“Sounds pretty brutal. But...” Cal prompted. “I mean, what happened after that?”

  “It backfired on her. The more action work they asked me to do, the more confidence I had in myself, and some of the stunts were elevated. The box office receipts went up and I was called on to do more and more projects. In the end, no one would hire the other woman and she eventually left Hollywood. The last I heard of her, she’d returned to her home in the Midwest and was working at her family’s rental car company. And that’s how I got into the business.”

  “Like it?”

  “I loved it.” She smiled.

  “You’ll be fine,” Cal said.

  “You don’t know that.”

  “I do,” he said confidently. “You’re a winner and you didn’t do what they said.”

  She knew he meant all those who’d believed she’d miscalculated something in the stunt’s design. Cal’s tone had a softness to it and the underlying conviction made her believe he was right.

  She did nothing wrong. Piper knew that in her heart, but she couldn’t prove it. At least not yet.

  * * *

  A SOUND WOKE CAL. He groaned, groping for the insistent trill without opening his eyes. It couldn’t be morning already, he thought. He hadn’t gone to bed until after two. Opening one eye, he grabbed the clock that had traveled the world with him and shut it off.

  The fact that it was dark and the sound continued penetrated his brain. Pushing himself up, he stared at the clock in his hand. It wasn’t the alarm clock, but an incoming call. Grabbing the phone, Cal smiled as he pressed the accept button.

  “Don’t you remember I’m in Montana, where it’s two hours earlier than it is in New York and I don’t have to be awake at the crack of dawn?”

  His brother Jake laughed. “And good morning to you, too. Sorry about the time difference. You were always an early riser. I thought you’d be up by now,” his brother said.

  “It’s different out here, clean air, lots of sunshine, horses to ride every day.”

  “Are you riding?”

  “Every day,” Cal yawned. “I’m even taking trick riding lessons.”

  Jake’s laugh was full and loud. “There’s got to be a catch to that,” he said. “I’m the extreme sports one. At least I was.”

  Jake had been very athletic, doing thrill sports, taking dangerous chances. Then he’d been involved in an attack in Paris that had nothing to do with sports. It put him out of commission for a few years. But it was meeting and falling in love with Lauren that changed him. She never asked him to stop doing what he loved. In fact, she encouraged him to do what made him happy. However, Jake said she made him happiest, and after that, they were never far from each other.

  Cal envied him. His brother was content, settled in the best possible sense.

  “I find the riding fun and the tricks are...let’s say entertaining.”

  Jake laughed again. “Does that mean you spend more time on the ground than in the saddle?”

  “Exactly,” Cal replied.

  “This is something I need to see.” Jake’s laugh was pure joy.

  “Hey, why don’t you and Lauren come out? I know two doctors have to have schedules that are hard to change, but—”

  “Stop,” Jake interrupted. “That’s the reason I’m calling. We’re attending a medical conference in Seattle next week.”

  “That’s practically in my backyard,” Cal said. They had to get together. He hadn’t seen his brother in a year. He’d be willing to fly to Seattle to spend time with him.

  “Give or take a state or two or three,” Jake joked. “On the way back, we thought we’d stop in Montana and see you.”

  “Great.” This was even better than Cal flying to the coast. Jake and Lauren could stay with him, see the ranch and catch up. “I’ll tell Naomi.”

  “Naomi?”

  “She’s my housekeeper, although she thinks she’s more than that. And she is. Anyway, you’ll love her.”

  “Is she the one giving the trick riding lessons?”

  Cal chuckled. “Wait till you meet Naomi. She’s a true character.”

  “Next week,” Jake said. “I’ll text you the dates.”

  “Sounds good.”

  He hung up. Shifting his feet to the floor, he stood. He could never go back to sleep once he was awake. And now he had something to look forward to. After Jake’s accident, Cal thought the two of them might be straining their brotherly relationship, but they were closer now than they’d ever been. When Jake and Lauren visited, maybe the four of them could... Cal stopped. Four? He was including Piper in his plans. Usually, it was just his brother and himself getting together and catching up. Now there was Lauren. She didn’t know anyone in Montana and they shouldn’t leave her with only Naomi for company. Had Cal just assumed he’d bring Piper along? Would she go if he invited her?

  He could ask her. She already knew Jake, at least, she knew his reputation. And it would give Cal another chance to spend some time with her.

  He liked the thought of that. Sure, they were working together, but getting together wasn’t part of either’s plan. Plans, he thought with a sly smile. Weren’t they made to be changed?

  * * *

  CLUTCHING THE LEATHER tether in her hand, Piper led one of Cal’s horses in circles. Britt, one of her better students, was in the saddle.

  “Sit up, Britt,” she said. “Keep your back straight.” Usually, she wouldn’t use a tether with Britt when riding, but her horse appeared a little jumpy today. Piper thought she’d play it safe. And Britt wasn’t her usual self, either.

  The young girl did as she was told. She was an excellent rider. But today her attitude seemed different. They went through several exercises and routines. She did them expertly, technically, but with no feeling.

  “What’s wrong, Britt?”

  “Nothing,” the young girl said.

