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“Mom has always said we don’t need anyone’s charity.” The girl was smiling down at the cowgirl boots on her feet.
“This isn’t charity.” Lyric found earrings and a necklace for herself. “This is kindness. This is friends coming alongside friends. And, someday, when you come across someone who needs a kind gesture, you’ll return the favor.”
“I will.” Elina abandoned the mirror and hugged her again. “You look really pretty too. Thatch is going to lose his mind when he sees you.”
She couldn’t wait to see him either. “It’s been a while since anyone has seen me dressed up.” And getting ready was even more fun knowing she had someone who would be looking at her in an extra-special way tonight. “I guess we should get moving.” They were already what could be considered fashionably late.
Elina grabbed the jean jacket Lyric had set out for her. “I’m ready. Thanks to you.”
“Perfect.” Lyric gave Amos treats and kisses, and then she and Elina walked out the door and got into her car.
“I’d like to keep working at the clinic,” the girl said as they pulled away from the curb.
“We’d like that too,” Lyric assured her. “You can have complete flexibility. We know school always comes first.”
“Yeah. I actually really want to work on getting my grades up. I think it’d be kind of cool to do what Kyra does. Be a nurse practitioner.”
“You’d be great at that.” Truthfully, the girl would be successful in whatever she tried. She had a lot of grit. “I’m sure Kyra would be happy to help you get there.” Lyric would support her on the journey too.
During the rest of the ride to the rodeo grounds, they chatted about what kind of colleges Elina might be interested in attending. By the time she parked, anticipation simmered, warming her through. She looked for Thatch the second she climbed out of her car.
A crowd had already gathered on the patio of the big red barn where they held all the town celebrations. White lights had been strung from light post to light post, shimmering above the dance floor and clusters of tables where people chatted over drinks.
“We’ll never find Franco and Thatch,” Elina murmured, walking next to her.
“I think they’ll find us.” Thatch had only texted her three times in the last half hour asking where she was.
“Hey, gorgeous.”
Thatch’s low vibrato came from behind her. She turned slowly—for added effect. “Look at you, cowboy.” She checked him out, letting her gaze move from his crisp button-down shirt and vest to his snug jeans. “Winning awards really agrees with you.”
“That was nothing.” He pulled her into his arms. “This is what I’ve been looking forward to all day.”
“Oh, there’s Franco!” Elina headed off toward the ice cream stand. “See you two later!”
Lyric waved and then went back to admiring her man.
“I’m just warning you: my parents are already here, and they’ve been waiting for you.” Thatch nodded toward the barn. “We could still run.”
Lyric laughed. “No, we can’t. I’m looking forward to seeing them again.”
“Well, that’s good.” He sighed playfully. “Because here they come.”
“Lyric!” Mrs. Hearst waved both arms. “You’re here! And oh, my, do you look lovely.”
“Thank you.” She stepped away from Thatch to greet his mom with a hug. “So do you.”
“Have you met Liam and Sienna?” She waved the couple standing behind her forward.
“Not officially, no.” They hadn’t been in the center of the crowd at Thatch’s award ceremony. “It’s nice to meet you both.”
“Nice to meet you too.” Thatch’s brother could’ve been his twin except his hair was a little darker and shorter. “This is some party.”
“Everyone comes out for the Star Valley Rodeo Days.” She snuck her arm around Thatch’s waist. “And this year is extra special because now we have a local celebrity in our midst.”
He planted a kiss on her cheek. “I wouldn’t have won if you hadn’t been there.”
“I don’t know about that.” Thatch had been training hard, and he’d come a long way with his yoga practice too. But she appreciated the sentiment.
