Lazy Days (63 page)

In
her dorm bedroom, Sarah sat on the side of her bed. She felt like hell and a
glance in the mirror only made her feel worse.
You're almost forty years
old, you have no family of your own, and losing weight is about as easy as writing
a Pulitzer Prize novel.

She
heard commotion outside her room and peeked out her door. Men and women, other
than the current dudes, were hauling suitcases and equipment. Two leggy gals
walked down the hallway, one with mahogany hair and the other a platinum blond.
They both saw her peeking out her door and the blonde made a small waving
motion. Sarah shut her door. They probably thought she was speechless because
of the presence of high fashion models. Maybe they'd offer to sign autographs,
she thought sarcastically.

She
plopped across her bed. Should she ask one of the ranch hands to drive her to
the closest car rental agency and head out into the sunset? The thought of
leaving Sage made her blink rapidly. She'd wanted to treasure her last week
with him and create memories to last a lifetime. Maybe they'd never see each
other again. She heard a knock on her door and then, "Honey, it's me,
Sage."

She
rushed to open the door.
Girl, you're hopeless.

Sage
stepped inside the room and closed the door. Leaning against it, he shut his eyes
for a few seconds. "I'm really sorry, Sarah. I had no idea Chrissie Cabot
was one of the models. If I'd known, I would have refused to work with her.
She's spoiled and impossible."

"You
don't owe me any explanations. It's none of my business."

He
gave her a strange look. "Maybe I want it to be your business."

She
turned and walked to her window. "So, what's your schedule like the rest
of the week?"

"For
the next four days, we'll be doing the shoots early morning until mid afternoon
and again at sunset. Tomorrow the takes will be at the river." He stopped
talking. "Sarah, look at me."

She
turned and acted nonchalant.

He
said, "Nothing's changed." There was a loud knock on her door.
"Do you want me to open it?"

"Might
as well."

He
opened the door to a skinny jovial guy who looked past Sage to Sarah. "Oh,
sorry, I got turned around and thought this was Harvey's room."

Sage
pointed down the hall. "There's his room."

"Thanks."

He
started to close the door when another crew member called his name. "Hey
Sage, you got time to go over the logistics of tomorrow's shoot?"

Sarah
wasn't ready to continue their conversation so she said, "You take care of
business. I'm kind of tired anyway."

He
looked like he didn't believe her, but he must have seen something in her expression
that kept him from saying so. "Okay. We'll talk later." He stepped
into the hall and closed the door.

* * *

It
was just before midnight when Sage finally got off the walkie-talkie with Newt.
Plopping into his recliner, he squeezed his eyes shut. Hopefully, everyone was
lined out for tomorrow. Ned was overseeing work in the north pasture, Newt was
overseeing the dudes, the photo crew had been shown the location of the next
day's shoot, and Curley had worked out the menu for onsite lunch delivery. He rubbed
his eyes. He needed to sleep because he'd be up at the crack of dawn, but he
didn't want to go to bed without Sarah.

Exhausted,
he walked to his bedroom and sat on the side of his bed. Unbuttoning and
removing his shirt and sliding off his belt, he fell backwards across the quilt
his mother had sewn when he was a boy. He wished he'd never agreed to this
modeling job. He wanted to go back in time and tell Pinky to shove it up his
ass. The time he'd spent with Sarah had made him happier than he'd been in a
long time. Their outings, with Julie in tow, had made him want so much more
than just a physical relationship. He longed for a complete family, but he may
have just screwed things up.

Since
the Chrissie debacle that afternoon, Sarah had become reserved and standoffish.
Chrissie was a wart that wouldn't go away. They'd had a short affair that he
intensely regretted. Hell, he'd only slept with her a couple of times; the
first because he was stupid and the second because he was stupider. He tried to
console himself by remembering how bad he'd been feeling. It was around the
anniversary of Marylou's and Michael's deaths and he'd just wanted a warm body
to comfort him.

He
rolled onto his side and placed a hand on Sarah's pillow. She hadn't shown for
supper and when he'd knocked on her door, she'd called out that she wasn't
feeling well and was going to bed early. After supper he'd been presented with
one crisis after another. If tomorrow followed the same pattern, he'd probably
go ballistic on someone. He closed his eyes and fell asleep still in his jeans.

