Chapter 26

"Ezra."

The mattress bounced and Ezra opened an eye to see Kaylee kneeling on the hotel bed next to him. The mattress moved again as she bounced in place.

"Ezra!" she said again, more insistently.

She was dressed in a t-shirt and her cut off jean shorts, hair in a ponytail. Ezra looked over at the clock on the nightstand. It was seven in the morning. He wasn't even sure that qualified as morning in Vegas.

"Come on," she said, pulling the sheets off of him, faltering as she caught sight of his bare chest. He saw her eyes warm with desire and he grinned.

"No," she said, though her eyes lingered on him for a second longer. Then she patted his leg through the blankets, encouraging him to get moving. "Let's go."

"Where?" he asked, not making a move, wondering how hard it would be to entice his bride back to bed. He moved his arms to behind his head, leaning back and making no attempt to start his morning.

"There's a poker tournament tomorrow night," she said. "It starts after my run is over."

Ezra held back a smile at the sparkle in her eyes. "And?" he said, feigning ignorance.

The bed moved as she jumped in place on her knees. "We have to get in line for entry tickets!"

That gave Ezra pause. "You're entering?"

Kaylee smiled and it was that guileless enthusiasm that concerned Ezra.

"You do realize you're a terrible poker player?" Ezra said.

Kaylee's brow furrowed. "I win every time."

Ezra searched for the right words, not wanting to dampen her enthusiasm. Especially since whatever had her wrapped up in her own thoughts and worries since had dissipated since she won a substantial sum the night before. "And have you noticed that I win against everyone else? You win because you beat me alone."

Kaylee looked at him like he wasn't making any sense. But then seemed to brush off what he was trying to tell her. "Well let's both enter the tournament and find out," she said, clearly not offended and giving him a challenge with her raised eyebrows. "But you need to get dressed so we can get in line. The lady at the front desk said the spots fill up as soon as they open registration."

"You really want to do this?" he asked. He thought of the cost of the entry fee, worried that Kaylee was going to throw half her winnings from the night before away trying to double or triple them. He would make sure she kept her money and he would take care of the entry fee.

"Don't you?" she asked.

Ezra pretended it was a question he needed to consider. "It's a black tie event."

Kaylee's shoulders sagged. "Oh."

This time it was Ezra's brow that furrowed and he sat up. "That would deter you?"

Kaylee's mouth screwed up to one side. "I don't even have a dress, Ezra. Let alone a fancy one."

He kicked himself for letting his teasing dull her enthusiasm. Although, he wasn't sure if losing in the first round wouldn't have done that same thing to her. "There are places to buy one," he said.

"I…" Kaylee started, then paused, her expressive face bunching up and then she made an apparent quick change of subject. "Did you go to prom in high school?"

Aware that his high school years were eight years in the past, compared to only a couple years for Kaylee, he still answered honestly. "I did."

Kaylee took a breath and held it, like she was preparing for a monumental confession. "I didn't," she said, all seriousness.

Ezra wasn't sure what to make of that. Did she regret it? Did she want to attend the tournament to make up for the missed formal?

"I…" again, that wrinkled nose and look like what she was going to say pained her. "I didn't know how to get a dress. I mean, I could find one, but then if it was strapless, what was I supposed to wear underneath it? And shoes. And all the other girls had hair appointments and did their make up. Their older sisters or moms or friends helped them figure it all out…" her voice trailed off and she grimaced self-consciously.

Ezra rested his hand against her leg, his thumb brushing against her smooth skin absently. "I attended my school's prom because they sold tickets at the door and that led to a large cash box that was not very well secured in the principal's office."

Kaylee's eyes widened slightly. Ezra consoled himself with the knowledge that no matter what she confessed to him, he would be guaranteed to have a tale to make her embarrassment vanish.

"You stole it?" she asked.

"And bought a billboard on the interstate to post a rather unflattering picture of our school's principal."

