Chapter 21
The place was filling up. People milled around the tables, chatting with acquaintances, pointing to the straw maze and the jail, and lining up at the saloon-type bar. The band was tuning up. Kristy checked her watch. A few more minutes before the Matthews would officially open the proceedings, but so far things were going well.
Ariel assured that all the props were in place, and Greta handed out the volunteer assignments. Kristy looked down her checklist. All seemed in order.
Except for the fact that her father was holding court at the table in front of where Rusty and his family were sitting. And Dean was flanking dear old dad.
Taking a big breath, she stole a peek at Rusty’s table where, he sat chatting with his brother-in-law. He looked in her direction and winked. Like he knew she’d been checking him out. He cleaned up well, looking more handsome in a tuxedo than Dean did, at least in her opinion. And she had to laugh at the tips of the black snakeskin cowboy boots that peeked out from under the hem of his pants.
He was so comfortable about who he was. She loved that about him.
And that thought brought a blush to her cheeks. When had love entered her mind?
She made a decision. Much as she dreaded it, there was no time like the present to introduce him to her father and Dean. Maybe then her ex-fiancé would realize things were over. If nothing else, Dean would get a good look at his competition. An air force veteran, cowboy, and soon-to-be officer of the law. Dean was no match for the likes of Rusty Russell. Not even close.
As she strode across the room toward the Russell table, Rusty’s gaze followed her. His two sisters flanked him, their respective husbands next to each of them, and his parents were across the table. Mel sat next to Cort, his boss, making up the table of eight. All the men looked mighty fine. Must be something in the Campbell County water.
When she reached him, he stood, and she leaned in and kissed him on the cheek.
He placed his hand on the small of her back. “You look sexy as hell,” he whispered.
She couldn’t help the smile. “You saw me earlier.”
“And Ariel was hanging around, so I couldn’t say it.”
Her heart fluttered as she shook her head.
“How are you, Kristy?” Lexi was the first to greet her, but from the smiles everyone was wearing, even Jewel, Kristy felt her welcome was a warm one.
“I won’t lie. A little stressed. But it comes with the territory.”
“Everything set for the bail-out-of-jail event?” Junie asked. “I wish they had that when I was single.”
“Would you have bailed me out?” her husband asked.
“Of course. If I could afford to. You know all the women love a corporate engineer.”
“Do they?”
The table laughter was good natured.
Kristy pointed at the centerpiece. “The flowers look stunning, June. Who knew that a cowboy hat could look so elegant.”
June beamed. “Thank you.”
“Whose watching little Parker?”
“Todd’s mom and dad. But he would have loved the chuck wagon and the maze and the jail. This is such fun and yet very chic. Well done, Kristy.”
Now it was Kristy’s turn to beam. “Thanks.”
Time to get it over with. She turned to Rusty. “There’s someone I’d like you to meet.”
Rusty’s looked around. “Who?”
“My father.”
“Your father? State Senator Winslow? He’s here?”
“Don’t turn around, but he’s at the table right in front of this one.” While her father was standing up talking to someone, she noted that Dean was seated and looking in her direction.
“You didn’t tell me he was coming.”
“I didn’t know until my mother called. But he’s here, and you should meet him.”
He nodded as his Adam’s apple moved in a gulp.
“And I have to warn you, my ex-fiancé is here too.”
That news raised his eyebrows. “Your ex-fiancé?”
“Long story. I’ll fill you in later. And all the reasons why he is an ex.”
He wrapped his arm around her waist. “Lead on.”
She loved feeling she was a part of him as they walked toward the table.
“Be warned—Dean is full of himself.”
“I’ll follow your lead.”
She kissed his cheek as they walked. “Thank you for that.”
***
Rusty could feel the sweat at the back of his neck. He wiped the palm of his right hand on his trousers in case he had to shake hands.
This was definitely a step forward. A big step. A sign he’d been waiting for. Meeting the larger-than-life father. The person whose opinion would likely mean more to Kristy than she would admit. Because ever since he’d learned that she wasn’t intimidated by the fact he had some baggage, he’d been thinking of a future. With her in it.
Well, at least he was cleaned up. He couldn’t get more cleaned up than in a tuxedo.
It would have been hard to miss the mostly male contingent at the center table, if he’d ventured a look in that direction. He spotted Sam Winslow, standing and surrounded by other suits. Rusty recognized him from the internet search and subsequent newspaper articles he’d read. He was probably the main reason for the TV crew. And by the way people were coming up to him, the man knew it.
The dude sitting and staring at Kristy like he was trying to cast a spell over her, looked as if he could be a male model. Chiseled features, perfectly groomed black hair, broad shoulders. Only the shifty eyes suggested something darker underneath the veneer. That had to be the guy.
As they neared, her father did a double take and stepped toward them, brushing off the guy talking to him. He fastened his jacket button. Her father was on the lower side of six feet, but his broad shoulders and wide stance announced his presence. Along with a pair of piercing blue eyes and five o’clock shadow.
Kristy leaned against Rusty’s shoulder for the briefest moment, then righted herself and stiffened her spine.
