Czytaj książkę: «The Cowboy Meets His Match»

Chapter One

Erin Joy Delong stood before the closed conference-room door. On the other side lay the truth she needed to face no matter how ugly. Grasping the doorknob, she took a deep breath and turned it.

All talking ceased. The air-conditioning clicked on, filling the dead silence.

Erin looked at each of the seven men seated around the table. No one would meet her gaze except for the stranger standing at the head of the table. A slide of his presentation on how to reorganize the bicounty rodeo lit the screen behind him.

Her knees nearly buckled. She hadn’t gotten the job. No, the job of reorganizing the rodeo that her great-grandfather established had gone to a total stranger.

“Erin, we didn’t expect you,” Melvin Lowell, the rodeo board’s president, said.

She didn’t doubt it. “Sorry I’m late, but after I talked with dad’s doctors at the hospital this morning, I ran into a big accident on the interstate just outside Albuquerque. Then, finding this unscheduled Thursday meeting proved tricky, since you’d moved it from the rodeo headquarters.”

The men around the table shifted in their chairs as if they were ashamed of themselves. They continued to avoid her gaze.

“How’s your father?” Mel asked, as if nothing was off-kilter.

She stepped into the elegant meeting room at the new conference center. “He’s improving from the stroke, but we won’t know the extent of the damage for several days. I drove in as his representative on the board.”

“Is that legal?” Norman Burke, one of the board members from Harding County, asked. “I mean, if he can’t talk—”

“You can call my mother or the floor nurse at the hospital, Sylvia Carter, who witnessed Dad nodding for me to represent him until he came back.”

“Oh.”

Erin glanced at the man giving the presentation and caught the hint of a smile that crossed his face before it disappeared.

The muted brush of her boots on the carpet was the only sound in the room as she walked to the empty chair on the opposite side of the table and sat. In front of her was a slick folder that read “Tucumcari Rodeo Proposal by Sawyer Jensen.” Her eyes jerked up and clashed with Melvin’s. He didn’t look away.

“I take it Mr. Jensen won the contract?”

“Yes, we voted for him at the last meeting,” Mel replied, his head held high. “Didn’t anyone tell you?” Too much satisfaction laced his voice. Most of the other board members kept their gazes fixed on the table.

“No, but you know with all the chaos that occurred the day of the vote and Dad having the stroke afterward, it was the last thing on Mom’s mind.”

Norman Burke glared at Mel. “Cut it out, Lowell. The lady has more on her plate than this rodeo.”

“Of course.”

If Mel’s words were meant to be accommodating, they failed.

“You don’t have to stay, Erin, since we’ve already hired Sawyer. I’m sure you’re tired after spending that much time at the hospital. But we wanted Sawyer to meet with us and show us his plan again and answer any further questions we had,” Mel said.

Panic spread through the room. Several of the board members looked as if they wanted to escape, but retreat was the last thing on Erin’s mind. Her hometown needed this revitalization. A successful rodeo would bring in much-needed people and revenue to help their bottom line.

“Thank you for your concern, Mel. But, as I said before, I’ll be Dad’s representative until he’s well enough to come back.”

A couple of men shifted in their chairs; throats were cleared, but no one said anything.

“Sawyer, why don’t you continue explaining your overall plan to us?” Melvin said, ending the tense moment. “I’m sure Erin would like to hear it.”

“We’re on page three, Ms. Delong.” Sawyer nodded to his presentation folder.

Fingering the folder, Erin studied Sawyer Jensen. The handsome man stood over six feet with sandy-brown hair and compelling hazel eyes that did funny things to her stomach, which she ignored. He had a scar on his chin below the corner of his mouth. When his eyes met hers, there was no smugness in those green depths, but admiration, instead. She didn’t understand his reaction, but it eased the blow. As she studied the man, she had the feeling that she’d met him before.

Sawyer started to explain his strategy to save the rodeo and put it back in the black.

Chalking up her body’s reaction to stress and the long drive this morning, Erin opened the folder. She tried to follow Sawyer’s presentation, but it seemed she’d gone deaf and blind. Looking up through her lashes, she saw Melvin studying her. She would not cry in front of him or any of the other board members. Nor would she cry in front of this stranger. That wasn’t Erin Delong’s way. When her ex-boyfriend had announced, at their high school graduation, that he was engaged to Traci Lowell, Mel’s daughter, she hadn’t cried, much to Traci’s disappointment. Maybe Traci’s father thought he could make her cry this time. Of course, the meeting wasn’t finished yet.

By the time they adjourned, Erin couldn’t tell what Sawyer had said. For all she knew he could’ve suggested they burn the old rodeo grounds down and sell tickets to bring in money.

Most of the board members hurried to where Sawyer stood, taking a wide berth around her to shake Sawyer’s hand and comment on his presentation. Their guilty faces made her wonder if they thought she’d throw a fit or break down in tears if they got too close. She could assure them that neither would happen, but they clearly weren’t going to take any chances.

Only Chris Saddler stopped by where she stood.

“I’m sorry you didn’t win, Erin. I voted for you to get the job. With you being local, and knowing the history of the rodeo and what resources we have, I thought you’d be best, instead of an outsider.”

Chris was one of her dad’s friends. She stood. “Thanks, Chris, and thanks for the heads-up this morning. Being at the hospital, you lose sense of time.”

He opened his mouth to say something more, then closed it. He nodded and walked away.

Mel was the last one to shake Sawyer’s hand. “A good presentation. If you have any questions, just call me, Sawyer.”

Snatching the slick folder off the table, Erin headed for the door. Later, when she could think clearly, she’d read it over and evaluate his plan to see how it differed from hers.

“Ms. Delong?”

The deep voice calling her name sent shivers down her spine. It also stopped the other board members in their tracks at the door, no doubt expecting fireworks between her and Sawyer. Torn between wanting to plow through the bodies clogging the way out and facing the man with the wonderful rich voice, she straightened her shoulders, turned and faced him.

He stepped to her side. “Would you mind if we talked?”

Puzzled frowns crossed the board members’ faces, and she heard a couple of them whisper.

“I’d love to, Mr. Jensen—”

“Sawyer is my first name.”

“—Sawyer, but I last ate at seven this morning before visiting my dad in the hospital. After consulting with his doctors and my mother, I drove here. With the delay on the road, I never got the opportunity to eat. I’m probably not good company right now.” Although it was only 1:40 p.m., food would help her thinking and dealing with this mess.

The man flashed a killer smile at her. “I haven’t had anything, either, since breakfast in Amarillo, and I could use some sustenance, too. A full stomach helps me think and helps my attitude. Why don’t we go and get a burger and talk?”

“So you think my attitude is bad?” she asked.

At the tone of her voice, groans erupted from the men at the door.

“No,” Sawyer answered evenly. “I was talking about myself. And when I’m hungry, I don’t listen well.”

More groans.

She nodded. “Understandable.”

His eyes twinkled.

Erin didn’t know whether to grin at his cheekiness or ignore him. “What’s there to talk about? You won.”

“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.”

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.”