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dress in her closet. She brushed back her hair, curling it around her ear. Maybe she’d let it grow a little. Chin length would give her more chance to change things up than her current severe cut. Smiling at her reflection, she headed out to the living room.
    James had no idea what was coming. And payback was hell.
    • • •
    Standing on the crowded streets, James scanned the crowd, looking for Lizzie. Hell, he could lie to himself, but that’s what he was doing. Jesse had disappeared after lunch without a word. Meeting up with someone probably. James had long ago stopped keeping track of the string of girls Jesse went through in the course of a rodeo season.
    His eyes fell on a little boy standing alone on the sidewalk. JR. Why was the kid alone? The streets were crowded with out-of-towners and the only adult he’d seen with the boy was his grandfather. ’Course, maybe he was visiting his grandparents for rodeo weekend while his parents were at home.
    Or in the bar .
    He walked over and knelt down. “There’s a couple of seats over on the stands, front row.”
    JR startled then grinned. “Hey James. I told you I’d see you here. Grandpa says everyone from town comes to the parade. It’s a law.”
    “Well, I don’t want to break any laws around here.” James smiled and nodded at the stands. “Do you want to sit with me until your grandpa comes back?”
    JR bit his lip, considering James’s offer, then nodded. “I can do that. It’s not like you’re a stranger, we met before.”
    “Good thought, though. You shouldn’t go anywhere with a stranger.” James stood up and walked to the risers. “Where is your grandpa?”
    JR nodded at the River’s End. “He’s in there talking to Mr. Davis about fish. Only grownups are allowed in there. It’s a law.”
    Anger rose with the memory of how many times James’s own father had left him and Jesse alone outside a bar. Maybe James should call child protection or something. “You’re right. It’s a law. Were you scared, being alone?”
    “Heck, I wasn’t alone.” JR scanned the crowd and pointed to a woman nearby. “There’s Mrs. Henson, she’s my Sunday school teacher. And right there’s Mr. Fields. He’s the principal at my school. And Alice works at the grocery store. The whole street is full of people I know.”
    “I guess you’re right.” James grinned. The kid had his head on straight, he’d give him that.
    “And then I saw you, my newest friend.” JR smiled up at him.
    “I’m pleased you think of me as a friend.”
    “My mom says I should never feel alone because someone I know is always close by, ready to help if I need them.”
    “Your mom sounds like a smart woman. Is she working today?” James planned on making a visit to the woman to let her know her kid was left alone outside a bar. JR might feel safe in a town where he knew everyone, but this wasn’t 1960 and even longtime friends weren’t always who or what they seemed. And then there were the rodeo crowds that filled the street this weekend. Anything could happen.
    “Nope. She’s having a girl’s weekend with her friend. I’m not allowed to call until Sunday. Then we’ll go to the rodeo together.” JR paused. “But when she sees me ride, she’ll call me, right?”
    “Maybe we’ll call her before you ride to make sure she’s watching.” Great, the woman was out partying and the man she left to babysit was sitting in a bar. More flashbacks from his childhood filtered through James’s mind. Yep, he was definitely calling child protection. Sooner than later. He glanced down at the kid. He didn’t even know JR’s last name.
    “Okay. When the parade starts, we can go back to the edge of the sidewalk, right?” JR glanced up at him. “I don’t think I’ll get much candy back here.”
    “Yes, we’ll go back to the sidewalk when the parade starts. We’re resting here.”
    “My gramps rests a lot. My mom does the chores. She even lets me help