Page 160 of Dusty Spur Ranch Cowboys

“Then Charlie’s helping.”

Charlie wisely decides to stay where he is.

Willy appears carrying two oversized bags of kettle corn and tosses one toward Jesse. “Bribery works better than threats.”

Jesse catches the bag with one hand. “You’ve never met my kids.”

I laugh. “This town keeps everybody busy.”

“It does,” Emmett says. “Nobody gets bored around here.”

A whistle cuts across the grounds, followed by applause rolling out of the arena as the next event wraps up.

Emmett checks the announcer’s stand. “Riley’s about to come looking for you.”

“I should head back.”

Sadie squeezes my hand. “You’ve got more songs?”

“A couple.”

She races back toward Dakota and Clint with Charlie close behind. Emmett follows, already calling after them to stay out of the livestock pens.

I turn toward the performer tents, weaving through the crowd until Annie steps into my path with her camera hanging from one shoulder.

“I’ve been trying to catch you,” she says, lifting the camera with a smile. “Come here. I want to show you what I’ve been shooting all day.”

Annie catches me outside the performer tent and hooks a thumb toward a pair of folding chairs.

“Sit down for a minute.”

She drops into one chair, camera already in her hands, while I take the one beside her. Another burst of applause rolls across the arena as she starts scrolling.

“I’ve been chasing people around these grounds since sunrise.”

“I’m guessing you caught a few.”

“I caught most of them.”

The first photo fills the screen.

Riley stands on the announcer’s platform with both hands flying as he works the crowd.

I laugh. “He looks like he’s directing traffic.”

“He nearly smacked me with the microphone.”

“I believe that.”

She flicks to the next picture.

Betty Lou slides a slice of pie across the church booth while tourists crowd the table deciding whether one slice is enough.

“She sold out twice,” Annie says.

“I’m surprised she had any left for the judges.”

Another swipe brings up Sadie charging across the stick horse course with Charlie racing after her while Clint doubles over laughing. Dakota stands at the finish line with Olivia asleep against her shoulder, completely unfazed by the cheering around her.