The days sped by too quickly for all of them, and on Wednesday, they got ready for the rodeo with great anticipation, and drove into Jackson Hole late that afternoon. It was a big deal, even though it happened once a week. There was steer roping and bronco riding, and clowns to distract the bulls from attacking the riders when they fell off. There were prizes, country music, and people of all ages watching the event. They took their seats right before “The Star-Spangled Banner” was sung, and Kait was startled when she heard Nick Brooke’s name announced as the person about to sing the national anthem. He had a powerful and moving voice, and it reminded her that she hadn’t called him, although she had promised Zack she would. She was having too much fun with her kids. After he sang, she got up, and told her family she’d be back in a minute. This would be an easy way to see him, if she could catch up with him. But she didn’t have far to go. He was standing near one of the bull pens, with his horse tied to a rail, chatting with some of the other men he knew. He looked like a real cowboy, in a blue shirt and a battered cowboy hat, wearing chaps. She stood to one side, waiting to talk to him when he was free, and he noticed her after a few minutes and looked at her quizzically as she approached him.
“I didn’t want to bother you. I’m sure you don’t remember me. I’m Kait Whittier. I’m the co-executive producer of The Wilder Women, we met with Zack Winter in L.A.” He smiled broadly as she said it, and held out a hand to shake hers.
“Of course I remember you. I don’t forget beautiful women. I’m not dead yet. How’s the show going?” He had a wide smile and brilliant blue eyes, and a casual, warm style. He was much friendlier than he had been in L.A., and more at ease on home turf. He had seemed tense to her at their meeting, but he didn’t now.
“We start shooting in two weeks. Everyone’s very excited about it, and the media welcome has been strong. We have some great talent in the cast. And we’re all very excited about your joining us. Season two will be a knockout thanks to you.”
“I doubt that. It’s going to be a new experience for me. I’ve never done TV before, but it seems to be the hot ticket now. My agent didn’t think I should miss the chance.” She just hoped they would have a second season, so he could be part of it. Nothing in life was sure, nor on TV, if their ratings weren’t strong. Shows as good as theirs had died an early death for no reason anyone could figure out, but she wanted the show to be lucky and have a long run. “I’d rather be here,” he confessed to her. “I spent ten years in L.A., but I’m a cowboy at heart.” Someone signaled him as he said it, and he nodded. “Now you’ll have a chance to watch me make a fool of myself.” His smile grew even wider as he pushed his hat down securely and climbed the railing of the pen next to them.
“What are you going to do?” She looked surprised as he laughed.
“I try my hand at the broncos every week. It keeps me humble,” he said, as he smiled down at her from the upper rail where he was sitting, as she remembered the clause in their leading actors’ contracts which forbade them to skydive, parachute, or do dangerous sports, but bucking broncos weren’t on the list, and suddenly she smiled too. “Keep this to yourself,” he said in a sheepish tone.
“I won’t tell. I have a daughter who isn’t happy unless she’s risking her life.”
“I’m not shooting till August or September,” he reminded her. “That’ll give me time for the broken ribs to heal.”
“You’re crazy,” she said, and he laughed again. But she knew he wasn’t, nor stupid. He just liked doing what he wanted, and the life he led suited him. “I was going to call you, by the way, but I didn’t want to intrude.”
“Come for dinner at my ranch,” he said, and then hopped off the railing, went down a narrow passage and then up a short ladder to where he would mount the bronco he was riding that day. She watched him, fascinated, and felt as though she knew him even after such a short conversation. She hoped he wouldn’t get hurt. A moment later, they announced his name, and he and the horse exploded out of the stall. He managed to stay on the rocketing horse for several seconds, and then got tossed, as three clowns danced around and men helped him up and led him out of the ring. He was unfazed by the rough ride, and came back to see her with a lopsided smile as he put his hat back on.
“See what I mean? There’s nothing in L.A. to compare to this.” He looked happy as can be as she shook her head in wonder, and two women rushed over to ask for an autograph, having realized that he was the Nick Brooke, not just any rider.
“Are you okay?” she asked, after he’d signed his name and was pleasant to the two women, and posed for a picture with them.
“Of course. I do this all the time.”
“Maybe you could skip this while you’re shooting,” she suggested and laughed.
“I didn’t see any rodeos in the bible.”
“That’s true,” she admitted.
“Will you come to dinner?” He looked her straight in the eye with his piercing gaze and waited for her answer while she hesitated.
“I’d love to, but there are too many of us. I have my kids with me, their significant others, and my son’s two little girls.”
“You don’t look like you’d have grandchildren,” he commented, admiring her from his considerable height.
“If that’s a compliment, thank you. Anyway, I’ll spare you feeding all of us, but you’re welcome to come to the ranch.”
“I think I can rustle up enough food for your whole group,” he said casually. “Tomorrow at seven?” She didn’t want to seem rude by declining, so she nodded. “Circle Four Ranch. Your ranch will know where it is. Where are you staying?”
“The Grand Teton Ranch,” she answered quickly.
