CHAPTER 1
This far from civilization her skin should have been itching for bright lights, noise and shopping malls. Instead, as Santana Lopez took in sharp ravines, snow-capped mountains and dark forests, her head felt light. An actress based in Los Angeles, she had agreed to take a fairly significant role in a film being shot in Montana, partially for the chance to escape city and sun. Strange as it sounded, her penchant for the urban landscape seemed recently to have staled, the jobs and social activities she had immersed herself in becoming mundane and repetitive. So she found herself in the back of a sedan, along with her good friend Tina Cohen-Chang, heading for the wild, the unfamiliar. And she couldn't be happier.
Leaning forward to press play on the latest CD they had brought along with them, Santana and Tina sang along to Nicki Minaj's Starships at the top of their lungs. Their driver merely grinned and left them to it. As the song faded out, Tina turned to Santana.
"So you sure you want to do this?"
"What are you talking about?" the Latina replied. "Our contracts are signed, lines…almost learned. And besides, we agreed we need this."
Tina sighed. "Yeah, I know. It's just…there are lions and stuff out here."
Santana laughed and gave her a hug.
"Don't worry. I'll protect your ass from lions. You're all good."
Tina grinned back at her before tapping the driver on the shoulder.
"So how long are we from the ranch?"
"Another twenty minutes," he replied. "You'll be there in time for dinner."
"Sweet." Tina settled back in her seat as Santana hummed a tune under her breath. "This is going to be fun."
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Winslow Ranch was a large, sprawling estate with plentiful stables, office spaces, meeting rooms, halls, accommodation kept to hotel standards and a myriad other amenities required of a top retreat location. Sam Evans, Director, had chosen to use it as the base camp for his new adventure flick. As the sedan transporting Santana and Tina passed the front gates, the late summer sun was slowly setting behind the hills on their right. To their left was a vast plain interspersed by a few clumps of trees.
"So beautiful," Tina murmured. "I feel relaxed already."
Santana nodded and cast her eyes over the plain. She saw a group of deer dashing away, having been disturbed by a pair of wild horses, and a lone eagle in flight over head.
"Well, certainly different from L.A."
About halfway between the ranch's front gates and the main block of buildings, another movement caught the Latina's eye. A lone rider on a jet black horse circled in from the left until it was galloping on a parallel with the vehicle. It was too far away for Santana to decipher any specific features of the rider, except that whoever it was had extraordinary blonde hair that almost blinded one's gaze as the sun's last rays caught it. Like a mane, Santana thought idly to herself, bemused by the sight. As the sedan sped up, the Latina lost sight of the horse and its rider and put them out of her mind. She was tired and ready to eat before (hopefully) getting an early night.
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They pulled up outside the first and largest of the ranch's many buildings. Three people were waiting outside to greet them as they tumbled out.
"Tina, Santana. Glad you made it!" Sam Evans stepped forward to shake hands with a warm smile. The two women grinned back before turning politely to be introduced to Sam's companions.
"Ladies, this is Mercedes Jones. She'll be responsible for meeting any needs you may have during your stay." Mercedes said hi before handing them each a business card and reiterating Sam's offer of her assistance.
"And this is Jack Winslow. Jack's the owner of the ranch and will also coordinate most of the horse work we'll be doing on the shoot."
Santana took in Jack's features as he shook her hand, then Tina's. He was of moderate height with a strong build and dark blue eyes. His light brown hair was kept windswept and he was dressed like a cowboy with a plaid shirt, blue jeans and boots.
"Cute," Tina murmured in her ear. Santana shot her a playful glare.
Mercedes stepped forward again. "Ladies, if you'll follow me I can show you to your rooms and get you settled." Their driver was already walking past them with their bags so they followed obediently.
Five minutes later they had arrived at their assigned accommodation, rooms right next to each other, but each a stand-alone unit. Handing them keys, Mercedes gave them half an hour to look around before she collected them for dinner. Santana opened the door to her unit, dragged her oversize suitcase inside, and glanced around. She was very happy with what she saw. A sofa and comfy chair were circled around a large-screen TV in one corner and a double bed sat in the corner opposite. A kitchenette with all she'd need to cook her own food took up most of the rest of the room. It was small, but cozy, and she felt immediately at home. One door revealed a closet and shelves for clothes, while another revealed a bathroom complete with walk-in shower. She quickly unpacked her belongings and threw her body on the bed, humming in satisfaction. Yes, this would do nicely.
