by Lisa Prysock
As they rode along, she opened the envelope from her agent, curious to see what the contents might be. Inside was a book, copies of letters, a script, and a note instructing her to call him at her soonest convenience.
When they were inside the cabin, Nicole plopped down on the sofa while Amy skipped off to her room. First, she enjoyed a brief chat with Drew on her cell. They had settled into a routine of talking only every other day or so. He seemed distracted, but their conversation was always the same since she’d arrived in Wyoming. He’d say he missed her and she’d tell him the same. She’d ask him about his day and he’d ask about her day. Then he’d say he loved her and he was trying to give her the space she needed to make her decision. Driving to a Hollywood event, he ran into traffic, so they agreed to talk later.
After the call with Drew, anxious to find out more about the package from her agent, she pressed a button to autodial Calvin Stonebridge’s cell.
“Hey Nicole, good to hear from you. What on earth are you doing in Wyoming? Did you get the package I sent?” Calvin recognized her call immediately.
“I’m holding it right now.” She looked at the back cover of the book. “It’s nice to hear from you. I thought you’d given up on finding new roles for me.”
“Give up on my best, biggest, newest star? Not at all,” he assured her. “On the contrary, while you were filming in Canada, I had to turn away two or three roles a month for you because I know your schedule can’t fit them in.”
“Oh,” she breathed, her mouth dropping open. “I had no idea.”
“I don’t think you understand, yet. Nicole Maribella Beaumont is one of the hottest commodities on the block these days. You can pretty much name your price and take your pick of the best everything.” Calvin sounded a lot like Jack Colten to her. Was he telling the truth, or trying to grow her confidence in him as a professional? Maybe he simply wanted to keep her as a client.
“Well, it’s very helpful to gain this perspective. I’ve got some difficult decisions ahead that could impact my career. That’s all part of why I’m in Wyoming. Amy and I are enjoying the peace and quiet until after the holidays.” Nicole examined the stack of letters as he talked. “People keep telling me this sort of thing, but it’s hard to wrap my head around it, you know?”
Calvin Stonebridge chuckled. “I think it’s great and it couldn’t have happened to a nicer client.” Then he changed gears. “Decisions, huh? No, don’t tell me. I don’t wanna know. We’ll save that for another conversation since my phone is ringing off the hook, probably with more offers for you.” He sounded pressed for time. “So, here’s what I need you to do. Read the script, the book, and those letters. Then tell me if you want the leading lady role by the Friday after the week of Thanksgiving. It’s called The Lady of Cornwall.”
“What about a screen test and audition?” Nicole laid the packet aside and tucked her legs under her and to one side. Feeling comfortable, she leaned back on the sofa.
“This role was practically made for you. The casting director doesn’t want you to audition or screen test. He just wants you as the leading lady. This role is different. They need a lot of inner city kids to take parts, so the director has his work cut out for him. It’s an inspirational, family oriented, romantic movie with a strong Christian message, but they love all of your work, especially your historical roles. They think you’d be a perfect fit. They’re looking for kids with an urban background to cast for the family and some of the other roles.”
“Who do they want in the lead for the hero?” She held her breath, wondering who her agent might name.
“They haven’t decided yet, which means they’ve offered the role to someone and they’re waiting for an answer. I can guarantee this much, it’ll be somebody you’ll love.” He tried to sound reassuring.
Her agent was seldom wrong, but still, it’d be nice to know who they’d cast alongside her. “All right, I’ll call you soon with my answer, but try to find out who else stars and let me know. Have a nice Thanksgiving, Cal.”
“Will do. You too, Nicole, have a happy Thanksgiving. Talk to you soon.”
When the call ended, she reached for the book and stared at the lighthouse in the distance and the historical gown worn by the heroine in the arms of the hero on the front cover. The role looked exciting. Maybe it’d turn into one of those nominations for movie of the year. She could hardly wait to get started reading the book.
“CAT GOT YOUR TONGUE?” Buck Maxheimer leaned on a rake in the middle of the barn as he and Jack paused from mucking out stalls to talk to his newest wrangler. “You’ve been awfully quiet around here the past few days. Something troublin’ you, son?”
