The Rag Princress A Cold Intimate Evening on Temple's Farm

A scene from The Rag Princess-Now in production-Setting rural Nebraska and Lincoln. This scene is from Celeste visiting Will's home on Thanksgiving..

      Evening was spent nibbling and stuffing, already full stomachs, on leftovers, building a fire, and playing pinochle and Scrabble. Quiet Mike was the winner at everything. He wanted Celeste to have his girlish prizes—a potholder in the shape of Nebraska, a plastic spatula with a long handle for stirring candy or jam, pink pillar candles, and laundry soap that smelled like a spring breeze on the prairie. Ginny playfully acted envious and tried to snatch them away. Celeste refused to let Ginny have them, hitting her with the spatula, saying, “Bad girl,” while Ginny yelped and whined.Finally, on Bev’s orders, the young people took their energy outdoors. First thing, Will grabbed Ginny and tossed her into a snow pile. That prompted a snowball fight, everyone creaming each other several times. It was the kind of night that Celeste promised herself to have someday.      After the others retired indoors, Will said he wanted to check on Wind and the other animals and invited Celeste along. The walk was romantic, with Will holding her gloved hand; he said that having her there was a blessing for the entire family and probably the reason Dad couldn’t stop praying.     “You know, I never told you this, but we weren’t the same family without you and Howie. You were like two missing pieces that make the puzzle complete. Maybe he’ll come out someday. Sylvie and your uncle could come with him.”    Talk of Sylvie and Mack, bringing Howie for a visit, set Celeste on edge. Will still didn’t know the real reason she didn’t see them. All he knew was what she’d said on their first date. Maybe she would tell him someday soon.     Unexpectedly, he stopped her just before they reached the corral gate. Not saying a word, he turned her toward him. Putting his mouth on hers, he pulled her against him, slipping his hands inside her coat, brushing them against her breasts and moaning.She gasped as electricity shot through her, wishing they were married and free to join together. Pulling him closer for a split moment, she thought she’d never forget how badly she wanted him. Pressed against each other in the moonlight, she let him hold her a few more seconds and then lightly laughed, pushing him away, yet aching for him, wanting him—more than she’d ever wanted anything.     Running his hand through her hair, he smiled and gritted his teeth, groaning. Taking her hand, he walked on with her beside her. Dang it! he thought.      The couple went on into the barn, where they talked to Wind and two other horses, rubbing their noses and giving them a Thanksgiving apple. Will stepped away to get some oats.When he returned, he put his arms around Celeste from the back. His surprise move tweaked her frayed nerves straight into a flashback.      Screaming, she blindly hit out at him, yelling for him to keep his hands off her. Shaking and white with fear, she took off running toward the house. He caught her, but she kicked hard, striking him on his ankle. Angry and limping, Will told her to go on inside, that he would see her the next day.