After Ellie handed Mrs. Brightly the list of entries, she wandered back over to the seat Lawson had saved for her on the same pew where Nathan and Kate sat with Ms. Lettie and Doc. When the third basket came up for sale, Lawson leaned over to her conspiratorially. “I recognize that basket. It’s my ma’s.”
With that, he lifted his hand to place the first bid. Doc immediately leaned over to challenge. “Are you trying to steal my woman, Son?”
Lawson grinned, but before he could answer, Chris yelled, “I bid a dollar.”
She turned to stare at him in confusion. He just met her gaze with a grim nod. Suddenly. another man yelled, “One dollar and ten cents.”
She whirled around to face the front of the church to find Donovan standing with his hands obstinately on his hips. “They think it’s mine.”
Doc finally had a chance to bid. Donovan hesitated a moment then sat down. No one else spoke up after Doc so he won the basket. Lawson sent her a sideways glance then rubbed his hands together. “This is going to be fun.”
Lawson randomly started bidding on many of the baskets after that. Chris and Donovan followed suit, which drove the prices up until Lawson dropped out. After that, Chris and Donovan would stop, which allowed the person who really wanted the basket to step in and purchase it. Finally, Isabelle’s basket came up. Lawson continued to bid on it more intensely than he had the others.
People began to whisper their speculations on whether or not it was Ellie’s basket or someone else’s. Chris dropped out of the running so it was just between Lawson and Donovan. Lawson stopped bidding, leaving Donovan with the prize. Isabelle stepped forward and did not look pleased. For that matter, neither did Donovan.
Pastor Brightly held up the lunch Ellie had prepared next. It was packed in a medium-size picnic basket that had been whitewashed and covered in bright yellow fabric. “I’m told this cheerful basket is filled with fried chicken, hashed potatoes, fruit and chocolate cake. Let’s start the bidding at fifty cents.”
Ellie waited for Lawson to start the bidding. He didn’t. This was obviously going to be one of the baskets he didn’t bid on. Unfortunately, no one else did, either. Embarrassing silence permeated the air. “Who will make the opening bid?”
She bit her lip.
Pastor Brightly cleared his throat. “Why don’t we start at thirty, then?”
Her fingers clenched. Clayton Sheppard raised his hand. She had a bid. One bid. That was better than nothing. She unclenched her fingers and felt her shoulders relax. Lawson’s arm pressed against hers. She glanced up to find him watching her carefully. He smiled slowly. “I thought so.”
He raised his hand. “Sixty.”
Just like that a bidding war erupted. Chris jumped in the game. Nathan put up a bid, then Sean tried to make things interesting. Finally, Chris and Lawson began duking it out for the highest bid. Obviously, Lawson was serious about this one. Pastor James was desperately trying to keep up. A third bid from Donovan threw him for a moment before he paused. “Donovan, I told you three times now. You can’t bid anymore once you’ve won a basket. Why don’t you and Isabelle find a spot to eat? Now, where were we?”
Lawson stretched his arm so it landed on the pew behind Ellie. “You were just about to sell me that basket.”
“A dollar fifty,” Chris yelled from the pew behind her.
“This is ridiculous,” Ellie murmured. She turned to look for Amy and found the girl seated with the rest of her sisters. Amy was only paying cursory attention to the drama unfolding on the auction block. She seemed more interested in exchanging furtive glances with Rhett. Ellie hissed to Chris, “Would you stop it? I promise you’re not doing yourself any favors with this.”
He followed her gaze to Amy then hesitated. “I withdraw my last bid.”
“Then the last bid was from Lawson for one dollar and thirty cents. Going. Going—”
“Two dollars!”
A mixture of gasps and groans filled the church at the sound of the new voice from the back of the church. Ellie turned in her seat with the rest of the congregation to find Ethan Larue leaning nonchalantly against the back wall.
