Stand-in: Take 3 of the Kanyon and Daylen Series

by K. B. Draper

  “Daylen, you don’t know that’s true.”

  “Aunt Ruby, I saw it with my own eyes.”

  “Sometimes you can’t trust your eyes. You have to trust what’s in here.” Ruby tapped her chest. At her niece’s eye roll, she continued. “Don’t believe me? I mean, who am I, just an all-knowing, all-seeing, Seeker with extra-special, supernatural, physic powers,” Ruby replied with an added flare of drama to lighten the mood.

  Daylen smiled despite herself. “Okay, Super-Swami, tell me what Lexi was doing there then.”

  Ruby dropped the dramatics and laid a hand over Daylen’s. “That, I wish I did know.”

  “Yeah, so then we’re back to–”

  Ruby cut her off. “What I do know is Lexi is extremely dangerous and I believe she’s targeted Kanyon for a reason.”

  Daylen stiffened. “What reason?”

  Ruby stood with a shrug. “I don’t know. Kanyon is a very desirable woman so there could be many reasons; residual fame, money,” Ruby started for the door, “or …”

  “Or what?”

  “Or it could be that Kanyon is simply amazing in bed.”

  Daylen narrowed her eyes. “I hate you.”

  “I’m just saying, according to TMZ, multiple bedfellows have said that Kanyon is–”

  “Kanyon is none of those things that filth rag writes. She doesn’t sleep around. She wouldn’t just … Never–” Her words came to a stumbling stop mid-rant, realizing the trap she’d just walked into. “You suck.”

  Ruby smirked. “Now, are you just going to sit here and do the whole ‘woe is me’ thing or are you going to get your happy ass up and go fight for what is yours?”

  Daylen huffed a sigh of defeat before standing and grabbing her bag off the back of her chair.

  “Little FYI, the Guardian isn’t the only protector in this partnership. The two are meant to protect each other from the big bads of the world. Or in this case, it could be simply from a Hollywood ho.” Ruby continued in a more serious tone, “Daylen, sweetheart, I don’t know exactly what Lexi is up to, but I fear there’s more to her.” She held up a hand to cut off Daylen. “I don’t know what, it’s just … I don’t know. There’s just something about it that doesn’t feel right.”

  “You think Kanyon’s in danger,” Daylen whispered.

  “I do. And without each other, both Guardian and Seeker are vulnerable.” Ruby softened her next words. “It might be hard and it might be painful, but what I do know all too well, there will be a lot more pain involved if you don’t at least try.”

  Daylen caught the agony that lay heavy in her aunt’s face before she could turn away. Daylen stared at the door after her aunt, then let her eyes move to the desk across the room. Staring at the space Kanyon had once occupied, she let her emotions and the regret in her aunt’s eyes mix in her mind. “I need to fix this,” she finally whispered.

  “Fix what?” Theo asked from the doorway. “I’m good with tools, I can totally help.”

  Daylen blinked her thoughts away. “Not this time. I have to go about this one on my own,” she said, more for herself than Theo. “Anyway. Good morning. What’s up?”

  “Morning. Nothing. Just wanted to tell you I have the reports for Ruby finished and the background checks you needed. I emailed the results to you just a few minutes ago. I wanted to see if you needed anything else before I go?” She looked at her watch. Is it already time to go?

  “I know it’s early,” Theo rushed to say. “But remember, I wanted to check out early today so I could stand in line. You know, for the sale tomorrow.”

  Daylen nodded, smiling. “Oh right, the big comic book deal. What is it?”

  “The One Day Fantastic Fantasy and Space-tacular Cosmic Comic This Realm Only Clearance Sale,” he offered with a kid-like enthusiasm. “Me and my friends are camping out on the sidewalk tonight so we’re the first ones in the door tomorrow. Unless you need me, then I can stay, no problem.”

  “No, absolutely not. I mean, it’s in this realm for one day. No way can you miss that. Get out of here!”

  “You sure? If you need me, I mean, when I walked in …”

  “I’m good.” She shooed him out. “Go.”

  “Alright. Cool. Then I’ll see you tomorrow. I’ll be late.”

  “Whenever you get here is fine. Good luck and take the cookies on the table with you. You guys might need some sustenance tonight.”

