Chapter Thirty
THIS HAD TO be the largest Founder’s Day Festival on record. The pie-eating station had contestants in place with hundreds of ladies cheering on their men. The kids had started earlier with the potato sack races. Tons of hay had been donated by Matt Johnson for a hayride later tonight. Outside of the New River Gorge Bridge Day celebration featuring base jumpers from all over the world, Service’s festival attracted the second largest crowd, a few thousand people over the two days. Many faces in the crowd he recognized, most he didn’t. A few folks had painted #SexyKittyVet on their windshields.
Eli stomped onto the stage with most of the townsfolk glaring at him for one reason or another. Tobias and Noah had his six, but he’d never felt more alone. Amarie’s sad doe eyes had seared his brain, he could barely fix his mind on announcing the winners of the auction. His apology hadn’t carried much weight in swaying her to give him another chance. She hadn’t mentioned the money he owed her, not once. What could he offer her?
Stupid, a voice whispered in his head. Amarie was a romantic, and she needed a grand gesture, something she wouldn’t expect. But she had the creative gene. Eli, well, was Eli. Stubborn, controlled, and unyielding. But he’d bend like saltwater taffy for Amarie.
“Where’s Amarie?” Gracie Lou had her hand cupped around her mouth, megaphone style. Caleb sat beside her in his pickup’s tailgate waiting expectantly. Even Bucky had shown up, lingering close to Ruth and Phoebe. She’d moved back home, and according to Matt, things were headed in the right direction for the family. Of course, Matt was astride Harry’s back ready to kick Bucky if he got out of line.
“I heard Amarie caught you in bed with your ex-wife,” Delores added.
“What?” Eli grumbled. He grabbed the microphone. “That does not make a lick of sense.” The PA system whistled, and a united groan flowed up from the sea of cars and trucks.
“Then where is she?” Lois Kline demanded from the hood of the land bus, Adele at her hip, sharpening her claws on the metal bars of her cage.
“I want to thank you all for showing up here today. For your contributions in support of saving Calvary Vet Clinic and our family lands.”
“Yay, Amarie. Amarie. Amarie.” That was Phoebe’s little voice. An onslaught of cheering started. Followed by blasts from car horns, and a foghorn that had more than a few babies screaming.
“Seems the auction site is back online,” Eli yelled over the noise. “So, it’s time to name some winners.”
Hoots and hollers sounded from the ladies, but Eli didn’t miss the groans. He held the phone in his grip, which shook when he saw who was in the lead for him. With the site being hacked, the website had added an additional day of bidding with a countdown clock ticking backward, with two minutes of the clock.
TigerTamer1000, Lourdes Pendleton’s online handle, flashed red underneath his picture. She winked at him from the crowd. Please, let Amarie rescue him. But he knew she hadn’t placed a single bid, too honest to shortchange the other ladies from a possible match with him and his brothers. But Eli knew the truth, she was his one.
Cara strutted up on stage, smiling at him. She had no idea they’d uncovered her treachery.
“Hi,” she said into the mic. “I’m Eli’s wife.”
Gosh, why did she keep popping up like foot fungus. Cara had claimed him as her husband more in the past twenty-four hours than during their entire marriage. He wished her the best, but away from Service and Amarie.
“Boo, ex-wife, Get off the stage. Better still, get out of our town” came an anonymous heckler from the crowd. “Where’s Amarie?”
“Anyway,” Cara chirped, flipping her hair off her shoulder with an extra flourish. “I want to make a final contribution right here and now. Twenty-five hundred dollars to save our Calvary Family Clinic. And that puts me, @SecondChanceRomance, in the lead for Eli.”
A few cheers went on, but not many. The friends of the family knew better than to fall for Cara’s faked generosity.
Eli practically growled at Cara. “You aren’t going to stop, are you?”
“Why should I? With her gone, you’re basically community property. And we both know you’re a family man.” She rubbed her belly, reminding him she’d soon be a mother with a child dependent on her for guidance.
