closed his eyes though. She was too distracting. “Hey Lord, we give this, uh, friendship to You, and ask You to have Your way in our hearts. If this is of You, then please make a way. If it’s not, thank You that You know what You’re doing and help us to trust You. Amen.”
He opened his eyes, saw Cassie wipe away a tear, her smile tremulous. Then saw Maxine standing behind her, her mouth agape.
“That was beautiful,” Cassie said. “Thanks.”
Maxine cleared her throat, causing Cassie to jump. “Um, I don’t know what I’ve just interrupted here, but Harrison, they’re asking for you on set.”
Ouch. “Sorry, Cassie, I better hustle .”
“Thanks for talking.”
“You’re welcome.”
Her smile filled his heart, her promise buoying him as he scrambled into his costume, hastened to set, and listened to Mal’s complaint about being kept waiting.
But he didn’t mind. Cassie liked him. She really liked him.
God was so good and was working things out.