"How many horses got away into the plantation Drake?" Singto asked his helper as they galloped, herding the rest together...

"I think about 5 got away P'.." the boy gave an estimate close to wat Singto had guessed, so he nodded..

"We ll look for them tomorrow. Hopefully a few will find their way back to the meadow...now just lead the rest into the corral will you?"

"Sure P'." Said Drake leading the other horses by their bits one by one into the fenced space..

"Daddy..Daddy.."his daughter Waan was waving her arms trying to get his attention..She wore jeans and t shirt with a jacket thrown over it. Her headphones lay forgotten around her neck. Her plaited hair swung around as she trotted towards him in her gelding pony..

"Tat was a real stampede wasn't it daddy?" She asked excitedly. "I can't wait to tell Buffy.."

"Yep that was a real one and you handled the pie really well too my pet." Singto praised her..

Singto watched her smile, glowing in the praise..seeing her liveliness and growing beauty, he was reminded of her mother..It was something that had unsettled him to see, though he expected it. It was as if Neen was reaching out from her grave to remind him of that one brief, beautiful, yet miserable year they had spent together as a couple..

"Yeah the Pie almost bolted. It took me all my strength to hold him. But then he settled down nicely for me..didn't you boy?"she bent down patting the pony's neck..

"He's a good horse." Singto declared..

"Who's a good horse?" Papa Boon asked riding in on his gelding..

"The pie ofcourse" Waan said proudly..

"Hmmmph he's all sand and no bottom" Papa Boon said picking out the pony's weak side..it did not have the endurance of the other horses.

She knew better than to argue with her grandpa and tried to change the topic...

"Did u see that plane, it was from GMMTV..who do you think was in there? P' Bright , P' Mixx,  or better P' Gun?" she gushed excitedly..

Singto realised she was close, but he knew none of them were in it. A better guess would be Earth and Krist, as he knew they were going to be shooting for the new film here. He still followed Krist's progress in the media. Until now the younger had not gone after fame, but now all that changed. He couldn't help but wonder wat had made tat change..the thought of Krist bringing a pang of guilt to his heart..

"I wish I was going to the party at the Banyan tree with you tonight.." Waan said with a sigh..

Singto smiled at her wistfulness and said " look at it this way, in a few more years u ll be old enough to be my date."

"Get real Daddy, girls don't date their fathers." She said with an  admonishing glance.

"Aww really,  it's my mistake then" he laughed putting his hat on her head..she pushed it back to see better and laughed along with him, making a special moment between father and daughter..

"About five to six horses are lost in the plantation, we ll try to get them tomorrow. "Singto informed his father..

"But daddy tomorrow s my piano recital. U promised to be there. Aunt Nam will be there too. I have been practicing for weeks."she whined..

"Now we can't miss that can we. We'll then we ll do it after your recital. Is that ok honeybee?"he asked pinching her cheeks..

"You're the best daddy" she said hugging him..

Singto smiled back as he watched her ride towards the house. He joined his father in his slow pace, enjoying the setting sun and cool sea breeze of the evening. He really loved being so close to nature, feeling it against his skin, rubbing his bones raw, working a rough life..

His father had taught him tat nature was permanent,  watever man did to it, it always found a way to come back..it would claim it's rightful place even after man became extinct..tat was the power it had..

**********

The limo rolled into Millionaire's Mile, the elite hub of Phuket..tat consisted of land, bordered by the beach and beach facing cliffs..and came to a halt in front of a rolling white villa, with so many open terraces and balconies and a huge garden tat looked so naturally overgrown, tat it screamed  professional.

Earth got out and walked around to open Krist's door.."Welcome to my humble home " he said..

"Oh..this place wouldn't know how to be humble P'..don't ever call it tat."he laughed taking in the grandeur of the white mansion, the beautiful garden and the brass hand made doors....

"Wow..the view s awesome, "Mike  exclaimed as soon as he got down..looking at the beach rolling off the short cliff below..." P' Jane you really chose an awesome location.."

"Wat can I say..I only need the best for this film.." Jane shrugged it off, then turned to Krist.." Did u go for ur fitting Krist? I bet the designer showed u a bunch of scuba suits , scratch them, they're not the right color at all..I picture Arthit in jewel tones..I have asked for a purple with midnight blue combination, with shine. It ll perfectly compliment you in the intro scene as you surf into the camera..."he said panning his hands across the sea imagining the shot..