  “Sweet! See you tomorrow.” He high-fived the top of the door frame on his way out.

  Daylen was grinning as she heard Theo’s excited feet hit the stairs and then a few seconds later the back door slammed. The smile slid from her lips as her eyes wandered back across the room to Kanyon’s desk.

  Ruby passed by her door again and furrowed her brow. “Do you need me to get you some cream?”

  “Cream?” Daylen asked.

  “Yes.” She swirled a finger at Daylen. “I’m afraid that tail you have tucked between your legs is going to start rubbing a raw spot.”

  “Funny. And I’m flipping going to go see her already. Like right now,” Daylen proclaimed as her heart reacted to that little reality.

  “Good lord!” Ruby threw up her hands, blocking her eyes. “What are you trying to do, blind me? Shield for heaven’s sake!”

  Daylen shielded. “A little overdramatic, don’t you think?”

  Ruby stepped forward cautiously. “Sweetheart, I haven’t been that overwhelmed by conflicting colors since the 60’s when I walked in high to a tie-dye store run by a gay, black man, who thought he might be a Republican.” Daylen narrowed her brow. “I’m just saying. You’re like a kaleidoscope on an acid trip.”

  “High? Acid? I think we need to incorporate a company-wide random drug testing policy.”

  “A good joint might do someone in this room some good.”

  “Whatever.”

  “Daylen, you know what needs to be done. You’ve procrastinated long enough. It’s not going to get any easier. Go get your Guardian.” Ruby ordered as she pointed to the door.

  “I said I was going.”

  “And yet, here you still are.”

  “Have I mentioned lately that you’re evil?” Daylen muttered as she stomped past her aunt.

  “Love you too,” Ruby replied, as she gave her niece’s back a little finger wave.

  Daylen arrived at the studio an hour and a half later. The traffic had delayed her but she didn’t mind, it had given her time to think of seventeen different ways to approach Kanyon and ample time to promptly dismiss each and every one of them. Sitting in line at the studio gate, the particular gate she’d fled from the night before, she reached for the air conditioner knob and cranked it another notch as images of Lexi and Kanyon began to plague her mind. “Geezz.” She took a deep breath. “I’m way too young for freaking hot flashes.” She pulled up another car length. She was just going to have to deal with the fact Kanyon might have moved on. And if that were the case, then she’d just have to tuck her emotions away like she had for the five years they’d been on the Dark Savior set. She pulled up another car length. Last time she’d simply focused on the job of playing Freya, this time she’d just have to focus on being a Seeker. “Yeah, I can do that,” Daylen said out loud to convince herself. “We could just be friends. Kanyon could date …” she stopped and flipped the air to high as her skin hit surface of the sun levels, “anyone but Miss Have a Good Lay Café.” She groaned. “I hate this.” She banged her head against the steering wheel.

  “Miss Elliott?” Reynolds leaned down to greet her. “You okay?”

  Daylen’s head shot up just as a car horn blasted behind them. She stared at the concerned face in her window. “Sorry,” she apologized quickly.

  “You okay, Miss Elliott?”

  Daylen waved a hand. “I’m fine, just a headache.”

  “You sure? You look a little flush.”

  “I’m okay. Thanks.” Another horn blasted and Reynolds straightened, giving the person behind them a pointed loo
k.

  “Sorry. I’m sorry.” Daylen fumbled to say through her embarrassment. “I’ll move up.”

  Reynolds walked alongside her car as Daylen moved to the gate. He grabbed his clipboard from the guard shack ledge. “Kanyon again?”

  Daylen smiled. “Yes.” If she’ll see me. “Is she on set?”

  “Yes, ma’am. She came in extra early this morning. You know her. They’re still shooting on the back lot. Same place as yesterday.” Reynolds stepped back and waved her forward. “Hope you get to feeling better, Miss Elliott.”

  “Thanks, Reynolds.”

  Kanyon was just finishing the last shot of the morning when they broke for a late lunch. She headed back to her trailer to check on Ralph.

  “Ms. McKane,” Cody called from across the lot. Kanyon turned just in time to see Cody peel the makeup girl off his chest, grab a bag that was sitting next to him, and start toward her. “I got the stuff you wanted.” He held out the bag.

