“There are, but none of them are newcomers, and us guys in this here small town love nothing better than new blood.” Marsh raised one eyebrow in a teasing fashion.
“Except you can’t bid. You’re practically married to Ginger.”
“Ah, but this town’s full of single, unattached men.” He winked. “You’ll see.”
Amber didn’t like the idea of putting herself out on the meat market, but if she wanted to break her dry spell of no dates, there was no better place to start than Sapphire Falls.
Chapter Five
Chad zip-locked his cow dung samples and labeled them by date and the name of the animal. He eyed the names above their stall: Fudge, Mudpie, Brownie, and Lava Cake. While in the barn and out in the pasture, he also collected samples from pigs, chickens, goats, and sheep. Even the two wolfhounds his cousins owned didn’t escape his attention.
Face it. Farms were a cornucopia of microbes.
Carefully, Chad placed his samples in a tiny ice chest and washed his hands at the kitchen sink.
“Stay for dinner,” Aunt Anne said. “We’re having chicken pot pie tonight.”
“Sounds delicious, but I want to get back to the lab and start culturing these samples.”
“You should get out to the festival this week,” she said. “Meet people. The samples can wait.”
The only person he wanted to meet was Amber, and she would be at his job. She’d been assigned to help him analyze the DNA of the microbes he collected.
“I want to be ready for tomorrow since it’s my first day on the job.” He watched as Aunt Anne packed a plastic container of leftovers for him.
“Then you need to stop here after work tomorrow and tell me all about it.” She tossed a salad and put it in another container for him. “Got everything you need? Let me wrap you up some dessert. The girls made brownies, chocolate fudge and mud pies.”
“Thanks for everything.” Chad took the containers and plastic bags full of food and stuffed them into the same ice chest with his collection of excrement.
Everything was wrapped up securely, so there was no need to be squeamish.
“You sure you don’t want to stay for dinner?” Auntie Anne rubbed his back. “The boys are going down to the Come Again later for the Dance Auction. You should go with them.”
Just then, Mike ambled into the kitchen, wiping sweat from his face. While Chad was collecting dung, Mike had been baling hay and pitching the bales into the barn.
“You have to go with us,” Mike said. “This is your first festival. Besides, Mom will let me off from the farm if I’m your official Festival Guide.”
“Only after all your chores are done,” Auntie Anne said with a mock stern voice. “But you have a point. Someone has to show your cousin around town. Make sure he doesn’t get lost.”
“I can only go after work,” Chad said. “So it’ll work out.”
“Some of the fun starts in the afternoon, like the Mud Run and the Coed Softball Tournament.” Mike looked hopefully at his mother.
Chad didn’t particularly like crowds, especially ones he couldn’t get lost in. But he’d promised his parents plenty of selfies of him enjoying Sapphire Falls. His mother had grown up here, and she was nostalgic for the festival—although not nostalgic enough to take time off her busy schedule to help him get settled.
Many years ago, when she was looking to escape to the big city, she’d met his father who was on a road trip from Los Angeles to New York. The budding investment banker had ridden up the Ferris wheel a single man, and came down from it an almost-married man. The Haunted House and fireworks on Klein Hill sealed the deal, and by the end of the week, they were married at City Hall.
“I’ll have to ask Mason if I can go in early and leave early on those days,” Chad said. “I have to take pictures of myself next to all the events and attractions to send to my parents. They have fond memories of the festival.”
“Lots of marriages started at the festival,” Aunt Anne said wistfully. “I’m sure your mom will treasure all the photos you take.”
“Not if he looks like a caveman in them.” Mike tugged at Chad’s hair. “Since you refused to go to The Bang and Blow, why don’t we shave your beard and give you a buzz cut here?”
“My mom is used to my facial hair,” Chad said.
“Then why don’t we surprise her?” His uncle stepped into the kitchen. “We dress you up like one of us, and she’ll have to fly over and see what we did to you.”
“One farm boy makeover coming up,” Mike said as Auntie Anne opened a drawer and pulled out the hair trimmer.
