I have to apologize, my email server crashed over the weekend, I got no emails sent to me from April 17 to the 20th, so I missed everyone’s feedback except for about two from chapter nine. I hope you enjoy this chapter. Please vote and send me an email, let me know what you think and what you would like to see in the future. I take all your suggestions into account when writing. The Cowboy
Ryley had been slightly disappointed that Kix Brooks and Ronnie Dunn from Brooks and Dunn wouldn’t be at the filming for this part of the video. He hadn’t seen those guys in quite some time and had been looking forward to seeing them again. But he had forgotten his dismay when he had laid eyes on Roselyn Sanchez.
She was an exquisite example of a Puerto Rican beauty. Long dark hair, an olive complexion and some of the darkest eyes Ryley had ever seen gave the woman an air of mystery. Her body was the kind you dreamed about - long toned legs, tight stomach, smooth skin and the kind of figure that made Playboy readers drool.
Ryley hadn’t seen any of her work, but had been told she was a model and actress in Puerto Rico. She had come to America to be an actress and had succeeded with the popular comedy Rush Hour 2 where she played an undercover Secret Service Agent. Apparently she had also just finished filming a movie with Cuba Gooding Jr. in Germany.
From the moment they saw each other Ryley knew he liked her and was pretty sure she liked him. Their introduction had been less dramatic then when he had met Jessica Simpson, but no less memorable.
Ryley had pulled into the dusty parking lot, which was serving as the base for the shoot, driving a brand new 2003 GMC 2500HD Sierra with the Duramax Diesel and Allison Five Speed Automatic transmission. Behind the truck was the black horse trailer where Cheyenne was waiting impatiently after his long ride.
Across the Texas landscape Ryley could see the small cluster of buildings, which were being turned into an old western type of setup. They had all been rented, which was stupid since the place was a ghost town, for the video. No one had really informed him in any detail about what the shoot was going to entail, merely that Ryley needed to ride a horse.
The director had come walking out of a large tent set up near the trailers, smiling and greeting Ryley with a handshake. He was a nice guy and the first normal guy Ryley had met as a director. Speaking simply and quickly the director explained what the video was about.
Brooks and Dunn’s new cowboy love song needed an incredible video. They wanted a video that could compete with the likes of Kenny Chesney, Toby Keith and Tim McGraw. Videos, as everyone knew, were becoming the newest and hottest medium for singers and had garnered their own special awards shows. Ryley knew this already.
Basically the video was going to be Ryley riding through the desert, jumping some bushes and shit like that. Then he was supposed to ride into this town that the crew was setting up. Roselyn was going to be working in the local Cantina and Ryley was supposed to walk through the doors and sparks were supposed to fly.
The rest of the video was supposed to be Ryley and Roselyn entangled in passionate embraces, riding Cheyenne together and making out. Ryley laughed at the blunt way the director put everything. He had smiled at Ryley’s reaction and patted him on the back, informing Ryley that he was straight and only wished he could be in Ryley’s shoes for the video.
“ Why is that, Frank?” Ryley asked.
Frank, who was the director, smiled. “ Miss Sanchez,” he called. “ Your co-star is here. Come on out so I can introduce you two.”
Ryley looked over at the tent in time to see her walk out from underneath the canopy. The harsh sun glimmered on her silky hair and set her olive skin aglow. She wore a simple skirt of a light, white material and a white tank top. The sight of her, radiating pure sexuality and beauty made Ryley’s knees weak.
She stopped in front of him and removed her designer sunglasses. Her dark, almost black eyes sparkled up at him, roving over his body. A smile spread across her face, causing her eyes to sparkle even brighter. Ryley held out his hand.
“ I’m Ryley Hale,” he said.
She took his hand in hers. “ Roselyn Sanchez.”
Ryley melted at the sound of her voice, her accent one of the sexiest things he could remember. He released her hand and stepped back, but they continued to regard one another. Frank laughed.
“ The camera is going to love the two of you,” he said.