Her eyes went wider.

"He was a bully," Ezra felt compelled to tell her. "If one was not athletic, or from the right family, he had a rather scornful disregard for you. The marching band supplied me with the photograph." He smiled, not remorseful in the slightest. "So, I don't think not having the resources to help you find prom attire is scandalous in the least. You'll have what you need for poker night in Vegas."

"So you want to do it?" Kaylee asked, back to her original mission. "You want to enter the tournament?"

Ezra settled back more comfortably against the feather pillows. "My dear, I'm already registered."

"How'd you manage that?" she asked, sinking back down to sitting.

Ezra smiled. "Last year's winner is automatically entered."

He watched his words sink in.

"I'll make sure you have a place at the tables, if that's what you want."

Kaylee's grin stretched broadly. Her eyes sparked with teasing. "And then I'll make sure they let you in next year when I'm the reigning champion."

Her laughter turned to a squeal when Ezra wrapped an arm around her waist, pulling her down onto the mattress with him.

#

With twenty thousand dollars wired to Cletus, Kaylee felt like she could breath for the first time in a year. There was no one threatening to evict her, she had made enough of a payment to keep Cletus appeased, and she didn't need to worry about getting to the next town or coming up with an entry fee.

And she had Ezra. She couldn't hold back her smile for him. He brushed a kiss against her temple. Kaylee had a moment of wishing she had ignored her plans to do some practice runs with Casey and stayed back in the hotel room with Ezra. She broke away from Ezra long enough to tie Alcott to the rail around the chutes while she waited for Casey.

"You look cheerful for being out of bed before noon, Ezra," Josiah commented, coming up to them, Barney alongside him.

Kaylee knew Ezra well enough now to see his face was too neutral as she knelt down to greet her dog. "I don't know what you mean, Mr. Sanchez," he said. "I'm always more than pleasant." Barney's ears perked up at the sound of Ezra's voice and he abandoned Kaylee to eagerly go to Ezra, tail wagging.

Vin rested against his crutches alongside Josiah. "Not before noon, you ain't," he commented. "Must be married life agreein' with you."

Kayle stood to greet Vin, some of her good mood dissipating at the sight of the immobilizer around his knee. In spite of his easy words, she could see the faint lines of pain on his face.

"I'm fine," he said before she could say anything. "Doesn't hardly hurt."

Kaylee wished she could take some of his pain and grimaced.

"You give those cowboys an answer?" Vin asked, clearly changing the subject before she could say anything more about his injury.

Kaylee shook her head. "I'm not riding with them," she said. "It would be too weird to haze for someone when you're not out there."

Vin frowned and started to argue, but Kaylee interrupted. "Ezra's doing it," she said.

Vin's eyebrows shot up. He looked at Ezra. "You're comin' out of retirement?" he asked.

Kaylee knew Ezra well enough now to see he was deliberately keeping his emotions from his face.

"I've come to see there are some things that should weigh into a decision besides financial gain," Ezra said. He gave Barney a pat, but the dog pressed more eagerly against his side and Ezra tried again to shoo him away.

Vin and Josiah both grinned and glanced at Kaylee. She thought back to what Ezra had told her before. That he had stopped competing because there was more money and more security in providing the stock.

"That's real good to hear, Ezra," Josiah said.

Ezra looked uncomfortable, but thankfully a call from Casey saved him from any further conversation.

"Sorry I'm late!" Casey yelled, coming into the arena on her horse. "Nettie got to talking to Mary and we didn't make it out the door fast enough." She swung down and her eyes were lit up with excitement. "What do you think?" she asked. "It should be fun, right?"

Kaylee shook her head, not sure what Casey was talking about.

"Shopping," Casey said. "For the poker tournament."

Kaylee still was lost.

"Mary told Nettie Ezra called her, so then Nettie asked if Mary would take me, too." Then her clear brow wrinkled. "I'm not sure what I'm going to do with a dress after the poker night, but JD entered and if all those other girls there are all gussied up, I'm not going to be sitting at home in jeans."

