The Cowboy Meets His Match

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.