"Yeah, and the Houston cops wouldn’t like it either, if the vaqueros were dumb enough to send a mule bouncin’ right down the streets of Houston, but they’re not gonna do that, are they? Nobody’s that stupid. Nobody knows about this but you and me. And Carol, that is." Alex pulled out a gleaming metal bracelet. "I got Carol this barometer watch! She doesn’t know that I bought it for her, but I think she’ll like it, don’t you? It’ll match her Trouper cuff." He tipped his floppy paper sombrero back on his head. "Carol’s the only one around here who’s been really decent to me."