“That’s was the objective,” Rick said with a grin.
A spattering of applause came from the corner of the room that was out of my view. I wanted to lean in to see who it was, but I quickly got my answer.
Wearing a clingy raspberry top over her black yoga shorts, Britney trotted over to Ricky, gushing the whole way.
“You have to teach me how to do that,” she said. “I want to be able to show such a range of emotions just as eloquently as you do.”
He smiled at her and my gut flipped over. Was I already losing him to her? Oh, please, no. Not her.
“I could give you a few pointers,” he said.
He looked up and noticed me then and I was pleased to see his eyes light up with the eagerness to come to me.
“Darling,” he said. “What perfect timing.I was just finishing here and hoping to find you.”
The pouting look of shock and dismay on Britney’s face was worthy of Oscar. She wanted to emote? Well, there she had it. The perfect expression of a woman scorned. For a second I thought she would throw a fit, but she quickly switched gears and slapped on a playful grin.
“I’ll let you get to work,” she told Ricky as she lay a telling hand on his bicep. “Let’s meet up later for that little lesson, all right.”
I saw the restraint, the desperate need to hide from Ricky just how upset she truly was. But I knew that look in her eyes. I knew the spite that resided behind her bright smile. She was trying too hard to be nice, to be pleasant, but she wasn’t fooling me, and I had to hope she wasn’t fooling Ricky either.
She sauntered past us and left the room.
“Don’t forget, Ricky,” Keely said as she prepared to also leave. “They’re forecasting rain tomorrow. We’ll take advantage of that and shoot the scene of you galloping back to Mansfield Park, drenched and on horseback. It’s bound to be a sexy scene.”
He pressed a smile. “I can’t wait.”
The moment she and the camera operator left, he looked at me, his eyes wide with fear.
“Ride. In the rain. Galloping.” He fidgeted. “I’m dead. I’ll never be able to pull it off. I’m dead!”
“Calm down. You’re not dead. Before I’m through with you, you’ll be pulling off galloping in the rain with your eyes closed. Come on. Let’s rid you of this fear of horses once and for all.”
*****
BUSTER AND BETSY WEREsaddled up and ready to go. He helped me up onto Betsy’s back then, with the help of the small stool, got atop Buster. Riding side by side, we walked out of the stable and settled into a pleasant trot.
“This is too fast,” Ricky shouted. He hooted with excitement for a fearful moment, then found the pleasure of the easy gait.
“Get ready,” I said.
We reached the wide-open field, and I tapped Betsy’s belly with the heel of my foot and slapped the reins against her neck.
“Come on!”I shouted.
Betsy took off and Buster followed close behind. Ricky let out a shout of surprise as he bounced uncontrollably on Buster’s back. Then he let out a screech and finally a hoot of amusement.
“Hold a tight rein,” I called to him. “Control him.”
It took him a few beats, but he found the rhythm, riding Buster as if they were one. His movements weren’t quite fluid, but I had no doubt that after an hour of riding, he’d been convincing enough on screen.
As we reached an abandoned pond at the other end of the property, I slowed Betsy and slid off her back, leaving her to graze freely.
Ricky came up to me.
“Look at you,” I said with a laugh as I shielded my eyes from the sun and looked up at him. “You might not be able to pull off a long and complicated horse chase, but I think you’ll do just fine for a short gallop through the rain. Now, get off your high horse and let Buster cool off a bit.”
He laughed as he swung his leg around and hopped off Buster’s back. Without hesitation, he came to me and pulled me into his arms.