“Maybe.” Colten pushed his Stetson further back on his head and glanced at his supervisor. He didn’t have a problem with the ranch manager referring to him as son. After all, The Sweetwater staff was like a kind of family and he’d been raised to respect his elders. At nearly age thirty, it’d been a few years since anyone other than his father had spoken to him that way. He tried not to look surprised. Besides, he liked the way the old guy ran things. This manager didn’t fear hard work. Buck was usually the first one to roll up his sleeves and get to work every day.
“It wouldn’t happen tuh have anythin’ to do with a pretty movie star by the name o’ Nicole Maribella Beaumont, would it?” Buck winked good-naturedly.
Colten sighed. “That obvious, huh?”
“Well, not ’zactly, but seems like you two gots an undeniable attraction betweens ya.” The boss grinned at him, his eyes twinkling, one of the horses neighing in the background as if to put added emphasis on what he said.
Jack couldn’t help but chuckle and nod with half of a nonchalant shrug. “You might say that, but it’s complicated.”
“Cain’t be too complicatered. Love has a way of bringin’ folks tuhgether.” Buck shifted his weight to his other foot, twirled his rake around without moving the prongs away from the ground, then leaned on it again.
Jack leaned on his own rake and looked out at the pasture beyond the corral. “Well, she’s got herself a Hollywood billionaire boyfriend. Not sure if I stand a chance, if God wants me to pursue, or run the other way. I been prayin’ ‘bout it, but sometimes the good Lord is so quiet.”
“And this is one o’ those times?” Buck asked.
Jack nodded. “Seems like it.”
“Hmm. Lemme ask ya a question, then.” Buck took off his hat and scratched his ear in thought. Then he slid the hat back on. “Is Miss Beaumont engaged to this Hollywood feller?”
Jack crossed his arms and they encompassed the rake. “Not yet, but he popped the question, so she brought her daughter out here to think about her answer.”
“She had tuh think it over?” Buck’s eyes grew wide as silver dollars.
“Yeah, I know, right?” Jack shook his head.
“Is she a Christian?” The boss went directly to the heart of things, seemingly without fear of the answers.
“She’s a preacher’s kid on the run, but I think she’s deciding to return to the Lord,” Colten summarized.
“What makes you think that?” Buck’s head tilted sideways as he listened, staring at the pile of hay they’d raked out of the stalls.
“There’s a certain look in her eyes that gives me the idea she’s ready to return to serving the Lord, but frankly, I don’t want to waste my time if God isn’t in this.”
Buck nodded. “Wise words. Well, seein’ as there’s no formal engagement, I’ll pray fer ya and we’ll see what the Lord does.” He placed a hand on Jack’s shoulder and they both took off their hats and bowed their heads while Buck prayed a short, powerful prayer.
When he’d finished praying, Jack opened his eyes and looked up, surprised to see snow falling again and a heavenly hush on everything around him. In mere seconds, heaven had opened its windows, and something was different.
THE NEXT MORNING, NICOLE woke to a glistening winter wonderland and Amy jumping on her bed. She’d been up
late reading The Lady of Cornwall, so she was glad they’d been able to sleep in a little.
“Mommy, wake up! Wake up! It’s time to go sled riding!” Amy shook her arm with excitement and bounced on the empty side of the bed next to her.
Nicole yawned and cracked half a smile, her dark wavy hair stuck to one side of her face where she’d slept deeply and peacefully on the comfortable pillow beneath the pretty quilt. “All right, but first breakfast and coffee. Go get dressed and I’ll be downstairs in a minute.”
“Yippee!” Amy giggled, her blue eyes sparkling with joy at the prospect of the day before them. She jumped off the bed and bounded down the stairs while Nicole rolled over slowly.
“Dress warm!” Nicole called after her dark-haired daughter. “And brush your teeth!”
“I will!” Amy called back.
Her first thought surprised her as she sat up and reached for her pink terrycloth robe at the foot of the bed. She wished Jack would miraculously show up and enjoy the day with them.