“That’s a nice one,” he said, approving. “See you tomorrow. Nothing fancy, just come in jeans. The kids can swim while we have dinner if they want. The grown-ups too.”
“Are you sure?” She was embarrassed to impose on him.
“Do I look like a man who doesn’t know his mind, or is afraid of a few kids?” He was teasing her, and she laughed.
“No, you don’t. And thank you,” she said, as he waved and walked away, and glanced back at her once. He was painfully handsome, and had a kind of innate charm that turned her legs to mush, and she scolded herself for it on the way back to their seats. He was a movie star, for God’s sake, she reminded herself, of course he was charming. And the last thing she needed was to make an ass of herself flirting with him, or being bowled over by him, just because he rode a bucking horse and looked cute in a hat.
She was apologetic when she got back to the others. “I’m sorry. I needed to talk to the guy who sang the anthem.”
Tommy laughed at her. “You think I don’t know who he is, Mom? That’s Nick Brooke, the actor. Do you know him?” He was surprised. She had a whole life that was unfamiliar to him now.
“He’s the leading man in our second season, if we last that long. I was supposed to call him this week, and didn’t. He invited us all to dinner tomorrow night, and I didn’t know how to get out of it.”
“Get out of it?” Tommy said. “I want to meet him!”
“Meet who?” Maribeth leaned over to ask. The girls were covered in cotton candy and having a great time.
“My mother knows Nick Brooke. We’re having dinner at his house tomorrow.”
“Oh my God, I didn’t bring anything fancy,” Maribeth said, panicked, and Candace leaned toward them too.
“Neither did I. Where are we going?”
“To have dinner with a movie star,” Tommy said, enchanted with the idea. Nick was his favorite actor.
“I’ll lend you both something,” Stephanie volunteered and everyone laughed. She was wearing jeans with holes in them, with high-top sneakers that were in shreds, just as she had every night.
“I think I’ll borrow something from Mom,” Candace said diplomatically.
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“He said to come in jeans, and the kids can swim during dinner, and so can we. That was him on the last bucking bronco, by the way,” she told them, and Tommy was visibly impressed.
“Now, that’s a real guy,” he said admiringly.
“He must be insane,” Frank commented. “I felt sick watching it.”
“So did I,” Kait said ruefully. “If he kills himself, we have no male lead for season two.”
They chatted animatedly and watched the rest of the rodeo, and talked about dinner with Nick on the way back to the ranch. They were all excited to meet him, and still startled that Kait knew him.
“Your life has definitely gotten interesting, Mom,” Tommy said, and she laughed.
“I guess it has,” she admitted. She hadn’t really had time to think about it, but she had met a lot of important actors in the past four months, and she and Maeve had become good friends. She didn’t really know Nick Brooke except to shake hands with him. And now they were all going to dinner at his ranch. It didn’t mean anything, she knew, but at least it impressed her kids. That was something.
* * *
—
The clerk at the desk gave them the directions to Nick’s ranch, and Kait didn’t know what to expect as they drove there. They had worn shirts and jeans, and those who had them wore cowboy boots. The Texas part of the clan was properly equipped, and she and Candace had bought some boots a few days before in Jackson Hole. Stephanie and Frank were wearing their holey Converse high-tops, but they all looked respectable as they reached the ranch, spoke into an intercom, and the gate swung open to let them in. They drove what seemed like miles to the main house, past horses grazing in pastures. The place had a peaceful feel to it, and the land around it seemed vast. The house was a big, rambling ranch house on top of a hill with an immense patio and a huge barn nearby, where he kept his best horses.
Nick was waiting, and offered them drinks and beer, and sodas for the girls, and from the patio they had a sweeping view of his land as far as the eye could see. Kait could imagine sitting for hours, just admiring the view. And there was an immense pool, with tables with chairs and umbrellas around it. It looked like a small hotel more than a house.
“I spend a lot of time here,” he explained. “This is my home.” He chatted easily with Frank and Tom, joked with the children, and invited everyone to sit down. There was a chef working at the barbecue, and a young man in jeans and a checked shirt served hors d’oeuvres, grilled cheese sandwiches cut up in tiny bites. Nick asked if there were any vegetarians in the group, and Stephanie raised her hand. They had a special meal for her. And they chatted comfortably for an hour while he talked about his horses, and they watched a spectacular sunset. He took them to his main barn at Tom’s request. Everything was high-tech precision there, and the horses he bred were obviously thoroughbreds.
“My father-in-law has racehorses,” Tom said quietly, “but I don’t know anything about them.” He started asking questions and Nick politely answered everything he wanted to know. Then they wandered back to the house, and dinner was waiting for them. It was all easygoing food that most people loved to eat, Southern fried chicken, barbecued ribs, corn on the cob, mashed potatoes, string beans, a huge salad, and a veggie plate for Stephanie. And for dessert, there was peach pie Nick said he had made himself from their own peaches. He had seated Kait next to him and chatted with her, and made sure he talked to the others as well. He and Tom particularly hit it off, and of course Nick knew who Maribeth’s father was when Tom said he worked for him. Nick was originally from Texas, and everyone in the state knew who Hank Starr was.
