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who looked close to Lainie’s age,
waved away her apology with a grin. “If something’s funny, you’re supposed to
laugh at it.”
    Their resemblance made Lainie guess they were
sisters. Each was petite with expressive, light-green eyes, auburn hair with
deep-red highlights, and dark-brown freckles. They each wore what Lainie
figured must be the Texas uniform in a cow town: yoked shirts, jeans and boots.
The quiet one, who was apparently attached to Randy, appeared to be in her late
teens.
    “I’m Jackie Lyn Cooper,” the older one said. “And
this is my sister, Bobbie Ann. What’s your name?”
    Just like that. Small towns were nice. “Lainie
Johnson. It’s nice to meet you.”
    “Glad to meet you, too. Hope to see—” She snapped
her head to the side. “Bobbie, you know he’s too tall for that one. Get him a
wide brim if you want, but try that one over there.” Her attention swiveled
back to Lainie. “See you again. You just move in?”
    Lainie blinked. Jackie’s speaking style resembled
rapid fire. “Uh, yeah. I was hired as secretary at the Lone Tree Ranch.”
    “Bobbie, you hear that? She got that job you
wanted.”
    Uh-oh.
    “Don’t worry about that, though,” Jackie said, as if
reading Lainie’s mind. “The only reason she was interested was ’cause Randy
works out there. Don’t know how much work either one would get done if they
worked at the same place, and the old man mighta wondered the same thing. You
meet Randy yet? He’s the one tall as a beanpole and just as skinny—the one
that’s presently hatless.”
    Before Lainie could answer, Jackie sighed and shook
her head. “Look at that. Girl couldn’t have found a more flamboyant one. Better
go talk her out of it.”
    As Lainie headed for the rack of western shirts she
could still hear the sisters.
    “Why don’t you try that one? Sure would be a better
one.”
    “I’m buying the hat, big sister. I’ll choose it.”
    Lainie grinned at the exchange while she checked out
the shirts. She chose one in pale blue, and a fancier one in black and white
checks with black braid trim. Then a third caught her eye. Vertical stripes of
differing widths in brick red, royal blue, bright-green and sunshine yellow
stood up and hollered I’m no wallflower . The yoke carried the same
colors in horizontal stripes. She added it to her collection.
    Next were the boots, and she frowned as she eyed
them. The heel was high and wide and narrowed as it reached ground level. The
toe was pointed but her foot wasn’t, and the part that encased the foot was as
flexible as a rock. With her gaze on the boots and her mind on snakes, she
waited for the salesclerk to measure her foot.
    “Something catch your eye?” he asked.
    “Uh, no. What would you suggest?”
    “You want fancy? Tooled? Alligator? Leather?”
    “Something that a snake can’t bite through.”
    “Get her a pair like the ones I’m wearin’,” said
another voice, and Lainie looked up.
    “Don’t mean to butt in,” Jackie said. “But sounded
like you could use help.”
    “Thanks. I appreciate it.” Lainie nodded at the
clerk, and he left to get the recommended boots.
    “Saw the hat you got,” Jackie said. “Looked like a
good one. I see you’re outfittin’ yourself for Texas. Where are you from?”
    “California.”
    “So that’s what California sounds like. By the way,
I like your hair. Good color on you. Reason I notice is I own Jackie’s Style,
the hair salon across the street and down a ways. When you need a redo, come
see me. I can match that color.”
    “Thanks. I will.”
    The clerk returned and attempted to fit a boot onto
Lainie’s foot. Frowning, she twisted in her chair, trying to reposition her leg
in order to help. “That’s got to be the wrong size.”
    Jackie Lyn grinned. “That’s the right size, girl. If
it was big enough to go on easy, it’d be too big.”
    “You mean I have to fight with it every time to get
it on?” Once the second one was on,