“Daddy, I want you to meet—”
Her father instantly extended his hand. “You must be Rusty. The hair gave you away.”
She’d told her father about him? That sounded promising. “Sir.” Rusty grasped her father’s hand and gave as good as he got. “Pleased to meet you, Senator Winslow.”
The senator stepped back. “Heard you’re a cowboy. Or were.”
Rusty was set to correct him, but Sam Winslow barreled ahead. “And that you served in the air force, so let me thank you for your service, young man.”
Young man? At thirty, Rusty didn’t feel all that young, but he nodded his acknowledgment.
“We need more men like you in the air force. And now you’re headed for the police academy. Admiral public service you’re putting in.”
“Thank you, sir.” How much had Kristy told him?
“Sam, please,” he said. “Do you two want to join us?”
The table looked full, but he said he’d follow Kristy’s lead, so he waited.
“No, Daddy. I’ve no time to sit and chat, and Rusty’s family has a table. Plus…” She placed her hand on Rusty’s chest and patted. He felt his chest expand. “Rusty has some very important activities to attended to.”
“I saw your poster on the Wanted wall. Anything for a good cause.” Sam gave a soft punch to Rusty’s shoulder.
The guy Rusty took for the ex-fiancé rose. He was on the other side of six feet. Slimmer, more slick looking. While Sam looked like a good-ole-boy politician, this guy looked like the slippery kind.
“Kristy, introduce us,” the guy said.
Rusty felt her body tense against his hand, so he lightly patted her back.
“Dean Landsdale, Rusty Russell,” she said.
“Rusty, is it?” Dean stuck out his hand. Rusty shook it. It was cold and soft. Guy probably spent his day at a desk. “Rusty Russell sounds like a comedian.”
The guy could have said “actor” but opted for “comedian.” Go figure. “And Dean Lansdale sounds like a college professor. Seems neither of us match the sound of our name.”
“Kristy, I want to talk to you. Make some time for me,” Dean said.
“Sorry. Too busy. We’ll catch you later, Dad.” Kristy reached around and grabbed Rusty’s hand. “I’ve got some details to attend to, and Rusty is going to help me. Aren’t you, darling?”
Darling? She’d called him “babe” but never “darling.” “Yup.” He’d play along, though he had no idea what he was helping with.”
Sam raised his hand. “Catch up with you later then.”
She tugged Rusty’s hand.
“Nice meeting you, sir.” Rusty barely got the words out before she pulled him away from the table.
Out of earshot, she finally stopped before the maze. People were streaming into the entrance as if they’d never seen a maze before. Across the floor by the saloon, two female entertainers performed the can-can.
“Well, we got that over with.”
“Introducing me to your father was an ordeal?”
She cocked her head to his shoulder. He liked the feel of that.
“No. It’s just, with my father you never know how things are going to go. He can be… Well, sometimes you end up being a backdrop to his pretentions without even knowing it. Gratefully, there were no cameras around.”
“I thought he was pretty nice for a first meet.”
“I know I make my father sound like a domineering ogre when he’s really just being a dad—who happens to be domineering.” She might have smiled, but the clenched teeth gave her away.
“I get that he likes to command attention.” He was a politician.
“He does. And so does Dean.”
“I got that too. I didn’t know you’d been engaged.” When was she planning to tell him that little fact?
She shrugged, as if it were of no importance. “Not much to tell. We dated. He asked. I accepted. He cheated. I left.”
“I’m sure there’s more to it than that.” Like, had she loved him? Was the cheating bastard why she didn’t want a serious relationship? How badly had she been hurt? He had a lot of questions.
“Not really. I was naive, is all.” She leaned in and gave him a quick kiss. She was much more affectionate tonight that she’d ever been. And he liked it. A lot.
Which made his questions about her ex-fiancé that much more important. Before he got in too deep. But tonight he’d promised himself that he’d go with the flow.
“We have some things to talk about.” She snuggled against his neck. He liked that too. “Like what I’m going to do for the three months you’re at the academy.”
That sounded promising. “I look forward to the discussion.”
Laurie Matthews and her husband were on the stage announcing the opening of the fundraiser, reminding people of why they were there.
The corner of her mouth turned up in a smirk. “I’ve got some details to attend to, and you’ve got to be ready for jail. Ariel will come get you when it’s time. Be on the lookout for her.”
“If you don’t win the bid…” And he hoped she did. “You have to make sure we get at least one dance in.”
The other end of her mouth shot up. “Absolutely. I see Mel is here, but you mentioned another guy?”
“Colby Johnson. The guy who is going to attract some big bucks at your auction.” He pointed to a table near the back, where Stetson was also sitting.
Her phone made a sound. She fished it out her pants pocket. “I’d love to meet him.” She checked her phone. “I just got a text from Marcia, wanting to see how the maze is going.”
She kissed him again, a quick, light kiss but just as satisfying, waved her fingers at him, and then walked toward the maze entrance. A nice hip-swaying dance that had him thinking about more than dancing.
