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
