Jean awoke to hear the businesslike buzzing of an automobile coming up from the gate.Evidently they were going to make pictures there at the house,which did not suit her plans at all.She intended to spend the early morning writing the first few chapters of that book which to her inexperience seemed a simple task,and to leave before these people arrived.As it was,she was fairly caught.There was no chance of escaping unnoticed,unless she slipped out and up the bluff afoot,and that would not have helped her in the least,since Pard was in the stable.
From behind the curtains she watched them for a few minutes.Robert Grant Burns wore a light overcoat,which made him look pudgier than ever,and he scowled a good deal over some untidy-looking papers in his hands,and conferred with Pete Lowry in a dissatisfied tone,though his words were indistinguishable.
Muriel Gay watched the two covertly,it seemed to Jean,and she also looked dissatisfied over something.
Burns and the camera man walked down toward the stables,studying the bluff and the immediate surroundings,and still talking together.Lee Milligan,with his paint-shaded eyes and his rouged lips and heavily pencilled eyebrows,came up and stood close to Muriel,who was sitting now upon the bench near Jean's window.
"Burns ought to cut out those scenes,Gay,"he began sympathetically."You can't do any more than you did yesterday.And believe me,you put it over in good style.I don't see what he wants more than you did.""What he wants,"said Muriel Gay dispiritedly,"is for me to pull off stunts like that girl.I never saddled a horse in my life till he ordered me to do it in the scene yesterday.Why didn't he tell me far enough ahead so I could rehearse the business?Latigo!It sounds like some Spanish dish with grated cheese on top.I don't believe he knows himself what he meant.""He's getting nutty on Western dope,"sympathized Lee Milligan."I don't see where this country's got anything on Griffith Park for atmosphere,anyway.
What did he want to come away up here in this God-forsaken country for?What is there TO it,more than he could get within an hour's ride of Los Angeles?""I should worry about the country,"said Muriel despondently,"if somebody would kindly tell me what looping up your latigo means.Burns says that he's got to retake that saddling scene just as soon as the horses get here.It looks just as simple,"she added spitefully,"as climbing to the top of the Berry Building tower and doing a leap to a passing airship.In fact,I'd choose the leap."A warm impulse of helpfulness stirred Jean.She caught up her hat,buckled her gun belt around her from pure habit,tucked a few loose strands of hair into place,and went out where they were.
"If you'll come down to the stable with me,"she drawled,while they were staring their astonishment at her unexpected appearance before them,"I'll show you how to saddle up.Pard's awfully patient about being fussed with;you can practice on him.He's mean about taking the bit,though,unless you know just how to take hold of him.Come on."The three of them,--Muriel Gay and her mother and Lee Milligan,--stared at Jean without speaking.
To her it seemed perfectly natural that she should walk up and offer to help the girl;to them it seemed not so natural.For a minute the product of the cities and the product of the open country studied each other curiously.
"Come on,"urged Jean in her lazily friendly drawl.
"It's simple enough,once you get the hang of it."And she smiled before she added,"A latigo is just the strap that fastens the cinch.I'll show you.""I'll bet Bobby Burns doesn't know that,"said Muriel Gay,and got up from the bench."It's awfully good of you;Mr.Burns is so--""I noticed that,"said Jean,while Muriel was waiting for a word that would relieve her feelings without being too blunt.
Burns and Pete Lowry and the assistant had gone down the coulee,still studying the bluff closely."I've got to ride down that bluff,"Muriel informed Jean,her eyes following her director gloomily."He asked me last night if I could throw a rope.I don't know what for;it's an extra punch he wants to put in this picture somewhere.I wish to goodness they wouldn't let him write his own scenarios;he just lies awake nights,lately,thinking up impossible scenes so he can bully us afterwards.He's simply gone nutty on the subject of punches.""Well,it's easy enough to learn how to saddle a horse,"Jean told Muriel cheerfully."First you want to put on the bridle--""Burns told me to put on the saddle first;and then he cuts the scene just as I pick up the bridle.The trouble is to get the saddle on right,and then--that latigo dope!""But you ought to bridle him first,"Jean insisted.
"Supposing you just got the saddle on,and your horse got startled and ran off?If you have the bridle on,even if you haven't the reins,you can grab them when he jumps.""Well,that isn't the way Burns directed the scene yesterday,"Muriel Gay contended."The scene ends where I pick up the bridle.""Then Robert Grant Burns doesn't know.I've seen men put on the bridle last;but it's wrong.Lite Avery,and everybody who knows--"Muriel Gay looked at Jean with a weary impatience.