"Ok..whatever you say P'."Krist agreed, as long as he wore clothes he didn't really care...

"I forgot to ask you Krist..do you surf?"asked Jane suddenly panicking..

Krist thought of lying to see the shocked expression on the directors face, but decided against it as he knew P'Jane wouldn't appreciate the humor..

"I learnt to surf and scuba dive along with riding the horse P'..so yes I can surf.." he stated as a matter of fact..

"Cool..I planned on using a stunt double for the main far off shot but I want it to be ur face surfing into the camera..it would look bad if I needed to do some editing for that shot.." Jane admitted..

Krist nodded and Mike came over pulling him to climb up the stairs to the mansion..

When he reached the top and opened the door, Mike just froze..

"Wow, this looks like a freaking snow palace.."he exclaimed in awe..

"Snow being the operative word "Krist added joining his friend to admire the place..

The entire house was done up in white..with the brown of the wooden floor creating a sharp contrast..even the furniture was white...as Krist moved into the living room he turned,  only to be stunned by the full length glass wall looking out into the ocean...the view was so mesmerizing tat he just stood there, frozen, for several minutes...

"The view is better from the master bedroom you know..you ll love that.."Earth whispered in his ear, breaking his trance..

"Ahem...yep I would definitely like tat..."Krist smiled..

"I meant the master bedroom.."Earth said, confused if he had heard right..

"Ya I meant the same.." Krist confirmed blushing at the thought of the kisses he had shared with the elder during their workshops..he felt the heat creeping up his neck turning his ears pink..

"Then wat s stopping you Krist?" Earth asked confused..

"The scars from old burns.."he had loved whole heartedly before and his love had been rejected..since then he was afraid to love again..fearing his heart couldn't survive another break..

"Besides P'Earth, you're not particularly famous for having a consistent lover are you...?"he asked, for Earth was a known playboy, who romances his leads from every film and when it was over he just moved on to the next...

"True, but I somehow feel it's gonna be different with you Krist.."Earth confessed..

Krist laughed and brushed his cheek with his lips. Before Earth could follow up on tat , Tutah walked in..

"This s some house you have here Earth"he complimented ignoring the irritation on Earth's face.."You have a pool?"

"A pool, sauna, theater, gym, billiard room,climate controlled wine cellar,private studio office with all amenities "Earth finished..
"The theater s equipped with a projector where we can watch the dailies" he offered to P'Jane..

"Great, "Jane said, his face lighting up at the news..

"Amenities or not it's still beautiful" Yui commented..

"Actually I plan on selling it..I am hardly ever here. " he confessed...

"Why?"asked Krist frowning..

"I bought it at a million 4 years ago..Today it ll sell at 4 to 5..tat in itself is worth it.."

"Wow, tats a real profit" Tutah exclaimed whistling.." I  suppose you ll be renting it out as accommodation for the film too..earning a few bucks.."

"In a film's budget there's always place for lodging Tutah.."he said really annoyed now..

"Well yeah so are u gonna rent something like this for Krist?"

Earth was starting to get annoyed by now..if the man wanted perks for his artist, he should have mentioned it in the bloody contract..

"Tats not necessary Toots,  I ll be staying at the plantation.." Krist ventured between them making peace..

Earth turned towards Krist, not liking the idea one bit..."We ll see. " he said pushing the topic for now...

"Hi everyone, did u have a good flight?" Ice Ittikorn and New Thitiphoom , Earth's production manager's walked in. They had been working out in the gym it seemed as they were dressed for workout ...

"Yes we did..."Earth replied..he turned to the others "my staff will show you to your rooms where u can freshen up and come down for lunch" he said.

"Why did u have to mention rooms now?"groaned New...

Apparently they were having difficulty finding lodging for the crew..So Earth went off to discuss those matters with them, while Krist followed a pretty maid to his room...

Earth clenched his fingers as he thought of how much he needed this film..he may be a famous star, but his last two films hadn't done well at the box office. So if this one too failed, he ll be out on his ass begging for work again...

He heard New,Ice and Jane arguing in the background as he turned his attention back to their meeting..

"I will not do my interiors on sound stage, absolutely not..You cannot Fake the feel of Phuket you know.."Jane argued..

"Ok P'Jane,  relax..you can do it your own way " Ice ever the diplomat tried to pacify him .

Earth tried to forget Krist and pay attention to the meeting.... for now...