She slid the robe on and stepping into matching pink slippers, noticed frost on the window. A closer look revealed a world covered in snow drifts, reminding her of many wonderful childhood memories of sled riding with Mallory and Chip. She hoped today would fill Amy with happy memories, too.
She showered and slipped into jeans and a white tank top with lace at the neckline. Then she added a pink and blue flannel shirt. She almost tucked it into her jeans, but decided it looked cuter tied into a knot at the waist.
After adding a little blush, powder, eyebrow pencil, and lip gloss, she pulled on thick socks and her new winter snow boots trimmed with pink fur and dangling pink pom-poms. She gathered her blow-dried shiny black hair into a messy bun and put on a wide pink headband, pulling the bun through it. Reaching for her new white winter coat, she found her pink scarf and gloves, and headed downstairs to find Amy.
Chapter 15
Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment.
I Timothy 6:17, NIV
Forty-five minutes later, they’d finished eating a breakfast of beignets dusted lightly in powdered sugar, scrambled eggs with diced red pepper and onion, and apple cinnamon flavored yogurt in the main dining hall. Then they bundled up again with a large group of kids and other hopeful sled riders.
Leaving a few adults scattered about the dining room to linger over cups of steaming coffee, the group trudged through the snow toward the big red barns behind the main house to be equipped with sleds. Hearing the snow crunch beneath their boots brought to mind more happy moments from Nicole’s memory banks. A teenage boy named Jared helped Bronson and Jed as they salted and plowed the walkways and roads on the ranch property. Nicole remembered quilting the day before with Jared’s mother, Frances.
Harley, Buck’s golden retriever, followed everyone else, his tail wagging as he trotted alongside the group. All of the Haven children were there. Emma, Laina, and a man Laina introduced as her husband, Austin, also joined them. Nicole was glad to be able to chat with Laina on the way to the barns. The entire band from Redemption Revolution weren’t too far behind, and Amy mentioned that Harley loved Casey and would be really happy to see him. There were lots of folks from around the ranch in the group, ready to enjoy a morning of sled riding. Logan, Buck, and Jack equipped everyone with sleds from a shed near the barns, and then the eager sled riders followed the wranglers to a hill.
Amy spotted Jack at the sheds right away and after he’d helped pass out sleds, he hung back from the group to walk beside them. “I’m so glad you’re here today, Cowboy Jack.”
“I am too, Amy.” He smiled and winked at Amy, then gave Nicole a warm smile with sparkling eyes that sent a message of friendship and caring.
Nicole decided something was different between the two of them from the past few days of not speaking to each other. The tension was gone. She fell in step with both of them and hoped for the best.
Moments later, Harley realized who was present. He turned around and started barking. Then he broke off in a run and tackled Casey to the ground, sled and all, licking his face and showing him lots of canine affection.
“Aw, Harley!” Casey laughed as the dog greeted him. “I love you, too, Harley. Down boy! Down boy!”
The group turned and laughed, especially Buck, since Harley was his dog.
“He sure do like ya!” Buck shook his head and grinned. “Down, Harley! Down boy!” Harley finished greeting his new friend and raced back to Buck’s side.
As he passed by Amy, he stopped to nuzzle her hand, causing her to giggle. She’d met Harley on a number of occasions and they’d also become good friends. Nicole was just glad the playful dog didn’t tackle her daughter.
When they saw the band leader rise to his feet unharmed, everyone continued trudging through the snow drifts. Then they saw the hill in the distance. Most of the children in the group ran on ahead, covering the distance to the top of the hill in record time.
Soon, they were all at the top of the wide hill. Logan gave Grace Anne a push after she sat down on her sled and hollered, “One-two-three, go Miss Marshmallow Twinkle Toes! Off you go!” She screamed with glee all the way, the first one to conquer the hill.
Seconds later, the others spread out across the top and then there were sleds loaded with riders speeding down across the hill.
