Free Death on Heels by Ellen Byerrum Page B

set the average woman back a month’s salary or more, before taxes. But then, the average stylista wouldn’t be interested in cowboy boots. Would she? These boots are for style mavericks. And while these boots aren’t the norm in Washington, D.C., you will see them in full force in Western and Southern cities, and university towns like Charlottesville, Virginia.
    Western women have traditionally embraced the boot, but now they embrace their favorite footwear in a reinvigorated way. With a closet full of expensive, colorful, one-of-a-kind Buckaroos, they live and work and dance in boots. They wear cowboy boots because the boots make them feel original, dangerous, and ready for anything.
    How to decide? Some tips to keep in mind:
Because fancy cowboy boots are an investment, be sure they fit well. Most boots are built for a medium-width foot, so women with a wider foot may find the perfect pair in men’s or boys’ sizes—or go custom-made. Traditionally, we think of cowboy boots with pointed toes, but your toes might prefer the round-toe or square-toe versions.
Select a heel size depending on how you’ll be wearing the boot. Boots made for walking come in a heel that is between three quarters of an inch and an inch and three quarters. Any higher, and you’ll be doing more riding and strutting—or posing—than walking. The higher the heel, the sexier the strut—but don’t wobble. Real cowgirls don’t fall down. Except sometimes off their horses.
When you try on a cowboy boot, experts say the upper or shaft should be comfortable andloose, but slightly snug at the vamp, where the leg and foot come together. You should be able to move your toes. The foot bed should fit your arch. The heel will slip a bit at first, but a good pair of leather cowboy boots should soon conform to your foot and become more comfortable with continued wear.
    So ladies, if the boot fits, wear it. Wear your boots with pants, shorts, skirts, and dresses. Wear them with a swagger and a glint in your eyes. Wear them with a purpose. Wear them with an attitude. Wear them walking toward your destiny.
    But never wear them with
indifference
.

Chapter 7
    “You have nothing to worry about,” Lacey assured her parents again before leaving Sunday morning. “There won’t be any trouble. I’ll be perfectly fine.”
    “Famous last words.” Rose patted Lacey’s shoulder and smoothed her hair. She sighed dramatically. “I don’t know why you had to work in that terrible town in the first place. There are all kinds of adorable villages in the mountains. You could have worked in Glenwood Springs or Aspen. But no, you had to go to Sagebrush.”
    “It was the only reporting job I could find when I graduated from J school,” Lacey reminded her.
    “And you look tired. What on earth were you two doing on the lawn last night?”
    “The trouble you all got into when your mother went to Washington last October was enough for a lifetime,” Steven chimed in. “Promise your old dad you’ll stay out of trouble. I’ll be out of the country. I won’t be able to help you.”
    Lacey fought to keep her eyes from rolling, while Cherise giggled.
    “I’ll keep your father up-to-date on you every day while he’s in Taiwan,” Rose threatened.
    “Thailand,” her husband corrected her evenly.
    “Thailand sounds wonderful, Dad.” Lacey changed the subject. “Have a great time. If you get a chance, pick me up some silk. Any color, any pattern, the older the better. But not shattered silk. That means—”
    “I’ll put it on my list,” Steven said, reaching for a small notebook to jot down her request. “Silk.”
    Lacey seized the opportunity to run for her rental car. Her father put her suitcase in the trunk. Rose pushed a paper bag through the driver’s side window. “It’s a snack. Organic dried fruit and an organic power bar,” Rose said. “Keep your energy up. And hydrate!”
    “Call me,” Cherise said. “Tell me everything! I want to hear about