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“Oh? What happened?” The tone of Caleb’s voice changed from teasing to serious in a heartbeat.
“There was another competitor for the job, and some of the townspeople wanted to hear her ideas. She’s local talent.”
“She?”
Sawyer explained the situation with Erin and her qualified support tonight. “And the final twist is that she didn’t know the results of the vote until she walked into the board meeting.”
“So was there a big scene?”
“No.”
Both men remained silent.
“Do you think she acted that way to stay in with the rodeo redo just to make your life miserable?”
After thinking a moment, Sawyer said, “No. She doesn’t strike me as a woman with a sneaky side. So far she’s been up-front and honest.”
“You mean she’s not trying to manipulate you like Mom?”
Sawyer thought about it. He didn’t know Erin well enough, but his gut feeling told him no. “Tonight at a public meeting, she put an end to the argument about my winning.”
Caleb didn’t respond. Finally, he said, “Well, just watch yourself. We’ve been on the wrong side of people before.”
“True, but enough about me, how’s that wife of yours doing?” Sawyer wanted to get the topic off him and onto the new baby coming.
“She says she’s okay, but she keeps puking. How could that be fine?”
Sawyer’s concern spiked. “Is anything wrong?”
“Yeah. Morning sickness. She can’t stand the smell of coffee anymore.” The last words out of his mouth sounded strangled.
Sawyer laughed. “This is a new development.”
“It is. The first time she threw up on me, I thought it a fluke. But time two and three, we knew.
“Herbal tea. She wants me to drink herbal tea. Have you ever tasted that stuff? Looks like dishwater and smells about as bad. I’ve seen stagnant creeks I’d drink out of before the stuff she’s drinking.”
“It’s a small price to pay for me having a niece or a nephew.” Sawyer wanted to laugh again, but took pity on his brother.
“Are you going to give up coffee to support me?” Caleb demanded.
“Nope. So what are you doing about it?”
“Running to the barn where Gramps brews a pot of coffee. Brenda knows what we’re doing and stays away until ten. I’m wondering if I’ll live through this.”
Sawyer had to laugh. “You’ll live.”
Caleb mumbled something.
“You’re going to have to gut it up, brother.”
“That’s what Gramps says, but I don’t know if he knows what he’s talking about. Do you know how many things could go wrong?”
“Trust him. He’s seen his children and grandchildren born. He knows more than us. And Brenda being Brenda, if something’s wrong, she’ll see about it. Is she going to quit going to school?”
“No.”
The quickness of his brother’s answer told him that Caleb had made the mistake of asking his wife the same question. Sawyer grinned. “If she doesn’t think she’s in danger, then relax. I think your wife wants you to unwind and help her.”
“If you say so, but I want you to be careful about the woman you told me about.”
“Will do. Let me know how things are there.” Sawyer hung up and sat staring at his computer.
Caleb thought Erin had another agenda. He’d have to be on his guard against her no matter how strangely his heart reacted to the woman. But there was still something about Erin Delong that he was missing. What?
* * *
The next morning, Erin arrived at the rodeo grounds before any other board member. She parked by Sawyer’s truck, took the last swig of her coffee and got out.
“Ah, a lady who likes her coffee,” Sawyer commented as he walked toward her.
“Guilty as charged. I haven’t met a cowboy who doesn’t run on it.” She placed her travel mug in the center console between the front seats and closed the door.
“True.” He shifted, then smiled at her. “I wanted to thank you for your words of support last night.”
She nodded. “But, as I told Bob, I plan to have my say if I see things that need to be done.” She had relived that meeting multiple times after she got home, checking whether she’d missed anything. The man seemed to rattle her thinking processes, leaving her to wonder if she’d lost her edge. Usually, she found it easy to cut through to the heart of the matter or see what drove a person. With Sawyer, she felt blind, groping in the dark. He made her feel nervous and off-balance. And what her senses told her, she didn’t believe, which was a first for her.
“I’d expect nothing less.” He nodded to her, but there was something else in his eyes that she couldn’t nail down. Was that humor? Interest?
Before she could respond, Mel drove into the parking lot, followed by several other board members in their vehicles. Five minutes later, Harding County board members arrived. Bob Rivera also appeared. “Morning.”
They walked through the empty rodeo grounds discussing Sawyer’s plan and other concerns the board members had. Bob hung back and observed the tour.
“Who do you have a contract with to provide the rides?” Sawyer asked Mel as they stood in the empty area where the rides would be located.
Mel named the company they’d used previously to provide the carnival rides for the rodeo.
Sawyer frowned. “I wouldn’t use them this year. I have the names of a couple of different vendors.”
