Previously in the book: West Texas farm boy Harley Sadler became a success on the tent show circuit, married in a whirlwind romance and started his own show. He made a lot of money but gave a lot of it away to struggling farmers. His effort to break into the big city market failed so went back to entertaining the folks who loved him best.

“It seems just opening night, doesn’t it, Billie?” Harley whispered to his wife as he leaned into her at the Sweetwater convention center. They sat on the dais in front of a crowd of excited Democrats.
Billie nodded sweetly and shifted in her chair. She jumped when Burford spoke into the microphone. That man always did make her feel uncomfortable.
“And now I introduce the next state representative from Sweetwater, the first man to make a million dollars from a ten show, Harley Sadler!”
The audience erupted into applause as Harley stood to go to the podium. His face beamed. Billie took this time to pull her make up compact from her purse and look into the mirror. She dusted he cheeks and freshened her lipstick. Burford took a deferential step back.
“Thank you, Burford, for the kind remarks. As for being the first man to make a million dollars from a tent show, well, I was also the first to lose a million from one too!”
As the Democrats stood to clap and holler Harley took a quick look at Billie who had wrapped her arms around her shoulders as though she were cold. He considered letting her disapproval ruin the moment for him, but a fresh wave of applause rolled over him. Any thoughts of sadness washed away.
The next few weeks sprinted by as a blur of picnics, hot dogs and watermelon wedges flashed by him. Sometimes Billie made a passing imitation of a happy campaign wife, especially if a group of ladies encircled her to ooh and ah over her new ensemble. She did not mind posing for local newspaper photographers as long as she was confident her makeup was applied properly and her hair professionally coiffed.
A few times Harley almost missed the curtain when politicians in a smoky room kept stuffing bills in his pockets and would not let him go. Billie enjoyed raising an eyebrow, tapping her foot and pointing at her Woolworth watch. Charley tried to talk to him about accounts payable, but Harley begged off, saying he had to get into his costume.
Most other occasions Billie sat alone in a dark room at home, sipping from a pint of whiskey. Gloria was busy with her school activities and Harley was busy just being Harley.
The first Tuesday night of November found the Sadlers’ Sweetwater living room filled with friends and political allies celebrating Harley’s election. Billie and her mother Lou circled the room with trays of little sandwiches. Burford held his glass high.
“Here’s to Toby in the Ledge!”
“Here! Here!” Billy Bob echoed.
Harley held up his arms to quieten the applauding crowd.
“Now wait a minute,” he cautioned good naturedly. “You didn’t elect Toby. You elected Harley.”
Everyone laughed, but Burford and Billy Bob exchanged worried glances. Hardly anyone heard the telephone ring in the hall. Billie answered it, covering her free ear with a palm.
“Hello?” She grimaced. “I’m sorry. You’ll have to speak up. We’ve got an election party going on here.” She paused. “Gloria Sadler? Just a minute.” She covered the receiver, looked around and waved at her daughter across the room. “Gloria! It’s for you!”
She glided through the room graciously, edging past couples deep in conversation to take the phone from her mother. Billie tried to linger close to find out who the call was from. Burford lumbered up, put his arm around her shoulders and pulled her away.
“Harley’s going to be a great representative for the common man!”
“Yes, he is.” She extricated herself from his grasp.
“You know, Mrs. Sadler, I always had the idea you didn’t like me much,” he said sheepishly.
Billie plastered a smile on her face. “I like all of Harley’s friends.”
“But you really went out and busted your tail to get him elected.” He gave her a hug. “You’re all right.”
Again Billie wriggled free. “Thank you.”
“Hey, Burford!” Billy Bob called from the living room.
“I gotta get back to the gang.” He disappeared into the party crowd.
Billie sighed with relief and turned with anticipation when she heard Gloria hang up. “Who was that?”
“Oh, just somebody from Warner Brothers.”
Billie’s eyes widened. “Warner Brothers?”
“They want me to come out to Hollywood for a screen test.” Gloria crinkled her nose.
Her mother’s first reaction was happiness, but then she looked concerned. “You’re not going to leave me too?”
Gloria laughed. “”I told them I was too busy with college. I don’t want to be a movie star.”
“I—I just don’t want to be locked out of your heart too.” She hesitantly took her daughter’s hand.
“Locked into my heart, Mama.” Gloria sobered and squeezed her hand. “Locked in forever.”