* * *

Hunger
pains gnawed at Sarah when she woke. She'd skipped supper the night before
because the thought of trying to make small talk with the models and crew
wasn't something she could pull off. She also didn't want to watch Chrissie and
the other women put the moves on Sage.
I think I've been bitten by the green
monster of jealousy.

The
sun was barely up when Sarah slinked to the kitchen, hoping to find some
leftovers and sneak them back to her room. She'd just walked into the pantry in
search of Curley's homemade bread when the kitchen door opened and she heard
two women talking.
Oh, fudge, just my luck.
She started to step out of
the pantry to make her presence known when one of the women said, "You
know Sage and Chrissie had a thing going, don't you?"

"Yeah,
but from the way he's ignoring her, I think its dead and buried."

"I
hope so—gives us a chance."

"Hey,
you don't think he's hot for chubby girl, do you. I saw him coming out of her
room. He didn't look happy."

"Are
you serious, Rosie? Do you think he'd go for her?"

There
was a pause, and then, "Naw."

Sarah
heard the refrigerator open and the girl named Rosie ask, "You want some
orange juice?"

"No,
I'm good. We better hurry. That old guy, Newt, said the van leaves at eight and
we still have to sit through makeup."

The
other girl groaned. "Yeah, and with my luck, I'll have to sit next to
Chrissie and listen to her bullshit about how famous she is."

Sarah
heard the door close and released her breath. She didn't feel hungry anymore.

By
noon, after skipping supper the night before and losing her appetite that
morning, Sarah was ravenous. She decided to see if Curley would let her make a
sandwich that she could take back to her room. She only had a few revisions to
the ending of
Dream Kisses,
and then the manuscript was off to Sissy.

The
great room was empty. She figured the dudes were probably horseback riding.
When she entered the kitchen, Curley and Newt were rushing around like crazy
people. Newt was complaining, "Hell, since when did I become an errand
boy. I gots ta take all them hoity-toity greenhorns lunch. What was the boss
thinkin' ta ask em here?" Newt answered his own question. "He was
thinkin' with his pocketbook, that's what."

Curley
mumbled something in response and fastened lids on plastic containers of potato
salad. The door squeaked and the men looked up. Sarah's stomach growled. Curley
said, "Hey, Sarah, you feelin' better? I was gonna knock on your door and
ask if you wanted some soup or somethin' after I got this modelin' bunch taken
care of."

"That's
sweet, Curley. Would it be okay if I just snagged one of those sandwiches? I'm
feeling better now."

"Sure,
little lady. Help yerself. Whatever you want. There's tuna salad or turkey
club."

Sarah
picked up a tuna sandwich and Curley handed her a plate. "You want some
potato salad or chips to go with it?"

"No,
this is plenty. Thank you." She turned to leave. Before she could
rationalize what she was about to ask, she turned back around. "Newt, can
I help you deliver lunch?"

Newt
glanced up from slopping tuna on a piece of bread. "Sure. Need all the
help I can get. I'm leavin' in fifteen minutes."

"Okay,
I'll change and be right back." Chastising herself for her hair-brained
request, she rushed to her room and put on her Levis and a cowboy shirt Julie
had found during one of their second-hand store excursions. She pulled on the
boots she'd bought in L.A. and worn to Boot Bustin' Barn. When she returned,
Newt's rusty pickup was already loaded. She climbed in and he put the truck in
gear, mumbling, "Thanks fer yer help, Missy."

"No
problem."

They
drove several minutes until they reached a gate. Newt jumped out of the truck
to open it, jumped back in to drive through, and back out again to close it.
They followed a dirt road across a pasture. When they crested a hill, she
asked, "So, exactly where is the shoot taking place?  I heard something
about the river."

"Yep,
they're up near the fork where it splits and makes a run toward Triple T. It's
a right pretty place. Just wish them greenhorns would get their business done
and move on. Them bein' here puts a wrench in the gears. Now we got everbody
tryin' ta be in two places at once. Soon's I'm done here, I gots ta hurry back
and meet up with Beaner so's we can give the dudes lasso lessons."

