She realized that a lot of her new optimism was because of her changing relationship with Glen. If he’d stayed a little longer the last time he was in the store, they would’ve kissed again. All her instincts told her that. What surprised her was that she wouldn’t have minded. In fact, just the opposite.

Maybe friends did make the best lovers, which she’d heard and read for years. She’d never thought of Glen in those terms before, but now she was ready to move on to a different kind of relationship with him—a romantic one. She thought he was, too. And if he had any doubts about his feelings, the moment he saw her in that dress his mind would be made up.

She grinned when she thought how smart a saleswoman Dovie was. If the woman had gushed all over her when she tried on the dress, she might not have purchased it. Instead, all Dovie had done was smile and escort Ellie to the full-length mirror.

Dovie didn’t need to sell the dress; the dress had sold itself.

Ellie ran her hand down the sleeve one last time, then shut the office door. Tonight she’d take it home, hang it in her closet and look forward to Saturday the way a high-school junior anticipates her first prom. She could hardly wait to see Glen’s reaction.

Near closing time Nell Bishop showed up with a list of needed supplies.

“I had a wonderful time at Ruth’s party,” Ellie told her as she looked over the list.

“Ruth’s still talking about it,” Nell said.

“And I think it’s great you’re going to start a dude ranch.”

“Well, I don’t have any takers yet.”

“But you will.” Ellie was sure of that.

“Are you going to the dance?” Nell asked suddenly.

Ellie smiled; the Cattlemen’s Association summer dance appeared to be on everyone’s mind. “I didn’t think I would at first but...I had a change of heart. So I’ll be there. What about you?”

Nell shook her head. “I don’t know...”

Ellie understood Nell’s indecision. While almost everyone came with a date, it wasn’t necessary. Technically she herself was attending the function dateless.

“You don’t need to worry if you don’t have an escort,” Ellie assured her, and was about to explain her own situation when Nell continued.

“It’s not that.” She wore a puzzled frown. “I’m just wondering if there’s something in the air, because I received two invitations in one hour.”

It was time the men in this town woke up and realized what a wonderful woman Nell Bishop was. “That’s great!”

“First Grady Weston phoned. Now, I like Grady, don’t get me wrong, but I’ve always thought of him as...” Again she hesitated, as if unsure what to say next. “I just don’t see Grady and me as a couple. If he’s going to ask anyone, it should be Caroline Daniels. Those two are perfect for each other.”

So Ellie wasn’t the only one who’d noticed. “I’ve always wondered what’s kept them apart.”

Nell shook her head. “I can’t figure it out.”

“Do you think it’s Maggie?” Ellie asked, referring to Caroline’s five-year-old daughter.

“I can’t imagine why.”

“I don’t think Grady’s comfortable with kids,” Ellie said. She tried to remember seeing Grady with children and couldn’t recall a time she had.

“Maybe, but I’ve got kids, too. In fact, he chatted with Jeremy for a couple of minutes first. Then when I got on the phone...he invited me.”

“What did you tell him?”

Nell shrugged. “I didn’t know what to say. No one’s asked me out since Jake died, and I got so flustered I don’t know if I made sense. I think I asked him to give me some time to think about it. He agreed.”

“I like Grady,” Ellie murmured. He wasn’t an easy man to know, but he was fair and honest and hardworking.

“I’d no sooner recovered from that when I got another call,” Nell said. “It was Glen Patterson.”

Glen’s name came out of the blue like a flash of lightning. “Glen?” Ellie repeated, the name buzzing in her ear. “Did you say Glen Patterson?”

“Yes. If Grady’s invitation surprised me, Glen’s knocked me for a loop.” She laughed softly. “I think I must have done a fairly good imitation of a guppie. All I could do was open and close my mouth.”

The fluttery sensation was back in the pit of Ellie’s stomach, only this time it resembled nausea rather than happy anticipation. Ellie had assumed—believed—that Glen had wanted her to be his date.

“So you’re going to the dance with Glen,” Ellie said bluntly, struggling to hide her feelings.

“No. I told him the same thing I told Grady.”

“Maybe you should go with both of them. Dangle one on each arm,” Ellie suggested, trying for a lighthearted response.

Nell laughed. “Maybe I should. That’d really turn some heads, wouldn’t it?”

Somehow Ellie managed a smile. The dress was going back to Dovie’s that very afternoon. She’d been an idiot to spend that much money trying to impress a man who’d already approached another woman. Perhaps he thought he’d walk into the Grange Hall with a woman on each of his arms. Well, in that case, Glen Patterson had another think coming.

“There’s a problem with Glen, though,” Nell said, studying Ellie.

“What’s that?” she asked, feigning interest.

“It’s similar to the one I have with Grady. I always thought you and Glen would make a wonderful couple.”

“Glen and me?” Ellie laughed as though it was the funniest thing she’d heard in weeks. “Nah, we’re nothing more than friends. If you want to go to the dance with him, don’t let me stand in your way. He asked you, didn’t he?”

“Yes, but—”

“Don’t worry about it,” Ellie said, surprised how convincing she sounded. “It’s no big deal.”

“You’re sure?”

“Absolutely.”

On second thought, Ellie mused, as she rang up Nell’s purchases, she was keeping the dress. Not only that, she’d be dancing every dance.

And she hoped Glen got a really good look at her, wearing her beautiful dress and dancing with every attractive single man who asked.

He could eat his heart out!

Six

This was bound to be an interesting evening, Cal Patterson thought. He climbed into his truck wearing fresh-washed Wrangler’s, a string tie and polished boots. The big dance. Which meant there should be lots of entertaining activity as men and women of all ages flirted outrageously; making fools of themselves and each other. A few romances were always made at this kind of event, and a few broken. Yup, it was fascinating to watch, all right, especially if you were a disinterested observer. Like him.

But not like Glen.

Cal wasn’t sure where Glen had gone Wednesday afternoon, but his brother had returned in one hell of a mood. While he might not know the particulars, Cal would wager a case of beer that his brother’s rotten mood involved Ellie Frasier.

When Cal had made the mistake of mentioning Ellie in connection with the big dance, Glen had all but exploded. Even before Cal could ask any questions, Glen had slammed out the door, but not without dropping a couple of hints first. If Cal guessed right, Ellie had decided to accept Richard Weston’s invitation over Glen’s.

While her choice surprised him, Cal was the first to admit that women were inconstant creatures who rarely knew their own minds. Best to keep your distance. Next thing Cal knew, his little brother had asked Nell Bishop; it hadn’t done Glen’s ego any good when she’d turned him down, too.

Cal himself had been fool enough to let one woman kick him in the gut and had found the experience as painful as anything he’d ever known. By God, he wasn’t about to let it happen a second time. Glen, however, seemed destined to learn this particular lesson on his own.

Apparently his younger brother was a slow learner, because tonight he’d come downstairs in a new denim blazer and a pair of blue jeans so crisp they squeaked. His boots were polished to a gloss. One look dared Cal to comment.