Chapter 34
34
Jewel
After a surprisingly good night’s sleep sharing the bed with her daughter, Jewel awoke refreshed and eager for the day. Cooper was still sleeping and the trailer was quiet in front as Jewel got ready for the day. Tiptoeing out, she saw the blinds remained down, but only Anna was curled up in the dinette bed. The sofa bed was tidied up and empty. Knowing Miguel wouldn’t be far away, she decided to hunt him down. Right after she found a good cup of coffee.
As it turned out, she found both. After standing in a coffee line for a few minutes, where other early morning farmers were waiting, she found Miguel, who reminded her that he hadn’t gotten an elephant ear last night.
“Care to join me for one?” he asked her as they walked with their coffees.
“That sounds delightful,” she said. “They’re kind of like donuts.”
It was strange strolling across the quiet fairgrounds. Several maintenance workers were out and about, sweeping debris up from the previous night, and a few food booths were open, including the one that sold elephant ears. Several others were already waiting.
“Looks like you’re not the only one who appreciates elephant ears for breakfast,” she told him as they got in line.
“Good taste.” He winked.
Eventually, they got their pastries and took their “fair fare” to a picnic table by the coffee kiosk to dine. Their conversation felt a little awkward at first, probably because Jewel kept thinking about the Ferris wheel kiss the night before, but it slowly returned to normal as he told her about this morning’s 4-H livestock auction.
“They usually have it earlier in the fair, but our auctioneer got a summer cold, so the whole thing got postponed until today.” He explained how that put more pressure on the livestock owners, having to keep their animals clean and healthy and looking tip-top before the auction.
“And today is the big day.”
“Yes.” He checked his watch. “Hopefully Anna is tending Barney by now.”
“Barney?”
“Short for Barnabas.”
“Of course.” She smiled. “Both the girls were still asleep when I snuck out, but that’s been almost an hour now.”
He reached for his phone, then put it back. “I’d remind her but letting her do this on her own is part of growing up.”
“When does the auction start?”
“Ten. But prospective buyers start checking out the livestock at nine, so you want them at their best.”
Now Jewel felt nervous for Anna’s sake. But she understood what Miguel was saying about the girl learning responsibility. Still, she pulled out her phone. “I think I’ll check how Mom is getting along.” She sent a quick text and was reassured that all was fine and that Marta had actually spent the night in Honeymoon Cottage.
Jewel laughed as she relayed the text. “She said they had a slumber party.” And there’s a text from Cooper too, saying they’re with Barney.
Miguel looked relieved. “I could use another cup of coffee. How about you?”
“You’re reading my mind.” She watched as he went for more coffees. He looked so handsome in his blue-and-white plaid snap shirt, Wranglers, and a sharp black felt hat. As he talked to the older woman in the booth, her eyes lit up, and Jewel could tell he was saying something pleasant. He was always so polite to everyone.
They were just finishing their second coffees and getting ready to check on the girls and the calf when a couple of fellow farmers came over to chat with Miguel about harvest time and whose crops would be ready first.
“I’ll go check on the girls in the barn.” She gathered their empty cups. She knew this harvest talk was important since neighboring farms shared combines and bailers and other machinery to allow them to use state-of-the-art equipment for a fraction of the cost.
“Meet ya in there,” he told her.
She dropped the empty cups in the trash barrel, then headed toward the stall area where Miguel had pointed out Anna’s calf yesterday. She didn’t see Cooper around, but she spotted Anna. Like her dad, she had on a crisp blue-and-white shirt and Wranglers, and her hair was pulled back in a neat ponytail. She was talking to a tall man whose back was to Jewel. Hopefully an interested bidder.
“Mom,” Cooper hissed in Jewel’s ear, making her jump. “Come this way.”
“Huh?” Jewel was confused. “What’s—”
“That’s Anna’s uncle,” Cooper whispered as she led Jewel out the back door.
Jewel blinked. “Aaron? Seriously?”
“Yeah. He just showed up and started asking about her calf, and I thought maybe I should disappear.”