* * *
Lawson turned to find Ethan’s gaze settled on him in open challenge. Who was this man and why did he keep inserting himself into Lawson’s affairs? Granted, Lawson had willingly bared his past to the near-stranger but that didn’t mean he trusted him. Far from it. He still believed Ethan was up to something underhanded. Rhett hurried across the aisle to ask lowly, “Is he in the club?”
“Not a chance.”
Rhett nodded like a Ranger receiving his first assignment. “Put your hand up and leave it there. We’ll do the rest.”
Ellie leaned over as he did just that. “What are y’all whispering about?”
“Why is he bidding on your basket?”
“I don’t know why anyone does anything these days,” she moaned.
Lorelei’s father, Mr. Wilkins, leaned across the aisle to slip something into his hand. Lawson glanced down and realized he now held three rolled-up dollar bills. Ellie nudged him. She opened her hand to reveal more than a dollar’s worth of coins. “Mrs. Cummins passed us this. It’s from her row.”
Lawson shook his head in amazement. The town was giving Lawson the money to up his bid. Once Ethan realized what was happening, he bowed out with a grin that said he’d never intended to win in the first place. The man was starting to get under his skin. One of these days, when there wasn’t a crowd of people watching, Lawson intended to find out why. For now, though, he had four dollars and fifty cents worth of a lunch basket to eat. He stole a glance at Ellie’s flushed cheeks and knew it was worth every penny.
* * *
Tap. Bam. Tap. Bam. Lawson reached for another nail but it rolled off the end of the roof of the unfinished barn and fell two stories to hide in a bush. He picked another nail, tapped it into place and drove it through. He’d gotten so used to building things in the weeks he’d been home that he could probably save himself time by driving the nail through the board in one blow. He just didn’t trust himself to get it right the first time.
“Lawson, why are you still here?” Rhett’s yell sounded loudly over the noise of construction and the distant sound of singing. “Your shift is over. Go find that pretty girl of yours and give someone else a turn up there!”
Laughter and hoots echoed through the new walls of the building. Lawson smiled in case anyone was watching, although he wanted to groan. Bringing Ellie to the barn raising seemed to have given the town the last piece of evidence they needed to convince themselves that he and Ellie were meant to be. Pretty soon they’d convince themselves he’d proposed again. By next month, the town would have them married and living in his cabin. The way everyone was rushing things made him nervous. Didn’t they realize he needed to take this slow, make sure everything was going to work out before he put his heart on the line completely?
“I hear you, Rhett. I guess I got a little distracted, but I’m leaving now.” His feet hadn’t been on the ground floor for long before Ethan Larue approached him. Lawson took a deep drink of water then gave the man a suspicious look. “Is there something I can help you with?”
“I need to talk to you. It’s important.”
“What is it?”
Ethan’s gaze swept the rafters of the barn and the crowded area outside before he shook his head. “We’d better find someplace quieter.”
He reluctantly followed Ethan away from the ruckus of the barn raising toward a quiet spot near the Sheppards’ house. Lawson took stock of his opponent. The man wasn’t armed as far as he could tell. “I think you’d better sit down,” Ethan said.
Lawson frowned but complied by wrangling a wooden crate. “I think you’d better tell me what this is all about, Ethan.”
“You were right at the party. I did co
me here to find out about you. I wasn’t given permission to reveal why until yesterday.” Ethan sat on the crate across from him and watched him intensely. “I lied about my last name. It isn’t Larue. It’s Lawson.”
Lawson placed his elbows on his knees as he leaned forward. “Your last name is my first name?”
“Actually, your first name is your mother’s maiden name.”
“How would you know that?” He shook his head in confusion. “I don’t even know that.”
“Your mother, Gloria, was my aunt.”
“My...” Lawson stared at him. “That means you’re my cousin.”
“That’s right.”
He had a cousin. He stared at Ethan blankly for a moment as he went over the facts he’d just heard. “You said was. Is she dead?”
