Page 115 of Quiver

Fletcher nodded and accepted an introduction to Talia, too.

“You own this facility?”

“Yes.”

“And you also teach private lessons, workshops, and group classes?”

“I do.”

“Good, that’s what I actually came over to confirm, because I am ready to make a job offer today, but only for lead consultant, not actress.”

Kylie’s head spun, and this time she shook Fletcher instead of the other way around.

Fletcher turned to her. “What does that mean?”

“It means they want you to work on the movie.” She laughed, a crazy little sound cracking through the fear that had petrified her senses. “They’re offering you a place in my world, and a chance to elevate yours at the same time.”

“I don’t understand.”

“We’re in town through tomorrow afternoon,” Talia said, her voice kind and her smile genuine. “We can set up a time to talk over the details if you’d like, but the basic gist is we’d have principal cast come here and train with you ahead of the filming schedule. Then we’d pay for your expertise onsite during the production, or at least several stages of it, from the planning and choreography of shot sequences, to filming, to early edits.”

“They’re offering you a chance to make sure the biggest blockbuster production of mounted archery in our lifetime gets done to your standards,” Kylie added excitedly. “You’d have a hand in the most visible popular representation of your field, maybe ever. Fletcher, this is your opportunity to put your passion on a global scale. You have to take it.”

“Now, wait a hot second.” Fletcher finally laughed. “Didn’t you just refuse the same offer not even three minutes ago when you thought they were coming to make it to you?”

“And you called me crazy.” She kissed her quickly. “Besides, I’d love to follow you to Hollywood.”

“But, you didn’t get the part.”

“Yet.” She turned back to the other women. “Can I keep my hat in the ring?”

Sophia shrugged, but Talia said, “Of course.”

“And even if I don’t get it, I’m sure they need extras or errand runners or stable hands. Or, hell, I know you’re not comfortable being a kept woman in an on-set trailer, but I have no such qualms, so long as it’s a trailer you come home to every night. You said we don’t get a do-over, but this is as good a chance as we’ll ever get to go forward together. A few minutes ago, I was ready to give up everything to keep you. Now we get to choose an adventure with each other. This is more than we dreamed of even in the moments when everyone else found us so unreasonable.”

“So, what do you say?” Sophia asked.

“Say yes,” Kylie pleaded one more time.

Fletcher shoved her hands into her pockets. “I don’t know about the movie business, so I might take some selling, but I suppose it’s worth mentioning that never in my whole life have I ever been able to say no to this woman.”

“She’s exaggerating,” Kylie said. “She’s told me no a lot of times. She just hasn’t been able to stick to it.”

Talia laughed, and even Sophia managed a sardonic smile as she said, “So, shall we come back tomorrow to talk about the consulting plan … and perhaps some casting notes as well?”

Fletcher glanced to Kylie, eyebrows raised once more. Kylie kissed her cheek and smiled back at them. “We’ll be here … together.”

Epilogue

“Places.” Someone called over the radio clipped to Sophia’s belt, and the command echoed up and down the beaches and dunes. The movie business was much bigger and more complex than Fletcher could’ve imagined, especially on days like this where they were filming outdoors. Still, she’d found she couldn’t go too far afield so long as she stayed within earshot of the big boss.

As if to illustrate the point, Sophia called her name.

She walked over to where the woman sat atop a small, grassy rise with an array of technical equipment and assistants. “Yes?”

“We’ve got the wide-angle shots for today, but we’d like one more close-up run of the charge using only the drones. I’ll have my best operator on it, but I don’t want to risk spooking the horse.”

She shook her head. “I don’t think it’s a concern at this point as long as you stay away from his eyes and ears.”