Eli covered the mic with his palm. “I don’t want your money. Save it for your child.”
“Oh. That’s my secret, Eli. It’s not my money, it’s yours. I’m just giving a little bit of it back. We can talk about the rest over dinner since I’m your highest bidder.”
Before Cara could get more boos, Tobias rushed her from the stage. Eli felt rather grateful for his brother. He nodded in thanks. Tobias gave him a stern thumbs-up, taking his place next to Noah.
Mrs. Kline’s car horn cut through the noise. “Eli Calvary, you haven’t answered our questions. Now Amarie literally saved you three boys from your gigolo ways. I got one thousand dollars for Eli’s City Girl to win his hand. Who’s with me?”
Slowly, hands went up and dollar bills were passed forwarded. With ten seconds left on the clock, inspiration struck. Eli pulled the check from his pocket and handed it over to Noah. “Put all of it on my city girl to win.”
Eli felt hope soar in his chest for the first time in two days. “Okay folks, that’s it. All bids are in.”
“The first lucky lady is,” he entered the administrative keys to reveal the identities of the winners, “the farmer’s daughter, Rachel Johnson. Noah Calvary is all yours.”
Noah snatched the mic. “Elle, babe. You’re finally back home. Where are you, Rachel ‘Elle’ Johnson?”
His brother shaded his eyes, the crowd mumbling Rachel’s name. Matt Johnson came forward, Harry whinnying at the attention. “She’s not here, Noah. I’m sorry.”
“So, she hooks me again and disappears.” Noah stormed off, shoving onlookers out of his way.
“Hey folks.” Tobias waved. “@BookLoveWednesday won me.” He gave a lopsided grin. “She’s not here, either, but I know where to find her.”
“That leaves you, Eli.” Mrs. Kline stated matter-of-factly. “Now we all know Amarie is a part of this town. If you’ve messed that up, I’m tempted to let Adele out of her cage right now so she can rip your grumpy heart right out of your chest.”
Eli waved them off. “Calm down everybody. Amarie and I hit a rough patch ’cause I let my past get in the way.”
“’Fraid not, Eli. Prudence said she saw Kanaan had Amarie cornered on the road heading out of town.”
Eli jumped down off the stage and ran for his truck. His mother and Bethany burst through the crowd. “Kanaan called. He said Amarie just about had the spill cleaned up.”
“A spill,” Eli bellowed. “Everyone get out of the way. Amarie needs me.”
Amarie’s mom chimed in. “I don’t know how far she got. I left a little surprise in the car that might slow her down.”
“You sabotaged her car?”
“No, Eli. Honestly, your mind takes you to the strangest of places. I added a couple of extra passengers to keep her company on the road.”
“You’re blocked in,” Matt yelled to him. “Here, take Harry. It’ll be faster.”
“Oh, how romantic.” Bethany practically swooned on her feet.
Matt Johnson offered her his hand. “That’s the way we menfolk treat our ladies in these parts.”
“Guess I’m glad I’m sticking around to learn all I can about the local traditions.” Bethany batted her lashes, and Eli saw how Amarie won everyone over. Her mother was extra, too.
“What’s happening?” someone in the crowd called.
“Eli’s going after Amarie,” Tobias announced.
“What?” came from another direction.
“Amarie took a spill and Eli’s running off to save her,” Gracie Lou called. “I’m going with Eli. Spread the word.”
Eli didn’t wait to see who followed on horseback, three-wheelers, or on foot. He had a future to catch.
“Me too.”
“Me three.”
“We’re coming.”
Eli didn’t stop to answer any questions or correct assumptions. “Ya,” Eli spurred his mount into a full gallop in the direction of his future, his love, his Amarie.
Eli galloped at full speed, jerking Harry’s reins to slow the horse down when Prince came into view.
“Kanaan, you can’t keep me here,” he heard Amarie yelling to his cousin.
Eli dismounted from Harry’s back, his chest heaving. “No, he can’t. But I’m praying I can.” He handed over his phone and the horse to his family.