Natasha could add another item to her never-thought-this-would-happen-to-me-in-a-million-years list: Reindeer auditions.
Seriously, this was so cool.
No pun intended, considering her breath froze around her head like her own personal fog machine.
Jack, or one of his brothers, would bring an animal out, walking them along the small stage they’d set up so the team could look them over and decide which one they wanted to play opposite their star.
The animals were characters. She had no idea there was so much personality in a reindeer.
One thing that had become clear was that they would need to cast a female reindeer for the role. Apparently, this was new reindeer trivia for her; the males shed their antlers before Christmas. All the guys came through bald as an eagle. Not that she’d mention it to them!
Another thing she’d learned over the last 30 minutes was that reindeer were prideful creatures–as proud as the day was long. And they didn’t take kindly to any type of critique. You couldn’t tell them that their hips were too large, their winter coat too thick, their eyes too small, or their nose the wrong color.
Glory, so named because she had a white halo around her antlers, pranced across the stage and flicked her tail. She was pretty, but not quite what they were looking for.
Jennifer had not realized how easily offended the reindeer could be until McJingles nipped at her coat. Oh, he hadn’t done any harm, but he’d scared the otherwise intimidating producer into cowering behind Miguel. From then on, they kept their mouths shut as to why they rejected a reindeer and simply shook their heads at one another.
So funny how they’d been reduced to miming by a herd of reindeer.
Even with her heart warmed by the reindeer’s antics, it was freezing out here. The wind had picked up this afternoon, and her bones ached with it. Thankfully she and Jack had returned with the sleigh before the frigidness set in. Otherwise, they’d be hunkered down in a snow cave for warmth.
Not an entirely horrible image.
Who was she kidding? She’d love to snuggle up to this wrangler and let him warm her lips with aproperkiss.
What she wanted and what she should do were two completely different things.
She should stay focused on this production, on being the best studio representative Forever Love had ever seen so she could earn a full-time job and salary.
They were several days into filming now, and so far, she’d killed it; not even a hiccup in their schedule. Jack was a big part of that. His willingness to jump on the tractor and move a trailer or a snowbank was super helpful. Miguel made several comments about Forever Love investing in a John Deere.
Hey, if this studio representative job didn’t work out, she could always take a position as the tractor specialist. Her dad would get a kick out of that.
There was this other part of her, probably the small-town girl Jennifer looked down on, who felt at home on the Reindeer Wrangler Ranch in a way she’d never felt in Hollywood. This place was familiar to her; the barbed wire fences, the animals, the smells, and the smoke constantly whispering up from the chimneys. All of it gave her the sense that she’d stepped into the life she was born to live. And marrying into it was just as good as being born into it. Better in her mind because she got to pick the cowboy.
What was she thinking?Her brain must have iced over because she’d just met Jack. Just. Met. Him! Marriage was lightyears away from a cozy sleigh ride. Sheesh. If she didn’t stop that crazy train of thought, she’d picture their twin boys and the little girl to follow.
Holy reindeer droppings, she was nuts!
“Next!” yelled Miguel, right next to her. She jumped as if he’d read her thoughts. He glanced at her out of the corner of his eye. Yeah, she was a partridge in a pear tree cuckoo bird.
Besides, Jack may flirt and everything, but that didn’t mean he was honestly interested in her or willing to go the distance. That distance was all the way to rocking chairs on the front porch.
The big barn worked as a wind block for auditions and would later do the same for filming. Shooting inside the barn would be a lot better, but there were no less than three “Keep Out” signs on the door, one “Employees Only,” and one that simply read “Danger.”
“What do you think of Apples?” Jack walked the animal around in a circle like a horse at auction. “He’d be amazing on film. His bloodlines are impeccable, and he’s strong enough to pull a sleigh. The best part about this well-mannered guy is that he’ll do almost anything for an apple.” He stopped walking and pulled an apple out of his jacket pocket.
Apples sniffed the air and then turned toward Jack’s hand. His eye landed on the shiny treat, and he licked his lips. He licked his lips.
Natasha grinned at the sight. That movement would be a lot of fun to play up on screen. The Christmas audience would love it.
“Sit, Apples,” Jack commanded.
Apples took a step forward. Jack pulled his hand back, letting the intense reindeer know he meant to see the trick before the treat. Apples spread his legs and plopped onto his backside, his eyes never leaving the red snack.
Natasha laughed. He looked so funny with his spindly legs poking out in front of him. Goofy was excellent for children. They adored seeing animals act in odd ways. Jennifer and Eva clapped. Miguel made a note on his cast list.
Jack tossed the apple to the reindeer, and he caught it with achomp!He did a couple more tricks, including jumping over a log and laying down looking incredibly pathetic. All of which were requirements for their star reindeer.