  Kanyon took a quick peek inside to see a couple of dishes, a rawhide bone, and a collar. “Perfect. Thanks.”

  “I asked the guys who were filming the K-9 comedy in Studio B for some dog food. They said they’d have someone drop it off at your trailer.” He reached into his pocket. “Here’s the receipt and your change.”

  She waved him off. “Keep it. Thanks, this is great.”

  “No problem. Let me know if you need anything else.” He took off back to the makeup girl, who immediately wrapped herself around him again.

  Kanyon shook her head at the odd coupling then headed off to her trailer where she found a bag of dog food at her door.

  “Hey, Ralph,” Kanyon greeted, as she pulled out the two bowls, filling one with water and the other with food. “Here you go. Lunch.”

  Ralph hopped down from the couch, sniffed the bowl, and then looked up at Kanyon.

  “What?”

  Ralph put a purposeful paw on the edge of the bowl, scoffed, then stepped. Dog food scattered across the trailer floor.

  When the last kibble came to its final resting place, Kanyon looked at Ralph, an irritated fist on her hip. “Are you freaking kidding me?”

  Ralph lifted his head skyward in his indignation.

  Kanyon knelt. “Let’s get one thing straight. You are a dog. This …” she scooped up a handful of food, “is dog food.”

  Ralph lifted his nose to the air, sniffed, moved to the trailer door, hit the latch with a paw, and then unceremoniously trotted outside.

  Kanyon quickly scrambled after him, grabbing the dog collar before she hit the door. She found him relieving himself on the costume designer’s trailer tires. She would’ve been upset with him, but after suffering through five wardrobe changes in the last two hours, she was perfectly okay with Ralph’s choice. “Done?”

  He bobbed his head.

  “Good.” She held out the collar. “Listen, I won’t make you wear a leash, but you at least have to put on a collar so they won’t think you’re some stray that wandered onto the set.”

  Ralph inspected the plain black leather collar she held out and lowered his head so she could slide it on his neck.

  “Thank you. Now, back in the trailer.” He shook his head. “Ralph, you can’t wander around out here.” He sniffed the air then locked in on the lunch table that was piled high with deli sandwiches.

  “Those are for the cast and crew, not dogs.” Ralph scoffed. “You have food in the trailer.” She pointed.

  Ralph gave her ample time to change her mind, but when she put a defiant fist on her hip, he sighed then threw his head back and let out an eardrum splitting, dramatically overplayed ‘I’m going to die of hunger’ howl.

  Kanyon stood frozen, disbelieving the raw volume that Ralph could produce. When she realized everything and everyone around her had stopped to look at them, she immediately jumped on him, using nearly her whole body to smother his head. When he went an octave higher and a decibel louder Kanyon released him. “Okay. Okay! I’ll get you a freaking sandwich.” He bellowed another tragic howl that moved directly into a pathetic moan. “Fine, two! I’ll get you two!”

  Ralph cut off his wail with a satisfied snort and casually trotted back to her trailer.

  Kanyon spun to see everyone in the immediate area staring at her. She held up a hand. “Sorry. Sorry.” She moved quickly to the catering table. “He gets a little moody when he’s hungry.” She snatched up a handful of sandwiches and a bag of chips. “I ahh … Yeah.” She didn’t even try to explain, she simply double-timed it back to her trailer.

  When the door shut behind her, she dropped the sandwiches on the table. “I cannot believe you did that. You probably caused shots to be ruined.” He scoffed. “Reshoots costs money and time.” He scoffed again. “And seriously, stop doing that! It’s freaking annoying.” She knelt back down, swept up the rest of the dog food, dumped it back in the bowl, and then topped it with two sandwiches. “There.”

  Ralph sat looking at her.

  “Well, go ahead.”

  Ralph stepped over the bowl, moved to the small built-in kitchen table, took a seat in the booth, and patiently waited to be served.

  “You have got to be flippin’ kidding me?”

  Ralph put a paw on the table.

  “Jesus!” Kanyon bent down, snagged the bowl, and slid it in front of him. “You’re ridiculous.”

  Ralph gently plucked the two sandwiches out of the bowl and sat them gently on the table. Then with a quick flick of his paw, he pushed the bowl of dog food off the end of the table.