“I haven’t had a chance to give a haircut ever since Marsh’s girlfriend came to town.” In a flash, she plugged it in and Uncle Carl draped a plastic cape around Chad’s neck.
Mike pressed him into a kitchen chair, and for the first time, Chad knew what a roped steer felt like. Fortunately, they didn’t hogtie him.
“Do I have to?” he pleaded, although ineffectually.
“Trust us.” Uncle Carl slapped his shoulders. “There’ll be plenty of fine fillies at the Come Again tonight, and if you want to bid on a dance, you can’t be looking like you live in a cave.”
“I thought this was the country.” He twisted his face as Mike came at him with a razor blade.
“We might be country, but we’re not hicks.” Mike scraped the razor blade down Chad’s face. “Think we should wax him? Treat him to a Full Brazilian?”
“No wax. I’m an American, not a Brazilian.” Chad squirmed and closed his eyes, not wanting to see all that massive treasure of dark brown curly hair hit the kitchen floor.
What had he gotten himself into?
* * *
The Wolff boys and girls were a persuasive bunch, and before Chad knew it, he’d stayed for dinner, raided Mike’s closet, forced his feet into a pair of boots, his arms and legs into denim and plaid, and was roaring his new Super Duty Ford pickup down into town with his bevy of country cousins.
“Now that you have the biggest, baddest truck, you should bid on last year’s Festival Queen,” Megan said, popping her cell phone in front of her. “Here she is wearing her crown.”
“Or he can bid on one of the drama queens from the community theater,” Mike chimed in as he stepped from the truck.
“Are you two going up there?” Chad asked his girl cousins as he let them out of the truck. “Maybe I’ll bid on one of you.”
“No, don’t do that!” Megan grabbed his arm and looped her hand around it while Millie did the same from the other side.
“Why not? I don’t know anyone else.” At least no one who’d be at a bar. Amber was probably settling in and loading programs and apps onto her computer.
“The whole point of coming here is to get to know people,” Megan said.
“That’s right,” Millie said. “I heard whoever gets the highest bid at the Dance Auction is most likely to win Festival King or Queen.”
“Since I got a bonus, I should bid big bucks for you two.”
“We don’t want you to bid on us,” Megan said. “Everyone knows you’re our cousin and that would be plain dorky.”
As they crossed the street and approached the bar, people waved and greeted the group.
“I’m not so sure I should go in,” Chad said as he spied a large crowd of people gathered around the entrance. “I don’t like crowds.”
Loud music blared from within the bar every time someone opened the door, and the buzz of excitement, people staring at him, and their raucous laughter gave Chad goosebumps.
“You came from New York City,” Megan said, lifting an eyebrow. “You must have tons more people there.”
“Yeah, but they don’t try to talk to me.” Chad swallowed over his stuttering heart. “Out here, everywhere I go, someone tries to talk to me.”
“It’s called being friendly and neighborly,” Millie said.
Sure enough, a contingent of beautiful young women sauntered toward them.
“Hey, Meg,
aren’t you going to introduce us to your cousin from New York?” one of them asked, as all pairs of eyes zeroed in on Chad. Boy, did he feel naked without a beard, glasses, and long hair to hide behind.
Freaky how they knew exactly who he was and where he came from.
“Everyone, this is Chad Powers,” Megan said. “Chad, these are my friends. Linda, Helen, Emily, Janet, and Nancy.”
“And mine, too,” Millie echoed, always a step behind her more talkative sister.
Helen, a buxom blonde, angled herself up to his chest. “New in town, and already everyone’s talking about you and that big, red truck of yours. I wonder what else is big and red about you?”
She wore a red Cornhusker T-shirt, but had pulled it up at the waist with a knot. Her straw hat had a bright red ribbon in it, and her cut-off shorts were so short, the pocket liners showed.
“I, uh …” Chad was tongue-tied. Not good. He’d rather stand in front of a committee and defend his thesis than stutter in front of a group of gorgeous females.
