The Cowboy Meets His Match

by Leann Harris

  “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 tru
ck 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.

  “Thanks, Auntie.”

  They hugged, and Erin walked into her father’s study, ready to search for the final addendum to last year’s budget. But, as she surveyed his things, her heart ached with questions and doubt.

  * * *

  Sawyer walked into the rodeo office. The scene at the café had disturbed him. Why had Mel decided to humiliate Erin in front of everyone? The woman had held up under the man’s ugly attack, but those small-town currents swirled around them.

  When he entered the office, Lisa looked up. She nodded to the meeting room. “Mel brought the budget for the last year.”

  He nodded.

  “Is everything okay?” Lisa asked.

  “Mel seems on some sort of mission to hurt Erin.”

  “I heard.”

  The speed with which the news spread in a small town amazed Sawyer. None of the major cell phone carriers could’ve acted quicker.

  “Could you explain the situation to me? I want to know when to duck.” He moved toward her desk and collapsed in the chair beside her.

  Lisa explained the complicated history of the two women and the one guy.

  “But if Traci’s happily married, why would Mel be so hard on Erin? She’s been gone at school and riding the rodeo circuit.”

  Lisa leaned closer to Sawyer. “When the board decided to redo the facilities, Erin put in her bid. I think Traci’s worried that if Erin’s in town for that long maybe the feelings Andy had for Erin might flare back to life.”

  “That’s ridiculous.” Sawyer ran his fingers through his hair. “How long have Traci and Andy been married?”

  “Almost nine years, but folks have noticed things are a little strained between the two.”

  A frown knit his brow. “You’re telling me Mel’s worried about the situation?”

  “You asked what the problem was.” Lisa shrugged. “It might not make sense, but there it is.”

  What a mess. “Thanks for the heads-up.” Now at least he knew where the potholes were. Maybe he could survive this job. But he doubted he’d ever be the same.

  Chapter Six

  Late the next afternoon, Sawyer drove back from his successful meeting with the Harding County members of the rodeo board. They’d been excited about having their residents bid for contracts to do work for the rodeo. Norman had last year’s budget and let Sawyer take the notebook to compare with the ones Mel brought to the office.

  During the meeting, thoughts of Erin kept creeping into Sawyer’s head while he talked to Norman. What had gotten into him?

  When he passed the road leading to the Delong ranch, Sawyer went with his gut and decided to visit Erin. He’d go with the nagging feeling that he’d experienced all afternoon. Besides, he could use the excuse that he wanted to ride. He was a cowboy.

  He parked his truck and saw Erin in the corral beyond, practicing her barrel racing. He sat for a moment and watched her ride the figure eights. Slipping out of his truck, he softly closed the door.

  She didn’t bounce in her saddle or yank on the reins. She leaned into the sharp turn, pushing down in the stirrups, keeping her weight off the horse’s back. They worked in unison as a well-oiled machine. When she finished the last figure eight, she let her horse canter around the corral, cooling both her and the horse.

  “You’ve got a good seat.”

  “Hours of practice.”

  Her face glowed, and her entire body appeared relaxed and at ease, the most relaxed he’d ever seen her. This was a joyful woman, who loved riding and competing. As she came toward him, he felt himself being drawn to that smile. Her bay-colored mare had a black mane and black points.

  “Nice mount.”

  “Wind Dancer is a spoiled girl, but she loves to compete. The only thing she wants to do more than compete is to ride across our ranch.”

  Sawyer laid his palm on the horse’s light reddish coat and stroked her.

  Erin patted the horse’s neck. “I needed to ride her again. We were competing in Denver when I got news of Dad’s stroke. I drove home, left her here and then went on to Albuquerque. Both Dancer and I need the routine of doing the barrels. It’s a comfort. She’s a bit of a high-maintenance girl. You should understand.”

  “I do. Fortunately, my brother promised to keep my horse, Rescue, in shape.

  “Thinking about it, I remembered more of you and your brother at the charity rodeo. You were quite a team doing pickup.”

  “Thanks. I was a little rusty at that affair, but Caleb wanted the backup. Pickup is Caleb’s specialty, and when he practiced, I worked with him, so I’ve done it before.”

  “So why didn’t you bring your horse with you here?”

  “For a while, I traveled with Rescue, but he got tired of moving around, so I left him with my brother. When I was driving by your ranch
, the urge hit me, and since Tate said I could ride anytime I wanted, I thought I’d go with the flow.” He leaned against the fence post. “I’m sure Tate didn’t think I’d take up his offer so quickly, but... Besides, Tate mentioned your dad’s horse might need to be exercised, so on the drive back from Harding County, I thought about it. He’ll probably be surprised to find me here.”

  “He’s not home, yet. This is the first day we’ve driven him to school, and he wasn’t too happy with me this morning. Betty took the evening shift.” She dismounted, patted Dancer and looked at her watch. “Besides, having to endure his scowls and glares can only be tolerated once a day. He’ll be glad for an excuse to get away from us. You’re welcome to wait for him.”

  “I’ll do that. Thanks.”

  After unsaddling Dancer, Erin walked the horse to the corral and let her loose.

  Sawyer joined her at the fence. “Today, I drove to Harding County and talked to those board members about opening for bids,” he said, leaning against the fence.

  “Why not just call?”

  “I did yesterday, but I wanted to see the county, meet face-to-face with people. They liked the suggestion of locals getting involved in the revitalization.”

  He caught her smile.

  “It’s good to see everyone get involved. The more the project is talked up and the word spread, the more support you’ll have. Excitement will build and you’ll get free publicity.”

  Erin didn’t look at him, but kept her gaze on Dancer.

  Sawyer wanted to say something to her about what had happened at Lulu’s yesterday, or what he learned from Lisa, but if she didn’t mention it, then he wouldn’t. She seemed to be doing well today.

  “I did get Norman’s copy of the rodeo financials for the last year. Since he’s the top board member in Harding it will be interesting to see how it compares with the book Mel dropped off after lunch yesterday and the one I’ve looked at here.”

  Erin turned to him. “Mel brought the notebook by yesterday?”