“She’ll need hair and makeup. Obviously,” Shane says. “But she’s pretty. And tall. You two will look good together.”
“And she’s also right here,” I mutter, though Shane doesn’t notice. She’s too busy talking to Amber about details.
“Sorry,” Nathan mouths.
“It’s okay,” I mouth back.
Nathan and Shane walk towards the stables, and I trail behind, watching them intently. He’s smiling and flirting, and they’re bantering back and forth like old friends even though I’m pretty sure he’s only met her a few times before. She’s tossing her hair and laughing, and I can’t even blame her. I’ve had Nathan Booth’s full attention directed at me a few times and it’s enough to make even the most reserved heterosexual woman blush and preen.
I try to shake off the feelings of jealousy that suffuse me as I watch him smile even wider at her, his eyes twinkling. That’s my twinkle, damn it. But as the headline of his last article in Western Horsewoman proclaimed, he’s “America’s Favorite Cowboy.” He’s never been just mine.
“Candice,” Nathan says. “Come here and give Shane a tour of the place.”
“Okay,” I say, smiling at him. I can tell he’s trying to include me. “This is the stable where we house all of the horses, unless they are being quarantined.” My stomach turns at the thought of Storm, dying in her quarantine stall. “And here’s the?—”
“Do you have a lot of horses to quarantine?” Shane cuts in and asks.
“Yes. I mean, it’s standard practice when getting a new animal to isolate them,” I explain, though she’s not really paying attention.
“How old is this place?” she asks, looking down at the worn floorboards.
“Old. My grandparents bought the land in the seventies and built it.”
“That’s great. It has such a rustic feel to it!” Shane chirps. “It’s going to look great in the photos. Though we’ll need a few props to give it more of an old West feel.”
Something about that irks me. We do not need props for authenticity. But I keep my mouth shut and show her the tack room and office. Most of the horses are outside so it’s quiet, and Shane walks around examining everything and making notes.
“I think she really likes it here,” Nathan says, coming to stand next to me.
“Great, I was so worried.” I roll my eyes. “She also likes me! But obviously I’m lacking in the hair and makeup department.”
Nathan chuckles. “Don’t worry, she’ll sic her team of assistants on me as well.”
I fake a gasp. “America’s favorite cowboy wears makeup? I’m shocked.”
“I’m embarrassed to admit how much makeup they slap on me for shoots,” he says. “I tell ‘em I don’t need it, that this mug is better au naturel, but they never listen.” He slaps his cheeks lightly and grins, sending me into peals of laughter.
This piques Shane’s interest and she looks over at us, clearly assessing our relationship. I quickly move away from Nathan, unnerved by her attention. I don’t want any part of my personal life in this article.
“Let’s go outside,” I say, and they both follow behind me.
I show Shane the training ring, paddocks, and our house. She’s most interested in the pasture behind the house, and says it will make a good shooting location. She also scrutinizes the horses, and decides that Maggie will look best with Ballantine. This isn’t surprising—Maggie’s coat is stunning and I always get comments on how beautiful she is. Unfortunately for Shane, she hasn’t been clipped and polished like Ballantine, so she’ll look a bit scruffier than he does in the photos.
Nathan and I head into the trailer the magazine brought with them for hair, makeup, and wardrobe, while Shane talks to the photographer about what shots they want to set up. Getting my hair and makeup done is actually a pretty fun experience, and I send Winnie a bunch of selfies in the process. The makeup enhances my features, and the way they style my hair makes it look beachy and cool, rather than unkempt. I still look like a girl who grew up at a barn, just with better grooming.
The stylist puts me in a long white dress, a tasseled leather vest, and an ornate pair of boots. They also hand me a cowboy hat that matches the boots.
“I’m going to wear my own, if that’s okay,” I tell them. “It’s sentimental.”
I can tell that the stylist would like to argue, but she doesn’t have a chance. Nathan comes out of the dressing room wearing the chaps and jeans she put him in, and she rushes over to tuck and prod at his clothes. I’ve spent enough time with Winnie to know that “zhuzhing” an outfit is an integral part of styling. So I make myself scarce, and head outside to find Shane.
“You look incredible!” Shane says to me, looking up from her phone. “Like, literally a model. No wonder Nathan likes you.”
“We’re friends,” I say, giving her a terse smile. “But thanks.”
“Sure, whatever. We’re going to start out back. Why don’t you go get your horse.”
I try my best not to shiver in the cold, since I’m dressed in something I’d wear in the summer and it’s thirty degrees outside. I cross my arms for warmth and then grab Maggie from the barn, where Tomás has been kind enough to groom her and tack her up. He whistles when he sees me and gives me an exaggerated once over.
