The crowd clapped along with the music, which was invigorating until they began to clap offbeat. I was counting steps in my head. A glance at my buddy Patti told me she was counting out loud. Then the crowd roared. As I twirled into my original place, I found the source of the crowd’s delight. Lenny was standing on his back legs pawing at the air. He lowered his legs, turned to the left and panted, turned to the right and panted, turned to me and panted. For a finale, he turned back to the crowd, stood on his back legs again, pawed the air, and then sat down—the better to show off his white silk suit and sombrero. The musicians played their final notes with a flourish, we hit our final marks, colorful skirts on full display, and the crowd erupted as if we’d scored the game-winning touchdown at a Dallas Cowboys playoff game.
“Lenny, Lenny, Lenny!” Locals began to shout.
When the final notes blew and the guitars strummed a finale, I raced to Lenny’s side.
“Dance,” I ordered.
Again Lenny raised up on his back legs. I took one of his extended paws and pretended to dance with him. Then ever so slowly I walked behind the wooden block, turning him slowly in a circle while he remained on his back legs.
Lenny might not be a poodle, but he loved an adoring crowd.
As the parade organizers hurried us off the street, Anthony and his mariachi band broke into another song, and Ryan hauled the wooden box out of the way. Now Hillary Sloan Rawlings and the other beauty queens could advance into the spotlight. Except that Lenny had stolen their thunder. Too bad, so sad.
We made our way through the crowd, down a side alley, and into a lot filled with horse trailers, riders, a school bus, and excited drummers.
Senora Mari’s eyes danced with merriment. “¡Ay, caramba!”
“Yip, yip, yip.” Lenny licked my chin.
I hugged his tiny body close and kissed his furry head. “You were fabulously awesome!”
My fellow dancers gathered around, tired smiles replaced with wide grins. “Lenny, you did it!” Mrs. Cogburn sounded surprised, though I don’t know why.
Aunt Linda and Patti gave us a hug sandwich.
“Yip.”
“Sorry, Lenny.” Aunt Linda kissed his nose and in return he graciously licked her chin.
“Lenster.” Patti held out a hand. He dutifully gave her his paw and allowed her to give him a knuckle bump.
“Did everyone remember their steps?” Mrs. Cogburn wore a hopeful smile.
“From my point of view, we killed it.” Gretchen Cruz’s breathing was surprisingly a bit labored, her skin damp with perspiration. Months earlier, Patti had done time in county jail until the lamebrains in the sheriff’s office realized they arrested the wrong woman. During Gretchen’s stint as Patti’s defense attorney, I’d never once seen a hair out of place or an issue she couldn’t handle.
“How do you know?” Lily walked up, her trumpet tucked under her arm. “You were in the back.
“I object. The witness is accusing counsel of giving false testimony.”
Patti delivered a playful punch to Lily’s shoulder. “Watch out, shrimp.”
When Anthony gave Cindy a brief kiss, his bandmates broke into “Amor Eterno.” Tired feet be hanged, we began to twirl our skirts and prance around the embracing couple.
“Bravo.” Ryan appeared at the back of our happy group. “Estúpido.”
The dancing halted as we shook our heads in bemusement at Ryan’s poor attempt to speak Spanish. Immediately, the other dancers broke into smaller groups to revisit each stretch of the parade and their performance.
“What did I say?” Ryan asked.
“If you were going for Spanish that means stupid,” I said, breaking into exhausted and satisfied laughter. “Try estupendo or increíble next time.”
“Thanks, Miss Know It All.” He gathered Lenny and me into a bear hug. “Way to charm the crowd, Lenster.”
“Yip.”
“Couldn’t have done it without you manhandling that box, Coach.”
“Nice try. You’d have made it work without me, senorita.” He gave one of my braids a tug.
In return, I knocked his West Texas baseball cap from his head.
“Yip.”
“Josie!” Aunt Linda called from the far side of the lot. “We’re heading back.” Her way of reminding me that Milagro’s customers would flood through the door any minute. She and Senora Mari hurried over to where Uncle Eddie’s white F150, bearing the familiar Two Boots dance hall logo, waited.
“Duty calls.” It was our busiest day of the year, not a day to stand around soaking up the celebration with good friends.
I was holding Lenny, but Ryan gently tapped one of my hands with his forefinger.
“Yip.” My Chi responded, licking his finger.
“Let’s get together later.” Ryan kept his gaze on Lenny’s ablutions.
I shot a glance at my family, feeling their impatience for us to leave. “Sure, but we don’t close until nine o’clock.”
His smile was warm and easy. “The band is playing at the gazebo all afternoon. Milagro closes at two, and if I know you, you can make it to the square by two fifteen if you put that sharp mind of yours to it.” He clasped his hands together and laid them over his heart. “If you need inspiration, think of me waiting, spurs on, hair combed, hands clapping.”
I laughed, remembering his two left feet. “Can’t wait to see you in spurs. Have you been taking lessons?”
“Come along this afternoon and find out.” He winked. “Later, Lenster.”
“Yip.” Lenny raised his paw, and the two friends shook.
A familiar horn blared. “Gotta go toss tortillas.”
“Two fifteen. And don’t bother to change; the costume suits you.” If he hadn’t laughed, I might have taken his compliment seriously. Ryan was giving me his undivided attention today, but I was leery of the reason behind it. I had the notion it had something to do with Lightfoot stopping by Milagro earlier.
Lenny and I hurried off. When we climbed into Uncle Eddie’s truck, we were met with silence. Each of my family members stared at me as if I’d grown another nose. Aunt Linda and Senora Mari didn’t hide their concern,
