The Cowboy Meets His Match
“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.”
Traci’s gasp sounded through the room.
“Good. We’ll gather tonight at the new conference center.” Bob hung up and nailed Sawyer with a look. “We’re going to listen to you tonight. You got a problem with that?”
“No, I’d welcome the opportunity to present my proposal to the residents.”
“Good.” Bob glanced at Erin. “I couldn’t do less than check this guy out.”
“Thanks, Bob.”
“You always favored her, Bob,” Traci shouted.
“And if you’d driven my son around while I was in the hospital and my wife was with me, then I might’ve favored you, too, Traci.”
No comment came from the table behind them.
“Come on, honey. I’m hungry,” his wife said.
With a final look, the couple walked back to the order window.
Sawyer knew it was time to leave. “I’d like to check into that motel.”
“You sure?” Erin said.
“I am.”
Shrugging, she stood and walked outside. “We could walk, but you probably have luggage and equipment that you need to put in your room, so we’ll drive.”
He nodded. “I’d like to ask one question.”
Her shoulders tensed.
“Who’s Bob?”
She visibly relaxed. “Robert Rivera owns the hardware/feed/tractor store. If you need something for your ranch or farm, chances are Bob has it or can order it or knows where to get it.”
“And he’s not on the rodeo board?”
“He used to be, but family stuff has kept him busy, so he resigned. He was on the board with my father and they usually voted against Mel. It made things lively.”
“I’m sure it did.”
“And be warned, things could get vocal tonight.”
“I’ll consider myself warned.”
He swallowed his smile. She may have thought she could scare him away, but she didn’t know who he was. His professional reputation as a man who could bring success out of defeat and turmoil was at stake. But more than that, there was something here in this town that called to him and he wasn’t going to ignore that call. He’d turn the rodeo around and make it thrive. And the beautiful woman who would challenge him had nothing to do with it, he reassured himself.
* * *
It took less than three minutes for them to drive over to the next block and park in front of The Sombrero Motel, a prime example of art deco. The lobby was shaped like the high conical crown of a sombrero, surrounded by the curved brim of the hat sporting red, green and yellow stripes at its base. The hotel’s color resembled a big swimming pool.
Erin still couldn’t believe he wanted to stay here instead of one of the newer places. “Change your mind?”
“Nope. This place looks great.” He carefully ran his gaze over the building.
“Carmen Vega, the owner, bought it ten years ago, when she came back from Denver after working for several different hotel chains. She grew up seeing The Sombrero and had always loved it, so she bought it and restored it.”
“Good to know.”
Pushing open the glass door, Erin called out, “Hey, Lencho, how’s it going?”
The young college-aged man looked up from his reading. “Erin, what are you doing here?” He stood.
“I’ve brought you a paying customer.”
“Good, things are kinda slow right now, but next week, we’ve got more people coming in. The historic-motel crowd of Southern California has booked the place.”
Erin made the introductions, and Lencho handed Sawyer an old-fashioned registration card used circa 1937.
Sawyer stared down at it.
“Carmen believes in the full-blown experience,” Erin explained.
Sawyer shrugged and went to work filling out the card.
Erin leaned over the counter. “What are you studying, Lencho?”
“Differential equations. I have to have it for the engineering degree.”
Erin laughed. “I had a couple of courses that I could’ve done without in college. But fortunately I grabbed one of the bowling slots as my PE.”
It took Sawyer less than two minutes to fill out the card.
Erin peeked at it. “No TV?”
“I want the full experience.” If she thought she’d scared him, apparently she was wrong.
Lencho pulled the key out of a cubbyhole behind the registration desk. “You want me to show you to the room?”
Erin laughed. “If he can’t find room two, the board’s going to be in real trouble and needs to rethink giving him the rodeo job.”
The youth stilled. “He got the job? I thought you applied for it.”
She shrugged.
“But we’re having an impromptu meeting tonight for the town folks to review my plan,” Sawyer explained. “Please come.”
“Bob organized it,” Erin added.
The youth looked from Sawyer to her. “I’ll be there. I don’t want to miss any of that action.” He rubbed his hands together. “We haven’t had so much excitement since Denise Sander’s burro got loose, ended up in Melvin’s yard and ate the flowers, tomatoes and chilies growing in his garden.”
Lencho gave Sawyer the key, an actual old-fashioned metal key.
“I haven’t seen anything like this in a long time.”
Erin’s brow arched. “Full experience, remember?”
“True.”
Motioning Sawyer outside, they walked the seventeen steps to room two. The motel consisted of twelve rooms with the sombrero-shaped lobby anchoring the east end of the structure. The twelve rooms surrounded a central patio covered by a pergola and scattered with various cacti. Massive Mexican clay pots dotted the patio area along with concrete benches decorated with Mexican tile. Room twelve anchored the far end of the three-sided structure. The lobby stood closest to the old Route 66.
“I’m impressed.” He motioned to the patio.