“I don’t know. She’d run off by the time my father died and your father took me out of the orphanage.”
“My father is Doc Williams.” Lawson’s firm tone brokered no question. His thoughts stumbled about as he tried to figure out what to call the man Ethan knew. “This other man—he took you out of the orphanage and you lived with him?”
“Yes.”
“I’m sorry.”
“Don’t be. He treated me well.” Ethan ignored Lawson’s disbelieving scoff. “You don’t have to call him this other man. You remember his name, don’t you?”
He shook his head.
“Well, surely you remember your own last name.”
“It’s Williams.”
Ethan frowned but his tone was patient. “No.”
Lawson ran a hand through his hair and suddenly realized it trembled. His words came out harshly. “I don’t remember.”
“It’s Hardy.”
“Hardy,” he whispered before another blow landed across his small jaw. He reeled but the stranger’s rough hands held him upright.
“Speak up, boy. I want my friends to hear you. What’s your last name?” The drunk slurred then shook him until his brain rattled.
“I said it’s Hardy!”
The man’s bloodshot eyes held his. “Your father’s name is Clive.”
“Yes, sir.” He whimpered when the man let him fall to the ground, then carefully rubbed his jaw.
“I told you, friends, I told you. That’s the kid. His father will pay big to get him back.” The man whirled toward him. “Don’t move. We’re taking you back to Papa...right after I finish this drink.”
Lawson pulled his knees to his chest and crossed his arms around them. His pa didn’t want him. What were these men going to do when they found that out?
One of the painted ladies came down the stairs and frowned at the blood on his face. She shot a look toward the men who were too deep in their cups to notice when she offered him her hand. He hesitantly took it and allowed her to lead him into the kitchen. She cleaned his face before handing him a sack. “I know those men. They don’t mean well by you. Take this and run.”
He stared at her in shock. She didn’t want him, either. “You promised I could stay on and wash dishes.”
“I know I did but if you stay, they’ll hurt you worse. I can’t stop them. You run away and don’t ever come back to this town. Too many people here know you’re Clive’s son. With that reward on his head, there will be plenty more like those men wanting to use you to get to him. Promise me you’ll run.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
“Oh, and Lawson, you’ve got to protect yourself in the next town. You can’t tell anyone who you are. From now on you don’t have a last name. If anyone asks, you’re just Lawson. You hear me?”
“Lawson!”
He snapped back to reality to find Ethan watching him in concern. “What?”
“I said he wants to see you.”
“Who does?”
“Your father.”
“No.”
“At least think about it.”
“I don’t have to think about it. The answer is no.” He shot to his feet, nearly overturning the crate in his haste. He searched the crowd for Nathan and found him sitting next to Sean. “Nathan, I need you to take Ellie home. I’m not feeling well.”
“You look pale. Maybe I should drive you,” Sean offered.
“No.” The word came out louder than he intended. He thanked them then turned away. He realized it would be rude to leave Ellie without saying anything but it couldn’t be helped. He needed to be alone. He needed to think. So this was it. For the past ten years, he’d been waiting for the other shoe to drop. It finally had.
The world seemed to slow down yet rush with color and sound—memories that he had to fight back. He had a cousin. His mother was probably dead. His father wanted to see him. He was filled with disbelief. There had to be a way to salvage this. He’d just ignore it. Ethan would go away. Lawson would go back to the life he’d created. He’d go back to hope, to Ellie’s pure smile, to moments when he’d thought maybe his past could be erased.
Somehow he knew it wouldn’t be that easy.
Chapter Nine
The incessant hammering from the barn raising rooted Ellie on as she held her breath and gulped down a full glass of water. She placed a hand on her stomach as she waited to see if her hiccups had been sufficiently drowned by the deluge. Her next hiccup was followed by a frustrated groan. She’d spent the past five minutes trying everything she could think of to get rid of the annoying condition she was in.