“And which one of you is the one who likes to live on the edge of danger?” he asked amiably, and his eyes went straight to Candace, and she laughed.
“I guess you could say that, or that’s how my mother sees it. I’m just doing my job,” she said benignly, with an embarrassed glance at her mother for outing her.
“Which is?” Nick asked with interest, and Kait suspected that he was attracted to her, although he was more than twenty years older, but there was nothing lascivious in his look. He just admired pretty women, which Candace was. But he seemed more interested in Kait, and spoke quietly to her whenever he got the chance, as though they knew each other better than they did.
“I produce documentaries for the BBC,” Candace answered. “Sometimes we go to out-of-the-way places.”
“She got blown up by a land mine near Mombasa three months ago.” Tom dotted the i’s for him, and Nick nodded.
“Yeah, that’s definitely out of the way. And you’re okay now?” He was sympathetic.
“Her arms caught on fire, she still has to wear bandages,” Merrie explained, and Candace shot her a quelling glance.
“I’m fine. Mom came to London and took care of me.” She smiled at her mother as though it was an ordinary occurrence.
“And you can’t wait to go back for more?” he challenged her, and she laughed and nodded, while Kait said nothing.
“You’re as crazy as I am,” Nick said. “I ride the broncos every week. I’ve given up the bulls. No land mines in the ring, though. You’re playing against some heavy odds there.” He told it like it was and she shrugged, and he didn’t say more. He was a straight shooter and straight talker, and more than just a cowboy. He was very scientific and knowledgeable about his horses and his breeding operation. “We’ve sired some of the finest horses in the country here,” he said proudly.
After dinner, the others went swimming, and Nick and Kait sat on the patio and talked quietly while she enjoyed the view. He smiled at her.
“I like your family, Kait. Your son’s a good man. It’s not easy bringing up kids like that these days. You must spend a lot of time with them.”
“I used to, when they were growing up. Now we’re all spread out and don’t see much of each other. Never enough for me.” She tried not to sound melancholy about it, and she was loving the vacation with them. The evening with Nick was an added bonus, getting to know him a little before he did the show. “Do you have children?” she asked cautiously. Sometimes that was an intrusive question, but he didn’t seem like a man of secrets. He had a natural reserve, but she didn’t have the sense that there was anything hidden about him.
“No, I don’t. I’m not sure I’d have been good at it. When I was young, I didn’t want them. Now I wish I had, but I feel too old for them. I like my life the way it is and doing what I want. You have to be unselfish to have kids, and I’m not. Acting is a demanding profession, if you do it right. I paid attention to it for a lot of years when I was younger. Now I pick and choose what I want to do. There’s not a lot of room for kids in that, or there wouldn’t have been then, when it counted. There’s nothing worse than lousy parents. I didn’t want to be one. I had my own.
“I grew up on a ranch until I was twelve. I was state raised after that for four years when my father died in a bar fight. I never knew my mom. I went to Nashville at sixteen and thought I wanted to be a country singer, and figured out I didn’t want that life. It was all seedy guys backstage trying to take advantage of the new kids. I didn’t see daylight for a year. I wound up in L.A., and got a lucky part. The rest is history. I studied acting, went to college at night, worked hard, made some money, and moved back to the real world when I got the chance. Now here I am, happy at last. If I’d dragged a kid through that, I would have made a mess of it. You pay a price for success. I gave up children. I’m not sorry.”
“It’s not too late,” she said, smiling at him. He was still young, two years younger than she was.
“I’m not that guy,” he said simply. “I don’t want to be some old guy with a twenty-year-old wife and a baby. It took me a long time to grow up, now I’m here. I don’t need to prove anything to anyone anymore, or show off with a girl young enough to be my granddaughter, who’ll run off on me in a few years and leave me crying. I
like my life the way it is. A good part in a picture now and then, good people, good friends, and I have a great life here. The L.A. scene is not my thing. It never was.”
“Have you ever been married?”
“Once. A long time ago. It was one of those country music deals, about cheating hearts and broken dreams.” He smiled as he said it. “I was very young and naïve, and she was a lot smarter than I was. She took my heart, my credit cards, emptied my bank account, and ran off with my best friend. That was when I left Nashville and went to L.A. I concentrated on my career after that, and I did okay.”
She laughed at the way he said it. “You certainly did.”
“Not in the way you think,” he said very specifically, looking her in the eye again. “It feels great getting an Oscar as a reward for hard work. The okay part is here,” he said, waving at the hills around them, and the mountains beyond. “This is where I live, and who I am.” He was an honest man with no artifice and no pretensions, who knew what he wanted and who he was, and had worked hard to get there. And now he was enjoying it to the fullest. “Are you married, Kait?” He was curious about her too.
“I was. Twice. Two mistakes. The first time I was young too. He didn’t steal my credit cards, he just never grew up, and took off. So the kids grew up with me, and he was out of their lives. The second time I was older and should have known better. There was a misunderstanding about who we were. It ended pretty quickly when he made it clear.”
The Cast Page 14
