Page 91 of A Cowboy's Trust
Completely caught unaware, Chance glanced between Jake’s oh-so-familiar face and where Tansy stood next to Rose.
The clapping died down, and a bit of whispering rose on the air.
Rose caught Tansy by the hand. “Sit,” she murmured. “We’re here for you.”
No, Tansy needed to leave, but right now? When all attention was firmly on her? Not a good idea. She reluctantly lowered herself back to the folding chair.
Chance raised his hand in the air to get everyone’s attention, although it wasn’t as if he needed it. People were fixated on what was about to happen. “First bachelor for auction this afternoon is a relative newcomer to the community. But then again I’ve been told if you haven’t lived here for twenty years, you’re a relative newcomer. Please give a warm welcome to Jake Skye.”
Applause rang out, and more than a few heads turned in Tansy’s direction as she resolutely kept a smile on her face. She deliberately didn’t meet Jake’s gaze, but instead focused intently on Chance. Willing him to move quickly to get this over as soon as possible.
As if he’d heard her thoughts, Chance cleared his throat. “We should get started because we have a lot more gentlemen waiting trapped on the other side of that curtain. Don’t know what might happen if we keep them in the dark for too long, so do I have any bids from the audience?”
At the side of the stage, one of the old-timers stood. Over seventy, with a long white beard that hung to his chest, Martin Fogell wore his ever-present overalls, albeit theywerea clean pair today.
“I’ll start it off.” Martin ignored the good-natured laughter and shook his finger at the nearest table. “None of that. Not bidding for me, although I could use someone strong to help me clean an old outbuilding. No, I’m in charge of the pre-set offers. There’s a set bid of fifty dollars offered for the first bachelor.”
No.
No,no, no. Tansy’s smile barely clung to her lips, and her stomach was somewhere in the vicinity of her feet. She’d completely forgotten about this particular bit of pre-planned mischief. She’d set this up ages ago, like last fall, well before she and Jake had gotten together.
Martin pulled out a sheet of paper and read carefully. “Says hereTime to get things rolling, and the fifty bucks is offered by Tansy Fields.”
If she thought the rafters had shaken before, now she was nearly deafened by the shouts of surprise. Only for a moment, though, before utter silence fell.
Chance glanced around the room in shock at the strange response. “Well now, that’s a fine first bid. Do I hear fifty-five? Fifty-five for this fine bachelor who says…” He lifted the information card in front of him. “He’s highly skilled in planning and organization. So if you want to organize your shed, Martin, he’s willing to help.”
Usually that sort of a straight line would’ve provoked some innuendo. Instead, there was nothing but a hushed buzz. Only now there were smiles as well, and a shifting of shoulders as people glanced around the room, ping-ponging between Tansy and Jake.
Then the murmuring rose in volume.
“Not falling for it.”
“She’s only going to bid us up,” someone else said.
“Nice try, Tansy. Won’t work this time.”
Every comment was accompanied by a wink or a wave or a smile from people who were loving the drama of the moment.
For fuck’s sake.
All those years of having a marvelous time messing with bidders at the bachelor auction was coming back to bite her. All around the room it was clear that everybody thought this was a set up. No one believed she and Jake had actually called it off.
All of Heart Falls appeared to believe they were in it together, and that this was simply another ploy to raise money.
Tansy lifted her gaze to Jake’s. She didn’t know what was worse. The fact that she had somehow accidentally bid on the man she loved exactly when she needednotto bid, or that everyone around them thought she was trying to pull a fast one.
All she wanted was for this to be over and Jeffrey to be safe.
“Come now. Do I have any other bids?”
Tansy couldn’t take it anymore. Social media would have this sale posted in seconds flat. Maybe if she got to the falls quick enough, she could explain the mix up to Melissa. Maybe it wasn’t too late.
“I need to run. Take care of the bill for me, and I’ll explain later.” She forced a smile on her face, squeezed Rose’s hand, then slipped from the hall without a word.
21
Watching Tansy leave the hall was the worst sort of torture, and suddenly, Jake couldn’t deal with the lies anymore.
