The Cowboy Meets His Match (8 page)

“Still, I appreciate it.”

“No problem. I'm just passing along the encouragement my brother and I have received.”

Again, he'd dropped another nugget from his past. “Care to explain?”

He smiled. “That belongs for another time.”

She knew he'd slammed the door on his personal life, holding back, but for the first time she wanted to let her heart have free rein to get to know the man who made her smile and her heart sing.

Chapter Five

T
he rumble of Erin's stomach echoed through the cab of the truck.

Sawyer met her gaze and grinned.

Looking down at his watch, he said, “It's close to two and my stomach agrees with yours. Want to get something to eat?”

She hesitated.

“Skipping lunch isn't going to make anything better. Besides, you might have a different outlook on the situation if you're full,” he added.

“Didn't you use that ploy before?”

“It works. And it's true.”

She glanced at him and considered his words.

“So, do you want to stop, or do you need to be somewhere else?” he pressed.

“My life's here until Dad gets well, Tate's situation settles down and the rodeo gets on track.”

“It sounds like you and I are free and hungry, so let's go eat.”

“Do you always ooze charm, or are you just that hungry?”

“Hey, I'm a turnaround specialist, and my job is to bring people together and get cooperation. When people are fed, they're much nicer.”

“I know when I'm being handled, but I'm hungry.”

When they arrived in town, Erin drove to Lulu's. The lunch crowd had already cleared, so there was no line. Once inside, Sawyer motioned for Erin to order first.

“Good to see you,” Lulu said. “I attended the rodeo meeting last week and listened to Sawyer's plan. 'Course, things got a little rowdy toward the end. I liked how Erin settled things down.”

“I did, too,” Sawyer said.

Pleasure at his words washed through Erin. She felt as if she was fifteen and just discovering boys.

“And when word got out that local people could bid for a job working on the rodeo, that started everyone talking. It's been a long time since this much excitement has rolled through town. Why, my brother, Tom, is going to submit a bid to work on the redo of the iron works for the chutes out on the rodeo ground. I haven't seen him with that much bounce in his step in a long time. Thanks, Sawyer.”

“I can't take credit for that. Erin suggested it. Well, I'd say she vigorously encouraged me to use local residents.”

Lulu smiled. “That's our Erin.”

“More than one person's told me that.”

“It only made sense to use local talent so we can keep money here,” Erin added.

“Well, we can use the work,” Lulu answered. “So, what do you want for lunch?”

They ordered lunch and settled in a booth.

Erin sat across from him, and he studied her. She searched for something to say. He certainly held his cards close to his vest. He was a man who could be both charming and courageous, but kept his heart shielded. “Thanks for the help with Tate.”

“Not a problem.”

The tone of his voice didn't invite more conversation. Although she wanted to know more of what her brother had said, she respected that Sawyer wouldn't tell her what they'd talked about.

As he continued to observe her, she wanted to squirm under his scrutiny. Before she could say anything stupid, Rose delivered their burgers.

She vibrated with excitement. “Everyone's talking about the list you put up at Bob's place last week. Jobs. It sounds great. Where do Mom and I sign up for a concession booth? I know people in Harding County want to get in there, and I'm afraid there will be more people who want booths than we have.”

“Ask the guy in charge.” Erin pointed to Sawyer.

“Electricity, plumbing and sewage have to be addressed,” he warned. “Can you and your mother do that?”

Rose gave him a “duh” look. “We do our own work here and do it better than most men.”

Erin's eyes danced with amusement.

“I'm surprised, but I admire you.”

“Hey, don't underestimate us country girls,” Rose informed him.

“I'm quickly learning that lesson.”

* * *

Sawyer had to remind himself these women in no way resembled his mom or ex-girlfriend. When he turned back to Erin, her eyes danced, and her lips turned up. It was good to see the lightness in her face.

“Okay, you're right.”

“Glad you're getting the message.”

He grunted and they dug into their hamburgers.

“I'm pleased that the people in this county are eager to help with the rodeo.”

