The Bride's Prerogative (53 page)

“I’ll see you later, I’m sure, Mrs. Caplinger.”

“All right, Sheriff. And thank you for your assistance.”

Hiram sidled up to him. “Can you help lug out benches from the schoolroom so people can sit while they watch the shooting contest?”

“Sure. When’s that going to be held?” Ethan glanced around as they walked, wondering where Trudy had gotten to. He spotted her and Libby talking with Starr and Jessie Tinen near a table covered with pies.

“After lunch,” Hiram said. “The judges sample the pies and announce the winners of the pie contest, and then the shooting match will start.”

“The horse race is the last event of the day?” Ethan asked.

Hiram nodded.

“You entering anything?”

Hiram shook his head.

“What’s the matter? Old Hoss getting slow?” Ethan chuckled at Hiram’s expression.

“You taking Scout in the race?”

“Naw, I’m just going to watch and make sure things stay peaceful.”

“Hey.” Hiram jerked his chin toward the road.

Ethan turned and saw several riders cantering into the schoolyard in a swirl of dust. He studied them closely and caught his breath. Eli Button, Wilfred Sterling, and the other man he’d let go after the Spur & Saddle incident had arrived, accompanied by three more men. So. Someone had extended the invitation to them, and they’d left the Martin ranch en masse for the social. He’d better speak to them immediately to be sure they hadn’t brought along any liquor.

Before he could approach them, Cyrus detached himself from a knot of men and walked over to the newcomers. The oldest of the riders dismounted and fell into conversation with him.

“That must be Mr. Fennel’s brother-in-law,” Ethan said.

“You go ahead,” Hiram said. “I’ll get Griff to help me.”

“All right. Oh, say, Hiram. Wait a sec.” He grabbed the gunsmith’s sleeve and drew him closer.

Hiram raised his eyebrows.

“Don’t bid on anything with lavender ribbons and pansies,” Ethan whispered.

Light dawned in Hiram’s eyes, and he nodded. He smiled and slapped Ethan’s shoulder before he walked away toward where Griff Bane towered over a cluster of men preparing to start a horseshoe game.

Ethan sauntered toward Cyrus and the stranger. The cowboys had dismounted and led their horses to the side of the schoolyard and tethered them near the townsfolks’ mounts.

“Good day, Mr. Fennel.” Ethan smiled and tried to sound friendly.

“Well Sheriff. How are you doing?” Cyrus’s smile looked a little strained. “I s’pose you’d like to meet my brother-in-law, Kenton Smith.”

Ethan held out his hand to the graying man. “You’re the tenant on the Martin ranch.”

“That’s right.” Smith clasped his hand briefly.

“Welcome to Fergus, Mr. Smith. Just make sure your boys behave themselves.”

The older man’s eyes narrowed. “Oh they will. They’re good boys. They just get a little rambunctious now and then. I’m sorry about what happened earlier, but saloons have to expect a bit of action now and then.”

“I don’t see it that way. Were you informed that there’s to be no alcohol at this picnic?”

“We got the word,” Smith said.

Ethan nodded. “I hope you and your boys enjoy the day.”

He walked away feeling Smith and Fennel watching him. He wondered if they had contacted the dead cowboy’s family, as Cyrus had promised, but he wasn’t going to ask. And he was going to do his best to find out what Trudy’s box looked like. He didn’t want her to wind up eating lunch with the likes of Eli Button.

CHAPTER 23

Y
ou’ve got to know what she put on it. Come on, Hi. I can’t let some other man buy my sweetheart’s box lunch.”

Hiram scowled and shook his head. His sister hadn’t let him see her creation. She had taken great pains to hide it from both him and Rose. If Ethan wanted to wheedle the information out of Trudy, he should do it himself.

“They’re about to start the bidding.” Ethan looked anxiously toward where Peter Nash was preparing to auction off the ladies’ lunches.

“Folks, and especially gentlemen, gather ‘round. The single ladies have put their best efforts into preparing lunches for your gustatory pleasure. We have fourteen box lunches for our auction. Mrs. Nash is going to bring me the first one, and it’s up to you fellows how much money we raise here today, but I’m telling you, if you don’t bid on these boxes, you’re missing out on a good thing.”

