Secret Star by Terri Farley Read Free Book Online

realized. Though she wanted to, some mental roadblock kept her from scolding the actress.
    â€œI’m also Violette Lee,” she said, in case they hadn’t noticed. She reached a tiny hand up to grasp Jake’s. “But you can call me Vi.”
    Sam waited for Jake’s blank look to fade into infatuation. How could he not develop an instant crush? Violette Lee was one of the hottest movie stars around and she was, well, flirting with him.
    Jake didn’t speak. He didn’t smile, or even nod.
    Jake gave Violette’s hand a single perfunctory shake and released it so quickly, her reptile-patterned sleeves might have been hiding a real snake.
    He must be faking it, pretending he wasn’t starry-eyed under the brim of his hat, Sam thought.
    But then Jake lifted his reins and backed Witch a few steps away.
    Sam wanted to tell him he was being rude. She wanted to make it up to the actress. She also wanted to know why Violette Lee had landed in the middle of River Bend Ranch, when the scene she’d be in probably wouldn’t be shot for days.
    â€œVi…,” Sam began.
    â€œYou can call me Miss Lee,” the actress corrected.
    She must be kidding, right? Sam gave a nervous laugh.
    â€œNo joke, dearie,” the actress said. The honeyed voice that had crooned to the horses had turned cold. “Now, I’ll need one of these horses.”
    What? The question slashed through Sam’s mind. She wasn’t sure if she’d said, or just thought it.
    Jake backed Witch another step farther away.
    â€œOh come now,” Violette said, chuckling. “I can handle that beautiful creature. Don’t think I can’t.”
    â€œNope,” Jake said.
    Sam was amazed. Jake didn’t even pretend to apologize.
    â€œTruth be told, I get along with animals far better than—” She lifted one bony shoulder in a gesture that Sam took to mean everyone else.
    Sam believed it.
    Seeing she wasn’t getting anywhere with Jake, Violette exhaled loudly and turned to Sam. “I suppose your mount will have to do, then.”
    Not Ace. She didn’t let just anyone ride Ace.
    â€œI don’t know,” Sam said slowly.
    Half her mind told her to refuse. The other half reasoned that if Bayfire was here to do a stunt for Princess and the Pauper , and Violette was starring in the movie, she probably did know how to ride.
    So why was she hesitating? Not just because Violette was a stranger. If Inez Garcia had asked to borrow Ace, Sam knew she’d hand over the reins without a word. But Violette Lee was bossy and temperamental. Ace would pick up on that and whoknew what would happen.
    â€œLet’s go now. Out of the saddle and turn over the reins. Quickly,” Violette said. She didn’t snap her fingers, but her icy tone indicated she didn’t expect to be delayed much longer.
    Sam looked helplessly toward Jake.
    All her years of reading his silence were no help. She had no clue what he was thinking.
    Sam was about to give in. After all, it was the polite thing to do, wasn’t it? She couldn’t ask Violette to drive her plane up to the bridge, and walk over it to the ranch yard, could she?
    Actually, it wasn’t a long walk, and the actress wore thick-soled footwear that looked like motorcycle boots. Still…
    And then Sam saw Gram’s car coming and relief washed over her.
    â€œHere comes your ride,” Sam said, pointing.
    Violette glance over her shoulder at the yellow Buick, then turned back to Sam with a sigh.
    â€œI don’t think so,” Violette said.
    Was it possible she was too cautious to hitch a ride with a stranger?
    â€œNo, really, it’s okay,” Sam assured her. “That’s my grandmother and stepmom.”
    â€œLovely,” Violette said, and though there was no way she was misunderstanding Violette’s snobbish tone, Sam noticed Violette blushed and pushed up her sunglasses as if she could hide