He chuckled. “And you assumed I dressed to catch a woman’s eye.”
“Let’s be fair.” Because nowadays you couldn’t tell. “It could be a man too.”
He guffawed. And when his laughter had diminished, he said, “I have a personal shopper. And if you tell my brother, I’ll deny it, night and day.”
A secret. Bitsy hadn’t shared a secret with a man in what seemed like forever. “My lips are sealed.”
He sat on Mama’s sofa, opened his folder, and took a pen from his pocket. “Where’s Pearl? She needs to review some documents.”
“Mama?” Please come rescue me. “Mama?”
The house echoed.
“Excuse me.” Bitsy hurried toward the back of the house, checking the bedroom and the bathroom. She’d said something about Bitsy facing Rupert and the truth. Realizing she’d been set up, Bitsy returned to Rupert, wondering how much she should tell him other than, “She’s gone.”
“Do you think…” He smiled pleasantly. She’d never seen him smile pleasantly at her before. “I mean, would you like to have a drink with me while we wait for her to come back?”
“All Mama has here is water and coffee.”
“I’ve got an idea.” Rupert closed his folder. “Let’s head over to Shaw’s.”
“But…what if she comes back?” Bitsy knew Mama wasn’t coming back. She’d said her piece and was leaving Bitsy to pick up the rest of the broken pottery.
“We’ll leave her a note.” Rupert stood, smoothing his tie.
And look! It had a stain. Was that why he seemed so self-conscious today? So…human?
He continued to wield that pleasant smile. “What do you say? Is it a date?”
Bitsy nodded, numbly telling herself it was only a little word that started with d. It could take on any number of meanings.
Surely he was just thirsty and wanted a bit of company.
Although if that had been the case, wouldn’t he have asked for a glass of water?
* * *
“Hey, Jason, I need you to review some stuff.” Ken entered Bull Puckey Breeding’s office. “Do you have a minute?”
“You can talk while you help us with this new bull. We need an extra pair of hands.” And Jason was in need of a distraction from Darcy. However, Pennywhistle was a handful. “We sent John to Denver for some more collection tubes. We’re going to run out today.”
Iggy zipped up a pair of stained coveralls. He tossed Ken a pair also in need of a good washing. “We can talk and work at the same time.”
“No, no. I’m part of the brain trust.” Ken held up the coveralls by his fingertips.
“Man up.” Jason already had his coveralls on. “You’ll be holding Carl. He’s our teaser bull and gentle as a kitten.”
Ken shook his head. “That’s a hard no.”
“Hurry it along so we can get the shipment in the mail today.” Iggy herded Ken out of the office. He opened a stall door and clipped a lead rope onto Carl’s halter. “Stand here and wait until we call you to come in.”
Jason walked past them toward Pennywhistle’s stall. A better name for the bull would have been Buttkicker. He was barely manageable. In fact, when Jason reached his stall, the bull banged the door and let out a deep, unhappy moo.
“Calm down, fella,” Jason said.
“Hey,” Ken called. “Shouldn’t I tell you what the documents are before we start this? In case I’m injured and can’t give you my opinion.”
“He does have a good point.” Iggy joined Jason at Pennywhistle’s stall.
“But it makes me happy to make him wait.” Jason smiled. He could use a little levity. He was pinning his hopes on the fact that Darcy always bought him at the Widows Club bachelor auction. She’d buy him, and then everything would be all right.
Correction. Then you’ll have the opening you need to work on love.
Jason grimaced. George was such a stickler for details.
Pennywhistle complained again. He had massive shoulders, a white face, a red hide, and a shifty look in his eyes, one that said, Proceed at your own peril.
“Stay in Carl’s stall, Ken.” Jason opened Pennywhistle’s door. “Tell me why we bought this bull again. He isn’t even halter trained.”
“He’s kind of like you.” Iggy joined Jason in the stall. “Very photogenic.”
Their boots rustled through the straw as Pennywhistle glared at them.
“Hey, buddy. Look what I got. Feed cubes.” Jason held them out to the side. “Sweet as candy. Come on, I know you want some.”
