Saddle Up(42)

“Randa, honey, you asked for my opinion, and I gave you the perfect answer. Now all you need to do is find a way to persuade him. Seems to me you have all the right weapons in your…er…arsenal,” she replied with a wink.

“But Keith was one of Bibi’s clients. If I ask him and she gets wind of it, she’ll toss me out like yesterday’s leftovers. Or worse, she’ll try to sue me.”

“Can she?” Lexi asked.

“I don’t know.” Miranda shrugged. “Maybe. There’s a noncompete clause in my contract, stating that I can’t enter into any other project or endeavor that competes with the interests of Starlight Productions. Given that they produce documentaries, I have only two choices. I can trash the project and keep the job I hate…or…”

“Or?” Lexi prompted.

Miranda’s stomach tightened. “Or quit the job to pursue my real dream.” She’d known from the start that there was a possible conflict of interest, but she refused to give up on the film.

“It’s not as simple as all that,” Lexi replied. “If you cross Bibi, you might as well pack your bags. You’ll never work in this town again.”

“I know, Lex, but maybe this is exactly the wake-up I needed. Since I came back from Nevada, nothing seems to make any sense anymore. I didn’t get into this field for fame and fortune. I’ve always wanted to use my camera to make a difference. Now I have a chance to do that. If I quit with Bibi, I’ll have no reason not to see my project through.”

“You’d better consider this carefully,” Lexi warned. “You’ve worked hard. I’d hate to see it all blow up in your face. If Bibi has any sway, which we all know she does, you won’t be able to do anything with that film.”

“There are other opportunities besides Hollywood.”

“You’re thinking about leaving? Are you crazy?” Lexi asked.

“Maybe.” Miranda gave a dry laugh. “You know I’ve never felt that I belonged here, Lex. All this time I thought Hollywood was what I wanted, but this documentary has changed everything. It’s what I want to do, what I need to do.”

“So you really are serious about quitting?”

“I think so, but I haven’t made any definite decisions yet. I’m going to Montana this weekend to think things over. Where better than the ranch? Besides, I miss Jo-Jo. I haven’t seen her since my grandfather’s funeral.”

“When are you coming back?”

“I don’t know if I am or not, but if you’re worried about the lease, I have enough saved to cover my half until you find a new roomie.”

“Keep your money. I don’t want it. You’re probably gonna need all of it to edit your film—provided you can even find a place to work on it out there in the middle of nowhere.”

“I already have,” Miranda said. “MSU in Bozeman has a program in Natural History Filmmaking. I’m sure I can arrange to use their equipment.”

“Uh. Huh. I get it now.” Lexi gave a knowing nod.

“Get what?” Miranda asked.

“The reason you’re doing this. This isn’t just about the documentary, is it?”

“Of course it is,” Miranda replied. “Why else would I do it?”

“I don’t know.” Lexi pursed her lips. “Maybe to be closer to a certain cowboy? Didn’t you say he was from Wyoming?”

“He is,” Miranda replied. “But he could be anywhere now. This really has nothing to do with him.”

“Sure it doesn’t.” Lexi wrapped her arms around Miranda. “You’ll be just fine, sweets. Go find your horse whisperer and be happy.”

Miranda replied with a teary smile. Why did Lexi always seem to see straight through her? “Thank you, Lexi. Maybe I’ll do that.”





Chapter 16


Silver Star, Montana

“Randa Jo Sutton! You are a sight for these sore old eyes!” Miranda felt almost assaulted by the strength of her grandmother’s hug. “Need some help with your bags?”

“Don’t worry about it,” Miranda said. “I’ll ask Marvin to get them later.”

“Marvin’s not here anymore.”

“He’s not? But he’s been at Circle S as long as I can remember. I thought you were keeping him on until you sold. Where did he go?”

Jo-Jo grimaced. “Don’t know. Don’t care.”

“What do you mean?” Miranda could hardly suppress her shock. “What happened?”

“I had to let him go. Bud was the only man who could ever keep that misogynistic old bastard in his place. Once Bud passed, Marvin seemed to think he could run roughshod over me. Oh, I knew he’d always kept a flask handy, but he seemed to think he could do as he damned well pleased without Bud around. He even got a wild notion that he could take Bud’s place.”

Miranda frowned. “Are you saying he came on to you?”

“Sure did. Why so shocked? He’s only five years younger than me.”

“It’s not that! It’s just seems really weird. So what did you do?”

“I had to give him the boot, or better said, a knee to the groin. It’s been just me, all by my lonesome, ever since.”