"Ezra called Mary?" Kaylee asked. She looked over at Ezra and there was that impassive face again.

"She was planning to go shopping while in the city and offered to take you to some of her favorite shops for a dress." He said it like he had no part in it, but Kaylee could imagine that wasn't the case at all.

"So we're going after we get our practice runs in," Casey summarized. "Do you want to go first, or me?"

"I…" Kaylee didn't know what to make of everything Casey and Ezra had just said.

Vin swung forward on his crutches, managing to maneuver through the stadium dirt and untie Alcott's reins. "I'll clock the both of you," he said. "Why don't you two go get lined up?"

Kaylee took the reins without a word, swinging up into the saddle automatically, not sure what to make of Mary taking her and Casey out to find dresses for the formal event. Suddenly, she regretted her split second decision to enter it.

As she walked her mare out of the arena, Josiah paused her with a hand to the horse's neck.

"Ezra doesn't have much practice showing that he's a good man," he said, the low timbre of his voice making his words carry more weight. "It might be good to let him do something for you without questioning."

Kaylee looked back at Ezra, his familiar form that grew more familiar to her every day. The way he nodded towards Vin's knee with concern and asked him something while scratching Barney behind the ear. She looked back to Josiah, his face holding no judgment, but waiting for her response.

"Ok," she said with a nod. She'd take Josiah's wisdom. He gave her an approving nod and let her go. She nudged Alcott into motion again, pushing thoughts of dresses and poker tournaments to the back of her mind, fixing her thoughts on her practice runs and winning some more money to get Cletus away from her.

#

Kaylee and Casey must have come directly from the arena. Mary bit back a smile at the two barrel racers standing in the door to her hotel suite. Their boots were dusty, Kaylee's hair was falling free from her braid, but she had most of it held back with a worn baseball hat advertising horse feed. Casey was hatless, but had a smudge of dirt on her cheek.

"Hi girls," Mary greeted them.

Casey greeted her enthusiastically. Kaylee looked more skeptical.

Mary opened her door wider. "I just need to get my purse. Come on in."

The girls entered her room as Chris unfolded his lean frame from the couch in her suite. She saw Casey nearly stumble at the unexpected sight of the bull rider.

Chris picked up his hat from the end table and gave them a nod as he settled it on his head. "Ladies," he said.

"Chris," Casey said, her greeting sounding slightly stunned.

Kaylee's eyes moved between Chris and Mary, and she didn't say anything, but Mary saw the speculation there.

Chris stopped by Mary and ran a hand down her arm. "I'll see you later?"

Mary nodded. "You will."

Chris' mouth moved in the hint of a smile. He stepped back and gave Kaylee a look.

"You see Vin this morning?"

Kaylee nodded, her jaw setting. Mary had to give her credit, she didn't shrink away from Chris' blunt tone.

"I saw what happened yesterday," he said.

Kaylee's jaw twitched. She squared her shoulders. Mary had heard Kaylee was blaming herself for Vin's injury. Josiah had filled Chris in on everything when Chris had stopped by to check on Vin this morning.

"That steer was out for blood," Chris said. Kaylee swallowed hard, but Chris continued. "If you hadn't ridden like you did, stupid animal would've gored Vin."

Casey's face split into a grin and she poked Kaylee's side. "See? I told you Vin was right. JD said so, too. It wasn't your fault."

Chris held Kaylee's eyes. "He's lucky to have you." Then the hint of a smile. "Ezra too, but don't let him know I said that." With a tip of his hat for Mary, he left.

Kaylee stood there blinking. It was Casey who broke the silence. "So you and Chris…?"

Mary smiled at her. "We should get going." She found her purse and keys, making sure she had the key card for her room before they left the room. Her car was parked by the valet service, an extravagance that most of the hotels in the smaller towns the Double T rodeo went to didn't offer. As soon as the valet brought her car around and Kaylee and Casey were in, she pulled out, leaving the Vegas strip and heading toward the upscale boutique shops she favored.

