“Yeah. It’s regional. Held here for six weeks every summer. We get some pretty good cowboys, though not as many as the national stock show in Denver.”
“Do you…rodeo?”
He laughed, his gorgeous eyes crinkling. “I used to, a little. Not any more though. It was never really my thing.”
“What is your thing, Cowboy?”
“Shooting, I guess. I’m a crack shot.”
“A cowboy who doesn’t ride.”
“Oh, I ride. I just don’t compete. That’s more Zach and Chad’s thing. They still compete, and Dusty used to.”
“Dusty? Sweet little Dusty?”
“Sweet little Dusty is a hell of a bull rider.”
“No kidding?”
“Yeah, believe it or not. Competed as a barrel racer. Was darn good at it too, but she gave it up when she got pregnant.”
“Good choice.”
“We all thought so. I’ll be happy to take you to the rodeo. Opening night.”
“Sounds great. I’ve never been to one. This may surprise you, but we don’t have many rodeos in Jersey.” Annie giggled. Then, “Oops, I almost forgot. Could you hand me my pocketbook?” She motioned to her handbag on the counter.
“Pocketbook?”
“Yeah, there.” She pointed again.
“That’s a purse, Doc.”
“In Jersey it’s a pocketbook.” She took it from him. “I need to take my pill.”
“Pill?”
“Just my birth control pill. I take them in the morning. You’d think after all these years I’d remember. I’m terrible about forgetting. I keep an extra month’s worth in my purse for just such an occasion. After last night, I sure don’t want to be even a few hours late taking it.”
“Yeah, that could be a problem.” He tossed her the purse. “After all these years? So you and your husband never wanted kids?”
“Oh he did. I did too. Just not with him.”
“Oh?”
“I decided I didn’t want to get pregnant. After a while, he assumed I was infertile from—” She cleared her throat. She didn’t want to get into that. “Anyway, I was always on the pill.”
Dallas’s lips pressed together and the muscles in his face tensed. Had she angered him?
“You all right?”
“You didn’t tell your husband you were on the pill?”
“No.”
“Why not?”
“I had my reasons.” None of which she cared to discuss with him. Or anyone.