Sarah
didn't know how to respond, so she just nodded in sympathy. Twenty minutes
later they reached the river and turned left. Newt was right about it being
pretty. Tall pines sloped down a rise to the banks of the river. He pulled into
a clearing with an SUV, Sage's pickup, and a couple of vans. He jerked his head
to the side. "Past those trees and rocks is where we're goin'." When
they got out of the cab, Sarah could hear voices coming from below. Newt
reached into the pickup bed to hoist an ice chest onto his shoulder. Sarah
reached for the big box of paper goods, but he said, "No, Missy, you jes
leave that be. Some of them high-falutin' city folk can carry this stuff."

"I
really don't mind."

"Nope,
you jes follow me." He headed across the clearing to a trail that sloped
to the river. Before starting down they paused to watch the scene along its
banks. Three tent canvases had been erected near the tree line. The two smaller
ones had their flaps down on three sides. Inside, folding tables were loaded
with jars, small boxes, and mirrors. Tall chairs were placed next to the
tables. In one of them a man was kicked back reading a magazine.

The
larger tent was open to the outdoors with all its flaps up. Equipment and cords
crammed the entire space and the guy who'd knocked on Sarah's door the day
before was pulling out a heavy cord. Everyone else was gathered near the river
where Sage and Chrissie posed on a ledge jutting above the water. The other two
models stood off to the side watching. A camera man moved like a dancer around
Sage and Chrissie. Nearby, a big man with thick white hair sat in a director's
chair. Even though he was in profile, Sarah could see he was smiling.

Newt
started down the trail and Sarah followed. When they got within hearing range
she listened to the photographer calling instructions. "Hot and sexy! Move
in, Chrissie. Touch his chest. Great!" The camera repeatedly clicked.
"Put a hand on his abs, but let the buttons peek through your
fingers." Click. Click. "Rosie, Diane, join them." The
Photographer clicked a few more shots and then yelled, "Makeup!" A
female crew member rushed to blot the models faces. More instructions were
given. "Let's flank him girls. Chrissie, you kneel in front of him and
look up possessively. Sage, pull Rosie and Diane against your body and give
Rosie a bedroom look." Sarah knew that look, and to her chagrin, the green-eyed
monster reared its head again.

When
she and Newt had almost reached the bottom of the trail, Sage glanced up and
saw her. His countenance changed to one of delight and the photographer called,
"Perfect, Sage. Turn that look on Chrissie."

Sage
frowned. "I need a break." He dropped his arms from around the models
and walked away. The photographer looked disappointed, but yelled, "Break
everyone!" After he turned and saw Newt and Sarah he yelled again,
"Looks like lunch has arrived!"

Sage
stalked toward them, and Newt said under his breath, "Don't look like the boss
is too happy."

Sarah
silently agreed.

Sage
reached them and took the ice chest from Newt. Newt said. "Yo, boss. Wanna
send some greenhorns up to help unload?"

"Sure."
He stared at Sarah. "What are you doing here?"

Newt
piped up. "She was real nice and offered to help."

Sage
turned and called to no one in particular, "Could a couple of you unload Newt's
pickup?"

"Sure,"
returned one of the crew. He tagged another man and they started up the trail.

"Sarah,
come with me. Newt, show the guys what you want them to do."

Sarah
followed Sage to a long folding table under a tree close to the river and he
set the ice chest on it. He said, "I'll be right back," and walked to
the trail.

The
heavy set white-haired man who had been sitting in the director's chair
approached her. "Hello. My name is Harvey Livingston. We haven't
met."

"I'm
Sarah Carter."

The
big man asked, "So, are you one of the ranch employees?"

"Um,
no. I actually came for the dude ranch."

"Sounds
like fun. I'm considering signing up myself."

Sarah
didn't know what to say, so she just smiled.

Harvey
said, "What do you think of the clothing?" Without waiting for her
response, he forged on, "I think my new line is stupendous; already got
great responses from major buyers. I'm thinking of expanding into a children's
line. You know, I started in this business thirty years ago and have made quite
a name for myself. I…"

Sarah
spotted Sage returning with the other men. The clothing designer kept talking
about his accomplishments and she tried to look interested. Even when the men
arrived and set their bundles on the table, the man kept yammering. "Then,
in the early nineties, I set the standard by…" She reached into the supply
box and pulled out a plastic tablecloth, still trying to look interested. As
she set out plates, utensils, and other supplies, Harvey kept up his one-sided
conversation. "Now, the year 2005 was major in my career and that's also
the year I started working with Sage. He did some Vogue work for me. Great
year! Great year!"

