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“Well, with your late arrival, you didn’t get to hear my complete proposal and I wanted the opportunity to discuss some of my ideas with you. Since you put in a bid, I’d like to get your reaction.”
Was he teasing her? Did he want to rub her nose in her failure? She searched his face for any sign of duplicity, but found nothing. She needed some time to process all this, but she wouldn’t let the board members see her disappointment. “I’m going next door to Lulu’s Burgers. If you want to join me, I won’t object.”
The man didn’t take offense at her tone. “Give me a second to unplug my computer and projector and pack them up.”
So the equipment was his. She’d wondered where the board had found money to buy such nice equipment. “I’ll be waiting next door.”
She walked through the crowd of gawking faces clustered at the door, Mel’s being the most outraged. Too bad.
* * *
Well, he’d been in more awkward places than this, Sawyer thought, but not many. There’d been that time, in Nevada, when the man who’d hired him to turn around the Western Days Rodeo had his wife and sister barge into the meeting and start screaming at each other. The women hadn’t stopped screeching long enough for him to understand what the fight was about. Things quickly went physical, and the women threw anything they could get their hands on. Sawyer ducked a cowboy statue, but the owner wasn’t as lucky and was coldcocked by a glass paperweight thrown by his wife. Of course, as a turnaround specialist, Sawyer had been in his fair share of tense situations and been able to bring the warring sides together.
Sawyer had seen the shock and sadness flash in Erin’s eyes before the protective shield came up to cover her emotions. His heart went out to her, or maybe it was just plain attraction that struck him like a fist to the chin. After his brother’s recent marriage, Sawyer realized how alone he was now, and a restlessness settled inside him. The brothers hadn’t really had a home since that little apartment behind the church in Plainview in the Texas Panhandle, but it hadn’t mattered because they’d been a team. Together against the world. But now?
“You’re not going to have lunch with that woman, are you?” Melvin walked back into the room.
Sawyer grabbed his laptop and the projector. “I am.”
“Why?”
“Because I’m hungry.”
Melvin sputtered. “But you won.”
Sawyer nodded toward the outside glass door. Melvin opened it. When Sawyer had arrived this morning, he’d driven to the rodeo board’s office, then followed Melvin to the new convention facility.
“Winning makes a poor lunch, Mel, and when Erin mentioned food, my hunger hit me like a kick from the old mule my dad worked with. And since the place is right here, why not eat?”
Melvin opened his mouth, but nothing came out.
“Besides, I’d think you’d want me to see if I could win the woman over, get her on my side. It will make things operate smoothly. I don’t want any disruptions.”
“Well, yes, but—”
“I’m glad you agree. It will make things better later on.”
Sawyer stored his equipment in the long steel toolbox that ran the width of the bed of his truck. Turning, he faced Melvin and waited for the rest of his comment.
“Well?”
Mel glared. “Don’t be surprised if she bites your ear off and spits it out.”
“I’ll consider myself warned.”
Mel gave a curt nod and strolled to his car.
Sawyer’s curiosity about Erin was piqued as he walked to the restaurant. His competition for this job was certainly much better looking than the one for the last job. Of course, from all the panicked looks thrown at Erin when she’d walked into the room, and from the dire warning just issued, he’d have to be on guard. The lady wasn’t just a pretty face. But, as he thought about it, Sawyer couldn’t shake the feeling that he’d met Erin somewhere before. Where, he couldn’t say, but—
When he opened the door to Lulu’s, the smell of burgers smacked him in the face, making his mouth water. Chrome-and-Formica tables à la 1950s vintage dotted the restaurant, with several booths by the windows. A jukebox sat close to the front door. Pictures from previous rodeos hung on the walls, along with ribbons from different 4-H projects. In the center of one wall was a large picture of Erin racing around a barrel, her long hair flying from beneath her cowgirl hat, her elbows out and her body low over the neck of the horse. A ribbon hung off the corner of the picture with a plaque below announcing State Champion. The picture impressed him. The lady knew her way around a rodeo, that was for sure, and he knew she’d have some ideas.