Pennywhistle lifted his head and sniffed, let out a long moo, and practically lunged toward Jason’s hand, knocking the treat to the ground. He bent his head to eat the fallen cubes.
Jason snapped on his lead rope and gave him a couple seconds to gobble up his reward before tugging his head up. “Why do I have a bad feeling about this?”
“Sorry, man,” Iggy said. “I wish we had a few more days to work with him before this.”
“Then you shouldn’t have put his picture and vitals up on the website.”
Pennywhistle lifted his head and gave them the stink eye.
Jason gave the lead rope a tentative tug. “Easy, fella.”
And that’s when it all went to hell.
* * *
“I’ll have a wine spritzer,” Bitsy said softly to Noah when she and Rupert were seated at Shaw’s.
“Give me a bottle of that hard cider and some popcorn.” Rupert loosened his stained tie and removed it as Noah left their table. “I used to come in here and order the sweet potato fries,” he confided to Bitsy in a deep, low voice. “But then I hit forty and had to let my pants out at the waist.”
“How…Uh…How old are you?” Bitsy told herself she only asked for the bachelor auction coming up. She tried to smile but her lips felt so uncooperative.
“I’m fifty-seven. You probably know, but I’ve had a bout of cancer, been divorced, have two kids living in Denver.” He was reading out his vitals the way they’d be listed on one of those online dating sites.
“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to pry.” Oh yes I did. She stored away the most important piece of information he’d dropped—cancer. For his own good, she should scurry on home.
“Oh, you meant to pry, Bitsy.” Rupert leaned forward, lowering that voice of his to bedroom levels. “And I meant to let you.”
The jig was up! “I should go.” Mortified, Bitsy shifted in her seat, placing her hand on the table for leverage to make her escape. Mama would have to face her lawyer on her own from now on.
Rupert’s hand covered hers. “Don’t go. I haven’t dated anyone since my wife took half my retirement.”
Bitsy stared at his strong, tan hand, frozen.
“And that came out all wrong. I’m not here to talk about my failed marriage or your mother’s court case. I’d just like…” He withdrew his hand and closed those brilliant-blue eyes. “I just miss female companionship.” He heaved a sigh. “I miss the flirty banter. The way a woman sees things in the world differently. The sound of a woman’s laughter, particularly at one of my jokes.” He opened his eyes and stared at her, waiting for her to answer.
Stay or go?
Cancer. She brought such bad luck to a man’s longevity.
And a younger man. Such a taboo.
If their positions were reversed, no one would bat an eye if they dated or…
Do not think about ors. Three-time widows didn’t tempt fate with fourth husbands.
But three-time widows could enjoy the company of a man occasionally, maybe have some kind of arrangement the way George and Mama had.
Bitsy blinked. “I wasn’t aware you had any jokes.”
Chapter Twenty-Four
Jason, Iggy, and Ken rolled into Shaw’s as battered and bloody messes.
“Drinks are on me.” Ken led the way. Seeing as how he was the least battered member of their crew, Iggy and Jason let him.
They sat at the bar. Jason had done a sweep befor
e claiming a stool. If Darcy had been there, he’d have been trying to charm her into a conversation.
“You boys look like something the cat dragged in.” Noah looked at their dirty, dusty clothes. “At least show me that your hands are clean.”
They weren’t. He sent them to the men’s room while he poured them a round of beers.
“When did Noah become such a wet blanket?” Iggy leaned against the wall while Ken used the lone sink.
“When his dad retired, I think?” Jason watched Ken wash his hands, his wrists, his face, and behind his neck. “Jeez, are you gonna take a bath?”
“I was dragged through a layer of straw and filth by Carl the teaser bull.” Ken moved on to the paper towel dispenser. “You’re lucky I’m still riding adrenaline or I’d scurry back to your place and take a long, hot shower.”
“We told you to stay in the stall with Carl.” Iggy had no sympathy. He washed his hands well and gave his face a quick rinse.
“How was I to know you meant with the stall door closed?” Ken shook his head. “Or that the bull who dragged you from one end of the building to the other would be singing a mating call?”
