Wilde Horses. Jannine Gallant

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СКАЧАТЬ were beginning to shine in the late evening sky, and nothing but a gentle breeze stirred on the vast Wyoming prairie. From the bunkhouse where their three ranch hands were probably finishing dinner, the clink of dishes and murmur of male voices drifted in her direction. On a Friday night, the men would no doubt head into Cody, leaving the spread still and silent.

      I’d better enjoy the peace while I can.

      In a couple of weeks, the place would be overrun with city people who had little use and less appreciation for open space and solitude.

      Eden stopped to lean against the corral railing as two wild Appaloosa mares lifted their heads to stare back at her from the other side of the fence. A spurt of satisfaction shot through her when neither edged further away. This most recent group was just about ready to adopt out to families who would give them good homes.

      With a sigh, she turned away to enter the barn. Too bad she had plans to acquire half a dozen new horses when the Bureau of Land Management thinned the wild herds to the south in early May. They’d arrive about the same time as the Hollywood contingent. All the activity they brought with them would only make taming the horses that much more difficult.

      She pressed her lips together as she walked through the steamy confines of the barn and drew in a long breath. The air was redolent with the scent of hay, horses and leather. A smile curved her lips as she hurried to her work area in the back.

      Long strips of cured cowhide lay on the table, already sewn into the correct lengths for the custom belts she sold online. All she had left to do was attach the buckles and carve the designs she’d drawn on the pieces earlier. The fun part. Dropping down onto the stool, she picked up a swivel knife then paused as one of the barn cats strolled over to twine around her ankles. After petting the cat, she cut into the leather with the sharp tip of the blade, tracing the line with precision and purpose.

      But her mind wasn’t on the job at hand as she pictured the chaos to ensue. She squared her shoulders and clamped her teeth together. Since she really didn’t have much choice, she might as well make the best of the situation. Maybe turning the ranch into a movie set wouldn’t be as awful as she feared.

      Just last month, she’d told her best friend she needed to shake up her life and add a little excitement. However, she’d been thinking more along the lines of a short vacation to someplace relaxing and tropical where the possibility of meeting a man she hadn’t known since kindergarten existed. The enticing vision of palm trees and white sand beaches faded. No way would she leave the ranch and her horses while the filming was in progress.

      A memory of a dark movie theater where Blake Benedict’s mesmerizing blue gaze and charismatic smile filled the silver screen sent a quiver through her. Why jump ship when all the action is coming to me? Not that she was interested in getting in line with Benedict’s legion of groupies, but talking to members of the crew might be fun. Definitely a change of pace.

      * * * *

      Blake Benedict stepped out of the private luxury bus, dropped his hands to his hips and surveyed his surroundings. Several similar buses, plus a couple of motorhomes, the caterer’s truck and equipment trailers occupied an area of grassland adjacent to the gate with the Flying W above the arched opening. From his vantage point on the edge of the newly formed encampment, he had a clear view of the Wilde ranch with its big red barn, log home, bunkhouse and a small cabin set back beneath a huge cottonwood tree. Two Quarter Horses flicked flies with their tails in a corral next to the barn, while in a nearby fenced pasture, several mangy Appaloosas and Pintos skittered and snorted at every bang and thump from the crew unloading the equipment. On the horizon, a herd of cattle grazed beneath the midday sun, their faint lowing drifting toward him on the breeze.

      A smile tilted his lips. Although this ranch was a hell of a lot larger, the place reminded him of home. Not his overpriced beach house in Malibu, but the few acres of property he’d grown up on in Eastern Oregon. The picturesque surroundings on a tranquil spring day would usually soothe his overstrung nerves. Too bad their arrival had all but destroyed the peace and quiet.

      Movement caught his attention as a small figure exited the side door of the barn. Wavy dark hair cascaded from beneath a tan cowboy hat. When she turned to face the collection of vehicles, the curves beneath a pink, short-sleeved shirt revealed a petite woman, not the young girl he’d imagined when her brothers talked about their little sister. Jeans hugged slim hips, and her boots crunched gravel in a no-nonsense stride as she headed his way. The frown that drew dark brows together over deep blue eyes made it clear she was less than thrilled by their presence.

      With nothing else to occupy his attention, curiosity got the better of him, and Blake strolled out to meet her. Her steps slowed as she met his gaze, and a round O shaped pink lips before she pressed them together.

      He held out a hand. “I’m Blake Benedict.”

      After a moment, she gripped his palm for a brief shake. “Eden Wilde. My family owns this ranch.”

      “Nice to meet you. The spread is beautiful, exactly the way Sawyer described it. I’m glad the producers chose it for our location shots.”

      She pointed toward the pasture. “Is there any way your people could make a little less noise with that equipment? Those horses are nervous enough without all the clamor.”

      Gorgeous and spunky. Her wide blue eyes held not one hint of starstruck reverence. A refreshing change.

      “I suppose I can ask them to keep it down.” Blake couldn’t hold back a grin as he tried to remember the last time someone had ordered him off on a menial errand. “Once the staging area is set up, I’m sure it’ll get a little quieter.”

      Behind them, a generator fired up with a roar. Out in the pasture, the assortment of scraggly horses kicked up their heels and ran.

      Those amazing eyes narrowed. “Are you kidding me?”

      He glanced over his shoulder. “Sounds like that’s coming from the food truck. They have to keep their refrigeration system going…” His voice trailed off as she silently mouthed a single obscenity.

      Maybe spunky wasn’t the right word. More like unabashedly brazen.

      “I knew this was a horrible idea.” The muttered words were audible, even over the din.

      “I’m afraid the buses all have generators, too. Uh, the noise shouldn’t be too bad from the house. I’m pretty sure that’s why the crew chose this spot for our base camp.”

      Eden closed her eyes and pressed fingers to her temples. He’d almost swear she was counting beneath her breath.

      “I guess I’ll have to move my horses to a different pasture.” Spinning on the heel of one leather boot, she stomped away.

      “Wow.” His slow smile grew with each determined step she took. When she disappeared around the corner of the barn, Blake headed back to his bus, which would be his home away from home for the next month. After opening the storage bin beneath it, he pulled out a lawn chair he carried toward the pasture, then set it up facing the mountains some distance to the west. Taking a seat, he let out a sigh. Maybe the wide-open spaces would help him clear his head. Lately, responsibilities and obligations tugged at him from every direction. He needed time to simply chill.

      And if a dark-haired spitfire added entertainment value, so be it.

      Eden Wilde reappeared moments later on the back of one of the sleek brown Quarter Horses. СКАЧАТЬ