Read Online Rising Star by Karen Webb - Free Book Online Page A

been more of a
blend into the crowd kind of girl.
    She followed Jeffrie alongside the house and
out onto the beach. She stopped behind the house and stared, and
Jeffrie stopped too, waiting for her patiently. There was a large
black rock near the shore and she watched as each wave hit it,
sending plumes of spray into the air. It looked wild and beautiful
as Selena gazed past the small crowd milling around, to the waves
crashing in and then, off to the horizon, where the ocean seemed to
fall right off the edge of the world. Then her gaze traveled along
the beach, where houses bunched closely together around a gentle
curve of land, each with its own ocean view. Then another movement
on the beach caught her eye. Dancing in front of the waves was a
solid white Arabian mare with a charcoal grey nose and muzzle. She
had big dark eyes with a small delicate head and small, dainty feet
that never stopped dancing as each wave crashed onshore near her.
She acted like a cat, or at least Selena thought so, as each wave
came near, she danced away as if afraid to get her feet wet. Her
tail was solid white and shone in the California sun from constant
brushings and her matching mane was so long, it hung off her neck
and down across her shoulder. Her shiny mane glistened in the sun
as she tossed her small head, lifting the long white strands into
the breeze. A tall, handsome man with a thick mustache was holding
the reins of her shiny black bridle and he moved constantly too, as
the mare danced closer and closer to his feet. Selena thought she
had to be the most beautiful horse she’d ever seen in her life. So
small and dainty, yet filled with a fire that Selena could see and
feel, even from this distance. No wonder they needed someone who
can ride, she thought with a smile.
    “ Come on Selena,” Jeffrie
called over the sound of the waves. “Everyone is waiting for
you.”
    Selena followed Jeffrie down to the small
crowd and Angelique made introductions. She introduced the two
cameramen as Mike and Dave. “And that’s Jake over there with the
horse.” Next, she pointed to a petite blond girl with bright red
lips. “And this is Betsy. She’ll be doing your hair and
makeup.”
    Betsy took Selena’s hand warmly. “Come on up
to the house. With your beautiful skin and hair, this shouldn’t
take long.”
    Angelique gave Selena a business card with
several phone numbers on it. “Anything you need, you let me know,”
she said. Selena nodded and watched as Angelique made her way up
the hill to her car, her high heels sinking into the sand.
    “ Come on,” Betsy said and
Selena went, following Betsy back to the house where they entered
by a rear door. Betsy had a stool already set up for her, with
makeup and brushes spread out on a counter. She closed her eyes as
Betsy worked on her face and hair. From the time her plane had
landed in Los Angeles, Selena felt like she’d entered a parallel
universe. All of this was just so far removed from her quiet life.
It was exciting and strange, yes, but she felt uncomfortable more
than anything, as if she really didn’t belong here. Betsy chattered
aimlessly as she worked on Selena’s makeup. She talked about her
children and family, never saying anything that required an
answer.
    After an hour, she claimed she was finished
and Selena stood up and looked in the mirror. She could not believe
the person in the mirror was really her. Betsy had transformed her.
She was no longer the small town rodeo girl. She looked like one of
the models in magazines or one of the movie stars on TV. Her eyes
looked huge and dark and mysterious with long dark lashes. She
could see now what Angelique had been talking about. Her eyes did
look mysterious, as if she were hiding her secrets from the world.
Well, maybe I am. If they only knew how much I don’t want to be
here right now.
    Betsy had only teased her hair, giving it
more body, but keeping the wild, untamed look. It set off her dark
eyes and made her look