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company?”
    Jenna jumped. It was Dixie. “You scared me.” She put a hand to her heart.
    “One of the hands saw you come this way. I didn’t want to leave until I talked to you.” Scooting over, Jenna made room for her friend to sit beside her.
    “I’m glad you did.” Jenna smiled. “Your time around the barrels was great tonight. Congratulations on your win.”
    “Thanks.” Dixie laid back and stared up at the stars. “What are you doing out here in the dark?”
    “Waiting on Logan, but I don’t think he’s coming back tonight.”
    “Oh, he’s not.” Dixie sat up quickly. “The man who told me where you were, Robert…what’s his name?”
    “Robert Warrick, the ranch foreman.” Jenna was listening intently. “What did he say?”
    “Yea, Warrick. He said there was some problem with one of the trailers that was carrying stock to a rodeo up north around Tyler. It broke down and Logan has driven up to make sure it gets fixed.”
    “Well, dang.” Jenna whispered. “I guess there’s no use sitting here.” He didn’t even call and tell her he wasn’t coming. Heck, he didn’t even really commit to talking tonight. She'd just assumed – or hoped. “I wanted to thank him again for my birthday present.”
    “What did he get you? I never got a chance to ask.”
    Jenna smiled. “A brand new, snow white Ford pickup!”
    “No way!” Dixie yelled. “Oh, my God! You lucky girl, you.”
    “That I am,” she agreed, but it wasn’t the truck she was thanking her lucky stars for.” Seeing how tired her friend looked, she grabbed Dixie’s hand. “Why don’t you stay the night here instead of driving back into Austin?” Jenna asked, needing the company. “We could have a slumber party.”
    “Really?” Dixie asked, brightening. “You don’t think the Gray’s would mind?”
    “Oh, not at all. Come on.” She got up and started down the path. “I’m hungry. What time is it anyway?”
    “A little after eleven, not too late.” Dixie fell in step with her as they walked toward the main house. All of the rodeo crowd was gone. No one was about but ranch hands and guests and they had retired to their respective quarters. “You’re great, you know. There’s no reason you couldn’t be performing on the circuit.”
    “Really?” Jenna knew she had no aspirations to leave Gray Wolf. Her trick-riding fulfilled a need to insert herself in Logan’s world. She loved to be with Stormy and the challenge of performing the complicated maneuvers was fun – but doing anything with them other than entertaining the hometown crowd was beyond her comfort zone. Jenna was a homebody and Logan was her home. “Do you think so?”
    “Yea, there are groups out there, performing troupes who entertain at rodeos and parades. Women with talents such as you have are in high demand.” Dixie held up a branch as they walked underneath it.
    “I don’t know…” Jenna muttered, not really wanting to spill her secrets and confess her love to her friend when she hadn't even told Logan yet.
    “I know, I understand,” Dixie giggled. “I’m not clueless.”
    “About what?” Jenna tried to sound sincere, but when Dixie snorted, she caved. “I’m not very subtle, I guess.”
    “No, I can see the signs. I’ve had man trouble before.”
    Dixie’s sad voice made Jenna glance her way. “Want to talk about it?”
    “Someday,” she said as they stepped up on the front porch of the main house. “Now, how about raiding the refrigerator?”
    Jenna led the way into Louisa's country kitchen and soon they were munching on pickles, chips and BBQ sandwiches at the kitchen table. There was no noise from upstairs, so Jenna assumed Earl and Louisa was sound asleep. Dixie made herself at home, checking out everything from the gingham curtains over the window by the sink to the family pictures spread out on the hearth.
    “They made me a part of the family.” Jenna said as her friend looked at picture after picture, many which