“Carmen and her uncle landscaped the courtyard after they finished the rooms, using original plans the owners had drawn up when the motel was built.”
They stopped at the door of room two, and he unlocked it. Stepping inside, he slowly surveyed the cool interior. The slick lines of the desk and chairs could’ve come from any of the Thin Man movies popular in the thirties. No TV, and a big black phone on the desk. Beside it was a Tiffany-style lamp with a cut-glass shade of brown, yellow and orange glass. A wonderful painting of the desert landscape at sundown hung on the wall over the bed. She loved this decor, but he didn’t say anything.
“Does this meet with your approval?” She grinned at him, enjoying his reaction or nonreaction. She’d warned him.
He didn’t bat an eye. “This is fine. Is there a Wi-Fi connection somewhere close?”
“In the lobby.”
“Thanks for the heads-up.”
“I hope you keep that positive attitude when we meet later tonight.”
“I’m looking forward to it.” No hesitation colored his response.
She wanted to grin. “I hope so.”
Chapter Two
Erin had finally managed to find her footing. Her father’s stroke had tilted her world off its axis, but when she had raced to the board headquarters today and found nobody there, she’d known another blow was around the corner. Talking to Mel’s secretary about where they were, Erin knew. She thought she’d been prepared for the blow of losing out on the job she so wanted, but the instant she opened the door and saw Sawyer standing at the head of the table, she realized she wasn’t. Why hadn’t her dad called her with the news? How soon after the meeting had the stroke happened? Mother wasn’t clear on the details.
She shook off the trivial thoughts. What was important was that her father had survived the stroke, not that she hadn’t gotten the job. They’d spent countless hours on the phone, talking about what needed to be done in the update. He’d mentioned the other candidate that Melvin brought in, but Dad thought it wouldn’t be a problem, at least the last time they talked, which was a few days before the vote.
She’d tap-danced her way through today’s board meeting.
Pushing open the lobby door, she looked at Lencho. “How are you doing in your classes? Are you keeping up your grades?” Her dad had tutored the young man his freshman year in high school.
“I’m okay.” He looked through the glass door and watched as Sawyer moved his truck from the far side of the office to park in front of his room. “How do you feel about that guy?”
She shrugged. “I’ll be interested in hearing his plans tonight.”
“I’m sorry that you didn’t get the job.”
Erin realized that the young man felt uncomfortable that she didn’t win. “Don’t worry. I’m not surrendering. I’ll keep him on track. You remember, we didn’t let you flunk out of algebra. Well, I’m not simply going to walk away from the rodeo and give up.”
“No matter how much Traci lobbied for the other guy?”
The kid wasn’t telling Erin anything she hadn’t already figured out. “You got it.”
“Good. Of course, I was surprised the guy didn’t take the room with the TV.”
“I guess we have a lot to learn about him.”
“True.”
“Does he know anything about rodeo?” Lencho asked.
Mel wasn’t going to foist any greenhorn on the community, not even to please his daughter. “He does. He claims to have won several events at different rodeos.”
The kid brightened. “Let’s look him up on the internet.” He opened his laptop and did a search on Sawyer’s name. Erin walked around the counter and peered over his shoulder. Sawyer’s name came up in the search engine along with a listing of his wins.
They silently read the list. He’d made a name for himself.
“Well, you’re right. He’s no greenhorn.” Pointing to the computer screen, Lencho said, “He’s got a brother, too, who did pickup.”
“He told me.”
They read about Sawyer’s brother.
Taking a deep breath, Lencho shook his head. “He looks like the real deal.”
He did, indeed, and from what they’d learned about Sawyer’s and his brother’s backgrounds, they were the real deal who participated in rodeo. Sawyer had the credentials to know what the cowboys needed, but Erin knew this rodeo and these people and knew the background that Sawyer didn’t. “We’ll find out tonight.”
* * *
Erin tried to listen to the car radio on her drive home and ignore what had happened at the board meeting. She started to hum with Tim McGraw about heading down this road again.
But her wounded heart refused to let go of the hurt.
What had been the final tally of the board members? She knew Melvin hadn’t voted for her. Of course, his daughter thought Erin was a cross between Godzilla and Cinderella’s stepmother, but that stemmed from Traci’s unreasonable fear that Erin would steal back Traci’s husband, since he’d been Erin’s high school sweetheart. Andy had wanted to marry Erin, but she hadn’t wanted to settle down so soon. Going to college had been her goal but, no matter what she said to Andy, he never took her seriously. Traci often told Erin what a good catch Andy was and why not marry him? Traci thought Erin had lost her marbles not to take up Andy’s offer. The instant he broke up with Erin, Traci swept in and captured her man. Erin had not been invited to the wedding even though it had been a Christmas affair. When Erin returned home the first time after she started college, Traci made it clear their friendship was over, much to Erin’s surprise. Why Traci acted the way she did, Erin didn’t understand. She got her man and Erin got to go to college.
