Page 84 of The Cowboy's Country Charm

“I guess you wanted to dance with Mel more than you realized.” Kristy tried not to smirk.

“It’s for charity. That’s my excuse, and I’m sticking to it.”

Colby Johnson, Rusty’s rodeo friend, was next, and based on the twittering at several tables, he was apparently well known in Gillette circles. The bidding went fast and furious and ended at a hundred and seventy-five dollars, the most so far. The winner, a brunette at one of the tables in the back, gave a whoop.

Several more “outlaws” went, garnering between a hundred and a hundred and twenty dollars each.

Then it was Rusty’s turn.

“Here goes,” she said to no one in particular.

Ariel gave her a reassuring hug and pressed the paddle into Kristy’s hand.

It was for charity, so if someone else bid on him, then it was all good. She’d be dancing with him regardless sometime during the evening. Still, she was curious to see who would raise a paddle for him.

The auctioneer introduced him, and the bidding began with Tamara, who had been sitting with Colby and Stetson, getting in the first bid of ten dollars. As Kristy started to raise her paddle, another bid came in, then another, then Tamara’s again. From the stage, Rusty glanced at Kristy, a puzzled look on his face.

She raised her paddle. The bid was already at one hundred. Tamara bid one hundred and ten. Someone else bid one hundred and twenty. Kristy raised her paddle. Tamara shot a glance her way and raised her paddle. Kristy raised again. Tamara raised.

Kristy didn’t even know what the amount was anymore. And didn’t care. She raised her paddle.

Tamara raised hers.

This was ridiculous. She should just let it go. But she raised her paddle again.

“One hundred eighty. Going once. Going twice. The dance goes to the pretty woman in the sparkly white top and black pants.”

Feeling like a kid who had just gotten selected for the lead role in the class play, Kristy jumped up and down.

Rusty’s grin was ear to ear as the policeman unlocked the door.

“That was close. Who is she?” Ariel asked.

“An old girlfriend of Rusty’s.”

“Maybe she just wanted to bid you up.”

Or she still had the hots for him.

The announcer just stated that Rusty’s was the highest bid so far. But there was one more to go.

Greta walked onto the stage in a stunning, low-cut, backless red sequined gown. With her dark-black hair, dangling sparkling diamond earrings, and big brown eyes, she looked gorgeous.

Several paddles were already poised in the air.

“Looks like Stetson is going to have some competition.”

“By the buzz going around the room, I’d say he’s going to have a lot,” Ariel confirmed.

“She’s beautiful. And the closest thing we have to a celebrity.”

Ariel nodded. “And too much competition for little old me. I was hoping he’d have stayed in the auction so I could bid on him.”

The announcer introduced her, and his announcement was greeted by several whoops.

The auctioneer was rapping so fast that the words rivaled flying bullets. Within a heartbeat, the bidding was at two hundred dollars. Every time someone’s paddle went up, Stetson’s followed.

The bidding climbed and climbed and climbed. She saw Dean raise his paddle a time or two, but he dropped out when the bidding scooted over two-fifty. When it reached three hundred and fifty, Stetson slammed his paddle down.

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