Page 71 of A Cameo for a Cowgirl

She nodded. “So go on then. Pray.”

Wow. Good thing he’d had some practice praying aloud with others recently. He wondered if he should hold her hand or whether that was simply temptation calling him, then figured God could probably hear him even if he didn’t. He closed his eyes though. She was too distracting. “Hey Lord, we give this, uh, friendship to You, and ask You to have Your way in our hearts. If this is of You, then please make a way. If it’s not, thank You that You know what You’re doing and help us to trust You. Amen.”

He opened his eyes, saw Cassie wipe away a tear, her smile tremulous. Then saw Maxine standing behind her, her mouth agape.

“That was beautiful,” Cassie said. “Thanks.”

Maxine cleared her throat, causing Cassie to jump. “Um, I don’t know what I’ve just interrupted here, but Harrison, they’re asking for you on set.”

Ouch. “Sorry, Cassie, I better hustle .”

“Thanks for talking.”

“You’re welcome.”

Her smile filled his heart, her promise buoying him as he scrambled into his costume, hastened to set, and listened to Mal’s complaint about being kept waiting.

But he didn’t mind. Cassie liked him. She really liked him.

God was so good and was working things out.

Fifteen

“Now, don’t breathe in too tight,” Glenda said to Cassie. “You still need to be able to fit it when you’re actually moving.”

Why had she agreed to doing this? Because opportunities for a cameo for a cowgirl didn’t come every day. As Poppy liked to say, opportunities passed, they didn’t pause. So it was either help out and try this today, or forever wonder what if.

Which was why she was standing here, in the costume fitting department, trying to fit into some of those clothes that she’d always hung up in the prop barn, but had never thought that she might actually wear herself. Although the way she was going, there was a danger she wouldn’t even be able to fit into this. Proof that perhaps she’d indulged in a little too much honeycomb ice cream of late.

She soon found a way of adjusting the skirt and corset, so it didn’t bite her ribs too hard. And it had to be said the corset gave her a figure she hadn’t owned since her bridesmaid dress. She wondered what Harrison would say when he saw her.

Her stomach swirled in anticipation. She hadn’t seen him since that last encounter, with ranch work keeping her busy. But she soon would be in close proximity with Harrison, and after that last encounter when he’d prayed—he’d prayed!—she now sensed that this time together with him today—and potentially in the future—could really be okay. She could do this. They were both Christians. And adults. And seeing he still liked her—which still felt impossible but he’d said it, so he probably meant it—then the cameras would ensure no funny business could occur. At least until the cameras stopped, and she’d finally get the chance to find out whether he meant what he’d said before, or if he’d just been acting.

After she’d agreed, and Ainsley had got her agent to sign her up, and she’d signed a million forms and waivers, Mal had discussed the role in more detail.

Apparently, all she had to do was ride her horse—she even got to use Ginger—and creative license would show her thrown into a river, which was actually the creek of infamy from several weeks ago. Oh, she hoped there’d be no snakes involved today.

A short time later, she was in hair and makeup. It felt strange to be wearing this much make up again for the second time in four weeks, but she did have to admit the end result looked pretty nice, especially the fat curls in her hair. And when she finally exited the make-up trailer, she was met with a wolf whistle.

“Cassie? Hello, is that Cassie?” Ainsley grinned. “Girl, you look good.”

“Like I’m ready to stop a runaway horse?”

“Like you’re ready to give a certain Mountie a heart attack.”

Her cheeks heated, and she picked up the edge of her skirt like Ainsley did. Look at her, getting lessons at her age on how to act like a lady.

Then when she moved to the corral where Ginger was, she saw Harrison, who was stroking and talking to his horse. Dressed in the red and navy of a Mountie, he was everything handsome and honorable and heroic. Her heart fluttered. And now he was a Christian, Harrison was everything that a hero should be.

He turned and spotted her, his eyes widening, and he looked her up and down. Then gulped. Audibly.

Ainsley snickered, Ted chuckled, and Cassie’s cheeks grew hotter.

“Are you sure you’re gonna manage in this scene?” Ainsley teased him.

“If you need a replacement for Cassie, you can always use me,” Annie called. “I’d be happy to be rescued by Sweet Cheeks there any time he likes.”

Her husband guffawed. “I don’t know that the feeling would be mutual, honey.”

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