***
Kristy stood to the side of the stage. Her muscles tensed and her stomach clenched as the auctioneer (who usually auctioned off livestock in the nearby stockyards) mounted the stage. She had her phone on video chat so Marcia could see what was happening. Ariel, who had corralled all the “outlaws” behind the stage curtain, including Greta, Rusty, Mel, and Rusty’s friend the rodeo champion, had stepped beside Kristy.
“Everyone made it?”
Ariel nodded. “Including Greta. She changed her dress, and she looks stunning. Bids for a dance with her could break two hundred.”
“Let us hope so. It’s all for charity,” Marcia barked from the phone.
The first “outlaw” was brought onto the stage in handcuffs by two uniformed policemen, courtesy of Gillette’s finest, and placed in the jail. Per his bio, he was an engineer for one of the energy companies. He had blond hair and a Nordic look. Several women at one of the company tables were already clutching their bidding paddles.
“All right, ladies and gentlemen. We have our first outlaw. Who is going to bail him out of jail for a chance to dance with him tonight?”
Several paddles went up.
“Do I have ten?” He pointed at a paddle that was raised high. “Do I have twenty?” And from then on he called out the dollar amounts in a fast and furious manner until he reached one hundred and fifty dollars. “Do I hear one-sixty? Do I hear one-fifty-five? One-fifty it is. Bailed out by the pretty lady in the pink dress.”
The audience clapped, and the successful bidder cheered. The blond-haired guy seemed to breathe a sigh of relief that it was over as a policeman opened the door of the jail to release him.
“That went fine,” Ariel said.
“Looks good,” Marcia said from the cell phone. “I’ll sign off for now. Ring me when it’s done and let me know how much you’ve raised.” The line went dead.
Kristy let out a sigh. Now if they all went that well.
Next up was a young lady from one of the social service tables. She was dressed in a flattering midnight-blue sparkling dress, which set off her lovely brown hair. After some rapid-fire bidding, the gavel came down at one hundred and sixty dollars.
Then it was Mel’s turn. Ariel had her paddle ready. Mel wore a dark suit and a black cowboy hat and looked every inch an outlaw, with a five o’clock shadow outlining his chin. The bidding started. There were several bidders, largely from the social services table, including the young lady who had just participated as an outlaw. The amount climbed to one hundred and twenty dollars.
“One more try and then I’m giving up,” Ariel said as she raised her paddle.
The gavel came down on one hundred thirty dollars.
Ariel let out a breath.
“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.
“And the dance goes to the gentleman in the front in the white tuxedo.”
It was over and Stetson had lost. And to one of the politicians who had accompanied Kristy’s father, no less. A middle-aged man with a bald spot.
“He should just ask her to dance,” Ariel said. “I hate to see him so disappointed.”
“Well, you could ask him to dance and ease that disappointment some.”
Ariel shrugged. “I decided I’m not interested in playing second fiddle. I’ve got a dance with Mel, and that’s fine with me.”
“Okay, ladies and gentlemen. The dance for the outlaws and their bail bondspersons will be after this film about the foundation is aired, with our very own Greta Hutchins introducing it. We’ll announce the dance from the stage, so be ready. I am happy to report that we raised over three thousand dollars with our bail-out-of-jail event. Now watch the film and open your wallets even further. Pledge cards are on the table to be collected after the film.”
The crowd applauded. Greta grabbed the mic and talked about her own experience with the foundation. She was a natural in the spotlight.
Kristy texted the amount raised to Marcia as Greta mentioned Stetson’s name as the fireman who’d saved her, to loud applause.
When Kristy looked up from her phone, both Rusty and Lexi were walking toward her.
Lexi reached her first. “I just want to say how wonderful I think that went. Brilliant. And so much fun!”
“Thank you.” She glanced behind Lexi at Rusty, who stood with his hands in his pockets, waiting his turn.
“You guys have certainly delivered an affair to remember.” Lexi squeezed Kristy’s hand and then Ariel’s. “I’ll leave you with your outlaw. I need to report back to Kate on how the film goes over.” She strode back to her seat, leaving Rusty standing before her.
“I’m going to check in with Mel.” Ariel waved her fingers and followed Lexi.
Rusty placed his hot hand on her waist. “Can’t wait until the band returns.”
“I was a little worried there.”
“Me too.”
“I think you may have some unfinished business with your old girlfriend.”
“I know that I don’t. The only unfinished business I have is with you. Tonight.”
“Promise?”
He leaned in, pressing his hard lips against hers, making her melt inside as he plundered her mouth, right there on the floor. Her knees felt weak, and she clung to his shoulders for balance.
His warm mouth moved to her ear. “That’s a taste of what’s to come.”
“Can’t wait.” She sighed.
He released her, and she righted herself, still holding on to his shoulders. “I have to check on the caterer,” she said, fighting to recover her senses. “The toppings for the ice cream table were getting low.”
“You’ll be back for the dance though?” His eyes searched hers, as if looking for an answer to a more serious question.
“I wouldn’t miss it.”
Her heart felt light as she practically skipped back to the caterer.
She popped her head into the bustling kitchen and made the request for more toppings for the ice cream table. Then she turned to go back to Rusty.
“What are you doing back here?” she asked as she whirled around.