Ellie smiled and carried a box wrapped in plaid flannel to her husband. “Looks like the lady who made this lunch wrapped it up in a tablecloth.”

Peter took the bundle and held it up. “There you go, gentlemen. Isn’t that an inviting parcel? Why, Parnell, this would go nicely with your shirt.”

Parnell Oxley, one of the cowboys from the Landry ranch, guffawed. “All right, Mayor, you talked me into it. I’ll bid two bits.”

The other men edged closer and the bids began to fly. When they lagged at two dollars, Peter let his gavel fall. “Sold to Mr. Runnels for two dollars.”

Josiah Runnels walked forward to accept the package amid applause and catcalls.

“Would the lady who made the lunch please come forward?” Peter asked.

Myra Harper came from the edge of the crowd, flushing as she peeled off her apron and tossed it to her mother. She strolled over to Josiah and looked up at him. “Disappointed it’s your next-door neighbor’s box, Josiah?”

“Nah. I hope you made fried chicken.”

Everyone laughed.

Hiram eyed Ethan. “Whyn’t you bid?”

“It didn’t look like what I thought Trudy would pack.”

“Huh.”

They stood shoulder to shoulder while Ellie took the next box to Peter. The plain white pasteboard box was tied with a wide green ribbon. Hiram wondered whose it was. What if it was Libby’s and someone like Ted Hire or one of those rough cowpokes bought it? That was scary.

Spin McDade leaped into the bidding early, and Ethan sighed. “Must be Florence’s box, and she told him.”

“Think so?” Hiram felt a little better. Sure enough, when the others dropped out and Spin plunked down a dollar and four bits, Florence minced toward him, her face a brilliant red that clashed with her carroty hair.

The box with pansies and lavender ribbons came up next. Hiram stood perfectly still, not moving a muscle. Ethan also stayed silent, but several men began bidding. The gavel fell at two dollars and a quarter.

Rose swept forward.

“Mrs. Caplinger, thank you for a lovely entry that raised a good amount for our cause,” Peter said.

Dr. Kincaid accepted his purchase with aplomb and offered his arm to Rose. She slid her hand through the crook of his elbow with a satisfied smile.

“He almost looks happy,” Ethan said.

“Think he knew?” Hiram asked.

“Oh yeah, he knew. I wouldn’t be surprised if every man here knew.”

The next box was wrapped in plain brown paper and tied with a black ribbon like a man’s necktie. “That’s an odd one,” Ethan said.

Hiram felt a strange prickle at the back of his neck. He reached to scratch it.

“Ah, this is an interesting package.” Peter held it up for all to see. He tipped the top slightly toward the crowd. Fastened near the bow was a packet of primers.

Peter grinned at them. “Something tells me this box was prepared by one of the members of the Ladies’ Shooting Club.”

Four hands shot up, and men began flinging bids at the mayor.

Ethan leaned close to Hiram’s ear. “You think that’s Trudy’s?”

Hiram shook his head. The brown paper was what Libby used to wrap customers’ packages every day, and he’d gone into the emporium only yesterday and bought a packet of primers. Trouble was, every man in town was interested. He stuck his hands into his pockets and fingered the coins in the right one.

“Two-seventy-five,” Peter called before the bidding slowed down. “And now three dollars. Who’ll bid three dollars?”

Hiram reached up and lifted his hat. Peter looked his way, and Hiram nodded.

“Three dollars,” Peter said. “I have three dollars from a man who knows a good thing when he sees it. Who’ll bid three bucks and two bits?”

Griffin roared, “Right here, Mayor.”

“Three-twenty-five. Who’ll make it three and a half?” He glanced at Hiram.

How could he afford it? He had only three silver dollars in his pocket. Griff Bane would win. Hiram shook his head slightly.

“Three and a half,” Peter said. “Who’ll bid three-fifty?” He paused, holding up his gavel. “Going once …”

“Three-fifty.” Everyone turned and stared at the cowboy who’d bid. Hiram sucked in a deep breath. It was Eli Button, the man he’d walloped at Bitsy’s place.