“It's a big part of our lives. And the folks who don't ranch have work keeping us ranchers supplied. Rodeo is our time to shine and brag. If you won bareback riding one year, you were the champ all year.”

“And you won the barrel racing.”

“I did.” Pride shone in her eyes. “I had a couple of close calls when I was in high school, but I won. Those were the years I was the proudest.” She nodded to the picture on the restaurant wall. “You asked about that picture before. That's one of those years.”

He understood. It was a success that others in the community looked up to. Of course, once Caleb and Sawyer had settled in Plainview, his friends found other things besides his rodeo wins that they could admire him for, and they forgot about the two high school orphans living in the back room of the church. Glancing at Erin, he knew she understood.

“I'll contact Norman Burke this afternoon to put out the notice for local bids in his county. I wouldn't want them to say we neglected them.”

Erin didn't respond. Looking into her face, he could see her preoccupation. Finally, she snapped out of her thoughts.

“Did you say something?”

“Harding County bids.”

“Of course. I'm a little distracted right now. You were going to talk to Norm.”

“You heard?”

The door opened and Mel walked in. Erin looked over her shoulder.

Mel's brows plunged into a deep V, making him look like a charging bull. He walked to the table and glared at Erin. She didn't squirm or shrink under his stare.

“Mel, what's wrong?” Sawyer leaned forward.

The man looked ready to explode. “The company that did work on the rodeo the last time called me this morning, and their president told me you wanted him to bid along with everyone else.” Everyone in the café heard.

“That's true. What's the problem with that? All companies working on the rodeo reconstruction need to submit a bid. Those bids will be open for anyone to review.”

Color flooded Mel's cheeks. He nodded to Erin. “She put you up to that?”

“No,” Sawyer replied. “That's standard procedure taught in college. Since the counties are involved with this project, things have to be open to the public.”

Mel raised his chin. “I wouldn't be taking advice from her.” Mel pointed to Erin. “On our final vote to award the contract, her father voted for you over her, so that should tell you something about her skills.” His gaze bored into Erin's. She withstood Mel's caustic words and didn't flinch. “We voted your plan, not hers.”

Sawyer felt a flash of anger shoot through him and rose to his feet. Mel knew part of his plan was having everyone submit bids. It was the same in Erin's. Why suddenly was he complaining? What was going on? “I'm proceeding according to my plan, which the board voted on. Erin's answered my questions and filled me in on local resources. What I'm missing is last year's budget with the final figures that I asked for earlier. Did you leave it in the office for me to review?”

Mel rocked back and forth on his feet as if he readied himself to charge Sawyer.

Sawyer widened his stance and prepared for Mel's actions.

After studying Sawyer, Mel said, “I'll drop it by this afternoon.” He turned and stomped out of the building.

Lulu raced out of the kitchen and hugged Erin. “Don't pay attention to that bitter old man. What's wrong with him? Pastor Tony, Father Jones, or Mel's pastor needs to get a hold of the man and do some talking.”

Rose planted her hands on her hips. “Or someone needs to talk to Mel's wife. Sharon wouldn't allow such behavior.”

Sawyer watched as Erin talked with the other people in the dining room about Mel's cruel behavior.

“I don't know what's gotten into that man,” Rose muttered. “I've never seen him so mean. I think I'd rather deal with a rattler than Mel right now.”

The other patrons in the café agreed.

Erin grabbed her purse. She looked brittle, as if she were encased in ice. If another person talked to her, it seemed she might shatter. “You want a ride over to the office?” she asked him.

“No, I'll walk.”

She nodded.

Sawyer opened the door and allowed her to exit before him. “If I have more questions, I can call you?”

“Of course.”

Sawyer walked, mulling over the fact that Erin had taken several blows today and she still stood strong. He found himself admiring her. No, it was more than that. She didn't crumble at the least opposition, and she could be depended on.

And she was beautiful.

Smart.

And he'd be leaving when this job was done.

But a feeling inside him bloomed, no matter how hard his head argued against it.

