Chapter Thirteen
The crowd surged around them like water in a river. Randi Howell, a.k.a. Rita Howard,
tried to remain calm.
“You okay?” Brady Jones asked.
She nodded. “I think I’ve been isolated too long. I’ve forgotten what it’s like to
be out among people.”
“I get that feeling myself.” Brady slipped his hand through hers. “I won’t let them
steal you away,” he promised.
“Thank you.” As his fingers entwined with hers and he tugged her close to his side,
she was able to smile. With Brady around, she might actually start to relax.
The livestock and horse show drew buyers and exhibitors from all the western states.
In addition to the animals, booths displayed everything necessary for a well-run ranch
as well as plenty of items for the home. There were western clothing manufacturers
and leather companies, people selling odd jars of spices for making everything from
beef to rattler more tasty. Various universities sold sweatshirts, while conservationists
preached about the value of recycling.
Then there was the food. Beef on a stick, churros, ice cream, hot dogs, pretzels,
Mexican entrées, and more exotic fare including venison and snake.
Randi wanted to get lost in the crowd, but for now, she was too nervous. Part of what
she’d told Brady was true—she did find it uncomfortable to be around so many people. When she’d first gone on the road,
she’d stayed away from busy places because it was safer…or so she’d thought. But over
the past couple of months, she found she liked a more solitary existence. On the ranch,
there were plenty of people around if she wanted to have a conversation, but Brady
and the cowboys were different from a crowd full of strangers.
The other reason she was nervous was that she kept expecting to see someone she knew.
The idea was ridiculous. What were the odds of a friend from Grand Springs showing
up here? Still, she couldn’t shake the feeling of impending disaster. If not a friend,
what about those men with guns from her wedding?
She clutched Brady’s hand tighter, enjoying both the physical connection and the feeling
of safety. With him around, she knew she was going to be all right, no matter what
happened.
But as the mass of people increased, she found her nerves drawn tight. Telling herself
she was unlikely to be recognized didn’t help. While the crowd protected her, it also
made it impossible for her to stare at every face. She shouldn’t have come with him.
Yet she hadn’t had a choice. In the past week, she’d had a sense of time running out.
Soon, she would have to move on to another temporary place, or back to Grand Springs
and face what she’s done. Either way, she was going to have to leave Brady behind.
And she didn’t want to. Not yet. Not ever.
“You hungry?” Brady asked.
Randi touched her free hand to her stomach and tried to sense anything but faint fear.
“I could probably eat.”
“Rattler tacos?”
She glanced up at his smiling face and wondered how she would survive without him.
She grinned in return. “Sure, but I want to watch you eat one first.”
“I’ve had rattler before.”
“Let me guess, it tastes like chicken.”
He raised his eyebrows. “How’d you know?”
“Everything weird tastes like chicken. At least that’s what people try to convince
us unsuspecting types. I’ve yet to taste anything other than chicken that really tastes
like chicken. I’m convinced it’s all a ploy so that we have to eat the nasty thing
you guys just tried.”
He bent down and kissed the tip of her nose. “That made no sense at all.”
“My point is that I think I want beef on a stick.”
“Sounds good to me.” He headed them in that general direction.
“When does the bull auction start?” she asked.
“Tomorrow. I want to buy at least two, maybe three. I’ve been tracking bloodlines
on the computer. I’m going for the leaner stock. If I could
The crowd surged around them like water in a river. Randi Howell, a.k.a. Rita Howard,
tried to remain calm.
“You okay?” Brady Jones asked.
She nodded. “I think I’ve been isolated too long. I’ve forgotten what it’s like to
be out among people.”
“I get that feeling myself.” Brady slipped his hand through hers. “I won’t let them
steal you away,” he promised.
“Thank you.” As his fingers entwined with hers and he tugged her close to his side,
she was able to smile. With Brady around, she might actually start to relax.
The livestock and horse show drew buyers and exhibitors from all the western states.
In addition to the animals, booths displayed everything necessary for a well-run ranch
as well as plenty of items for the home. There were western clothing manufacturers
and leather companies, people selling odd jars of spices for making everything from
beef to rattler more tasty. Various universities sold sweatshirts, while conservationists
preached about the value of recycling.
Then there was the food. Beef on a stick, churros, ice cream, hot dogs, pretzels,
Mexican entrées, and more exotic fare including venison and snake.
Randi wanted to get lost in the crowd, but for now, she was too nervous. Part of what
she’d told Brady was true—she did find it uncomfortable to be around so many people. When she’d first gone on the road,
she’d stayed away from busy places because it was safer…or so she’d thought. But over
the past couple of months, she found she liked a more solitary existence. On the ranch,
there were plenty of people around if she wanted to have a conversation, but Brady
and the cowboys were different from a crowd full of strangers.
The other reason she was nervous was that she kept expecting to see someone she knew.
The idea was ridiculous. What were the odds of a friend from Grand Springs showing
up here? Still, she couldn’t shake the feeling of impending disaster. If not a friend,
what about those men with guns from her wedding?
She clutched Brady’s hand tighter, enjoying both the physical connection and the feeling
of safety. With him around, she knew she was going to be all right, no matter what
happened.
But as the mass of people increased, she found her nerves drawn tight. Telling herself
she was unlikely to be recognized didn’t help. While the crowd protected her, it also
made it impossible for her to stare at every face. She shouldn’t have come with him.
Yet she hadn’t had a choice. In the past week, she’d had a sense of time running out.
Soon, she would have to move on to another temporary place, or back to Grand Springs
and face what she’s done. Either way, she was going to have to leave Brady behind.
And she didn’t want to. Not yet. Not ever.
“You hungry?” Brady asked.
Randi touched her free hand to her stomach and tried to sense anything but faint fear.
“I could probably eat.”
“Rattler tacos?”
She glanced up at his smiling face and wondered how she would survive without him.
She grinned in return. “Sure, but I want to watch you eat one first.”
“I’ve had rattler before.”
“Let me guess, it tastes like chicken.”
He raised his eyebrows. “How’d you know?”
“Everything weird tastes like chicken. At least that’s what people try to convince
us unsuspecting types. I’ve yet to taste anything other than chicken that really tastes
like chicken. I’m convinced it’s all a ploy so that we have to eat the nasty thing
you guys just tried.”
He bent down and kissed the tip of her nose. “That made no sense at all.”
“My point is that I think I want beef on a stick.”
“Sounds good to me.” He headed them in that general direction.
“When does the bull auction start?” she asked.
“Tomorrow. I want to buy at least two, maybe three. I’ve been tracking bloodlines
on the computer. I’m going for the leaner stock. If I could
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