“Come on, let’s see who’s on the auction block.” Mike rescued him with a clap on the back. “Marsh just texted me. Says you should bid on the new girl in town.”
“New g-girl? H-how many n-new g-girls came t-to town?”
He swallowed and tried to relax his throat, but the only newcomer he could think of would be Amber Myers.
“His girlfriend’s sister, Amber Myers,” Mike said, as if on cue. “She’s up there right now, and the bidding’s going to get hot. Better hope your bonus is big enough.”
Chapter Six
Amber’s palms were sweaty, and her heart raced as she stood next to a gaggle of giggling single women. The spotlights were bright and she couldn’t see the crowd gathered around.
Why had she agreed to go out in the first place? She should be back at Ginger’s apartment setting up her laptop and checking her emails in case Mason had last minute details. Heck, she had barely unpacked before Ginger dragged her to The Bang and Blow.
Despite her new wardrobe, she was still going to work in a skirt, at least. Okay, it was summer and she could ditch the jacket, because they’d issue her a lab coat, but skirt, blouse, sensible pumps, and her hair rolled up in an efficient bun would let the men know she was a serious scientist.
The door of the bar swung wide open, and a swarm of young women dashed forward.
“Wait, wait, you haven’t started, have you?” Their leader, a busty blonde wearing a bright red Cornhusker T-shirt, bellowed at the auctioneer.
“We were just getting ready,” the auctioneer, Kate, said. “Please hand your biographies to my assistant over there, and take your place in line.”
Amber glanced at the assistant and noticed it was Peyton, the jogger she met earlier. Peyton blew a breath and looked annoyed at the newcomers as she took their bios and gave them a number.
Now, more than twenty women crowded at the edge of the dance floor—each and every one of them flashing their bright smiles, wholesome faces, curvaceous figures, and flashy bling.
They milled around speculating on the guys they wanted to be bid on.
“I can’t wait to see some of the new guys Mason hired,” a tall woman with white-blond hair said. “I heard he brought in three guys and one gal.”
“Yeah, but our farm boys will have them beat,” her friend retorted. “Remember when Mike Wolff brought in five hundred dollars?”
“I hope I’m not the lowest one,” a petite brunette with a pixie haircut said. “It’ll be so embarrassing.”
“You don’t have to worry,” her friend said. “We clued in the guys at Dylan’s to bid for you.”
“You mean all the auto mechanics?” She clasped her hands and beamed, most likely thinking of a particular guy.
“Yep, and all the cops are going to bid for Emily, and the guys at the bank are going for Linda,” the woman droned on.
Amber’s heart squeezed in on herself. What was she doing standing here like a piece of meat to be bid on by a bunch of guys when everything was already fixed?
No one would bid on her, and despite the makeover and new clothes, she was only a fake country girl—a real phony.
While Kate patted the microphone and cleared her throat, Amber slithered backward and melted behind the throngs of women primping and preening. Her sisters, all paired off with their men, were in a booth, and not paying her any attention.
Undisturbed, she made her way to the restrooms at the back of the bar. It was crowded and hot, and she could barely catch a breath of cool air. She slid into the women’s room and caught a glimpse of herself in the mirror.
Ginger had overdone the makeup, adding eyeliner and shadow which was already smudged from the muggy heat. Her hair was still full and bouncy, but by the end of the evening it would be frizzy and frazzled.
She blew out a frustrated breath, trying to get her heartbeat back under control. The noise, the crowds, all the super friendly people who knew each other, the alcohol fumes, and the country music made her feel like an outsider—which she was.
Mason might have founded a high-tech agricultural research facility in the middle of Nebraska, but outside of work, she would never fit into this claustrophobic world—sisters or no sisters.
The restroom door swung open and three pairs of sisterly eyes glared at her with three pairs of hands on their hips.
“What are you doing hiding in here? Don’t you know you’re gorgeous?” Ginger snapped at her, acting as if Amber’s hiding out were an affront to her handiwork.