Ethan looked askance at him. “Can’t let that fella get it.”

Hiram grimaced.

Ethan looked at the mayor, who was saying, “Going twice …”

“Four dollars!”

Everyone turned to stare at Ethan.

“The sheriff is in the game with a bid of four dollars.” Peter grinned at him. “Do I hear four-twenty-five?”

Button shook his head and walked away.

“Well Ethan, looks like you bought yourself a lunch.” Peter brought the gavel down.

Hiram exhaled and watched as Libby stepped forward. She took the box from Peter and walked toward the sheriff, smiling.

“Thanks for buying my box, Ethan. I hope you enjoy what I’ve packed.” Her gaze slid toward Hiram. “I thought for a minute you’d be my dining partner, Mr. Dooley.”

He felt his face going red. “Well I …” He looked down at the ground.

“Guess I’d better go pay for it.” Ethan looked at Libby and then at Hiram. “Hi, why don’t you join us, whether you snag a box or not.”

“Oh, I don’t know …”

“Yes, do,” Libby said. “There’s plenty. And I have a quilt yonder. We can spread it in the shade of the schoolhouse.”

“Sounds good,” Ethan said. “I’ll be there in just a minute.” He turned and headed for the small table where Emmaline Landry was collecting the fees from the bidders.

Libby leaned toward Hiram. “Interested in buying your sister’s lunch for Ethan?”

He jerked his chin up. Her beautiful blue eyes twinkled at him.

He nodded.

“A nosegay of buttercups,” Libby whispered. “Yellow grosgrain ribbon.”

He glanced quickly at Peter, but the box the mayor now held was trimmed with blue and red rickrack.

“Meet us over there.” Libby nodded toward the side of the school building, where a narrow strip of shade would give the barest relief from the sun.

Parnell Oxley walked off with the current offering, and to Hiram’s surprise, Isabel went with him. He hadn’t supposed Isabel would loosen up enough to participate in the event. She’d changed a lot since she’d begun going to the shooting club.

The next box sported gaudy red, pink, and orange paper. It looked as though a child had thrown blobs of paint at it. A glittery gold cord decorated it, with several unnaturally red feathers fluttering from the knot on top.

Hiram looked about and studied the remaining widows and single women in the crowd. The two saloon girls from the Nugget giggled and nudged each other. Several men joined the bidding, and one of the cowboys won the prize of lunch with Opal Knoff, the blond from the Nugget. Another box went to Kenton Smith, and he graciously escorted the widow Daniels—whose husband had died in a wagon accident last winter—to a spot on the grass. Two cowboys and Cyrus Fennel bought boxes, and at last the one with the yellow ribbon and drooping buttercups came up for sale. The bidding slowed at two dollars.

“Come on, fellas,” Peter called. “Only a few boxes left. Don’t you have any cash on ya?”

Hiram looked around for Trudy, but she was keeping busy with Mrs. Storrey and Mrs. Tinen at the food tables, not paying any attention.

“Going once, going twice … sold to Mr. Hiram Dooley for two dollars.”

Hiram accepted the box and walked over to Mrs. Landry’s table.

“Who’s the cook?” someone shouted.

Trudy looked up and clapped a hand to her mouth. She hurried around the tables toward Hiram. “Guess you’re stuck with me.” The crowd laughed.

“He bought his sister’s box,” Hiram heard Cy Fennel tell someone else.

“Hey, Dooley, I’ll buy it from you for two-ten,” called stagecoach driver Nick Telford.

Hiram smiled and shook his head.

“You missed your chance,” Emmaline yelled. “Bid on the next one.” She smiled up at Hiram and held out her hand for the two silver dollars. “Thank you, sir.”

He turned and found Trudy at his elbow.

“Sorry,” she said.

“What for? It’ll be good, I know that.”

She smiled and walked beside him with her head high.

“Did you know it was hers?” Augie called.

Hiram just smiled and gave a little shrug. The crowd turned its attention back to the auction. Griffin and Nick began a battle for the next box. Hiram led his sister straight to the quilt in the shade, where Libby and Ethan were unpacking Libby’s box.