Page 97 of Mountain Rescue
“Just get the bathing suit on, Rachel.”
Weird. She changed, then walked down to where Bran was standing by the Jet Skis. There was still no sign of Jensen, nor were there grips waiting to help get the skis in the ocean. And why didn’t she need the wig and makeup?
“Okay, now what?”
“They want you to walk along the shoreline.”
“And do what?”
He shrugged. “Just walk.”
“That’s not a stunt.” There was something about the way his eyes darted around that made her suspicious. “What’s going on?”
“We have a new investor, and he wants this scene changed. Money talks, so just walk, okay?”
“Whatever.” If they wanted to pay her to walk, she’d walk. Seemed stupid, though.
“Not that way. The other way,” he said when she started off down the beach.
She scowled, not liking the weirdness going on here. She turned around. “This is me walking the other way. Is there any particular way I’m supposed to walk for this stunt that’s not a stunt?”
“Walk however you want.”
So, she walked. In the direction they wanted her to. For no reason she could figure. No wonder she was tired of this life. Jack’s job offer was an answer to her prayers. Well, it would be if she wouldn’t have to see a certain cowboy every day. She didn’t know if she could handle that.
How long was she supposed to walk? Until she disappeared over the horizon? She’d be good with that. Irritated with this stupid stunt and with being pretty sure Bran was hiding something, she lifted her feet high and stomped through the waves.
What in the world was that noise? It sounded like the pounding of horse hooves on the sand. There wasn’t a horse anywhere in the script. She probably wasn’t supposed to turn around, but she did anyway. The setting sun was in her eyes, making her squint. All she could make out was a huge black horse with a rider wearing a black cowboy hat racing at her.
The fool was going to run the horse right over her. If this was the new stunt, they damn well should have told her she really was going to die today. She glanced over at the cameras trained on her as they rolled, then to Bran—who was grinning at her—then to the director, who had a look of pure delight on her face.
“What’s happening?” she screamed as the black-hatted rider reached her, and then she looked into the eyes of her SEAL cowboy. She laughed as he leaned over and scooped her up.
Laughing with her, Dallas dropped Rachel in front of him. “I caught myself a wildcat.”
“Oh my God, how are you here?” She pressed her hand over her heart.
“I came for you.” He pulled Raven—the horse he’d borrowed from someone Phoenix knew in LA—to a stop. “I love you,” he blurted out.
“You do?”
“Absolutely, and I’m sorry I made you doubt that.” He pressed his forehead against hers. “We’ll talk about everything when we’re not sitting on a horse with all those people watching us, but I need you to know one thing right now. I love you with everything I am, and then some.”
She threw her arms around his neck. “That was the best stunt ever. Does this mean you’ll be my cowboy and only my cowboy? That if I come to work for Jack, I’ll never have to see you with some fake-boobies girlfriend?”
He snorted. “No fake-boobies girlfriend for me. If I can’t have you, I’ll just go and die a lonely old man when my time comes.”
“You can have me,” she said right before she slammed her lips against his.
“And that’s a wrap, people!” the director yelled as Dallas rode into the sunset with his girl.
Epilogue
Jack stood on the wraparound porch of the center’s lodge, his gaze sweeping over the grounds. Eight years ago, he’d had a dream to build a place where his brothers and sisters in arms and their families could come, a safe place where they could put aside their troubles for a week or two. Where they could meet others suffering the same and know they weren’t alone. Where the only thing they needed to worry about was having fun.
It wasn’t all fun. He’d brought Noah’s head doc onboard, and she worked with the vets in group and single sessions while they were here. When needed, she counseled their families. Those who were here to get a dog were required to attend daily training sessions with the dog they’d go home with, and they had to keep their dog’s kennel clean. Those who signed up for equine therapy had to clean stalls and groom horses. What continued to amaze him was how their guests stepped up and helped out when they saw something needing doing. It shouldn’t though. These people wanted to feel useful.
The dogs, keeping their sponsors happy, and administrative duties were his responsibility. Dallas’s equine therapy was a favorite of their guests, and his wife, Rachel, had proven to be one of his best hires. Their guests loved her, and she was always coming up with fun ideas to keep them entertained. The children especially loved acting in her plays.