Pennywhistle had dragged both men, despite their digging in their boot heels. The entire stable of bulls had been riled.
After Jason washed up, the trio returned to the bar, where beer and bar mix awaited.
“Now seems like the time to get some work done,” Ken said. “Before I get distracted by alcohol or women.”
Jason gave the bar another quick look-see. There were no women in the bar except for Bitsy, who was sitting with Rupert. Bitsy and Rupert? Jason caught her eye and raised his glass. Good luck to that. Whatever that was.
“First off,” Ken said, “we have cause to celebrate. Tom has officially dropped the lawsuit.”
“Sweet.” Iggy clinked his glass to both of theirs. “I’ll invite him over to get his goods and we’ll be done with it. Won’t happen again.”
Jason was grateful for Iggy’s reassurances. “What else do you need to get off your chest, Ken?”
“Oh, not much. We’re being countersued.” Ken drank deeply from his beer before continuing. “Darcy is challenging that nondisclosure agreement. She hired Rupert.” Ken turned on his bar stool to face the older lawyer. Iggy and Jason followed suit.
“That was fast.” Too fast. Jason felt numb. There were still days until the auction. Days during which he’d hoped Darcy would accept herself and the decisions she’d made to get to this point.
Bitsy pointed toward them, drawing Rupert’s attention.
The lawyer took in the trio and laughed.
“Can we counter-counterfile or something?” Jason needed a ray of hope.
“I’ll get in touch with our New York lawyer tomorrow and see.” Ken’s attention was suddenly magnetized to his pinging phone and incoming messages.
“Here’s to Ken, your fairy godfather.” Iggy raised his glass, clinking Jason’s. “I gotta get me one of those.” He sniffed Ken’s shirt. “Maybe one who smells better.”
* * *
“Good morning, Your Honor.” Rupert entered Darcy’s office midweek and closed the door behind him. His blue suit fit him impeccably. His black leather shoes had a mirrorlike shine.
“My lawyer has news for me?” Darcy finished zipping up her robe, in awe of Rupert’s efficiency. He and Tina Marie would be quite a force in the courthouse after she stepped down.
“I called in a favor. We go before Judge Johnson in Greeley on Friday.” Rupert set down his briefcase. He looked decidedly chipper today, possibly because he was that much closer to a judgeship. “As for your other lawsuit, Pearl is dropping her claim to Stogey in return for the rent-free cottage, and my brother and I have agreed to your terms for the house.” He bent to give Stogey a pat.
His words lifted a weight off Darcy’s shoulders. She hadn’t realized what an emotional burden George’s property was on her spirits. How much lighter would she feel when she was no longer a judge? Light enough to take Jason back? “And the money?”
Rupert picked up Stogey and put him in her arms. “We think you deserve the money.”
“That doesn’t make me feel good.” Quite the opposite. That money felt like the spoils of a con.
Rupert took her by the shoulders. “Then give it away to charity, someplace that will help at-risk kids, like you were.”
“What a great idea.” Darcy drew a deep breath, studying the chiseled planes of Rupert’s face and wondering why they no longer seemed so hard. “Why are you in such a good mood? Forget that. Why are you being so nice to me?” She gave a little gasp. “Did Oliver agree that you should be the interim judge? Let’s call Henrik and get him out here immediately.”
“We decided…” Rupert released her and retreated to the chair with his briefcase. “We decided neither one of us wants the job.”
Darcy had a good guess as to why. “You looked up the salary schedule.”
“I plead guilty, Your Honor.” Rupert grinned. “We’d be taking pay cuts to fill Dad’s shoes.”
“But…I was going to leave town. It’s all I ever wanted.”
“Is it? Monday morning when you hired me, you told me you wanted to go somewhere you’d be respected and be able to make a difference.” Rupert came to her once more, took her shoulders once more. “And I’m telling you that whatever reason you had for leaving, you don’t have one anymore. Oliver and I…We misjudged you. We directed our anger at you instead of our father.”
