Liz’s heart was full that evening. She had the best of both worlds, but tomorrow half of her heart would be leaving with her carnival family. Right then she wondered if Raylen would be content with just having the other half. She looked up at the angel on the top of the tree and a tear formed on her eyelashes. She was willing to give up her wings for love, but like Blaze said, it was coming at a cost.

***

The trip would be over before supper. The next day they’d winterize the travel trailers, unload the wagons and semi-trucks in a long row behind the barn. The horses would be put out to pasture.

Through the next few months, Poppa would use his little tractor to pull the vending wagons inside the barn for renovations. Then the last week in February, they’d come driving in, a few each day. Everyone would be excited, and the new year would begin the same way the previous one ended, with Poppa standing on the porch waving at everyone.

“It was a wonderful party,” Raylen said.

She nodded. “But it’s over.”

He tipped up her chin with his fist and said, “Memories last forever. I remember this little girl who could stay on the fence longer than me. And one who watched me ride, and I wanted to show off for her even more than I did, but I was afraid Mama would kill me if I hurt my horse or myself either one. Those memories were etched into my mind for years before she came back.”

“Don’t be sweet to me,” Liz groaned. “Fight with me. I want to kick something or pitch a fit. It’s like when the winter ended, and it was time to go on the road. I was happy because everyone was so excited about a new year, but a little bit of me was angry because I didn’t want to leave Poppa and our home there. It always made me cry to see him waving good-bye from the porch. I felt happy and sad at the same time, just like I do now,” she said.

His cell phone rang in his shirt pocket so close to Liz’s face that she jumped.

“It’s Becca,” he said.

Liz had found the perfect person to fight with even if she had to do it by phone.

“Hello. Why weren’t you at Liz’s party tonight? We missed you,” he said.

Liz reached out and took the phone from Raylen and put it on speaker. “This was a big thing for me and Raylen both tonight. If you were really his friend, then you would have been here instead of staying home pouting. Are you mad because I told you what the cards said? You knew that I wouldn’t lie when I laid those cards out, and besides—”

Becca raised her voice. “Shut up and listen to me.”

Liz raised her voice two octaves. “What did you say to me?”

“I said shut up, Liz,” Becca said with a giggle. “I wasn’t there because Taylor and I got married today. I wanted you and Raylen to be the first to know. I did what you told me to do, and we told Daddy together. He wasn’t happy, but he settled down and said I could have the down payment for a house to be built on the ranch or a big fancy wedding. Taylor and I decided to take the house and we flew to Las Vegas for three days. After that, I’m putting in ten-hour days at the ranch, learning what I should already know, so when the time comes I can keep it running. So shut up and wish me good luck.”