diversion he needed to keep his mind off last night and Letty Sue. Yes, having a companionable afternoon with Sally Henderson would serve two purposes.
She’d keep him occupied with her friendly manner and artless ways. And secondly, Letty Sue would know for certain he’d meant what he said to her last night.
It’d be best for both if she took off to St. Louis to meet up with her folks.
When the auctioneer called the last bid for a god-awful basket, Chase’s mind spun out, recalling this morning, when he’d spied Letty Sue out among apatch of wildflowers. She’d picked one, purple in color, and walked back to the house.
The very same wildflower sat rather limply atop the basket the auctioneer was holding up.
A sense of impending dread settled in his gut.
That hideous basket was Letty Sue’s.
“Two bits!” a craggy-faced old dough puncher spat out. Chase recognized him from one the ranches he’d done business with a while back.
Chuckles went through the crowd.
Letty Sue’s eyes went wide with shock. Her face contorted in a way Chase had never seen it do.
No doubt about it, that basket was hers.
Where the hell was Sam? Chase scanned the grounds quickly. Sam had warned him off about bidding for Letty Sue’s basket. Said he’d always had the privilege and wanted to keep it that way.
Fine by Chase.
He didn’t want to interfere.
He needed to stay the hell away from Letty Sue.
He’d made himself that promise last night.
So where the hell was Sam?
“Last call for this, uh, fine basket,” the auctioneer called. “I’ve got two bits. Going once, going twice—”
“Ten dollars!” Chase called out.
All eyes turned to him and a hush settled over the crowd.
Chase ground his teeth, holding back a curse.
And quick as you please, the auctioneer finalized the sale.
Chase glanced at Letty Sue. Relief registered on her face, erasing the worry lines and contorted expression. Then the relief was replaced by a look much more frightening; her sky-blue eyes glowed with something akin to hero worship.
Ah, hell.
Chase made his way to the front where the auctioneer stood holding out the basket. He paid for it, doling out the bills slowly while the crowd watched.
Then he turned to Letty Sue with basket in hand. She joined him, her eyes bright, filled with gratitude.
Chase led her away from the curious onlookers.
A knot of dread twisted in his gut.
He wasn’t looking forward to this lunch.
“Delicious chicken, Letty Sue,” Chase said, offering her a compliment. “And the biscuits are real fluffy.”
“Uh, thank you.” Letty Sue couldn’t meet Chase’s eyes at the moment. She wiggled uncomfortably on the picnic bench. Chase had chosen a table far away from the crowd, much to Letty Sue’s surprise. From the look on his face when he’d guided her away from the auction, she didn’t think he’d want to spend any time alone with her. He wouldn’t accept her gratitude, wouldn’t allow her thanks. He simply sat down and began eating.
“Can’t wait to dig into this pie. Cherry?” His steely eyes gleamed, taking in the perfectly browned crust.
“Uh, yes. It’s cherry.”
“You did real good with cooking this food, Letty Sue.”
“My basket was a flop, a failure.” She dipped her head.
“Ah, but I’m sure getting my money’s worth with this meal.”
Letty Sue snapped her head up. “Why’d you bid ten dollars?”
He shrugged. “Doesn’t matter.”
It did matter. She wanted to know. “After last night, I…I didn’t think you’d… You said you were bidding on Sally’s basket.”
“Sally’s not around. And where the devil is Sam today?” His head up, Chase searched the church grounds.
“Sally’s brother said Sam’s horse got spooked. Sam hurt his shoulder and Sally stayed behind to tend him.”
Chase rubbed his jaw, his hand working over the area that had been bruised last night. “Too bad. He missed a fine meal.” Chase picked up his fork and dived into the cherry
She’d keep him occupied with her friendly manner and artless ways. And secondly, Letty Sue would know for certain he’d meant what he said to her last night.
It’d be best for both if she took off to St. Louis to meet up with her folks.
When the auctioneer called the last bid for a god-awful basket, Chase’s mind spun out, recalling this morning, when he’d spied Letty Sue out among apatch of wildflowers. She’d picked one, purple in color, and walked back to the house.
The very same wildflower sat rather limply atop the basket the auctioneer was holding up.
A sense of impending dread settled in his gut.
That hideous basket was Letty Sue’s.
“Two bits!” a craggy-faced old dough puncher spat out. Chase recognized him from one the ranches he’d done business with a while back.
Chuckles went through the crowd.
Letty Sue’s eyes went wide with shock. Her face contorted in a way Chase had never seen it do.
No doubt about it, that basket was hers.
Where the hell was Sam? Chase scanned the grounds quickly. Sam had warned him off about bidding for Letty Sue’s basket. Said he’d always had the privilege and wanted to keep it that way.
Fine by Chase.
He didn’t want to interfere.
He needed to stay the hell away from Letty Sue.
He’d made himself that promise last night.
So where the hell was Sam?
“Last call for this, uh, fine basket,” the auctioneer called. “I’ve got two bits. Going once, going twice—”
“Ten dollars!” Chase called out.
All eyes turned to him and a hush settled over the crowd.
Chase ground his teeth, holding back a curse.
And quick as you please, the auctioneer finalized the sale.
Chase glanced at Letty Sue. Relief registered on her face, erasing the worry lines and contorted expression. Then the relief was replaced by a look much more frightening; her sky-blue eyes glowed with something akin to hero worship.
Ah, hell.
Chase made his way to the front where the auctioneer stood holding out the basket. He paid for it, doling out the bills slowly while the crowd watched.
Then he turned to Letty Sue with basket in hand. She joined him, her eyes bright, filled with gratitude.
Chase led her away from the curious onlookers.
A knot of dread twisted in his gut.
He wasn’t looking forward to this lunch.
“Delicious chicken, Letty Sue,” Chase said, offering her a compliment. “And the biscuits are real fluffy.”
“Uh, thank you.” Letty Sue couldn’t meet Chase’s eyes at the moment. She wiggled uncomfortably on the picnic bench. Chase had chosen a table far away from the crowd, much to Letty Sue’s surprise. From the look on his face when he’d guided her away from the auction, she didn’t think he’d want to spend any time alone with her. He wouldn’t accept her gratitude, wouldn’t allow her thanks. He simply sat down and began eating.
“Can’t wait to dig into this pie. Cherry?” His steely eyes gleamed, taking in the perfectly browned crust.
“Uh, yes. It’s cherry.”
“You did real good with cooking this food, Letty Sue.”
“My basket was a flop, a failure.” She dipped her head.
“Ah, but I’m sure getting my money’s worth with this meal.”
Letty Sue snapped her head up. “Why’d you bid ten dollars?”
He shrugged. “Doesn’t matter.”
It did matter. She wanted to know. “After last night, I…I didn’t think you’d… You said you were bidding on Sally’s basket.”
“Sally’s not around. And where the devil is Sam today?” His head up, Chase searched the church grounds.
“Sally’s brother said Sam’s horse got spooked. Sam hurt his shoulder and Sally stayed behind to tend him.”
Chase rubbed his jaw, his hand working over the area that had been bruised last night. “Too bad. He missed a fine meal.” Chase picked up his fork and dived into the cherry
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