In a booth by the windows sat Erin. As he approached the table, she pointed to the opposite wall. “If you want to eat, you have to order at the counter behind you.”
She wasn’t going to make this easy, but, oddly enough, that didn’t put a damper on his spirit.
He glanced over his shoulder. A large menu covered the wall behind the order counter. He turned back to her. “Recommend anything?”
“Try Lulu’s chili burger.”
He nodded and ordered the burger. When he joined her, he noticed that she had opened his proposal. Sliding onto the bench across from her, he asked, “What do you think?”
“That you know how to put together a proposal.”
“That’s it?”
She placed her forearms on the tabletop and leaned forward. “I haven’t read it all. Your slick marketing diverted my attention.”
He didn’t think she meant it as a compliment, but he couldn’t help smiling. He’d impressed her. “Well, it’s geared to do that.”
“Let’s see if the sleek outside matches what’s inside.” She looked down at the presentation.
If he didn’t miss his guess, it would take a lot to win over this woman. He didn’t mind competing with others for a job, but he would’ve liked to have known there was a hometown applicant in the running against him.
He studied her while she read his plan. The lady’s long dark hair hung as a single thick braid down her back. If he didn’t miss his guess, she had Native American blood flowing through her veins, but with a name like Delong, he wondered. She must be five foot seven or eight, since she stood just at the right height for him to kiss her with ease. The thought startled him and he must’ve made some sound.
“What?” she demanded.
He waved away the question. “Nothing.”
She went back to reading.
Kissing her? That crazy thought had to be fallout from the wild morning he’d had, combined with his brother’s recent marriage. Caleb’s main focus now would be his wife, and the new baby they were expecting. But it left Sawyer feeling at loose ends. The brothers had depended on each other to survive their teen years. Well, they weren’t teenagers anymore, but Sawyer felt a certain part of himself missing.
“I know you haven’t had time to completely look over my proposal,” he blurted out, “but did you have any follow-up questions to the presentation I made? Is there anything you might not have been comfortable asking in the presence of the others that I can answer now?”
The instant the last word fell out of his mouth, he knew he’d stepped in it. The fire in her eyes blazed. “I didn’t mean—”
“Understand, Mr. Jensen, I don’t suffer from shyness. I know my mind and will speak it. But I don’t go off half-cocked, either. I’ll know what I’m talking about when I open my mouth.” She leaned in. “There’s an old saying about keeping your powder dry until ready to fire. That’s me.”
He wanted to smile but resisted the urge. He knew better than to throw gas on a fire, but her strong spirit attracted him like metal filings to a magnet. “Good to know.”
He had to admire her reaction. She didn’t go ballistic, cry or stomp out of the meeting room like his last girlfriend would’ve or his mother. It looked as if she would give him a fair hearing. The thought surprised him. He sat back. Glancing over at the wall, he saw her picture again. “When did you win your ribbon?” he said, diverting his thoughts.
She glanced up. He nodded to her picture.
“Oh, that ribbon—high school.”
Meaning she’d won a lot more. “Lulu helped sponsor me that year at the state fair. Since she helped, and raised money for me, I thought she should get the ribbon.”
“I understand. My winnings helped put me through college. I competed in the summer and between semesters to earn enough money for school.”
“Really?”
“I do know my way around a lasso.”
With a thawing of her coolness, she leaned forward.
He thought he caught a hint of respect. “I’m not just some college-educated busybody who thinks he knows how to solve the world’s problems. My brother and I have been rodeoing since we were both teens.” He rested his hand on the table. “I’ve lived it. The last time I worked and competed was last June in the little town of Peaster, Texas.”
Her eyes widened in an ‘aha’ moment. “You were at the charity rodeo?”
“I was. I worked in tandem with my brother, riding pickup.”
“I was there, too, competing in barrel racing. Talked with the organizer, Brenda Kaye, about how she put together the rodeo, hoping to pick up some ideas on how to save our rodeo.”
“Brenda did a great job. When my brother confessed he wanted to marry her, I cheered.”
“She’s your sister-in-law?”
“She is, and getting her degree in counseling. She’s an Iraqi war veteran and wants to help fellow vets.”
