me, I have just the thing for you to wear.”
“I didn’t know you had to wear something specific to a rodeo.”
“You have no idea.” Glory reached out and tugged Silvia’s hand until she stood from the bed.
“Nothing sparkly or with sequins.”
Glory only chuckled.
As they stepped into the hallway, Glory called out, “Silvia’s coming, everyone! Give us a few minutes.”
Well, so much for keeping things on the down-low.
“Great!” Pam said, sticking her head out of her bedroom door down the hall. She wore dark lipstick—a marked contrast to her ghost-pale skin.
Glory continued to hold onto Silvia’s arm as if she was worried that she’d change her mind and flee the ranch at any moment.
Once in Glory’s room, the woman began to sort through her clothes in her closet. This bedroom was nearly twice the size of Silvia’s, and there was a lot more furniture in it. “How does one sign up for this bedroom?”
“First come, first serve,” Glory said, flashing a smile. “When I leave, you can have it.”
For some reason, that comment made Silvia feel a little panicky. She didn’t want Glory to leave.
Glory paused in her search. “Don’t worry, I’m here for a while yet. Gotta figure out the new me first.”
Glory had gone through a divorce from an alcoholic husband the year before. During their marriage, she’d spent years blaming and resenting him for every wrong in her life. This morning in group therapy, she’d said she never realized that she was half of the problem and had kept their marriage chaotic because of her intense co-dependence.
“Ah, this one will work.” Glory held up a dark red gingham shirt. “Look, it has cute ties at the bottom, and the color will make those dark eyes of yours stand out. Westin Farr won’t be able to take his eyes off you.”
Silvia felt herself flush. “It’s not like that between us.”
“And a fish can breathe out of water.” Glory tossed the shirt to Silvia. “Try it on. And these boots.” She stooped and picked up a pair of black cowboy boots that looked about a hundred times nicer than the ones Westin wore.
“This is going overboard,” Silvia said. “What’s wrong with what I’m wearing?”
Glory scrutinized her like she was a fashion designer in Milan. “The jeans are cute. But the baggy t-shirt has to go. Oh, and take this.” She handed over a cowboy hat. Also black.
Now, Silvia’s arms were full.
“And hurry,” Glory said. “We’ve got five minutes to be in the truck, and Kellie doesn’t like to wait.”
Silvia got ready plenty fast because she wasn’t about to make an extra effort for a . . . rodeo. Even if Westin Farr was there. He’d already been witness to her colossal fight with her brother, and that next morning when she was chased by the diabolical Maggie. Besides, she wasn’t about to dress to impress. No . . .
When a honk sounded from the front of the house, she hurried out of her bedroom. It appeared she was the last one ready, and she squeezed into the back of the extended-cab truck between Glory and Pam.
“Well, look who decided to join us,” Vonnie said. She wore a sequined turquoise top and a hat to match. It was really quite impressive. And loud.
Silvia suppressed a smile.
As Kellie drove away from the ranch, she expertly navigated the country roads until they got into town. Well, “town” was a relative word. Sure, there were a few shops—Mariah’s Bakery, O’Malley’s Shakes, a burger place called Scaggs, and a bar called Roosters—but the place was still tiny. They passed the bed and breakfast, then turned onto another road.
Up ahead, stadium lights blazed—well, rodeo arena lights.
Silvia was surprised at the number of cars and trucks parked in the dirt lot in front of the arena. It seemed this rodeo drew a decent-sized crowd.
“Wowie,” Vonnie said. “I think all of Lost Creek is here, and the entire student body of Sam Houston.”
“Rumor has it Knox Prosper is riding tonight,” Kellie said. “He’s going to give our boys a run.”
“Who’s Knox Prosper?” Silvia asked.
“One of the top bull riders in the country right now,” Vonnie said. “And he’s Kellie’s cousin.”
“Yep,” Kellie said. “Although, I’ll be cheering for Westin Farr over Knox.” She shut off the engine, then opened her door.
After Silvia climbed out, she and Vonnie lagged behind the other women. “Does Kellie hate her cousin or something?” she asked Vonnie.
“Something like that.” Vonnie toyed with her red braid that hung over one shoulder. “There was a family