waved to her friend and followed her aunt and uncle down a nearby aisle. The three of them found seats and watched the horses prance around, ridden by the contestants carrying flags. Brianna loved the fanfare and the smell of the horses, but tonight she was distracted and kept her eyes on Mrs. Clayton. After the national anthem had been sung by a local country singer, she watched three tall, hard-muscled men file into the row and sit next to their mother.
Brianna had never seen three such handsome brothers. Brianna couldn’t distinguish who was who in their Stetsons.
A minute later one of them stood and began walking up the stairs. As he approached, she could tell it was Roce. She waved to him and he walked over and shook hands with Uncle Clark and Aunt Joanne. “I’m glad you’re here. Why don’t you all come with me?”
Her uncle and Roce talked about Taffy’s condition as they followed Roce to where his family was sitting. The poor dog was on her last legs, a sad fact of life that couldn’t be ignored.
The saddle bronc riding event was announced. Everyone shook hands quickly before it started. Brianna’s aunt and uncle knew all of the Claytons and greeted Roce’s mother warmly, calling her Alberta.
Roce explained that he’d been to the saddlery earlier in the day to buy gloves and had met Brianna there.
He went on to introduce Brianna to his brothers Wymon and Eli. But the first contestant was out of the box, stalling the conversation for the time being. Brianna sat on the end next to her aunt, but, instead of concentrating on the rodeo, her thoughts were on the brother named Eli, who’d come without his wife.
Roce was conventionally handsome and Wymon, whom Roce had introduced as the eldest brother, had light gray eyes that stood out in striking contrast to his black hair. Still, it was Eli with his rugged dark looks and his black Stetson who made Brianna’s pulse quicken. She silently cursed herself for always being attracted to the bad-boy type.
All rodeos thrilled a crowd and this one was no exception. She held her breath throughout the team roping event and whooped and hollered along with the rest of Stevensville when the best time went to Toly and his partner. The celebrating went on for a long time. According to her uncle, the Clayton family hoped Toly and Mills would go to the Pro Rodeo National Championship in Las Vegas next December.
Brianna could only imagine how much the Claytons missed their father at a time like this. Her own parents would have loved this rodeo, too. She wished they were here and missed them terribly. It was especially hard not to have her mom to talk to after what had happened at the gem shop earlier that day. Her awareness of the man sitting five seats away had dominated her thoughts all night.
She was relieved when the barrel racing ended and the winners received their gold buckles. With the rodeo over, everyone got up to head outside. While her uncle stood talking to Roce, Brianna put an arm through her aunt’s. “I’ll walk out to the car with you.”
“He could be a while. Clark lives for nights like this.”
“Dad did, too.”
Brianna thought they’d evaded any more socializing and was happy when they reached the car and got in. But then along came her uncle with Roce, who walked around the front of the car and knocked on the window. She asked her aunt to turn on the ignition so she could lower it.
He smiled down at her. “You got out of there too fast for me to say good-night.”
“Thank you for allowing us to sit with your family. It made the whole evening that much more exciting and we’re so proud of your brother.”
“It was fun. Too bad I have to get back to Missoula tomorrow. But when I come to visit again, I’ll drop by the saddlery. If you’re not busy, maybe we could go out to dinner.”
“That would be great,” she said, blushing.
“Good. I’ll look forward to it.”
After they drove off, her uncle glanced at her through the rearview mirror. “I do believe you’ve made a conquest of Roce Clayton.”
“I don’t think so, Uncle Clark,” she said. “If he were truly interested, he would have asked for my phone number and said he would call me. He was just being nice because he lost his father and knows I lost mine.”
Her uncle made a turn and followed a line of cars out onto the highway. “The girls around here have been after him for years. He was a great bull rider before he gave it up to go to veterinary school. Can you honestly tell me you’re not the slightest bit interested in him?” he teased.
Her uncle knew she’d spent time with him earlier in the day, but he’d made assumptions that were way off base. “Yes,” she said without hesitation. The memory of Eli was constantly before her eyes.
“That sounded definite,” her aunt said.
“He’s a fine man, honey.”
“Clark—” her aunt cautioned him. “Leave the poor girl alone.”
Brianna leaned forward and patted his shoulder. “You sounded like Dad just now and I love you for it. But as Mom once told me, when I meet the right man for me, I won’t have to question it. I’ll know he’s the one.” But please, don’t let him be a married man...
“Of course you will,” her aunt concurred.
“I’m just saying you couldn’t do any finer than a Clayton.”
Both she and her aunt laughed the rest of the way home.
Eli drove to the ranch house with Wymon and their mother. He raced upstairs so he could take his daughter home, but Solana stopped him at the door to the bedroom.
“She’s asleep. Don’t wake her up now. I’ll watch her tonight and you can come get her in the morning. You’ve been going nonstop for months. It’s time you had a break.”
He reached out and hugged her. “You already gave me one. Toly won another gold buckle tonight. He’s racking them up! Thanks so much for watching Libby so we could all be there to support him.”
“She’s a little angel. Luis and I couldn’t have children so there are no grandchildren. Libby fills a hole in my heart.”
He nodded. “She’s my whole heart.”
“I know. Luis and I promise to take good care of her tonight.”
“You don’t have to tell me that.” He shoved the cowboy hat back on his head. “If you’re sure you’re okay, I’ll be over at seven to fix her breakfast.”
“Why don’t you sleep in?”
“Even if I want to, I’m always awake by six anyway.”
“You’re still too young to be saying things like that.”
“Didn’t you know I’ve aged since my divorce?” he teased, but there was a kernel of truth in what he’d said.
Solana’s
