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the money more.”
    To Trey’s relief, Miss Demeanor climbed back up onto her stage and grabbed the mic. “Welcome to the Twentieth Annual Gay Rodeo Association event here in Oklahoma City, the only place in the US of A where the audience really knows what they’re watching.” She paused to let the roar of approval from the audience die down. “That line works like a charm in every city. Ba-da-bump! This is the last event before the finals in Vegas, and I am honored to be your announcer. My name is Miss Demeanor, and I’m here to crank this up to a felony!”
    When the audience applauded again, Trey joined in, jogged out of his gloom by the sound of laughter.
    “But for that, we’d have to bring on the boys, and we’re starting off with the gals today. To help us all cheer the cowgirls on, please welcome the Rainbow Drag Queen Cheer Squad!”
    Seven drag queens danced onto the field holding hands. They were dressed in identical outfits, except that each one was garbed in a different color of the rainbow, from their wigs to their pom-poms down to their high-heeled sneakers. The Squad went through a short routine while Alex watched intently, mouthing the words of their cheer along with them.
    “Nice work, babe,” Dolly said when the drag queens finished and retired behind the announcer platform to take their seats.
    “It wasn’t all me,” Alex said modestly.
    “Let’s hear it for our drag queens!” Without leaving time for applause, Miss Demeanor plowed on. “Our first event in this weekend’s competition is barrel racing, and joining me to give an insider’s expert commentary is past five-time GRA World Barrel Racing champion, Trixie Wheeler!”
    Dolly whipped around to Alex indignantly. “They should have asked you!”
    “Yeah, you’ve won five times at the GRA too,” Trey said.
    Alex gave him a tight, glittering smile. “That’s okay. I pulled out of the competition too late for them to ask, I guess.”
    “And one day maybe you’ll come out of retirement and ride again,” Dolly said.
    “Maybe.” Alex’s offhand tone was betrayed by the way she stared longingly down into the arena.
    “We’ll just bore you with a few stats and predictions first while we wait for the gals to get ready,” Miss Demeanor said. “You know how it is with us ladies and a mirror. Trixie Wheeler, who’s going to win the barrel racing this weekend and why?”
    While Trixie Wheeler announced the order of the contestants and gave commentary on their horses, Alex started her own running narration when the first rider shot through the gate and into the ring. “That’s Mary O’Reilly, she’s usually so good.”
    The first rider struggled, knocking over two out of three barrels. Alex groaned along with the rest of the audience as each barrel toppled over. “Cutting it too close, Mary,” she muttered as the woman urged her horse to the finish. “Probably gonna be fifth place after everyone goes.”
    The next rider held in her seal-brown horse as it pranced sideways toward the entry gate, eager to get started.
    Alex said, “Here’s Jenny Drummond on Espresso. She’s riding hot this year.”
    “Never as hot as you, honey,” Dolly said. Alex flashed her a big smile.
    Once Jenny had her horse lined up at the entrance, she let out her rein and the horse exploded into the ring, galloping hard for the first barrel. They rounded it successfully, but Jenny cut too close to the second barrel. Her horse nudged it, but as they skidded through the turn, Jenny reached down, caught the barrel with one hand before it fell, and pushed it back upright. Her horse sprinted for the last barrel, and Jenny leaned to the outside, correcting for the turn, and then her horse galloped hell for leather to the finish like a thoroughbred.
    Alex stood up and pumped her fist enthusiastically. “Atta girl! Good save, Jenny. Ride that pony balls to the wall, just like it should be done!”
    Trey winced at Alex’s colorful metaphor but grinned