“You look great,” Honey said, maneuvering her large belly around the paper towel holder. “It’ll be a wonderful chance for everyone to get to know you since they’ll be reading off your biography.”
“I don’t want them to know what a nerd I am,” Amber blurted, blinking and wondering where the sensitive feelings came from. “I don’t belong out there.”
“Sure you do,” Candi said. “You’re our sister. Who’s to say you don’t belong here?”
“This,” she swept her hand at her image in the mirror, “is false advertising. That’s not me. I’m not someone you’d find at a monster truck rally. I don’t bake pies, and I don’t can fruits.”
Not to mention, no one out there would bid on her.
“You’re you, and that’s good enough,” Ginger said, grabbing her by the arm. “All of this is just to add icing to the package.”
“But I don’t know anyone.” She moaned. “Who’s going to bid on me?”
“Don’t worry,” Candi said. “Troy told his friends to bid on you.”
“So did Marsh,” Ginger reassured. “He spread the word among his farmhands.”
“I can ask Max to call in a few favors,” Honey said. “He has some big accounts at the credit union.”
“No! No. This isn’t working.” Amber grabbed a paper towel and wiped off her lipstick. “I heard enough. Everything’s rigged. One girl has the police department, another one has the auto mechanics, and you’re saying you guys lined up people to bid on me?”
Three heads bobbed up and down with guilty written on every face.
“It means you don’t think anyone would bid on me.” Hurt lanced through Amber’s chest. “Because the truth is, I’m a big dork, and men don’t notice me, much less ask me out.”
“That’s not true. Men will bid on you because you’re attractive and a newcomer. Around here, they’re all curious of anyone new.” Ginger put a motherly arm around her. Only two years older, Ginger became her protector when they moved with their father to New York City.
“Right,” Candi hastily agreed. “Guys here are fast, because they know how fast people fall in love here. A new girl might not last a week before she’s proposed to and taken off the market.”
“Look at Ginger and Marsh, and Candi and Troy,” Honey added, reminding Amber of her own sisters’ whirlwind romances.
“But I’m different.” Amber straightened her spine to her full height. “I came here for my research, not to fall in love and b
ake cookies—not that there’s anything wrong with baking cookies, but my career comes first. I’m glad we get to be a family again, and I love to hang out with you, babysit, and go to things with all of you, but dating’s not my first priority.”
Especially not to a man who didn’t have a clue what she did with that computer of hers, or have the appreciation and understanding of how much time it took to do a complete genome analysis—not to mention the epigenetics which was still a big mystery.
“Can’t you admit you’re more than a little curious about dating a farm boy?” Ginger waggled her eyebrows. “I remember you liked Mike at Honey’s wedding.”
“Mike was nice, but I’m sure he already has a sweetheart,” Amber said. “I actually have no preconceptions about how popular or unpopular I’m going to be, and it really doesn’t matter. I appreciate the makeover and the clothes, so I don’t stick out like a sore thumb, but I get nervous with guys or going out on dates, and that’s not going to change just because I look like I fit in. I don’t even know how to dance even if someone bids on me.”
“I can show you the two-step right now,” Candi said. “And you always get free lessons at my studio.”
“You’ll be fine,” Honey said. “With us around, you’ll be dating and maybe mating in no time at all. That will make both Mom and Dad happy.”
“Who knows?” Candi said. “Maybe they’ll get so interested in matching you up with someone, they’ll work together.”
She was still holding onto hope their parents could reconcile?
“Isn’t Ginger next on the wedding list?” Amber deflected their attention to hide the surge of misinformed hope in her heart.
She, too, wished her parents would get over whatever obstacle was causing their rift. Neither had remarried. Neither had had even a serious relationship. They’d remained politely cordial, and even though things had been frosty at Honey’s wedding, at least they’d both been genuinely happy for her and had coexisted at the head table for the banquet.
Maybe, with Candi’s upcoming wedding, they’d get a chance to feel more like a family.
Sapphire Falls: Going Gets Hot (Kindle Worlds Novella) (My Country Heart Book 4) Page 3