The Bride's Prerogative by Davis Susan Page

Author:Davis, Susan Page [Davis, Susan Page]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 978-1-60742-568-7
Publisher: Barbour Publishing, Inc.
Published: 2010-10-09T16:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 23

You’ve got to know what she put on it. Come on, Hi. I can’t let some other man buy my sweetheart’s box lunch.”

Hiram scowled and shook his head. His sister hadn’t let him see her creation. She had taken great pains to hide it from both him and Rose. If Ethan wanted to wheedle the information out of Trudy, he should do it himself.

“They’re about to start the bidding.” Ethan looked anxiously toward where Peter Nash was preparing to auction off the ladies’ lunches.

“Folks, and especially gentlemen, gather ‘round. The single ladies have put their best efforts into preparing lunches for your gustatory pleasure. We have fourteen box lunches for our auction. Mrs. Nash is going to bring me the first one, and it’s up to you fellows how much money we raise here today, but I’m telling you, if you don’t bid on these boxes, you’re missing out on a good thing.”

Ellie smiled and carried a box wrapped in plaid flannel to her husband. “Looks like the lady who made this lunch wrapped it up in a tablecloth.”

Peter took the bundle and held it up. “There you go, gentlemen. Isn’t that an inviting parcel? Why, Parnell, this would go nicely with your shirt.”

Parnell Oxley, one of the cowboys from the Landry ranch, guffawed. “All right, Mayor, you talked me into it. I’ll bid two bits.”

The other men edged closer and the bids began to fly. When they lagged at two dollars, Peter let his gavel fall. “Sold to Mr. Runnels for two dollars.”

Josiah Runnels walked forward to accept the package amid applause and catcalls.

“Would the lady who made the lunch please come forward?” Peter asked.

Myra Harper came from the edge of the crowd, flushing as she peeled off her apron and tossed it to her mother. She strolled over to Josiah and looked up at him. “Disappointed it’s your next-door neighbor’s box, Josiah?”

“Nah. I hope you made fried chicken.”

Everyone laughed.

Hiram eyed Ethan. “Whyn’t you bid?”

“It didn’t look like what I thought Trudy would pack.”

“Huh.”

They stood shoulder to shoulder while Ellie took the next box to Peter. The plain white pasteboard box was tied with a wide green ribbon. Hiram wondered whose it was. What if it was Libby’s and someone like Ted Hire or one of those rough cowpokes bought it? That was scary.

Spin McDade leaped into the bidding early, and Ethan sighed. “Must be Florence’s box, and she told him.”

“Think so?” Hiram felt a little better. Sure enough, when the others dropped out and Spin plunked down a dollar and four bits, Florence minced toward him, her face a brilliant red that clashed with her carroty hair.

The box with pansies and lavender ribbons came up next. Hiram stood perfectly still, not moving a muscle. Ethan also stayed silent, but several men began bidding. The gavel fell at two dollars and a quarter.

Rose swept forward.

“Mrs. Caplinger, thank you for a lovely entry that raised a good amount for our cause,” Peter said.

Dr. Kincaid accepted his purchase with aplomb and offered his arm to Rose.

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