Casey chatted, turning in her seat to try to engage Kaylee in the back seat, but Kaylee was more reserved than Mary had seen her. She looked at Kaylee again in the rearview mirror. The younger woman met her eyes and pressed her lips together. Mary thought of their last conversation, when Kaylee had insisted she was handling the threats from Nebraska. When she had been adamant no one needed to know her real name.

Mary tried to silently reassure Kaylee that she wasn't planning on telling anyone the secrets she carried. Kaylee's chest rose as she took a small breath, then returned Mary's small smile.

Finding a parking spot, Mary pulled in, then stepped out into the heat of the Nevada afternoon. She would be glad to get home to Colorado, to her son, and stay home until next year's season.

"Come on," she encouraged her charges as they both hesitated at the door of the store. She saw them exchange uncertain glances, but they followed her into the store.

Mary didn't miss the look on the saleswoman's face when she took in the sight of Casey and Kaylee, but as soon as she saw Mary, she smiled.

"Mrs. Travis," she said with a slight motion to the other woman working there. The other woman hurried off. "It's so good to see you."

"Hi Charlene." Mary returned the greeting, then introduced the young women with her. "They need dresses for the poker event tomorrow night."

If Charlene looked doubtful about cleaning up the two cowgirls for a black tie event, she didn't show it. "What do you girls have in mind?"

"A dress," Casey said.

Mary coughed lightly to cover her laugh. Thankfully Charlene nodded as if the answer was helpful.

"Let's take a look around and see if there's anything that catches your eye," Charlene suggested.

The other saleswoman reappeared, a tray with three flutes of champagne in hand. Mary knew Kaylee was underage, but she shook her head to refuse the drink anyway. Casey took the offered drink and took a sip of it, looking around the shop like she didn't know where to begin.

Kaylee ventured over to a rack of dresses, carefully looking a few over before looking to Mary with concern. Mary left Casey to Charlene and went to Kaylee's side.

"There aren't price tags on anything," Kaylee said quietly, the stress on her face edging into her voice.

"Don't worry about that," Mary said. "Ezra said to not worry about the expense." He had said so much more loquaciously, but Mary wasn't sure she could recall the full extent of what he had said. Just that he would pay for whatever Kaylee needed and to make sure she got something she liked.

The alarm in Kaylee's eyes caught Mary off guard and she shook her head. "No," she said. "I can't take Ezra's money."

It was the first time Mary gave credit to some of the concerns Chris had voiced about the quick wedding between Ezra and Kaylee.

"You're not taking his money," Mary said, thinking back to her own marriage. "You're married now."

Kaylee shook her head more adamantly. "I didn't marry Ezra for his money."

Mary wondered if someone had said something to Kaylee to make her so determined to not take anything from Ezra. She thought briefly of Maude's visit to Ezra months earlier, but turned her attention back to Kaylee.

"Ezra doesn't think anything like that," Mary assured her.

Kaylee was unmoved.

Mary tried a different course. "Would you want to use some of your winnings from last night?" She'd focus on getting Kaylee what she needed for the poker night for now.

She could have predicted Kaylee's shake of her head. "It's mostly gone."

Mary tried not to frown. "Because of your troubles back home?"

A single nod.

"Do they have a clearance section?" Kaylee asked hopefully.

"How are you supposed to breath in this?" Casey asked, holding up a dress Mary knew Nettie would never approve.

This was going to prove more challenging than Mary had expected.

#

Three boutiques later, Casey had found a dress. Kaylee smiled sincerely at her friend as she twirled in the light pink tulle and sequins.

"What do you think?" Casey asked.

"It's perfect," Mary said.

Kaylee voiced her agreement, then added what she knew Casey really wanted to hear. "JD's going to love it."