“Interesting.” Jewel glanced at the nearby manure heap. “Can we go someplace else to wait?”
“Oh, Mom, don’t be a wimp.” Just the same, Cooper led her around to the side where some benches were set up.
“So he was asking about her calf?” Jewel prodded. “Is he going to bid?”
“I don’t think that’s why he came.” Cooper sat down, crossing her arms in front of her with a wrinkled forehead.
“Was he being nice to Anna?”
“I guess. I mean, he wasn’t being rude or anything. But it was sort of weird. And I could tell Anna was pretty shocked to see him.”
“I can imagine.” Suddenly she remembered she’d told Miguel she’d meet him there and felt concerned. Despite Miguel’s resolve to forgive his brother-in-law, she knew that Aaron could be a real piece of work. What if he said something and the two men got into an argument?
“I, uh, think I’ll check on Miguel,” she told Cooper. “He might be caught off guard to see Aaron here. I’ll give him a heads-up.”
“Good thinking. That could be awkward.”
Jewel hurried back to the coffee kiosk, but Miguel wasn’t there. So she headed back to the barn in time to see Aaron and Miguel in what looked like a conversation that could become heated, with Anna standing by with a slightly helpless expression. Feeling protective of Miguel, she hurried over and, linking her arm into his, looked at Aaron.
“What are you doing here?” Aaron asked with a furrowed brow.
“I’m here with Miguel,” she told him. “Everything okay?” She glanced at Miguel and could tell by his tight jaw that something was up.
“I was just telling Miguel that I might want to buy Anna’s calf,” Aaron said.
“And I was just telling him to come to the auction,” Miguel explained.
“But I was going to offer a fair price right here,” Aaron said. “But he is refusing.”
Jewel looked at Anna. “Well, it’s your calf, Anna, shouldn’t you have the last word?”
Her brown eyes were wide. The poor girl was clearly too nervous to deal with this.
“I’m sure she wants to participate in the auction,” Miguel said firmly. “Right, Anna?”
She nodded eagerly.
“Sounds like you’re doing her thinking for her.” Aaron narrowed his eyes. “Kind of like you did with her mother.”
“Aaron Hanford,” Jewel scolded him. “That’s untrue and unfair, and you really should apologize.”
Aaron shrugged. “Well, you might be right. That wasn’t necessary.” He cleared his throat. “Sorry.”
Jewel looked from one man to the other, and since no one was speaking up, she decided to just continue. “So, Miguel was just telling me more about the auction, and I can understand why it’s important for Anna to participate. She’s spent all this time raising her calf and hoping to win a blue ribbon. Why would you, her very own uncle, rob her of the opportunity to see how Barney does in the auction?” She pointed to Aaron. “Why can’t you just join in and bid with the others? Or are you above that?”
“No, I’m not above that.”
“Then are you trying to take unfair advantage of your own niece to get a better price?”
“No, that’s not it,” he said quickly. “I just, uh, wanted to—”
“Then why not stick to the program?” she challenged. “Don’t you realize the price Anna gets will go to her college education?”
“That’s right!” Cooper declared. Jewel hadn’t even noticed her daughter standing right next to her.
“And, Aaron, even if you should be outbid”—she eyed him curiously, knowing she was taking a poke at his pride now—“at least you’ll help to get her price up there. Isn’t that what a loving uncle would do?”
He took in a slow breath, then nodded. “Yeah, of course. I just thought I could simplify matters. But now that you’ve explained it better... Sure, I’ll wait. I’ll bid with the others. Might even be fun.” He gave a crooked smile, then tipped his hat and left.
“I think he got the hint,” Anna told Jewel. “Thanks.”
“Yeah.” Miguel nodded. “Thanks.”
“That was great, Mom.”
When it was time for Barney and Anna to take their place on the auction block, the bidding was solid, but in the end, Aaron Hanford won the bid. And when he went up to shake Anna’s hand, they were both smiling. And back behind the crowd of chattering bidders, Miguel and Cooper and Jewel were all smiling too.