When
Harvey paused for breath, Sage called, "Lunch is served." The crew
members dropped what they were doing and headed for the table. The models
stayed in the tall chairs in one of the small tents and continued a private
conversation.

Sage
bent to Sarah's ear. "Grab your lunch and follow me."

Sarah
didn't like the tone of his voice. He sounded short-tempered and frustrated.
She frowned, but placed a tuna sandwich on her plate and walked downstream with
him. He sat on a boulder and she sat on another one a few feet away. He took a
bite of his sandwich. Finally, he asked, "How are you feeling?"

"Better."

He
took another bite. "Why did you really come out here with Newt?"

"I
wanted to help. He seemed a little overwhelmed."

"Is
that the only reason?"

"Yes.
Why else would I come?"

"So,
you weren't a little jealous of me being surrounded by all these women?"
He only sorta sounded like he was teasing.

"Of
course not; it's your job."

"You're
lying."

Sarah
paused with her sandwich halfway to her mouth and felt her face burn. She lied
and said, "I'm not lying."

Sage
studied her face. "There's nothing between Chrissie and me, but at one
time we had a brief…very brief…affair. Thank God it's over."

Sarah
couldn’t help her response. "She doesn't seem to think its over."

"I
don't give a rat's ass what she thinks."

Sarah
shifted her eyes from the intensity of his gaze and stared across the river.

Sage
asked low, "Will you come to the house tonight?"

She
bit her lip. "I…I don't know."

"Okay.
I won't press you."

"Can
I stay and watch the rest of the shoot?"

"Why
do you want to?"

She
looked at him. "I don't exactly know."

He
looked across the river, too. "If that's what you want. Sure." They
finished eating in silence and then he stood. "We better get back."

They
returned to camp and he excused himself when the photographer called his name.
Sarah started cleaning up the table. While she was packing supplies back in the
box, Chrissie and the other two models walked over. Rosie and Diane each
selected a sandwich to nibble on. Chrissie said, "That Curley guy should
have sent a green salad. I
told
him that's what I wanted for
lunch."

"The
turkey is really good, you should try it," said Rosie.

Chrissie
gave her a disdainful look and directed her attention to Sarah who was tossing
discarded plates in a trash bag. "So, Sarah, how much of the shoot did you
see?"

"Just
a couple of minutes."

"Sage
and I look good together, don't we?"

"Yes,
you pose well together." Sarah looked at the other models. "All of
you."

Chrissie
said slyly, "We do
other
things well together, too…better than
well."

Rosie
and Diane snickered.

"Yes,
he told me about that." Sarah tried to sound catty but it came off as
sounding lame.

Chrissie
had cornered the market on catty and shot back with, "We just
do
it
for each other."

Sarah
and the other models looked at her dumbfounded.

The
photographer called to Chrissie. Before she left, she turned to Sarah and
winked. "I guess we've had a common experience." Then she twirled and
pranced away like she was on a Paris runway.

"What
a bitch," Rosie said.

"You
got that right," Diane agreed.

"What
do you say we give her a run for her money—cozy up to Sage the rest of the day?
Who knows, maybe one of us might get lucky."

The
girls started walking away, ignoring Sarah who was once again tossing trash in
a bag. Rosie stopped and turned around, "Hey Sarah, thanks for cleaning
up."

Before
Sarah could think of a witty retort, the leggy beauties were out of earshot.
Slinging uneaten sandwiches back in the ice chest, she didn’t hear Newt until
he was behind her.

"Hey
Sarah, you mad at them sandwiches?"

"Oh,
sorry, Newt. Guess my mind is elsewhere."

Newt
looked from her to the retreating figures of the models. "Don't let em get
ta ya. Sage can't stand the lot of em."

Sarah
shrugged as if she didn't care.

Newt
helped her finish cleaning and packing. He waved to a nearby crewmember.
"Can I get some help hauling this stuff back to my truck?"

"Sure
thing, Newt."

Sarah
grabbed the box of supplies and started toward the trail. When Newt started to
object, she gave him a steely look. He closed his mouth to whatever he'd been
about to say. After the truck was loaded, he opened the passenger door for her.