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about a blanket? It would hide what you find most offensive about her outfit. It certainly doesn’t mean you have to walk around with her once we get there. You and Betty could go off on your own. Plus it’ll be dark soon. Who would notice?”
    Reluctantly, she nodded. “Only if Betty switches later.”
    I looked at Betty, who gritted her teeth, smiling. “Sure.”
    The twenty-minute ride turned into forty-five due to the crowds, but it was worth it. The carnival-like atmosphere was something to see as we passed bikes already parked at Weirs Beach, while we searched for a place to park. We ended up finding a spot in a field. After getting off, Hazel smirked as Martha began scratching her skin vigorously.
    Crystal turned Martha around. “It’s red.”
    Martha was still scratching. “What is?”
    Crystal started snickering. “Your ass.”
    Martha whirled around to face Hazel, who was looking everywhere but at Martha, trying desperately not to laugh.
    “Exactly what kind of blanket did you get?” she asked.
    Hazel’s eyes darted back to Martha. “What? Oh, the blanket? Why I grabbed one of those old horse blankets.”
    Martha went toe to toe with Hazel. “But they’re wool!”
    “I know that!” said Hazel staring right back at her.
    “I’m highly allergic to wool!” Martha tossed back.
    “I know that. It serves you right for exposing yourself.”
    Clay now stepped in to avoid an incident.
    “Martha, why don’t I introduce you to a friend of mine who’s working one of the booths here. You’d like him.”
    She turned to Clay, slightly interested. “Who?”
    “He’s good-looking, but a few years younger than you.”

 
     
     
    Chapter 16
    Timely Distractions
     
     
    Martha grinned. “I’m open to younger possibilities.”
    I breathed a sigh of relief, but then had second thoughts. Did Clay make that up about the guy to distract Martha, or did he actually know someone who was here for the rally?
    “Who is this guy? You didn’t mention you knew anyone who was going to be here.”
    Clay smiled. “You didn’t ask.”
    You see what I have to put up with? I loved it.
    He was slyer than a fox whenever I tried to figure out what he was up to. Now interested myself, I decided to call his bluff. “Great! Let’s all go find him, shall we?”
    As a group, we hardly got a side-glance. Of course, the dress code was obviously limitless with more emphasis on the less as far as some of the women went. Hazel and Betty spent most of the time with their mouths hanging open.
    I laughed. We blended in more than I thought we would. Nobody gave us the time of day, Martha included.
    Lingering at a booth to check out leather bracelets, I told the others I’d catch up. While being gently jostled back and forth with the crowds moving past me, every once in a while I gave my fanny pack, now perched in the front, a pat to make sure my ID and money were still secure.
    I felt a shove and dropped one bracelet. When I bent to retrieve it, I was shoved again, but this time almost fell to the ground. A set of hands grabbed me in time to steady me. As we both stood back up, his eyes locked onto mine. It was Jackson, but not the one I’d met earlier that day.
    He was all in black leather from head to toe, including a black leather bandanna with the blonde ponytail hanging out in the back. Then I noticed a small ruby stud in his right earlobe. He seemed more at home here than he did playing the role of Mr. Cattle Farmer. I stepped back cautiously.
    “Well, isn’t this a coincidence! You’ve been saved again,” Jackson said, smiling those pearly whites of his.
    I wasn’t quite sure what to make of the hit.
    Accidental? Was he that rider I noticed two days ago?
    At this point, I didn’t think it mattered, so I grabbed the advantage to find out what I could. “So you have. Thanks.”
    I looked down at his hands. He sported a blood red ring that seemed unusual for a farmer to wear, but then again, his whole outfit wasn’t usual