Page 67 of A Cameo for a Cowgirl

“But I’m not an actor. Wouldn’t I need to have an agent and union membership and all that kind of thing?”

“I can talk to Rosie, my agent, and I’m sure we can sort all of that out. The more important question is, would you like to do it?”

Her hat tilted forward as she considered. Sure she could keep doing what she’d always done, but Poppy was right. Opportunities passed. They didn’t pause. And depending on what it was that Mal suggested, this might be an opportunity she didn’t want passing her by.

Cassie’s phone buzzed with another notification. She glanced at the screen. Her heart tensed. “It’s Mal.”

“Then take it, and let me know what you decide.”

“Will do. Thanks. And bye.” She switched calls. “Hi Mal.”

“Cassie, have I caught you at a bad time?”

“Nope. I’m all yours. Shoot.”

He chuckled. “You really are a cowgirl, aren’t you?”

She watched a tumbleweed roll past. Darn tootin’.

“Look, I’m gonna cut to the chase. It’s about that role I mentioned to you before. You’ll be pleased to know that we’ve tweaked a number of aspects of that scene, and I’d like you to think about whether it’s something you might like to do after all.”

“In what ways has it changed?”

“We seem to have a number of people who agree with you that women in the show have not always been represented in the way that most would prefer. The suggestion was made that it could be a mutual rescuing situation where she helps him and he helps her.”

“So she’s not a helpless female?”

“No. I didn’t personally feel that was what would be portrayed, but some of the other cast members disagreed. And we’ve listened to their concerns.”

“What would I have to do?”

He explained, and she nodded, and they talked logistics, like actor’s membership and scripts. Her words would be few, and she’d be forced to work with Harrison, just like Mal had mentioned before.

Her heart skittered. Work with Harrison. Him rescuing her, she helping him. Equal. Partners. Together. She shivered.

“So what I want to know is whether this is something that you feel like you could do.”

Riding a horse was something she could do. Pretending to get in trouble in a creek was something she could do. Being in such close proximity to Harrison without it affecting her? That was trickier.

“Cassie? You still there?”

“I’m interested,” she said cautiously. “But I need to check with a few people and see if I can make this work.”

“I understand. I know this is a lot to consider, especially with all your work at the ranch.”

Yeah, talking to her dad about ranch work wasn’t who she meant. “How soon do you need to know?”

“By five today?”

She inhaled sharply. “Okay, I’ll do my best.”

It looked like she’d be talking to Harrison at last.

* * *

Harrison placed his head in his hands as he studied his script. The afternoon’s shooting was scheduled soon, and would involve his encounter with Ainsley outside the general store on Main Street. This type of scene made him glad he was staying here, with a simple walk into town rather than a hike over the hill. It looked straightforward enough, he had five lines, she had six, the exchange a simple way of keeping the potential for a relationship between Abigail and Nathaniel alive. As The Heart Draws had multiple storylines to give viewers several hooks to stay engaged, but the biggest draw was always who Abigail was romantically involved with.

He knew who he would like to be romantically involved with, and it wasn’t Abigail or Ainsley. But she hadn’t spoken to him since that last Sunday. And while he was trying to find comfort in his new relationship with God, he felt a degree of anxiety about this strain with her.

---