  “That’s obviously not the truth,” Piper said. “Why don’t you get down and we’ll talk. Your lesson is over for today anyway.”

  Britt climbed down. She was ten years old with long black hair, almost the same color as the horse she preferred. As usual, her students would tie their horses to the post near the fence when done. Britt did the same thing.

  “Now, what’s bothering you? Your riding was fine, you did everything correct, but your heart wasn’t in it.”

  Britt stroked the mare, running her hand down its nose and along its jawline.

  “I wanna learn how to do tricks.”

  “What?”

  “I saw you doing the tricks and I wanna learn that.”

  Piper leaned against the fence. “Did you see who my student was?” she asked.

  Britt nodded. “He owns the Christensen ranch.”

  “That’s right. And he’s a little older than you.”

  “But I can ride,” Britt challenged.

  “I know and you are excellent at it, but for the moment you’re too young.”

  “What if I get older?”

  Piper wanted to laugh, but she’d worked with enough young people to know and understand that to them everything in their lives was of supreme importance.

  “When you’re a little older, we’ll talk about it. And—” The words stopped the joy that seemed to be about to burst on Britt’s face. “We’ll have to discuss this with your parents.”

  Her face didn’t fall, but it was drawn a bit.

  “How old do I have to be?”

  “Probably in your teens.”

  “That long?” she whined.

  “Trick riding is dangerous,” Piper told her. “If you master your current riding program and you’re ready for those lessons when you’re fourteen or fifteen, we’ll talk to your parents.”

  “Okay,” she said, dragging out the word. Then she quickly looked up. “How about this?” she asked. “How about I come and watch you teaching Mr. Masters?”

  “How about I have him come and watch you?”

  She frowned, shaking her head.

  “Same for him. He doesn’t want people watching him, either.”

  “Okay,” she said again, understanding reflected in her eyes.

  Britt’s mom arrived, and with a wave, the girl was off and running.

  Piper smiled and waved as mother and daughter headed home. She supposed word of her giving Cal lessons was out. If Britt knew about them, the other students did, too, along with their parents and probably every other person in Waymon Valley. Piper realized she’d just promised a child that she’d be at the ranch in four or five years when she became a teenager. Was that some kind of premonition? Where would Cal be in five years?

  And why did she care?

  He seemed to pop into her mind at any time. He was due for a lesson soon. She needed to get ready for that. She couldn’t believe how fast he could change directions—change her direction. Piper thought back to their conversation of a few days ago after she’d discovered him looking into her past.

  One moment she was so angry with him and the next they were collaborating on re-creating the circumstances surrounding the accident. This time she wanted a different outcome, but discovering the true reason for the tangled metal scaffolding that resulted from a two-minute sequence was the real reason she’d gone along with Cal’s plan.

  It made sense, Piper thought. She should have thought of it herself. Re-creating the stunt would show her what happened—where the flaw took place.

  She didn’t have time to think more on that. Cal’s truck pulled into the driveway. It was time for his lesson. Piper shook her head, getting rid of her thoughts, and quickly went into the lesson.

  Cal did everything she asked of him, and to his credit, he spent less time falling off the horse and getting up from the ground. He was a good student. Like Britt.

  “That’s it,” Piper said when they finished.

  Cal jumped down from the horse and grabbed the reins. “Am I going to keep doing the same exercises over and over?”

  “Don’t be in such a hurry,” she cautioned. “When I feel you’ve mastered the current skill set and you’re ready, we’ll go on.” She gave him a long look that defied him to challenge her.

  While Cal didn’t seem pleased, he also didn’t argue with her. After a minute, he shrugged. “Well, since we can’t move on here, maybe we should move ahead with your project.”

  She nodded. It was what she wanted. Even though she’d been reviewing the accident for over a year, Cal gave her a new perspective and she was more excited about it now than she had been before.

  They headed to the house, where she’d set up a workplace. Her small office proved too small for what they needed. They’d commandeered the dining room, which now looked more like a war room with the equipment Cal had brought. His computer, two more monitors, a printer, paper and files. He’d converted the details Tamara had sent into schematics and blueprints. There was a landline telephone that had been at the ranch since she was a child. It was black and heavy and usually sat on a small table near the stairs. Piper plugged it in and set it on the table alongside both their cell phones.

  Her cell rang and she saw Tamara’s name on the small screen.

  “Hi, Tamara,” she greeted her. Cal glanced up from the notes he was making. “What’s up?”

  “Tell me what I hear is not true,” Tamara said without the standard greeting.

  “What have you heard?”

  “That you’re planning a do-over of the accident.”

  “Wow, that was fast. Where did you hear that?” Piper glanced at Cal.

  “Does it matter?” she asked. “Is it true?”

  “Uh, I’m not re-creating an accident.” Piper didn’t have to ask which accident. While stunt workers had many unexpected incidents, there was only one that mattered to the two of them. Piper couldn’t believe that word of her project had reached California already. Hitting the speaker button, she laid the phone down. “Tamara, Caleb Masters is here with me. He’s the engineer on the project. You’re on speaker.”

  She glanced at Cal, who’d stopped what he was doing and looked at the phone.

