“He’s my second favorite uncle,” said Billy as he giggled behind his mitten.
“First!” Jack called from where he and Sparkle were ready for their shot.
“I thought I’d met all the Nichols boys. You mean to tell me there’s more of them out here?” She waved her hand around.
Mitzi burst out laughing. “Five in total. But only Caleb and Forest are married. Forest is just younger than the twins.”
“I didn’t mean….” Natasha wasn’t sure how to explain that she wasn’t asking about anyone’s marital status, but was shocked that there were more wranglers. How many people did it take to run a reindeer ranch?
“Let’s take it from one!” called the assistant director.
“I have to go. Don’t move from this spot.” Natasha pointed to her eyes and then back at Billy, teasing a grin out of him. He was missing a tooth and had freckles across his nose.
Mitzi made an X over her heart and looked down at her son, who did the same thing. Okay, that was utterly adorable. Natasha hurried off to her sad little Christmas tree and the basket of red bows she was supposed to use to decorate it.
The first rule of being an extra in a movie is that you don’t pay any attention to the lead actors. They existed in a whole other world. She was basically part of the set. A breathing, moving part, but just background for what was happening in their universe.
Not watching Sparkle and Raelynn together was tough. The two of them were adorable in every way. They truly delighted in one another, and the chemistry was palpable.
“But what will Santa do without his reindeer?” Raelynn asked her on-screen mother.
“I’m certain that’s not one of Santa’s reindeer.” She read his line with just enough exasperation to show she was frustrated, but not so much that she was considered the bad guy for being short with her little girl.
“But Mom…” Raelynn protested at being pulled away from Sparkle.
“Honey, just wait here while mommy goes and pays for the tree. Okay?” She left her there, digging in her pocket for the wallet she’d left at home, but didn’t know it yet.
Raelynn took a step toward Sparkle. “Are you one of Santa’s reindeer?” she asked with all the innocence of a newborn baby.
Sparkle lowered her head as if nodding yes.
“Can you tell him what I want for Christmas?”
Sparkle nodded again. Raelynn stepped right up to Sparkle. Natasha sucked in a breath. The movement was quick, and any typical deer would have startled, stepping away. Sparkle lowered her head so her ear was nearer Raelynn’s cupped hand.
The image was pure cinematic gold. Miguel’s face was so bright it could spotlight the cast. Jennifer was in tears.
“Tell Santa Claus,” Raelynn whispered dramatically. “I want a new daddy for Christmas.”
The director lifted his arm to yell cut but hesitated, holding his breath as Sparkle moved. She leaned her forehead against Raelynn’s, closed her eyes, and gave her a little nudge.
Happy sighs echoed across the set.
Everything inside of Natasha wanted to sing “Rudolf the Red Nosed Reindeer.” This was going to be the best made-for-TV Christmas movie in over a decade, and it was all because of her!
She was the one who found the reindeer ranch.
She was the one who convinced Jack to let Sparkle be in the movie.
If this didn’t get her the promotion, then nothing would.
Two dynamic scenes later, after the crew was emotionally wrung out and yet soaring high on their performance—made infinitely better by the reindeer—Jack said it was time for Sparkle to return to the barn.
No one protested.
How could they? What they’d gotten on film today was worth more than the year’s worth of filming.
Natasha made her way over to the heater, where Mitzi and Billy had stood perfectly still to watch everything unfold.