Erin’s expression softened, making him feel less like the monster who’d stomped her dreams.
The waitress showed up with a burger. “Here you go, Erin.” The teenage girl placed the plate on the table. “Yours will be out in a minute, sir.”
“If my burger is as good as this one smells, I can’t wait.” He grinned at her. “And my name’s Sawyer. Sir makes me feel old.”
She nodded. “I’m Rose. Mom cooks the best burgers in this part of New Mexico. Really, she’s the best cook hands down.” A ding of “order up” sounded and the girl disappeared.
Erin grabbed a French fry and popped it into her mouth as she continued to study his proposal.
The waitress appeared again with his burger. “Here you go, Sawyer. Enjoy.”
“Are you still doing the work/study program in high school?” Erin asked Rose.
“Yup, and I have a ton of ideas I want Mom to try.” She walked back to the kitchen with a little spring in her step.
Erin bowed her head, silently asking a blessing.
Sawyer liked that and joined her. When he looked up, she studied him.
He didn’t say anything, but picked up the hamburger and took a bite. The flavors of chili and meat danced on his tongue. “You weren’t kidding.”
“Sawyer, I’m known for a lot of things, but being funny isn’t one of them.”
“So you don’t laugh?” He took another bite of his burger. He felt some chili slide down his chin.
“How’s the burger?” A rawboned woman stood at the end of the table. From her posture, the woman knew her way around the restaurant and wasn’t afraid of hard work. She smiled when she saw the chili on his chin. “Ah, I see you’re enjoying my special burger.”
Wiping his chin, he nodded to Erin. “She wasn’t fooling when she said this burger is the best.”
The woman blushed. “Thank you. Our Erin is a treasure. Anyone who has a problem talks to her for ideas and advice.”
“You’re going to be seeing a lot of me in the next few weeks,” he said after swallowing.
“Erin, did you acquire a new boyfriend that you didn’t tell us about?”
Erin choked on her tea.
“No. He’s not mine,” she shot back. “Ask Mel about him.”
Lulu frowned. “You’re not making any sense.”
Sawyer grabbed another napkin from the dispenser, wiped his hand and chin, then held out his hand to the woman. “I’m Sawyer Jensen. I’ve been hired to work on your rodeo.”
“You didn’t win the job?” Lulu glanced at Erin. “You okay with that?”
Erin sat quietly and studied Sawyer. “I’ll let you know after I’ve read his proposal.”
Eyes narrowed, Lulu focused on him. “You’ve got some mighty big shoes to fill, mister. Like I said, folks around here tend to depend on Erin.”
Sawyer now knew that he wasn’t the odds-on favorite of some of the people in town. He’d have to turn on the charm. “I’ll try, ma’am. And I hope to consult with Erin here after she has finished reading my proposal.”
“I’d like to hear her ideas, myself. Not that I don’t trust you, but we know Erin.”
“No offense taken.”
“How is your father?” Lulu asked.
“The doctors think he’ll recover, but how quickly they don’t know. Right now they are still evaluating him. He’s conscious, but not talking.”
Lulu nodded. “I’m sorry about that. If you need anything, let me know.”
Erin let down her guard long enough that he saw the worry in her eyes. “Thanks.”
He took another bite of the burger, which confirmed what his taste buds had already told him. “Oh, this is good.”
Several more locals entered the restaurant and clustered at the order desk.
Erin nodded at them.
Sawyer wanted to ask her about a good place to stay, but he wasn’t sure she’d welcome giving him more advice.
Taking the last bite of her burger, she threw her napkin on her plate. “I’ll finish your proposal tonight and get back to you after I’ve thought about your suggestions and plan of attack.”
A reasonable response, but he’d keep up his guard. “Do you still ride barrels competitively?”
“I do and was in Denver competing when I got word about my dad’s stroke.” She fell silent. “Five days,” she whispered to herself. She shook her head and picked up her thoughts. “I left the competition and dropped my horse at our family ranch before driving to see Dad. I didn’t know the result of the vote on the contract until this morning when I saw you standing at the head of the table.”