  Kanyon watched the bits of dry brown nuggets bounce and ping around the floor. When they were done, she looked back up. “You’re going to clean that up.”

  Ralph scoffed.

  “I’m serious.” And to prove it, she snapped and pointed at the floor.

  Ralph looked at the bag of potato chips.

  “No, those are mine. Pick up the dog food.” She added a foot stomp. He looked at her for a long moment then slowly raised his head back into howl position. “Don’t you freakin’ dare!”

  Ralph lowered his head and gave the bag of chips a pointed look.

  “I’m pretty sure chips aren’t good for dogs.” Ralph started to raise his head again. “Fine! Geez. Here!” She snatched the bag off the table and thrust them out to him. He took them delicately in his teeth as he gave her sandwich a sidelong look. “No. Mine.” He gave her a scoff, then ate the two sandwiches, but took the bag of chips to the couch where he dropped back down.

  “Great. Good talk.” Kanyon knelt to sweep the dog food back up with her hands.

  With the floor and her hands clean, she sat at the kitchen table with her sandwich. Who was she kidding, she wasn’t hungry. Ralph was watching her from the couch. “Fine, it’s all yours,” she said, tossing the sandwich at him. He caught and immediately ate it.

  A knock came at the door and Kanyon groaned again, all she wanted was two minutes of quiet to think or not to think. Kanyon sighed as she took note of the wall clock. She still had twenty minutes until her next call. “If this is the sadistic hair chick,” she looked at Ralph, “I give you full permission to go Cujo on her ass.” Ralph gave her a nod.

  Kanyon stood to open the door, the preemptive excuse already tumbling from her mouth. “This isn’t a good time, I’m–”

  “Sorry. I should’ve called. I can come back,” Daylen said, already retreating a step.

  “What are you doing here?” The surprise and involuntary jolt to her heart caused her words to sound sharper than she’d intended.

  Daylen took another step back. “I was hoping we could talk, but if this isn’t a good–”

  “No. I–” Isadora’s words raced through Kanyon’s mind. “I–” She caught a flash of movement out of the corner of her eye and looked back to see Ralph moving back to the couch with something out of her refrigerator clasped in his teeth.

  “You have company. I shouldn’t have … I’m going to go.” Daylen stumbled away quickly as heat started to surge thro
ugh her body.

  “No,” Kanyon snapped harsher than she meant, but she didn’t want Daylen to get any further away. She softened her tone. “No. There’s no one here.”

  “Oh.” Daylen stopped and looked in the direction Kanyon had, as if she could suddenly see through trailer walls. “I thought maybe …” She shook the thought of Lexi away. “Can we talk?”

  Kanyon’s heart was screaming something loosely translated to, “About flipping time! Yes!” but her brain had apparently slipped a cog and seized up.

  “I understand if you don’t want to see me. This was a bad idea. I can go if you–” Daylen filled the long silence.

  She was slow on the uptake but the threat of Daylen leaving had her mouth moving again. “Yes.” Pause. “I mean, no. No, I don’t want you to go. Yes, we can talk. Sorry. I’m just a bit surprised.”

  “Understandably.” Daylen tried for a smile, not sure if it actually made it all the way to her mouth.

  Kanyon stepped back and held the door open. “Come in.” As Daylen passed, Kanyon’s heart did a bumper car version of the Indy 500, racing around her rib cage, randomly slamming into anything in its way.

  Daylen looked back at Kanyon as she shut the door behind them. “I didn’t know if I should just drop in like this, but I figured there was a better chance of catching you here than at home. I’m sure your shooting schedule is hectic. But if you rather, I can–”

  “Here. Now. Now is fine. I’m on a short break while they adjust lighting and switch out equipment.”

  They stood staring at each other for a long moment until Daylen broke eye contact, unable to look into Kanyon’s deep blue eyes without wanting to dive into them. “I, ah, was hoping we cou–” Daylen’s words were cut off by unmistakable groaning and an “Oh, baby, right there” soundtrack came alive in the background.

  “Gawd!” Kanyon dove for the remote, grabbing and clicking the television off in one blurry flash. She stood back up and pointed the remote at Ralph. “Bad dog. Bad, pervy, pervy, dog,” she scolded. Daylen tried to cover her laugh. “I’m sorry. He’s ahh …” Kanyon started.