“But…”
“You’re becoming a good judge. The seat is yours. If you still feel there are amends to make, make them from the bench by doing what I know you can do best—seeing the person, not the crime.”
If Rupert and Oliver—her mortal enemies—didn’t hold her marriage to their father against her, perhaps Jason was right. Perhaps it was time to accept what she’d done and what George had done and move on. Darcy drew a breath, shedding another layer of weight from her soul.
Stogey nuzzled her chin.
“I…I don’t know what to say.”
“Well, I hope you say you’ll stay, because it seems like Judge Darcy Harper has a chance at a long run on the bench.” He grabbed his briefcase and opened the door. “My father would be proud. Not only that, he’d encourage you to find the one man who could help you make a long judicial run bearable. Strike that.” He smiled. “I’d encourage you.”
Weak-kneed, Darcy leaned on the edge of her desk, listening to her heart without guilt clouding her vision.
Tina Marie marched by, heading for the courtroom. “Are you ready?”
Darcy squared her shoulders. “Yes.”
Chapter Twenty-Five
On the night of the bachelor auction, Mims confidently took the stage at Shaw’s to a round of applause. “Thank you all for showing up to the Date Night Auction to benefit the Sunshine Boys & Girls Club. Our bachelors—”
The crowd whooped it up, including Darcy. Their enthusiasm was infectious. Electricity skimmed the hair on her arms. Jason was in the crowd of bachelors on stage, looking just as handsome as ever.
“Our bachelors for auction tonight will be available for prescreening for the next few minutes on stage. Gentlemen, we’re still taking names if you feel left out.” Mims stared down at the crowd. “Those in the mood to buy, please remember, bidding starts at one hundred dollars. This is a cash-only event. Winning bidders also pay for dinner and drinks afterward. But this is strictly an eyes-only auction. No touching our bachelors. That is, not until you’ve won your man. And…” She gestured for the crowd to quiet down. They did not. She tried to shout over them anyway. “And all bidding must be done from the floor. We have a new consequence regarding the stage this year. There will be no shenanigans. If you come up on the stage, you are automatically volunteered for the next auction and your bid is…”
“Pris, please go home.” Drew was here in an official capacity as crowd control, but he was scowling at his sister. “I don’t want you bidding on
some random cowboy just because he looks at you twice.”
Pris frowned at him but kept on drinking her beer.
“I can’t believe you showed up tonight, Darcy.” Lola smoothed Drew’s uniform over his shoulders. “We’re here because it’s an anniversary of sorts. But I thought you were trying to control that image of yours.”
“I came to support Bitsy.” Who was going to bid on Rupert. Darcy cast her gaze around, unable to find her. “I’m undecided about bidding on Jason.”
“Bitsy’s over there.” Lola pointed to a place far in the back. “If she’s bidding, that’s the worst place to be.”
Darcy excused herself and made her way to Bitsy, who wore a beret and dark glasses. “What happened to taking life by the horns?”
“I came, didn’t I?” She grimaced.
“But you look like you aren’t going to bid.”
“This is mortifying.” Bitsy knotted her fingers. “If I bid on Rupert, everyone will know I like a younger man. And yet, I can’t not be here.”
“You know it’s ten times worse to get up on that stage.” Darcy tugged her forward. “Come on. Think of this as rescuing Rupert. You’ll have a nice dinner together. People are probably going to be talking about Pris Taylor. She’s got on her bidding face and a deep-seated need to put her brother in his place.”
“But what about you?” Bitsy shouted. “Are you bidding on Jason?”
“Um…” Darcy shrugged and led the way to the bar.
Bitsy ordered a rum and Diet Coke.
“Shouldn’t you be helping run the auction?” Lola asked Bitsy.
“I’m on a hiatus from the club.” The older woman shoved her dark glasses back on.
The auction kicked off with Tucker Napier, who went for nearly two hundred dollars, put up by Tiffany Winslow. She and Pris squealed at her winning bid.
“A great start for a good cause.” Mims led Iggy to the middle of the floor amid a wave of catcalls. “That’s right, ladies. This is the first time we’ve convinced this confirmed bachelor to participate.”
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