“Sounds good.” Their youngest brother sometimes had trouble focusing, but he’d probably do a better job than he was managing right now.
After Zay went in search of Rio, Luis stepped back from the wagon and admired Zay’s masterpiece. He’d turned the H&H logo into a life-sized wire sculpture of a running mustang. Filled out with black carnations for the coat and long grasses for a flowing mane and tail, it was so lifelike he expected it to start breathing.
The high school parking lot was full of kids who’d love to climb on that horse. He’d discouraged several already. Normally the staging area chaos energized him — horses whinnying, dogs barking, old friends calling out to each other and the marching band’s drumline maintaining a steady rat-a-tat-tat.
He tried to blame his anxiety on his new responsibilities. He’d taken over organizing the Laughing Creek entry from his brother Adam, who now had mayoral duties including serving as parade marshal with his new bride Tracy.
But it wasn’t that. He was good with added responsibility. Always had been.
Moving to the head of the matched team, he gave Woody and Buzz head scratches and nose rubs. “I can’t stop thinking about her, guys.”
Woody shoved his nose into the palm of his hand, a clear sign of support.
“And I don’t know how to explain to my family about her if they see us together.”
Both geldings eyed him with such forbearance that he laughed. “I know. I’m being dramatic. When I saw her name on the list of digital adopters four months ago, I could’ve said Oh, by the way, I know her. We met at a clinic five years ago.”
Buzz rumbled a comment.
“But I didn’t expect to see her ever again, so I let it go.” He combed his fingers through the palominos’ silky forelocks and their eyelids drifted to half-mast. He envied them their relaxation.
“Now she’s signed up for the H&H tour this weekend.”
Woody let out a horsy sigh.
“No kidding. We’re guaranteed to see each other. And I have no idea what?—”
“Hey, hermano, guess what?” Rio arrived looking pleased with himself. “Sophie asked me to go with her to the laser show tonight.”
“I’m shocked.” The first kid born to the blended family, Rio had inherited their dad’s blue eyes and their mom’s dark wavy hair that matched Luis’s.
Both their parents had predicted the kid would be a hit with the ladies and they hadn’t been wrong. At twenty-four he’d already turned down two marriage proposals.
His cocky grin softened and the sparkle faded from his eyes. “Do you suppose anybody but us remembers Dad was the one who talked the town council into a laser show instead of fireworks?”
“The old-timers on the council do. The wild herds hated those fireworks.”
“And Dad. He despised them.” Rio shoved his hands in his pockets. “Days like today, I really miss him.”
“Same here.” He gave Rio’s shoulder a squeeze. “Watch the wagon for me, okay? Make sure kids don’t try to get up on it. I’m gonna help Zay unload. Claudie should be here soon.”
“When she gets here, I’ll come help you. I meant to do that with these two.” He motioned to Woody and Buzz. “But then Sophie called me over and I?—”
“No worries. We managed. See you soon.” He shoved away thoughts of Jordan and concentrated on the work ahead.
The pace picked up as the start time grew closer. Betty Jamison, a ninety-two-year-old member of the town council and the only parade chairperson he had ever known barked out the ten- minute warning on her megaphone.
Mounted on Scout, his butterscotch and white pinto, he kept on the move checking to make sure nobody had an issue. Claudie was back on the H&H wagon with the t-shirt cannon and Mila had climbed into the driver’s box. They’d be leading the Bridger Bunch entry.
Behind them, his mom drove the team pulling the flatbed that featured a patriotic theme. In the past, Grandma Doris and the aunties had been satisfied with red, white and blue outfits, some bunting and a stash of candy they tossed to the kids.
But this year they’d leveled up, going public with their Dazzling Damsels nickname. Auntie Kat had commissioned Zay to create two sparkly banners, which he’d mounted on either side of the flatbed’s low railing. And the Damsels had created costumes.
Draped in silver satin with a torch and a silver crown, Auntie Kat portrayed the Statue of Liberty. Because the material tended to slip, and Auntie Kat was a former model, Lady Liberty wore a flag-themed bikini underneath. Grandma Doris had opted to be Betsy Ross in a ruffled cap and a Revolutionary-era gown sitting in a rocker with a ginormous flag in her lap.
Auntie Carmen’s suffragette outfit was a long white dress and a wide-brimmed straw hat. Her protest sign read We are the 51% minority. Auntie Ezzie had tricked herself out as Rosie the Riveter and held a sign that said We can do it! She’d been lifting weights for two months so she’d have biceps to show off.
Luis paused next to the flatbed and give them all two thumbs up. “Lookin’ good!”