Roselyn smiled at Frank then looked back at Ryley. They began filming the next day with Ryley and Cheyenne galloping in circles around various groups of cameramen. The golden Palomino stallion was loving every second of it. Ryley hadn’t had a chance to ride the horse in over a month and the chance for them both to ride, especially in an area as beautiful as this was a relief.
They thundered through several rivers, throwing up a kaleidoscope of water into the air, drenching them both. The heat of the Texas sun had them both dry in a matter of minutes, though. They managed to find enough time to clean themselves up before the sunset shots of Cheyenne rearing up against the sun, pawing the air. Ryley controlled the big horse like a rodeo champ, staying in the saddle and turning the horse in a circle on his rear legs.
Their performance had been watched by everyone involved in the video from the crew all the way down to the three dozen or so extras. They had all watched breathlessly as Ryley had directed Cheyenne to rear up, pawing the sky like a movie star himself. When the big horse had finally come back down to earth everyone had applauded and Ryley had tipped his hat in a comedic gesture.
Ryley had caught sight of Roselyn as she stood next to Frank. She was regarding him with a slight smile, the look in her eyes giving Ryley a heady premonition of something to come. Roselyn’s eyes were clearly the window to her soul, quietly revealing the thoughts spiraling through her head and her heart. Ryley had been involved romantically with girls since he was in high school and knew just what those looks meant.
After that final shot on the riverbank everyone had gone back to the ghost town for a party. Ryley had joined them a couple hours later after taking care of Cheyenne, making sure the big horse was brushed, fed and watered. He had taken enough time to get cleaned up himself, showering, putting on clean clothes and a little cologne. Taking a deep breath he had pushed open the old fashioned saloon doors and stepped into the Cantina.
Ryley now stood in the face of some fairly loud music, wonderful smells from the catered tables of food and the sounds of conversations and laughter. Returning a few waves and smiles from some of the people Ryley walked inside towards the bar. He poured himself a glass of Scotch with a few ice cubes and then turned to face the room.
The adobe building had been cleaned from top to bottom and then ‘dirtied’ in an old fashioned kind of way. Old style wooden tables and chairs were set up around the floor along with brass spittoons and other wild west memorabilia. People were scattered throughout the building eating, drinking, talking and dancing. A table in the far corner next to the door had been set up with all the music and DJ equipment and several people were perusing the music selection.
He spotted her across the room sitting at a table with Frank and several other executive members of the video. Roselyn was listening to what one of the producers was saying, nodding and smiling. She was wearing a long black skirt and red, sleeveless shirt with her long black hair cascading over her shoulders. Looking closely, Ryley could see her holding a longneck bottle of beer and peeling the label. At that moment she turned her head and saw him, an unconscious smile spreading across her face as she regarded him.
Stepping away from the bar, Ryley crossed the floor towards her. Her eyes locked on his as he approached and stopped next to the table.
“ Hey, Ryley,” Frank said. “ Great job today. I’ve never seen riding quite like that.”
“ Yeah,” echoed the producer who had been speaking moments earlier. “ Great job.”
Thanks,” Ryley replied, nodding to the man. He turned to Roselyn. “ Would you like to join me for a drink?”
She smiled. “ Sure,” she said, then turned to the other men at the table. “ Excuse me.”
They all uttered some reply and watched intently as she stood up and followed Ryley across the floor to the bar.
“ Thank you, Ryley,” she said. “ They were becoming unbearable.”
He smiled as he pulled a fresh beer out of a bucket of iced down bottles. Popping the cap, he handed her the bottle.
“ No problem. I could tell you were getting bored.”
She smiled as she sipped from her beer.
“ That really was incredible,” Roselyn said. “ You’re great with that horse.”
“ Thanks. We spent quite a few years together.”
“ Oh yeah?” she asked.
Ryley nodded. “ Yeah, I was in the saddle for a paycheck for about five years.”
Roselyn smiled. “ So you’re a real cowboy, not some phony?”
“ Yes, ma’am,” Ryley replied, adding a Texas twang to his voice.
