Page 26 of The Cowboy's Country Charm

June nodded. “You may have met my sister, Lexi McClane. She’s on the committee. Pretty much everyone in Gillette knows the Boots and Bells fundraiser. Half the bigwigs in town will be going, and the other half will wish they were. It draws people from all over the state.”

“So I hear.”

“Congratulations on landing that assignment. It’s the biggest event of the year in our neck of the woods. This will surely set your company up around here. So what did you have in mind?”

“Well, our theme is going to be an old-fashioned barn dance in the old west, so we are creating a barnlike atmosphere. And we’re having several fun activities to liven things up.”

She didn’t dare mention the bail-out-of-jail activity or June would be asking about her brother, just as Lexi had. Kristy had yet to discuss it with Rusty, or any other possible participants.

“I love it. So I guess you’d be interested in daisies, wildflowers, that sort of thing.”

“And I was thinking baskets so, again, people can see the other attendees at their table, as baskets are low. Of course, the basket of flowers would be one that the table winner would be pleased to take home.”

“Very doable.”

Kristy liked June’s can-do attitude. “Great. If you can send over some ideas before the end of the week and the pricing, I’ll let you know on Friday what I’ve decided. There are two other florists who are submitting proposals as well.” Just because June’s sister was on the committee didn’t make June’s selection automatic, at least in Kristy’s book. She wondered if it would have in Marcia’s book.

June inhaled. “Okay. I’ll give it my best shot.”

“You’ve an edge, June, since you’re the only one I’ve worked with so far, and I liked your work. That will count a lot. But so will the execution of the theme, and of course, the pricing. Remember that there will be a lot of people with money at this thing, so the value to you will not only be in what you make on the event, but it will be stellar advertising.” Which was just what Kristy was hoping for with regard to An Affair to Remember.

“I’m aware. But as you know, flowers cost. I can’t afford to do it as a donation.”

Kristy had to admire her forthrightness. Apparently June was a straight shooter, like her brother. “Understood. And I can’t afford to not give the assignment to the lowest bidder who meets the requirements.” Kristy reached out her hand. June shook it.

“Talk to you at the end of the week.” Kristy wished she could give the assignment to June outright, because she did like the woman. But this was a charity event, and the lowest-cost vendors meant more for the charity.

***

“Rusty, can you take this to An Affair to Remember?” June held up an inverted white cowboy hat overflowing with yellow, purple, and white flowers.

Rusty viewed the arrangement from all sides as he stood in the back room of his sister’s flower shop. The worktable was the repository of dozens of cut-off stems and leaves, and scents of several flowers teased his nose.

“A cowboy hat full of flowers?” Although it looked pretty, it seemed a waste of a good hat.

“I found these cheap hats, cheaper than baskets, and I thought it would be fun. And in here”—she held up a notebook—“is my proposal. The dais will have arrangements at each end in a cowboy boot. And I’ve got wagon wheels with flowers for spokes, for the entrance. It was such fun doing these.”

“You got the contract for Boots and Bells?” Both his sisters involved with Kristy and he wasn’t?

“Not yet. This is my proposal for the contract.” She thumped the notebook. “And basically, I’m doing it for cost. As Kristy reminded me, this is great advertising. I did the same thing last year to get the contract, and my business improved by twenty-five percent, so fingers crossed it works out this way again.”

Junie’s eyes were wide as she held the hat against her aproned chest. Dressed in jeans and a short-sleeved tee, and as petite as she was, she looked like his little sister, not the owner of a retail business.

“You know, it would probably be better if you delivered this. I can watch the store.” He didn’t relish meeting Kristy while doing errands for his sister again. They hadn’t spoken since he’d helped her move in. He’d texted her a few times to see how she was doing, but all she’d texted back was one word:okay. When he’d asked if she wanted to go out to dinner one night, she’d texted back,Sorry, too busy.

Junie cocked her head. “I thought you liked Kristy.”

“I’d be interested if she was. But I tried to follow up on the other night, and she texted back that she’s busy. I’m pretty sure I know what that means.” A little pinch hit his heart as he shoved his hands into his jeans pockets.

“That she’s busy. This is a big deal for her. She must be under a lot of pressure.”

“And I’d be happy to help, but apparently she doesn’t want my help. And I don’t know that there’s anything else I can offer.” Anything that she’d want, anyway.

“Your support. Your understanding. Your ear to listen to her concerns. It isn’t all about what you candofor a person but what you canbefor that person. Todd doesn’t help me in the store. He can’t since he has a full-time job. But he’s always willing to listen to me vent, and sometimes that’s all I need.”

Rusty liked Junie’s husband, Todd. Always willing to lend a hand. But he was the quiet sort, not much in the way of conversation, and since he worked as a geological engineer, Rusty didn’t have much in common with the guy.

“I’m better at taking action.” If someone told him about a problem, he felt an obligation to solve it.

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