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the rodeo circuit.”
    Patience opened her mouth, then closed it again. She had been riding since she was a little girl—English, not western, but so what? For the last three summers, she had worked at Parklands Stables, giving riding lessons to children, but that was none of Jade Egan’s business.
    “Hey, Dallas!” Wes McCauley walked toward them, taller even than Dallas, and bulkier, heavier through the chest and shoulders. “Hotshot’s started limping. Can you take a quick look at him for me?”
    “Sure. Where is he?”
    “Over by my trailer.”
    Dallas started following Wes, and Jade fell in beside them. Dressed in a gold lamé barrel-racing shirt, gold britches molded to a perfect derriere, Jade smiled up at Dallas, then tossed Patience a backward glance that held a note of warning.
    “I told you she was jealous,” Shari said. “She wants Dallas back, only I don’t think he’s interested.”
    “Why not?”
    “Because Jade is spoiled and selfish and Dallas isn’t that way.”
    Patience watched his long-legged stride and noticed the width of his shoulders. She saw the way his faded jeans outlined the muscles in his thighs. A bunch of fans, mostly women, rushed up to him, swarmed around him and Wes. She watched the women fawn over him and felt a fresh wave of dislike for him.
    “You can say what you want. I still think he and Jade are a perfect match.”
    The remark drew a chuckle from Shari. “What’s your middle name?” she asked, her gaze following Jade’s retreating figure.
    “Jean. Why?”
    “Because I’m tired of Jade’s harassment. Practically everybody in the business has a nickname. From now on you’re P.J. You okay with that?”
    Patience frowned. “P.J.? It sounds like something you wear to bed.”
    Shari snorted a laugh. “I’m likin’ you better all the time.”
    Patience grinned. “You know, it kind of has a western ring. I think I like it.”
    “Good. And tomorrow we’re stoppin’ at the Laundromat on the way out of town. We’re gonna wash those jeans, get out some of the new. And as for that hat—”
    Patience snatched the hat off her head and held it in front of her. “What’s wrong with my hat? It’s a brand new straw Bailey. I bet yours is the very same brand.”
    Shari shoved her own hat back on her head. “There’s nothing wrong with the hat. It’s the crimp that’s the problem.”
    “Crimp? What crimp? I don’t see any crimp?”
    “That’s the problem.” Shari plucked it out of her hand and started bending the edges. Patience fought an urge to snatch it back.
    “There. Now it looks like it’s been worn more than once. Put it on; see if it doesn’t look better.”
    With some reluctance, Patience settled the hat on her head and Shari tugged her over to the mirror next to the driver’s window of Dallas’s truck. The change was subtle, but…
    Patience turned to Shari. “You know, it does look better.”
    Shari stared down at Patience’s boots, an extra pair that were brown instead of red.
    “Don’t tell me you hate my boots.”
    “Those are fine. Save the red ones for when we go dancin’ after the perf. You’ll get plenty of use out of them, I promise.”
    “Dancing? You mean like the Texas two-step? I wouldn’t have the vaguest notion how to—”
    “You’ll learn.” Shari flashed her a teasing smile. “Maybe Dallas will give you a lesson.”
    Color washed into Patience’s cheeks. “Dallas? Are you kidding?”
    But Shari just laughed, and Patience ignored the little curl of heat that formed in the pit of her stomach.

CHAPTER 4
    Towering cottonwoods along the banks of the Llano River stretched out around the rodeo grounds. There was an RV Park in the Robinson City complex, which would give Patience and Shari a chance to try out their newly purchased portable sleeping quarters later that night.
    The show began right on time, starting with the usual rousing red, white, and blue salute followed by the introduction of local officials and the