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She must have dozed off, because she was startled by a loud knocking. Dancing over to the front door, she opened it to find Mercedes and Tina waiting for her.
"Come on, chica!" Tina grabbed her hand and pulled her outside. "Food, remember?"
Santana laughed, dashed back inside to grab her room key, and then followed the other two women up the path to the dining hall. Mercedes and Tina chatted amiably along the way but Santana was content to hang behind and take in her surroundings. Everywhere she looked there was order and beauty. Winslow Ranch certainly knew how to pull off the retreat lifestyle. As they entered the dining hall Santana took in the oak paneling, the elaborate table ornaments and silver settings, and the beautiful paintings of local landscapes adorning the walls. The food was even better, chosen from a menu of five different options as well as assorted starters and desserts. Mercedes whispered to them that the chef had been employed in the best New York restaurants before moving to Montana. Santana could believe it.
There were about a hundred other people eating, some she recognized from the cast list and others who she assumed were crew members. The third group, mingling comfortably with everyone else, must be ranch workers. They were dressed casually but had an air of ownership and confidence about them that impressed the Latina.
As her eyes skated over the crowd and past the front door, she saw two new people entering the hall. The first was Jack Winslow, who she had met earlier. The second was a tall woman of about twenty-five, with clear pale skin and startling blonde hair falling about her shoulders. Santana stroked her own dark locks nervously, remembering the rider she had observed from afar earlier in the evening. She caught herself thinking how nice it would feel to run her fingers through those blonde strands, pooling then slipping away to fall against those strong shoulders...
Blinking, Santana allowed herself to examine the rest of the blonde's appearance. She was dressed in a black tank top and light overshirt, blue ripped jeans and sturdy riding boots, which showed off her lithe figure to full advantage. Mouth dry, Santana dragged her eyes up to the blonde's face and jumped. Blue eyes that brought cool mountain streams to mind were staring directly back at her. Jack was whispering in her ear and she was nodding in response, but her eyes never wavered from the Latina. Frantically Santana whipped her head around to see whether anyone else was looking in that direction, anyone who could possibly be the woman's focus. But no one was looking at the blonde and Santana could only assume that she herself was the intended victim. Dark eyes met blue ice again and Santana smiled uneasily, hoping to encourage a slightly more positive vibe between them than the one she was feeling at the moment. But the blonde remained inscrutable. Her gaze was not cold, exactly, but carefully indifferent, as if she was fiercely guarding whatever thoughts were running through her head.
And then the moment was broken. Jack had one hand on the blonde's elbow and was leading her to the opposite end of the room from Santana. No matter how many times the Latina glanced at the place where the blonde was sitting, the other woman never once looked back at her. Yet Santana could feel her, as if the sun were hiding away but the earth could still feel its heat. She had never felt so extraordinarily disconcerted as she did in the half hour it took her to finish her meal. She had no idea what she ate; she could not have remembered the topics of conversation flowing between Mercedes and Tina. She certainly didn't remember the names of any of the people Mercedes tried to introduce her to. And when the trio rose to leave the table, Santana was still adrift in a sea of confusion and roiling emotion.
"Santana? Santana!" Tina was shaking her shoulder.
"Hmm?"
"You look dazed, San. What's wrong?"
"Nothing…nothing." Santana waved Tina's hand away vaguely.
"Shit, girl. Did you slip something into your food?" The Latina didn't reply.
"Right." Tina grasped her arms with both hands. "Mercedes, I'm gonna take her to bed. We had a long trip so maybe she's just over-tired."
Mercedes nodded and watched them both stumble away.
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Tina, after fiddling in Santana's pockets, found her room key and dragged the Latina inside. Suddenly she seemed to wake up, as if someone had turned on a light in her head.
"Tina? Where are we?"
"In your room. You were really out of it for a while. You sure you're feeling okay?"
Santana nodded wearily. Her head felt like it had been put through a wringer.
"I'm okay. Just tired I guess."
Tina grunted in reply as she pulled off Santana's boots.
"Well, sleep now. We don't have to get up very early tomorrow so you can rest for as long as you need. Orientation starts after lunch." Tina paused, then asked, "Do you need anything?"
"Nah. Thanks, but I'm just gonna crash."
"Okay. I'm right next door if you need anything. G'night."
"Night."
Santana crawled into the bed, not even bothering to change into pajamas. She just wanted to close her eyes and forget the flight and the long car ride, the overwhelming feel of a new and exciting place, the anticipation of starting to work on a new project. But most of all she just wanted to shut out the ice blue eyes that were still piercing her soul.