A brisk discussion followed, with people asking questions and commenting on the presentation.
Bob stood again. “I’d like to hear Erin’s plan, too, see how it compares with yours.”
Erin stood, red faced, as she turned to her neighbors and friends. “The board evaluated both proposals and thought this was the better plan.” That started another argument that lasted for the next ten minutes.
Erin looked around and knew this back-and-forth helped no one.
She motioned for everyone to be quiet, and it took a few seconds for everyone to quit talking. Traci glared at her from her second-row seat.
“I appreciate everyone’s support and faith in me, but listening to my proposal won’t settle anything. The board has already voted, and, after reviewing Sawyer’s plan, I’d say he has a good one.”
Several people started to protest, but she held up her hands. “I like his ideas on how to bring outside money to our rodeo and city. I hadn’t thought about that.
“There were a couple of other ideas that surprised me, but I think they might work here. But I also have a few items that Mr. Jensen didn’t think about, and I plan to suggest them to him and push to implement them.” She grinned. “He won’t remain unscathed.”
Standing, Bob said, “You sure, Erin?”
“I am.” She scanned the audience. “What we need to do is all come together and start working on the rodeo. A good idea is a good idea.” She turned back to Sawyer. “No matter who came up with it.”
She heard chuckles in the audience. “So, I think now that we’ve heard Sawyer’s plan, we should get behind it and support it one hundred percent.”
Melvin’s mouth hung open, and his wife had to elbow him. From Traci’s expression it looked as if she’d sucked a lemon, but Andy nodded to Erin.
Erin took her seat again.
Sawyer stood by the podium. “Any more questions or comments?”
The room remained quiet.
“Then I guess this meeting is over.” Sawyer walked down the stage steps to the floor of the room, waiting in case anyone wanted to talk privately. No one came by. He didn’t know if that was good or bad. But what he did know was Erin had stood up for him. That found a spot in his heart.
* * *
Erin’s friends clustered around her, asking questions. This time, her brain had comprehended Sawyer’s words, and she saw her neighbors’ reactions. She’d been impressed. He’d put together a thorough plan to get their rodeo back on its feet. But she had modifications that could maximize his ideas.
As she talked with other residents, Erin saw out of the corner of her eye Sawyer packing up his laptop and projector. When he walked by Tate, her brother said something. Sawyer stopped. The two exchanged words, then Sawyer walked on.
Aunt Betty frowned and leaned close to Tate. “I may be old but...”
Erin couldn’t hear the rest of what her aunt said. Tate shrugged and jogged up the other aisle out to their car.
What had that been about?
Now, several of the board members gathered in front of the stage around Sawyer. Bob joined them.
“I’m going to go through the facility tomorrow morning to do a more detailed inspection, making notes on what needs to be updated or replaced. I’d be happy to have anyone walk through with me,” Sawyer announced to the room.
“I’ll be there,” Bob Rivera replied. “You going to notify the folks in Harding?”
“I will,” Sawyer replied.
Bob nodded his approval.
Sawyer looked at Erin, silently asking if she would be there.
“You’ll see me,” Erin answered. She tried to keep her expression neutral, but felt a smile curve her lips.
He returned the smile, which made her heart light.
Later, when she and her aunt walked out to the car, Erin asked, “What was all that about with Tate and Sawyer earlier?”
“Your brother was just trying to give the new guy a hard time.”
“What’d Tate say?”
Betty kissed Erin’s cheek and opened the passenger-side door. Obviously, Auntie wasn’t going to tell her.
Why?
Sawyer parked his truck in front of his hotel room, grabbed his laptop and projector, and slipped out of the truck.
“Let me help you,” Lencho called, walking to Sawyer’s side and taking the projector.
Sawyer grabbed the key from his pocket and opened the door.
“I liked your presentation for the rodeo.”
Sawyer nodded. “Good to hear.”
“I did want to hear Erin’s plan, and when she said it wasn’t necessary, it surprised me, knowing how competitive she is.” He shrugged. “But if she thought your plan was good, we can count on it.” He grinned. “I know she’ll give you her ideas, and she ain’t shy about voicing her opinion.”
“Really?”
Lencho opened his mouth to respond, but saw the teasing in Sawyer’s face. Opening the door, Sawyer motioned Lencho inside. The young man put the projector on the desk.
“So, you’re telling me that Erin will keep me honest.”
Red ran up the teen’s neck. “I didn’t mean it like that, but if you give her your word, you better live up to what you’ve said.”
“Good to know.”
“And it’s the same with her. If she gives you her word, you can count on it. And she has another thing. It’s kinda related to her first thing. Don’t lie. It ain’t worth it.”
“So you’ve been on the wrong side of her?”
“Uh, kinda. But it only happened once,” he quickly added. “And you always know where you stand with Erin. I like it. She’s not like other girls who want to play head games.”
Obviously, the young man thought the world of Erin.
“Thanks for the advice.”
“No problem.” He left, closing the door behind him.
Sawyer locked the door and sat down in the flowered chair by the table in the room. The meeting tonight had been much easier than he’d expected, due to Erin’s intervention.
Her actions puzzled him. He knew she wanted the job, so why’d she give up so quickly? He hadn’t seen her proposal, but had it been inferior to his?
That thought didn’t sit well with him. So what was it?
She had cut off Bob’s insistence to prolong this process. But why? What motivated her? His experience with competitors was that they didn’t act out of noble purposes. So, why’d she do it?
He stood and retrieved his laptop. Before he could boot up, his phone rang.
“Hi, Sawyer, how was your first day on the job?” Caleb, his older brother, asked. “Did it go well?”
“It’s been an interesting day.”
“Oh? What happened?” The tone of Caleb’s voice changed from teasing to serious in a heartbeat.
“There was another competitor for the job, and some of the townspeople wanted to