Two days on the road, two long days, days of driving and stopping and walking horses at the rest areas to keep them calmed down and help them stretch their legs. Two nights spent where they were lucky to find farms to board their horses, thanks to Travis.

After what seemed an eternity of driving and stopping, they reached Missoula and put their horses into the makeshift stalls they were allotted in the arena. It was not the most desirable of accommodations, but like the housing of the others it was good enough for the horses to spend one or two nights.

Two exhausted girls checked into the Ramada, went to their rooms and changed clothes. They were almost too tired to go to dinner, but they had been taught by their trainer to eat well to keep their minds and bodies alert for the show.

They slept until nine a.m., late for them, but left them enough time to grab quick showers then find the nearest café to eat, no devour, huge breakfasts and copious amounts of coffee. They then went to see their horses and give them their overdue breakfasts.

Coronado stamped and pinned back his ears, letting them know he did not appreciate having his much-needed breakfast delayed and Coralee fed him a couple of young tender carrots by way of apology. Best Boy was not so fussy, as long as he ate, he was happy.

"I suppose we should go back and call Mom and Dad," said Coralee, "We haven't called them since we left and they're probably wondering how we're doing."

"No, that's only part of it," answered Katie, "You're afraid that Travis has talked to Dad."

"Don't be ridiculous, Travis has been too busy, he's got horses to sell, he likes to return home with an empty trailer. You're right about one thing, though, he's going to be calling them, or maybe he'll just show up. I'd like to not be there when he does, didn't Uncle John say that he could use us when we got home? I'm going to hang out for a day or two then head over to the Yellowstone and let him put me to work."

"You're hiding," Katie cut to the point, "You're avoiding Travis, admit it, and besides, as soon as he talks to Dad, he's going to talk to Uncle John so you can't hide forever. Are you really going to marry Travis or are you just stringing him along?"

"I keep telling you, I'm going to marry him, it's just this whole thing is scary. I never gave any thought to marrying anyone then, bang, along comes Travis. What's wrong with marrying someone you've always liked a lot, someone you admire? I know I'm not in love with him, but how can he expect me to me?

"Coralee, I admit I don't understand any of this, or why he's pursuing you but I still say he's a catch, and I think you'd regret not marrying him. Mom and Dad are going to ask you how you feel about him, what are you going to say?"

"Kates, I don't know. All I do know is I don't regret Bill, but as far as Travis goes, I just can't see not marrying him."

They wandered around Missoula for a while, a place they knew well. They ran into friends from competitions, even some from their barrel racing days and made plans to have dinner after the show, then hit the bars.

Missoula had a definite touristy feel, not like the days when the cowboy bars were filled with actual cowboys. It was too bad, Coralee thought, Montana was being bought and sold. People like her were lucky, her family had the money to stay but others were being forced out because of economic circumstances. It wasn't just Montana, it was Colorado and Wyoming, Soon even Idaho and Utah would price themselves out of the reach of those who only had middle class incomes.

She was more excited now than she had been in Albuquerque. She and Katie were almost home, and they'd be competing with friends. It was almost like her fair and 4-H days, only now they were older and had money to go to restaurants and the bars.

She hadn't warmed up Coronado but she could feel him responding and they so in sync that she wanted to rip off her hat and wave at the crowd. Barrel racing could never been like this, she thought as she went through her routine. This was poetry on the back of a horse, not like dressage or the routines of the Lippazaners, but this was as close to poetry as you could on the back of a quarter horse. And she didn't even need to hear her name called, or her friends cheer, she knew she had won.

She rubbed down Coronado with a handful of straw, and watched him sink to the floor of his stall and roll. "You deserve it, buddy," she told him, "I think I'd roll too but it wouldn't be the same."

Her friends toasted her, put their arms around her shoulders, and patted her on the back. This had to be the best night, she thought, this means the most. I love being here with my friends, their praise makes me feel like I deserve it. I went to school with some of these people, we grew up together, competed together. I didn't realize that I was homesick, but I was. Travis, what am I going to do if you move me to Texas?

There was eating, drinking, and dancing to Montana-style country music. This night, no one wanted to take her to bed-or told her they did—there was just a lot of partying like there had been in the old days. Best of all, no one noticed her engagement ring, or, if they did, they said nothing.

She and Katie were slightly hung over the next morning, but a good breakfast and coffee took care of it. They loaded their horses, leaving the clean up for the staff and got into the truck and headed home. Their parents may have hoped that they would come home after the competition, but the after event party suited them better.

The drive was barely an hour, and when they got home they unloaded their horses then walked into the house yelling, "'We're home!"

