About five months earlier
Angel Martinez glanced at her reflection in the rearview mirror one last time. She decided her makeup looked good as she smoothed back a stray lock of naturally platinum hair. She inhaled and opened her car door. It was maybe three hours before the rodeo gates opened, so the parking lot was mostly empty. The lot next door, however, was filled with the vehicles of those working the rodeo. Since the main gate was locked with no one manning it, she decided to try her luck at the workers' gate. Maybe they'd accept her ticket there.
"Howdy, ma'am," said an aging cowboy with skin the texture and color of ancient leather. Angel had met many a cowboy like him growing up on her father's Triple T Ranch. Some had worked there only a short time before moving on. Others stayed for longer periods because the wages were good and the bunkhouse superior. There were even two old-timers who had remained since Angel's childhood. She smiled thinking of Old Coot and Handy Luke, nicknames the men had always been called by.
She showed her ticket to the cowboy.
He said, "This is the workers' entrance, ma'am. I'm not sup'ose to let you in here."
Angel sighed and nodded. She had never been one to argue with authority. "When will the main gate open?"
The cowboy, with at least a week's worth of gray bristles shadowing his jaw, pulled out the straw he was chewing on and tossed it on the ground. "You got some reason to want in early?"
"Well, yes. I'm friends with Harris Brightman. We grew up together and I wanted to surprise him."
The man's face brightened. "You're friends with Harris? You sure you're not jus' joshin' me so's you can git in and meet him?"
"Yes, sir and no, sir."
"Well, I can tell you he's on my list of favorite folks. Now answer me this and I might let you in. Was he an ornery kid growing up or–"
Before the man finished his sentence, Angel heard her name called.
"Angel! Angel! Over here."
Both she and the gatekeeper turned in the direction of the voice. Angel saw Eli Brightman and grinned. She waved and called, "Eli! Hi! I didn't know you were here!"
Eli jogged to the gate. "What are you doing in Houston? It's a long way from home. Did you fly in?"
"No. I drove. I decided to take a few weeks off from my normal routine and do some traveling." She hoped he wouldn't question her further about her travel plans, which didn't extend any farther than here. He didn't. He just gave her a questioning look and then grinned widely. To the cowboy he said, "Sidewinder, you can let her through. She's a friend."
Sidewinder said, "I was goin' to do so anyway after she answered my question about what kind of kid Harris was growin' up."
Eli grinned. "Hell, I could have told you that. He was a brat. But when he let me tag around with him, he was my hero."
Sidewinder removed his hat, chuckled, and waved Angel inside. "You have a right good time, Miz Angel."
Angel thanked him and then gave Eli a welcoming hug. His arms went around her waist and squeezed tightly before reaching for her hand and tucking it in the crook of his arm. They chatted as he led her past the corrals and toward a barn. Before they reached it, she paused and he turned toward her. Being the same height, they were on eye level. It always surprised her how different Eli was from his brother. Whereas Harris was tall, dark, and handsome, with short-cropped hair matching the color of his eyes, bittersweet chocolate, Eli was 5'9" with longish light brown hair, green eyes, and thick glasses. At school the mean kids had called him the usual names of four-eyes and nerd, not only because of his studious appearance, but because he was so smart. He'd always aced tests, and in that respect, he and Angel were much alike.
She said, "I just want to thank you again for standing up for me with that awful reporter. I'm sorry it got you into trouble with the law."
Eli placed his hand atop Angel's that was still holding his arm. "Angel, you don't have to keep thanking me. I'd do it again in a heartbeat. The guy was a jerk."
"Yes. But you ended up with a black eye and a night in jail–"
"–and he also ended up in jail and being kicked out of town. I'd say it was well worth the effort." The corners of Eli's mouth creased when he grinned, and his green eyes twinkled behind his thick glasses. A small dimple appeared on the left side of his chin that Angel had never noticed before.
"Hey, Angel!" The shout distracted them and Angel's heart hammered. She recognized that voice. The person yelled again, "If I'm not lookin' at an angel, then my name isn't Harris Brightman!"
Angel could barely breathe. Eli still watched her and his expression turned serious for a moment before he moved his gaze to his brother and grinned. "Hey bro, the heavens must be smiling down on you, 'cause your name is still Harris Brightman."
Angel accepted the hug Harris gave her and when she stepped back, she thought, Harris, I'm going to find out if we have a chance or my name isn't Angel Martinez.