“Miss Ellie, you sure look pretty today!” She jumped and turned to find Donovan Turner standing a bit too close for comfort. He leaned even closer in concern. The piece of hay in his mouth bobbled as he asked, “What’s wrong?”
“Nothing.” She waited for a moment then smiled. “You scared the hiccups right out of me, though.”
He grinned. She scanned the crowd for Nathan and found him talking to Sean and Lawson. Donovan fiddled with the Stetson in his hands. “How is Hamlet?”
She shifted out of the way of a passing woman, which conveniently placed her farther away from Donovan. “Who?”
“The pig I gave you.”
“Oh, I didn’t know it already had a name.”
He nodded. “It’s Shakespeare—one of his tragedies.”
“Yes, I know.”
“You know Shakespeare?”
“Not personally.” He didn’t seem to think that was funny so she bit her lip to hide her smile. “I read a few of his plays in school.”
“Did I ever tell you that I was an actor in a troupe?” He shifted closer as though her surprise gave him permission to do so. “We toured the panhandle and made a lot of money.”
“How did you end up running a pig farm?” She nearly winced when she realized she’d gotten him started on his favorite subject. He’d trapped her good this time. She cast a pleading look over his shoulder to where her oblivious brothers stood before he blustered on. Where had Lawson gone? He’d asked her to come with him. Didn’t he care that she’d been cornered?
Something in her question must have hinted at disapproval because Donovan shifted into more of a combative stance. “What’s wrong with my pig farm? You’ve never been there so how could you have formed an opinion?”
She suddenly remembered Kate’s warning not to encourage the man or be alone with him. She glanced around the bustling activity of the barn raising. Well, she wasn’t alone with him. However, it was probably best if she moved along. “I’m sure your pig farm is just fine.”
“I’m glad to hear you say that.” He ducked his head then decided to peer at her instead. “The truth is I like you a lot, Miss Ellie, more than that dandy you’re spooning with now. Anyone can see he’s just going along because the town’s making him. And, where is he now?”
Donovan’s words hit a little too close for comfort. She shifted farther away from him. �
�I don’t know, but I’m afraid I don’t return your feelings, Mr. Turner.”
His eyes narrowed. “It’s because of my pig farm, isn’t it?”
Why couldn’t he understand that she just didn’t like him? She’d already said it once. Did she need to tell him that he made her uncomfortable or that she didn’t trust him? Her pause must have lasted too long. She jumped when he abruptly slammed his Stetson on his knee, somehow managing to make a loud popping sound in the process.
“Doggone. It is the pig farm. If I’d known, I never would have bought— Oh, here comes your brother. I’ll see you later.” He hurried away like a cat with its tail on fire.
Nathan placed a protective hand on her shoulder as he stared after Donovan with a frown. “Was he bothering you?”
She squeezed his hand appreciatively. “I find him slightly annoying, but other than that, not really. He scared my hiccups away at any rate.”
Nathan crossed his arms. “Well, I told him to leave you alone and he ignored me. That doesn’t bode well. The next time he tries that, be curt with him. He has to get it through his head that you’re off-limits.”
“He always seemed so harmless before.”
“A rattlesnake seems harmless until it starts to shake.”
She shivered at the analogy. “Aren’t you descriptive?”
“I’m supposed to tell you Lawson left because he wasn’t feeling well. You’ll ride home with me and Kate.”
Ellie looked at him in concern. “Do you think we should send word to Doc?”
“Doc’s delivering a baby.”
“Even so, someone should check on Lawson.”
“I know. We won’t stay here much longer. You can check on him yourself.”
Nathan kept his promise and less than an hour later, Ellie knocked lightly on the door of Lawson’s cabin. He didn’t respond. She shifted the large basket Kate had filled with anything and everything Lawson might need to cure whatever ailed him, and knocked again. Finally, his voice called from deep inside the cabin. “Who is it?”
A Texas-Made Match Page 10