When it was Amy’s turn, Nicole and Jack watched her go flying down the hill. Amy was exuberant and laughing the whole time. The second time, she called out to Harley and he jumped on her sled. He put his paws on her shoulders and his tail wagged all the way to the bottom, the wind blowing through his hair and eyes. Amy laughed all the way and his red bandana flew out to one side. He was having as much fun as the kids were. When he’d ridden with Amy a few times, he jumped off the sled and ran toward Casey to do the same with his other new friend.
“What a fun dog!” Nicole remarked to Jack as a flurry of activity happened around them with other sled riders racing down the hill.
Jack nodded with a wide grin. “They’re having a blast!”
A few seconds later, he looked at her and held up his sled. “There’s room for two. Wanna go down the hill together?”
She nodded. “Sure! Amy’s on her way back up the hill. Let’s do it!” He positioned the sled and she sat down in front.
“Hold on tight,” he instructed as he sat down and wrapped his arms around her to hold the rope on the front of the sled. His long legs stretched out around her and rested on the front end of the sled. “This sled doesn’t have a navigation system, but we’ll hope for a straight ride.”
“Sounds great to me!” She clasped her gloved hands around his strong arms. He gave them a push forward and they were off, racing downward, the wind blowing in their faces as they flew down the hill.
At the bottom, they laughed as they tumbled off of the sled and into a snow drift. In a fit of giggling, she managed to say, “Let’s do it again!”
“All right! Ready?” he asked, pulling her to her feet.
She nodded and he grabbed her hand to help her climb back to the top of the hill again. Amy was waiting for them at the top, surrounded by friendly faces Nicole recognized as band members from Redemption Revolution.
“You two went down the hill really fast!” Amy grinned up at her with her sparkling blue eyes, brighter than ever.
“We flew!” Nicole smiled. “Why don’t you introduce me to all of your friends from the band?”
“All right,” Amy nodded as Jack stepped beside Nicole with the sled. “You know Casey.”
“Yes, hey Casey. Great to see you again.” She didn’t offer to shake hands since some were wearing mittens and heavy gloves which made handshakes awkward. Instead, Casey gave her a fist bump and a friendly nod with a wide grin.
“And this is J.J., Shamille, Emilio, Sofia, José, Juan, Makayla, Taylor, Elijah, Isai
ah, and Trinity.” Amy remembered each of them.
“Nice to meet all of you,” Jack gave each one a fist bump. “I’ve seen most of you around the ranch.”
“You’re all so talented. It’s great to meet you,” Nicole smiled. “Thanks for being so nice to Amy. If she’s a bother...” One of her eyebrows went up.
Casey stopped her before she could finish her sentence. “No, not at all. Amy’s been fun to hang out with from time to time. She moonwalks really well.”
“We’ve enjoyed having Amy at some of our practices.” Taylor, one of the five female members of the band, smiled and gave Amy a high five.
“Yes, we have,” Makayla agreed.
“I’m going down the hill with Harley again,” Amy said as the retriever nuzzled her hand. She took off, running to the spot where she’d launched her sled the last time. She plopped down on the sled and Harley jumped on like he had before. Over and over, they spent the rest of the morning sled riding down the hill. Sometimes Amy joined Savannah, Micah, Zach, Gracie Anne, Jackie, and Emma to pile on a number of sleds and race each other. Sometimes the wranglers gave them a push and the kids laughed, yelling all the way down the hill.
“How long do you think this snow will last?” Nicole asked Jack after they’d reached the top of the hill for about the tenth time.
“Oh, not long. It’s still early. We probably have quite a bit of fall weather ahead of us; though most likely, it will be rain and leaves falling. I think this little snowstorm we just experienced means we’re in for a long, hard winter.”
“I see,” Nicole nodded. “My dad could always tell about things like that from the weather.”
Then there was a chilling scream, and when Nicole turned and looked, all she could see was Amy’s body in her pink coat lying face down against an icy snow drift.
Chapter 16
Look to the LORD and his strength; seek his face always.
I Chronicles 16:11, NIV
Harley arrived at Amy’s side first, barking and tugging on her scarf, nipping at her coat to try to rouse her. He nudged her arm with his nose, but nothing caused her to move.