Casey looked between the two of them. "You think so?"

"He won't know what hit him," Mary promised.

Casey looked at herself in the mirror. The sequins on the bodice trailed off into the fluffy tulle of the skirt that managed to flow without billowing out around Casey. It highlighted her innocence and eagerness.

Casey hitched up the skirt and started back towards the fitting room. "Let's bag it up," she declared.

Mary smiled at Casey's enthusiasm and turned back to Kaylee, her face growing slightly concerned. "Nothing here caught your eye?"

Most of the dresses had caught Kaylee's eye, but with just over a hundred dollars to her name, none of them were anywhere close to her price range. But she didn't say that to Miss Travis—Mary, she reminded herself. Mary had corrected her several times, telling her to call her Mary.

Mary studied Kaylee and Kaylee got the feeling she knew even more about her situation in Nebraska than she had let on when they had spoken back in Texas. She imagined it wasn't that hard for Mary to make a few phone calls and find out everything.

"I have one more store in mind," Mary said. Kaylee breathed a sigh of relief that Mary wasn't going to push. At the same time, pressure started to build in her. If she didn't find a dress at the next store, she was going to have to tell Ezra she didn't want to go to the poker tournament with him. Tell him that she didn't fit into his life.

Kaylee moved away to look over the extravagant dresses without really seeing them while Casey pulled out the credit card Nettie had sent with her and paid for the dress. With the dress in a garment bag and Casey in high spirits, Mary led them back out to her car.

Kaylee took the back seat again, staring out the window listlessly, listening to Casey ask Mary what sort of shoes she should get.

Mary turned the car into a less swanky area of shops and Kaylee glanced up at her. Mary gave her a wink and kept driving.

When she pulled up in front of a nondescript brick building with an assortment of furniture, dishes, and clothing on display, Kaylee sat up.

"Come on," Mary encouraged her.

Kaylee obeyed. Casey linked arms with her.

"We have to be back at the arena in a couple hours," Casey said. "But I have a good feeling we're going to find you the perfect dress. You'll knock Ezra's socks off."

Kaylee watched Mary's business like stride toward the back of the store, past second hand furniture, racks of jeans, a jumble of used toys.

In the back corner, she smiled at Kaylee.

Kaylee looked at the racks of formal attire. Wedding gowns, prom dresses, there was silk, sequins, lace, and tulle crammed onto racks that filled the entire back corner of the store.

"This is my favorite thrift store," Mary said.

Casey didn't hesitate and started plowing through the racks. She held a tiny dress with a low cut out on top that looked like it would barely cover Kaylee's legs on the bottom aloft.

Kaylee let out a laugh, feeling herself relax for the first time since they had started shopping. "No way," she said. "I'm not paying for half a dress."

Mary smiled. "I can guarantee Ezra would love it."

Casey blushed and put it back. "Never mind!" she called out.

Kaylee started to get into the spirit of the trip, pulling out a hideous wedding gown with overly puffed sleeves and lace spilling over every inch.

"It's perfect," Casey teased. "To make up for missing out on a wedding dress at your wedding."

Kaylee wrestled the overdone dress back onto the wrack, smiling to herself. "I didn't miss out on anything."

Mary approached Kaylee with several dresses draped over her arm. "What do you think of these?"

Kaylee looked at the price tags first. None was over twenty dollars. She shot Mary an appreciative look and took the dresses from her.

"Try them on," Mary encouraged her.

Kaylee took them into the fitting room and shucked her jeans and t-shirt. Mary had good taste, every dress fit her and was comfortable on her. When she came out in the final dress, Casey's eyes lit up and Mary smiled.

"You have to get it," Casey said.

"It's beautiful on you," Mary agreed.

Kaylee turned to look at herself in the mirror, picturing what Ezra would think. She looked back at Mary and Casey again.

"Alright," she said.

Casey bounced on the balls of her feet. "Those guys aren't going to know what hit them."

#