How many other members of the board had followed Mel’s lead in voting for Sawyer? Why had they voted for an outsider instead of a hometown girl? That’s what hurt the most.
It’s business, the logical part of her brain argued, but her heart said the vote was against her personally, not her proposal.
Pulling off the main road, she drove down the drive to the ranch house and parked her truck under the covered carport and breezeway that ran from the kitchen to the barn.
She didn’t go into the house, and instead walked to the corral behind the barn to see her horse, Wind Dancer. The moment the horse saw Erin, she trotted over to the fence and head butted her.
Reaching out, Erin stroked the horse’s neck. “Did you miss me, girl? I’m sure Santo took care of you.” The horse arched her neck and then raced around the ring, coming to a stop in front of her.
Looking down at her long skirt and boots, she realized she needed to change. “Give me a minute, Dancer, and I’ll be back.”
It took less than five minutes for her to grab her bag from the truck, change into jeans and race back outside. Her brother, Tate, hadn’t come home from school yet, and Erin didn’t know where her aunt Betty was, but they’d show up.
Erin didn’t bother with a saddle. She grabbed reins and a halter, opened the gate and slipped them on Dancer. Erin hopped on Dancer and rode out of the corral. Horse and rider started slowly, and then Erin leaned close to the horse’s neck as Dancer picked up speed. They were in their element, racing across the high desert, dancing on the wind.
Erin could feel herself touch the face of heaven, giving up her wound and the hurt of not winning the contract to reorganize the rodeo.
Finally, Dancer slowed to a walk and stopped. Leaning over, Erin rested her head on the horse’s neck. “I was blindsided when I walked into that meeting, girl. Felt as naked as the day I was born.” She sat up. “So what am I going to do now?” She looked to heaven. “I need some direction here, Lord. I don’t know what to do, but I know I’m not giving up.” She thought for a moment and remembered the look of admiration in Sawyer’s eyes when she’d initially faced off with Mel. There was something about the man that intrigued her and drew her. It didn’t make sense, but then nothing in the past few days did. It was one of those times when you just held on to God and knew He’d guide you through the storm.
“Of course, Bob did set up the meeting tonight, so I need some wisdom there.”
The instant the words were out of her mouth, she knew what she needed to do and that wasn’t feeling sorry for herself.
* * *
Sawyer finished storing his things in the room and remembered how Erin had watched him as he’d registered at the historic motel and surveyed his room. If he didn’t miss his guess, she’d thought he’d call uncle and go to one of the newer chains. As he’d played along and taken the room, he’d discovered that he liked it. She intrigued him. He didn’t know what he’d expected when she’d appeared in the conference room, but it wasn’t the woman he encountered. He didn’t know quite what to make of her, but he had a feeling he’d find out. He’d walk cautiously around her until he knew what to expect. Would she be fair—or fight dirty like his mom and last girlfriend? He’d had enough of clingy and manipulative women.
Walking back to the lobby, Sawyer found Lencho hadn’t moved from the desk and his homework.
“Is the room okay?”
Oddly enough, the room had the feeling of home—strong, sturdy, something that would be there for a long time. He hadn’t had that experience growing up until his big brother had taken responsibility for the two of them. “It’s great.”
The kid studied him as if he didn’t believe his ears.
“What I need are directions to the rodeo fairgrounds.”
Lencho pointed to the brochure stand in the corner of the room. “You’ll find maps there.”
Sawyer retrieved a brochure and laid it out on the counter.
“So you beat out Erin for the rodeo job?”
Sawyer looked up and studied the youth. “I did.”
“I’m surprised. I mean, everyone in town knows if you need something done, Erin’s the one who can do it. And she always comes through.”
“So I hear.” He had his work cut out for him to win people over. “But maybe the board wanted someone who isn’t familiar with anything here to look at the situation with new eyes. Suppose you’re looking at one of your equations and can’t see how to solve it. You’ve worked and worked on how to get the answer, then someone else looks at it and sees where you’ve gone wrong and points it out. The same is true with the rodeo. Maybe someone who’s not familiar with it can see a problem, or even just do it a different way, and solve the situation.”
Lencho thought about it. “That makes sense.”
Sawyer studied the map to orient himself with the streets.
Pointing to where they were, Lencho said, “Go down to First Street, turn right, and when you get to US 66, turn west and on the outskirts of town you should find the fairgrounds.”
“Thanks.”
He followed Lencho’s directions and, within ten minutes, found the grounds. On the north side sat the rodeo arena with chutes and corrals, and on the south side stood the football field. In between the two sat a midway with accompanying food stands and game booths.
After parking his truck, he walked through the grounds, inspecting the facility. It wasn’t in bad shape but needed upgrades. He pulled out his cell phone and took pictures to document the conditions. As he stood on the bleachers, he could imagine Erin on her horse, flying around the barrels in the main arena. He would have liked to see that.