Page 46 of True North

Louisa’s hand slips out of mine as she says, “Four ninety-five!”

ChapterTwelve

LOUISA

“Lou, no. I’m out.” Harry’s worried eyes pin me to the spot. Another face of Harry Rawlins that tugs at my heart. After the other night, I thought I’d seen the whole of him. And this here has me just as worked up. But not because of him—forhim,this time.

“Not yet, you’re not.” I walk up beside the young guy still bidding, tossing him a sweet smile.

“Sweet Jesus, woman,” Harry rumbles from behind me.

“Do we have five hundred?” The auctioneer glares at me as if I’m intruding on some secret boy’s club by simply standing in the crowd.

“How much do you want this?” I turn to the young guy, now wringing the flyer about the ranch between his hands.

“It’s a commission piece to me.”

“So, you’re not a rancher?”

I check out his clothes. A clean white shirt, dress pants, and loafers. It’s probably some investment to him. It’s not that to Harry.

“Here’s the thing. This here bit of land is special to someone really important to me. How about you catch the next one, buddy?”

“How about we war this out and see who comes out on top?”

His gaze narrows, and he looks back to the auctioneer. Luckily for him, he’s about to leave empty-handed and find something that’ll be less hassle. This place makes most fixer-uppers look like the Taj Mahal. But important to Harry is important to me.

“Five oh five!” I call out.

The ruddy-faced auctioneer looks puzzled, but to his credit he continues. “Can we get five oh six?”

Living in Cali was an experience in life lessons, and the one I learned most prominently? How to save. I have life savings that would put most working males to shame. And if I can help Harry with it, I will.

I pin the young guy in the clothes that have probably never seen a dirt road let alone a ranch before with my best I-dare-you look. His hands fly up in surrender.

Harry crowds behind me, his chest heaving at my back. I raise my hand, one finger in the air.

“Sold! Five oh five to the little lady.”

Side glances and grumbles move around us as the crowd slowly disperses.

“Congratulations?” the auctioneer says as he stops in front of Harry and me.

Harry pulls me away a few feet, dipping his head. “Lou, I don’t have five oh five. The bank isn’t going to go any further than four eighty with the down payment I have.”

His eyes burn into mine. But I see the way he’s looking at this old place. He wants it like I wanted freedom all those years ago. So, I step a little closer, resting my hands on his shoulders as I whisper, “You don’t. Butwedo.”

His face is shocked as he lifts his head.

“I have some savings. You can pay me back later. Or whatever. Besides, I figured I owed you one after...”

“Making your own life choices does not equal owing me. Let alone money, Louisa.”

I cup his jaw with my hand. I can’t even help myself.

“No, maybe not. But you want this. And I want you to have it. Hey, what are friends for?”

I wander back to the auctioneer. “Harrison John Rawlins is the name you’re going to need for your paperwork. How soon do you need the funds?”

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