“Little bit, you are so naïve.” Angelina laughed and shook her head. “But if you’re bound and determined to enter, I think I can work with you. You’ll need to work hard with Ladybird. You’ve been gone awhile.”
“You make it sound like I’ve been in hibernation for four years. I did manage to ride a horse or two in Europe. They have them there, you know.”
“All right, all right. Simmer down, little bit.”
“I think I’ve outgrown that nickname, Angie.”
“Okay, Catie. We’ll need to think about your wardrobe, and your platform.”
“Platform? This is rodeo queen, not Miss U.S.A.”
“Still, you need to stand for something.”
“I stand for the rodeo. For the art of the equestrienne.”
“Hmm. That might work.”
“It’s gotta work. It’s all I’ve got.”
“We’ll work with it. We’ll take this competition back to what it’s really about. The horsewoman. Rodeo. Hmm, it’s too bad you never stuck with barrel racing. We could get Dusty to give you some pointers.”
“Angie, I'm not going to become a champion barrel racer in a week.”
“True. You’ll be able to do the required patterns though.” Angie paused. “You’ll do, little bit. You’ll do just fine.”
Though she cringed again at little bit, Catie welcomed her sister’s expertise. God knew she’d need it.
* * *
Chad was glad to have Annie at the birth. The calf had had to be turned, and Chad hated doing that. His hands and forearms were big and caused needless pain to the cow. Annie took care of it, and the calf was born quickly and was already standing and searching for a teat.
“Thanks, Annie,” he said at the house, while they were washing up.
“It’s my job. No need to thank me.”
“Yeah, yeah. I know. But thanks anyway.”
“You’re welcome. I need to get back, though. Dallas has a meeting later today and I need to be there for the girls.”
“You can bring ’em over here if you’ve got something to do.”
Annie smiled. “Don’t you have a ranch to run?”
“Yeah, but heck, I love spending time with them. You know I’ll take ’em anytime.”
“Well…” Annie hedged a bit. “If you could, it’d help me out. I promised Catie I’d get together with her and help her prepare for this rodeo queen thing.”
“You?”
“Don’t look so surprised. I won a pageant or two in my day.”
“You’re kidding.”
She swatted him with the towel she’d used to dry her hands. “Thanks a lot.”
“Nah, I didn’t mean it like that. You know I think you’re beautiful. Hell, if my brother hadn’t snatched you up—”