* * *

Erin's mind went blank as she drove home. Everything seemed to have blown up at the same time—her father's stroke, losing the bid for the rodeo job and her brother ditching school. She could've dealt with all that, but the crushing blow that Mel delivered at Lulu's in front of her neighbors and friends—that her father voted for Sawyer over her—had brought her to her knees.

What's going on?
Lord, I don't understand.

When had her father stopped believing in her? And she couldn't even ask him now since he hadn't remembered anything of the day of the stroke. Erin hadn't seen much of her mother since she'd decided to stay in Albuquerque to be close to her husband. Had Mother known about her father's vote? When Erin had seen her mother in the hospital, all that had concerned them was Dad's condition. He was alive, but no one knew what had been affected—memory, speech, motor function—but Erin hung on to the hope that her father would completely recover. Anything else, she didn't want to consider.

Mel had delighted in giving her the crushing news in front of a live audience at Lulu's. He could've lied, she told herself, but his claims were easily verified. What had she ever done to Mel to make him hold such contempt for her?

Traci. Erin knew in her bones her old friend feared Erin would try to steal away Andy if she got the job, which was ridiculous. Mel worried about it, too. By the time Erin got home, the entire town would know what had happened at Lulu's. Probably by tonight everyone in Harding and Quay counties would know, too.

Erin pulled into the driveway of the ranch. Tate wasn't back from school yet, so Erin could have a good pity party before she had to act as if everything was normal.

The instant Erin walked into the kitchen and looked at her aunt, Betty asked, “How did things go with Tate?”

“As well as could be expected. The sheriff told Tate he'd have to remove those noisy chrome exhaust pipes or only drive his truck at the dirt track. And he recommended taking away his truck for a while.”

“Do you trust him to come home after all the trouble?”

Her heart jerked. “Yes. I think it's his cry to be heard. I pray I'm right.” And if she wasn't...she didn't want to consider it.

Betty rose and walked to where Erin stood and enveloped her in a hug. Erin relaxed in Betty's arms. Erin didn't cry but let her aunt's love encircle her.

“Thank you,” Erin whispered several minutes later.

Betty pulled back. “I called your mother and we talked. She wants to talk to you tonight. We'll have to drive him to and from school the rest of this week and probably next. He refused to answer why he ditched.”

“Tate doesn't want to talk to his sister about what's in his heart.”

Betty motioned for Erin to sit, then poured them coffee.

“That's normal. Men are hardheads, and a boy your brother's age doesn't know what to do with his heart.”

“Could Uncle talk to him?” Erin asked, hoping.

“Of course, but we'd have to ship him to Bluewater, and Tate would know it was about his behavior, so would he talk?” Betty sighed and studied Erin. “Is there more that's bothering you?”

How her aunt sensed things, Erin would never know. “Sawyer helped me when the sheriff called that he'd picked up Tate. Sawyer rode with Tate back to school, so maybe he could help.”

Betty studied her. “That's possible, but what are you holding back?”

Gritting her teeth, Erin didn't want to discuss what had been revealed.

Reaching out, Betty cupped Erin's cheek. “I've diapered you, cared for you as if you were the daughter of my body. Whatever you say will stay with me.”

“Father voted for Sawyer to win the rodeo contract over me.”

Betty's mouth puckered into an O. “Surely, you are mistaken.”

She shook her head. “Mel happily told me while I was at Lulu's and announced it to everyone in the place. He's afraid that I'll influence Sawyer to do things my way. His argument was that if my father didn't believe in me, then Sawyer shouldn't, either.”

Betty put her hands over Erin's and squeezed. “Something's not right here. You are the joy of your parents, and I've never heard your father say anything against you. You are his sunflower.”

Erin tried to smile. “In his condition, I can't ask him why. I know it's small of me to question his decision, but—”

“It all seems so dark now, but believe, Daughter. Sometimes God takes us on a journey to let us see a different view. You will have to walk in faith.”

The words washed over Erin like a gentle breeze. All she could remember was her father cheering her on when she rode barrels competitively, or his sitting in the front row, beaming with pride when she graduated from high school as the valedictorian.

Her entire life her father had supported her but, over the past few months, she'd noticed a change in him, a hesitancy that put her on alert.