“Why?” Chris Saddler asked. “We’ve worked with that company for years.”
Erin could always count on Chris to bring up questions she had. When Chris asked a question of Mel, he got answers. When she asked a question on the same subject, Mel gave her nothing but grief.
“The company you’re using had a lawsuit filed against them last week, and their safety record is iffy,” Sawyer answered.
The board members all looked at Mel.
“Did you know about their history?” Norman asked.
“This is the first I’ve heard of this.”
Erin kept her mouth shut but met Mel’s gaze. She and her dad had argued with him about the company, but he had pushed aside their concerns.
Mel ground his teeth and turned to face Sawyer. “I’ve heard rumors. We can look into your suggestions,” he said reluctantly.
As they finished the tour of the grounds, Mel did a good imitation of a petulant child, with his stomping feet and bad attitude. The other board members grew uncomfortable with his actions.
“I think half these vendor booths should be offered to people in Harding,” Norman stated.
“And if there are not enough people in Harding who want to pay for one of the booths, offer the rest of the booths to anyone in the state who wants to rent them,” Erin added.
“Good idea,” Bob Rivera said.
The others agreed.
“Okay, I can get those contracts reviewed and awarded,” Sawyer added.
The group started toward their cars. Mel stepped closer to Sawyer. “You were hired for your talent and not anyone else’s.” Mel glared at Erin.
“So does that mean you don’t want me to consider any of the suggestions from the other rodeo board members that vary from the original contract?” Sawyer spoke loudly enough for everyone to hear. “And does that warning include you?”
Everyone stopped.
Mel glanced around, then swallowed. “No, that’s not what I meant.”
“Good, because if any of the local residents or board members know of a way to cut costs to bring us in under budget, I want to know.” Sawyer turned to the others. “I’ll email updates weekly to the board members and have the changes posted at the rodeo office.”
The members nodded and walked to their cars.
Mel shot Erin a last disgruntled look and trudged to his truck.
Bob waited behind with Erin and Sawyer. “Well, Mr. Jensen, you just got on Mel’s bad side.”
“Could be.”
“Thankfully, you were already awarded the contract,” Bob added.
“True, but once the project gets started, Mel will change his mind.”
“Don’t count on it.” Bob nodded to Erin and Sawyer and walked away.
Erin stood there absorbing Sawyer’s defense of her. It was the last thing she had expected from him, but there it was, warming her heart. It was something not a lot of people did for her. They always expected her to be the strong one, defending others. To be on the receiving end of it was like a gentle rain on her parched soul. “Thanks for your support.” Erin didn’t know how to handle this man. Too often, other professional men not from around here approached her ideas with skepticism. He didn’t seem fazed by her suggestions but, instead, welcomed them.
He nodded. “I liked your idea to make sure all the booths were occupied.”
Oddly, she wanted to preen over his compliment. “It’s just common sense.”
His rich laughter filled the air. “Sometimes common sense is the last thing that rules.”
“True.”
“I’m heading back to the rodeo office to go over the books for the last few years. I could use help from someone familiar with what’s gone on before, and a board member would be perfect for the job.”
The offer only added to her confused reaction to him. “I’ve got the morning free, so I can do that.”
“Good.”
They walked to their trucks.
“Growing up, I spent a lot of time on these grounds. I looked forward to September when the rodeo came,” Erin said.
“I understand. Summers my brother and I followed the traveling rodeo wherever it went.”
“What’d your parents think of that?”
His expression slammed shut, throwing her back on her heels. “My father died when I was young.”
The tone of his voice didn’t encourage any other questions. “I’m sorry.” Erin didn’t push. “I’ll see you at the offices.” She opened the door of her truck and slid into the driver’s seat.
Pulling out of the parking lot, she glanced in her rearview mirror and saw Sawyer standing by his truck, studying her.
“I guess he thought I might get into his business. Too bad the man doesn’t know me,” she said out loud. A smile slowly curved her lips. “But he’ll learn.”
* * *
When Sawyer walked into the offices of the bicounty rodeo, Erin sat talking to the secretary.
“I appreciate your prayers, Lisa. Dad’s improving a little each day.”
The women stopped and looked at him.
“Did you get lost?” Erin asked, her voice light.
“No, but I drove through the rodeo grounds and confirmed that the back entrance to the grounds needs the road widened and marked.”
“Excellent idea,” Erin replied.
Lisa grinned.
“What?” Sawyer looked at both women.
“Erin proposed that last year, but Mel disagreed and wouldn’t bring it up at the board meeting.”
“Well, I agree with you.”
“Good to know.”
“Let’s move into the other room and start working on this rodeo.”
