Who is Patricia Burden from The Man Who Listens to Horses and what is their importance?

Patricia Burden is Monty's wife. She also grows up in Salinas, California and is one year behind Monty in school. When Monty is a teenager, he asks out Patricia. She says yes, and they are married shortly afterward. Monty and Patricia share a deep love of horses. Pat accompanies Monty on many of his journeys including his trip to England to meet the Queen of England.