Lakeside Sweetheart (20 page)

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.”

He tensed.

“Congratulations.” She held out her hand.

He took it, and he felt an electric charge race up his arm, scrambling his brains. “Thank you. I welcome all input.”

“Really?” Her arched brow and the twinkle in her eyes gave him pause. He knew a challenge when he saw one.

“Absolutely. Once you've read through my plan, I'd welcome your input.”

“If you're pulling my leg or trying to smooth things over with the little lady, you've seriously misjudged the situation.”

“No, I meant what I said.”

“Good, because I'll have input.”

“I look forward to it.”

Her mouth slowly curved into a smile that could only be categorized as one of pure determination.

The door to the restaurant opened and a couple around Erin's age walked in. The woman had beautiful blond hair that fell beyond her shoulders. Under the ton of makeup she had slathered on, she might've been pretty, Sawyer thought, but she just looked hard. She scanned the restaurant, clapped eyes on them and marched to the table much like General Patton marching across France.

“Erin, what a wonderful heart you have.” The woman's voice dripped with sugar and venom. “I could've never eaten with the man who beat me out for a job I wanted, but here you are dining with our new turnaround specialist,” she said. Her raised voice echoed through the restaurant. The smirk on her face told Sawyer this woman enjoyed Erin's humiliation.

Erin didn't look up as she calmly collected the proposal and put it into her tote. The man with the blonde looked panicked.

Sawyer held out his hand. “Sawyer Jensen. And you are?”

“Traci and Andy Hyatt,” the man responded.

“My father is Melvin Lowell,” Traci announced, as if that said it all.

Sawyer stole a look at Erin. She didn't look nervous or upset. She simply sat back.

Andy cleared his throat. “I'm sorry to hear about your dad, Erin. I always liked him.”

Traci elbowed her husband.

“What?” Andy asked. “Detrick always treated me well. I'm sorry to hear about his stroke.”

“Thanks, Andy,” Erin replied. “Dad felt the same about you.”

There was a wealth of meaning buried in those words. Andy glanced at his wife, who glared back.

“Watch your back with this one. You might find a knife there,” Traci warned, pointing toward Erin.

Andy pulled his wife away from the table. “Let's order.”

Erin didn't offer any explanation, but the tension the couple caused lingered.

In a small town there were lots of undercurrents that could take down an outsider in an instant, and Sawyer had just encountered one. You had to pay attention to body language and tone if you wanted to save yourself. He'd learned that lesson the hard way with his mom's constant stream of boyfriends.

“Can you recommend a place to stay while I'm here?” he asked, wanting to change the subject.

Erin's gaze settled back on him. “The board didn't arrange a place for you to stay?”

“No, it wasn't mentioned.”

“Well, there are quite a few motels.”

“What about that interesting-looking motel I saw a block over when I drove into town? The one that looks like a big sombrero?”

“Are you sure you want to stay there? It was built in 1937. We have more modern places.”

“No, I kinda like its style. A blast from the past.”

“Most of the rooms don't have TVs. And their phones are the big black rotary kind.”

For some reason, the lady didn't want him to stay there. Why?

Before he could respond, a couple walked into the restaurant. They nodded to Erin and made their way to the order counter.

“I think I can handle that,” he said.

Erin studied him, but before she could respond, they heard, “What?” The man at the counter said, “You're joshing me?” He looked over his shoulder at them.

“You sure, Lulu?” the woman questioned.

Instantly, the couple walked over to their table.

“You didn't win, Erin?” the man asked. “This is the stranger who won?” They looked from Erin to Sawyer.

Sawyer felt the gazes of the couple boring into his back.

“I can't believe the board voted for a stranger over one of our own, especially after what happened with your father,” the woman added.

“It was a fair vote,” Traci called out from across the room.

The man glared at her. “I think we all know how you feel.”

Sawyer heard a strangled protest.

The man ignored it and focused on him and Erin. “Why go with a stranger? I know you and trust that your ideas would save the rodeo.”

“I've just skimmed his plan, Bob, but I wouldn't jump to a conclusion before I've really studied it and thought about what he plans to do.”

Bob considered Erin's suggestion. “Sounds good to me. I think the board needs to have a meeting tonight to let the rest of the town listen to this man's ideas. The longer we don't know what he wants to do, the longer we'll be in the dark, and I want to know what's happening from the beginning.” He whipped out his cell phone and punched in a number.

Erin sat quietly as they listened to Bob.

“Mel, I just learned that you gave the contract for the rodeo to a stranger.” He paused, obviously listening to Mel. “Okay, Sawyer Jensen.”

Everyone in the restaurant listened, but Sawyer watched Erin's expression. Her defense of him to Bob surprised him. She wanted to give him a chance. He didn't know what to think or feel.

Bob nodded. “I think that's an excellent idea. I'll call around and we'll get enough people together tonight to listen to this man's ideas. At seven.”

Another look passed between Erin and Sawyer.

“That's no excuse. If the board members from Harding want the same for their residents, they can do it tomorrow.” Silence. “You may be head of the board, but that can be revoted.”