"I can hear you, I can hear you, you don't need to be so loud." Gemma Dutton stepped into the hallway. Her figure wasn't what it was before she had six children, but she stood tall and straight, and still rode with her family. Her blond hair was slowly whitening, but it flattered her, you could tell that her daughters at least got some of their looks from her.

"Well, how was the show? How did you do?" They went into the kitchen and proudly showed her their ribbons and prize checks. She could see Coralee's eyes shining with pride.

"I took three firsts after a disastrous start. I'm really proud of how I did. I could use a break from competing now, I'd just like to rest for a couple days." Coralee sat down in a kitchen chair that had held generations of Duttons.

"Well, your Uncle John could use your help, he's bringing some cattle down from the hills to load up on the trucks to go to market. If you're willing, give him a call right now and let him know. They're going to cold camping, so he said to bring your warm coats. In the meantime, put your dirty clothes in the laundry basket then come down and help me with dinner.

The girls went upstairs to empty their suitcases. "What do you think, Kates, should we help?"

"Yeah, why not?" Katie answered, "It always takes time to come down from a show. It'll be nice to show off for the ranch hands, if you know what I mean."

"Yeah, I hate the cold camp part, but cowboying is always fun. I feel sorry for city kids, they'll never know what it's like to camp out and drive cattle, followed by one of Gator's outdoor feasts. I can't wait until the branding this fall, that's always a big party."

"Are you going to sneak a blanket?" Katie asked, and Coralee shrugged, "Liar, you know you will, and Uncle John will let you get away with it after he yells at you."

"Well, "she replied, "I can deal with not eating as long as I have water, but after the first time I promised myself I wouldn't do that again. So I sneak my blanket and I don't really sneak it, I sit on it. Uncle John will say something, Rip will give his look, but they won't make me leave it."

"Well, I'm not going to cheat," Katie said, "but you go right ahead and use your blanket while the rest of us freeze, you wuss."

"That's why they call it 'cold camp'," Coralee retorted.

The next afternoon found them driving to the Yellowstone and looking at the sky. It was going to be clear, no rain, and they were grateful for the pleasant weather. The hands were done for the day, and were milling around the corals. They pulled into the parking spaces reserved for the family and headed to the barn where the bunkhouse was located.

Uncle John's truck was there, and unfortunately so was Beth's Mercedes. Fortunately Jamie's truck was there, so she'd have an ally if Beth decided to lay into her. She decided to put off going to the house so she and Katie headed to the bunkhouse to greet their friends.

Walker, an ex con, was one of Coralee's favorites. He had sad brown eyes and could play guitar and sing in a voice that could make you weep. His girlfriend Laramie was a barrel racer and she and her sister had competed against here a few times. If Laramie and Walker were coming, this would prove to be fun.

Katie headed over to Ryan, a tall cowboy maybe about ten years older than them. He had been at the Yellowstone for a while now and knew the girls well. Coralee wondered if Ryan had slept with her sister, the two seemed friendly with each other, maybe too friendly, but Katie made no secret of the fact that she wanted to live on her terms and she could not fault her.

There was Teeter with the pink hair and her African-American cowboy lover Colby. Teeter was fun, she brought the party with her in case yours wasn't going so well. Lloyd was older than all of them, wise, would give you advice but only if you asked for it. Dwight could do anything with horses and trained most of those that belonged to the ranch. Carter was the newest, Beth had found him but he was fitting into the ranch and was a hard worker.

How many nights had she and Katie sat drinking and gambling with the Yellowstone crew? She'd lost track but knew she always was welcome in the bunkhouse. Rip felt free to yell at her as much as the crew, but she didn't mind. She'd learned more on the Yellowstone than she'd learned in school and sometimes felt the ranch was more home than the one she lived in.

"Hey, that's a pretty nice sparkler," Teeter said, looking over at her finger. "Who's the lucky guy?"

Coralee blushed to the roots of her blond hair, "I'm not telling, not yet, I'm needing time to get used to this. It sort of came out of the blue."

"Well, hang onto him whoever he is, I'll never see a ring like that." Teeter gave her a wink. Bets were being placed as to whether or not she'd actually marry Colby, the consensus being it was going to happen eventually.

Katie and Ryan were by themselves in a corner, sucking on Bud tall necks. She frowned at her, pointing to her watch. Katie sighed and said something to Ryan who put his arms around her waist and kissed her.

The girls walked across the pasture and up to the house. "Time to face the inevitable, at least Jamie's here, I hope, he'll stand up for us." She wondered again why Beth seemed to hate them so, it wasn't like they'd done anything to deserve it. Beth just seemed angry at the world and would take it out on Jamie, or them, though Kayce rarely received a lashing from her tongue.

Beth hated the world. The only people she loved in it were Uncle John, Kayce, and Rip.