  “So it’s true?” Tamara repeated.

  “It’s true that I’m trying to find out what the cause of the accident was,” Piper said. “As for staging an accident, there isn’t going to be one.”

  “How can I help? I don’t start filming for another month. I can come there and do whatever you need. I know you’re desperate for answers. To be honest, so am I.”

  Cal and Piper looked at each other. Both raised their eyebrows, then smiled. Cal gave her a thumbs-up.

  Piper had to curb her enthusiasm when she responded. She swallowed hard and tried to make her voice as calm as possible. “That would be wonderful, but...”

  “But what?” Tamara prompted.

  “What about Xavier? Won’t you have to tell him where you’ll be?”

  “I won’t hide it. He’s got my number. If something comes up, he can call. I’ll be a short plane ride away.”

  “Only if you charter one. We’re a hundred miles from the nearest airport and flights don’t happen as often here as they do in LA.”

  “Then I’ll charter one,” Tamara said.

  Again, Piper looked at Cal.

  “We don’t want to create any problems.” Cal spoke for the first time. His voice was deep and husky. “Your work should come first.”

  “It will,” she said without hesitation. “Being there will give me added experience I need.”

  Piper knew her friend meant when she began her own business, this experience could help. Being involved in this project would increase her already dense knowledge of running a business and Piper valued her help. Cal hunched and lowered his shoulders, not understanding. Piper didn’t feel she could include him in Tamara’s plans.

  “It’s up to you,” he said, giving Piper the final decision.

  “How soon can you get here?” Piper asked.

  “I’ll be there tomorrow,” she said.

  Piper could hear the smile in Tamara’s voice.

  “Even if chartering my own plane is the only way.” Tamara began laughing as if she was finding the humor in her own joke. “I’d like to see the look on Xavier’s face when he finds out.”

  Piper didn’t see that as funny. “See you then.” She pressed the button ending the call and looked at Cal.

  “Nice. You have your first crew member,” he said.

  “I wonder how she found out about this. Meghan and you are the only people I talked to.”

  “There’s Naomi, who knows everyone in town, and the employees that help run this ranch,” Cal said.

  “None of them know Tamara.”

  Piper didn’t think to ask Tamara later on how she found out about their plan. She also didn’t arrive the next day, but two days later, and by that time the trucks and crews that Cal had called sailed in like an invading armada. He’d cashed in a few favors and Piper had contacted several of the film schools in the area. Since it was summer, she didn’t expect much help, but with social media, her phone rang constantly with people asking if she still needed help. She accepted all requests.

  Between phone calls and riding lessons, she and Cal continued their nonstop work on the upcoming parameters for the controversial stunt. Piper viewed the table with all its papers and machines. She stood up, weary after what seemed like hours in one position, and stretched. Placing her hands on the small of her back, she bent as far back as she could. Coming to an upright position, she bent forward and grabbed her ankles, then placed her head between her knees.

  “Wow,” Cal said from his seat at the table. He looked upside down from her position. “I’ve seen some flexible people, but you don’t seem to have joints.”

  Piper laughed and stood up straight. Her back still hurt. Remembering something she’d do on set, Piper lay down on the floor. She stretched her arms above her head and extended her feet in a taut hold.

  “What are you doing?” Cal asked. This time he got up and came around, peering down on her.

  “Stretching,” she said. “I’ve been in one spot too long. I should have gotten up and moved, but we were so into the process that I forgot.”

  That was what he did to her. Thoughts of things that came naturally were totally off-kilter when Cal came anywhere near her. And they were constantly together these days.

  Cal spun a chair around and sat in it. With his hands, he flexed his fingers, indicating that she should come to him. Piper sat up and another hand gesture had her turning her back to him. He began massaging her shoulders and back.

  Her eyes closed. His fingers spread warmth through her muscles, easing the tension. She could sit there the rest of the day as long as his hands kept moving, drawing circles and spreading heat and relaxation all over her.

  “How’d you get to work with a star like Elisabeth Grey?” Cal broke into her thoughts.

  “It was an accident,” Piper said. “I literally fell into it.”

  “You what?” Cal asked, sounding amused. “Really?”

  Piper’s head bobbed up and down.

  “What happened?”

  Piper was enjoying the massage but tried to concentrate on remembering her first encounter with Elisabeth.

  “I was finished for the day, but Elisabeth Grey was working and I wanted to see her. I was trying to be quiet on the set, but I tripped and fell directly into the stunt coordinator’s arms.” She laughed, recalling the moment. “I disrupted the entire scene.”

  “But you got hired?”

  “No, I got fired.”

  “That seems like a mistake on their part,” Cal said.

  “I thought so, but my credentials weren’t revoked immediately. I still wanted to see Elisabeth Grey. So, I went back to the set and watched. It was an outside scene, so no one noticed an extra person standing around, especially since I was known by some of the crew. Elisabeth did her bit and then her double stepped in, but the stunt didn’t go as planned. She missed her timing and fell behind the horse she was supposed to ride.” Piper stopped thinking of her own upcoming stunt. “No one was hurt.” She rushed to explain.