Chapter 6 #2
"Well, when you put it that way, maybe that number’s a little high. Let's say only five percent of the rules are more like guidelines that, when broken, can result in a lot of harmless fun. Like food fights."
"Food fights? I thought those only happened on TV.”
Nash shot her a shocked expression. "Didn't you ever go to middle school?"
Ellie shook her head. “Nope. Personal tutors, usually on set."
"Food fights are real, all right. We had a few in school, of course, but the ones at camp were wild. We’d be forced to stay after and clean up, but it was worth it. And you’ll be interested to know that my family has a tradition where we throw pudding pies at each other for an hour straight."
Ellie laughed. "Okay, now I know you're lying."
"No, no, you can ask anyone.” Nash went on to explain how the pudding pie tradition began in honor of a young girl who'd lost her life to cancer. A girl, he reminded himself, that his brother Wyatt had fallen hard for. As similar as their life paths had been, he guessed that was one loss Nash couldn’t relate to.
"Anyway,” he said, “now, every year, we all get together and suit up in raincoats, looking like we’re about to take that boat tour into the Falls.
There are literally hundreds of small pudding pies on tables we set up in this big old field.
One of the guys calls out on a bullhorn, and we take turns throwing pies in our loved ones’ honor.
We invite the whole town, and it keeps growing bigger each year. "
It went quiet after that, and Nash wondered if he was making himself and his family sound like a bunch of crazy hicks.
But then Ellie’s reply came at last. "I would give anything to be there for that."
Her declaration hung in the air as the trail began to narrow.
Nash sensed her longing, as tangible as the smell of fire smoke from a barbeque.
Again, that urge stirred deep within him, the desire to make the most of her time here.
And the funny thing was, he’d forgotten all about the fact that this was the Ellie Blaire he’d seen in the movies and wanted so desperately to meet.
Now, she’d become someone else. The woman behind the scenes, minus the bright lights and the carefully written lines.
And she was more beautiful than he’d ever dreamed she’d be.
“Oh no,” Ellie said as the trees grew thick up ahead. "We're not going to fit.”
“Not side-by-side,” he agreed. “Would you feel more comfortable if I led or followed?”
“Umm, does Buttercup know which way she’s going? And what about when it gets dark—will they be able to see their way back?”
“Yes to both,” Nash said. “Horses can see at night nearly as well as they see in the daytime, and Buttercup can lead the way if you’d like her to.”
“Okay, why don’t you go behind me then? That way, you can’t bolt ahead and leave us in the dust.”
“And I was so looking forward to doing that,” he teased, falling back to allow Buttercup to step in front of Pepper. She did, and soon Nash was watching Ellie on the horse, the locks of her hair swishing with each dip and sway.
Even that made his insides warm with desire. He wondered just how long she’d be in town and when she needed to be back for her next role. Not that he wanted to think about that.
With the pines standing tall on either side, it was slightly darker here, but with each steady step, streaks of sunlight pierced through the pointed treetops. Nash inhaled the pleasant scent of pine and sighed, unable to believe the moment was real. What a night. What a week. What a woman.
“So, tell me about this role you have coming up,” he said. “That is, assuming you can.“
“I can give you some details. The movie’s called How Our Story Ends. I’m playing the role of Melody, an aspiring country music star from a small town in Texas.”
“So… a cowgirl?” Heat stirred in his lower belly at the thought.
“Yep, and she’s headed to Nashville for a whirlwind of ups, downs, and a romance that takes her by storm and puts her dream on hold.”
He didn’t want to think about the lucky guy playing opposite her. “Hmm, sounds interesting.”
She nodded. “Yeah, I guess it’s just one more lifestyle I’ll get to live out vicariously. I mean, if I don’t lose the role entirely. I sort of…messed things up when I got sent here to get my life in order, but if the caseworker okays things, I’ll fly out to Texas in less than a month to film it.”
This went back to the tabloid article Nash claimed he never saw. He’d have to tread lightly. “That’s too bad,” he said. “I hope they okay it.”
“You do?” Was that sarcasm he sensed in her tone?
“Don’t you? I mean, all of us make mistakes.”
“True. But what if I told you that my biggest mistake was agreeing to stay in the business after I turned eighteen?”
Nash’s eyes widened in surprise. He could barely believe how open she was being.
But at the same time, he couldn’t help but think her current state of mind had more to do with some type of rebellion.
Chances were, after having some time away, she’d start to crave the life she was used to.
Still, he could at least give her some encouragement.
“I don’t know what I can say except that if you want something badly enough, you find a way to get it.” His face reddened as he realized that that’s just what he’d done when he found out Ellie might be at Wild Buck’s.
“You’re right,” she said thoughtfully.
They were near the clearing now, which meant there was a stunning view up ahead. Nash had only seen this side of Feather Lake in the morning hours during their rides last week; it was beautiful then, but now that the sun was starting to set, it was sure to be spectacular.
It remained quiet as they approached the bend, Nash musing on the conversation while Ellie likely did the same. He hadn’t yet told her that he was a fan of her work, but the truth was, she probably heard that everywhere she went.
Beyond that, Ellie wasn't in Hollywood right now or on the set of some movie. She was here, in a place meant to be safe from the demands and expectations she was used to. Nash felt it was best to simply meet her where she was, especially now that he saw her for who she was—a woman with surprising vulnerability and a list of unmet dreams that didn’t look anything like the life she’d built herself.
They might even look like the very life he could offer.
The thought gave him more hope than a man like Nash should have, where a woman like Ellie was concerned, but he always was a dreamer, and he wasn’t about to stop dreaming now.