 "Excuse
me, Sir. Do you know where I can find Zane Dumas?"
Zane stiffened, tipped his light Stetson back on his head,
and glanced towards the voice coming from outside the corral.
A distinctively feminine face peered through the wooden railings.
Wisp of wheat blonde hair. High cheekbones. Soft mouth. Female,
all right.
He slung the lead rope over his shoulder and gave the young
stallion a we're-not-finished-here-look. The soft dirt poofed
beneath Zane's boots as he headed for the split rail fence.
"Can I help you ma'am?" he
asked grimly. It was hotter than blazes and he swiped his
wet forehead, thinking he didn't smell pretty.
"This is the Twin Bar Ranch,
isn't it?"
A bead of sweat trickled down his
back and his white cotton t-shirt clung to his skin. He'd
been in the corral all morning, first with a nervous filly,
and now with a spirited stallion. He loved his Arabians but
they were notoriously sensitive and right now he was tired
to the bone. "It is."
"I'm trying to track down the
owner, a Mr. Dumas. Do you know where I can find him?"
"You have. Right here." Zane whacked a hand against
his back pocket, knocking off the dust, before extending it
through the fence. "Zane Dumas. Something I can do for
you?"
She stared at his hand for a split-second,
her pale forehead furrowing before she shook it. "Eve Caffrey," she
said, her voice cool, clipped, all business.
Her hand felt small in his, but that
was no surprise. He was built big, tall and solid, even for
a cowboy. "I know
that name."
Her smile looked tight. "You
should. I left you a couple messages last week. I'm with
Studioworks in Hollywood, California."
So that's what this was about. The movie they wanted to shoot
on his ranch. The movie they were supposed to shoot nearly
three months ago while he was gone.
Frustration welled and he clamped
his jaw tight. He didn't have time for this. Didn't need
the hassle, either. Releasing her hand, he hooked his thumbs
around his belt loops. "You're wasting your time."
 "You have a contract with Studioworks,
Mr. Dumas."
"Had a contract, Miss Caffrey,
and I've been through this with your folks already. Don't you people talk?"
LIKE IT? ORDER
IT!
top |
