Bidding on the Cowboy

Welcome to the first annual
Redemption Ranch
Cowboy Auction!
All proceeds go to a local charity
 
Jake Reynolds stared at the piece of off-white card stock with gold lettering in his dirty hands. He arched an eyebrow at Tara Morgan, owner of the Redemption Ranch Guest Ranch and she met his gaze impassively. She eyed the smudge of dirt on the corners from where he gripped the invitation but tactfully ignored it.
“You’re inviting me to a party?”
Winter was hard upon him and he had a lot of work to get the ranch and his cattle settled for the season. With a month to go before Christmas, the last thing he was interested in was a holiday party, especially an auction, not that he had any money to spare on frivolous things. He might be able to find something to donate, but he suspected Tara had something specific in mind, something he wasn’t interested in offering. But this was Tara, wife of another rancher and good friend, West Morgan, so he didn’t want to offend her. Even though two words in the invite were ominous. Cowboy Auction.
Two words that struck fear in the heart of every man.
“Tell me this is a cattle auction.” He knew he was probably wrong but it was a Hail Mary shot in the dark.
Tara smirked and shifted her daughter in her arms. “Not exactly. With the holidays approaching, there are a lot of families in Granite Junction who could use some help, not to mention the Stewart family who were hard hit by the wildfires this past season.”
Jake sobered at the thought of Eric Stewart and the fate that could have been any of the ranchers in Granite Junction. Eric was the furthest east of all the ranches and bore the brunt of the wildfires that scorched most of his land, destroyed many of his water tanks, and acres of fencing. He also lost hundreds of cattle, missing or dead without a trace months later. It was devastating for a ranching family and recovery could take years…if they ever recovered.
Jake swore softly, under his breath so the baby wouldn’t hear. The last he needed was the baby’s first words to be something Jake said. West would kill him. “What do you need? A donation?”
Her smile grew as her daughter gnawed on Tara’s drawstring from her pink hoodie. “That’s exactly what we need. A donation… of your time and, well, you.”
Damn it. That was exactly what he was afraid of. He shook his head. “I’ll donate money, time, a location. Anything but myself.”
She gave him a brilliant smile. “Nope. All I need is you, Jake. A bachelor auction is an excellent fundraiser, and a great addition to the holiday gathering for the town. Besides, plenty of women would love to date you.”
He groaned. They were adding this onto the town holiday celebration? That meant the whole town was going to be there. He did not need that. The last he wanted was to be center stage again, making a fool of himself. He had enough of that last year, thank you very much, especially after the whole fiasco with his fiancée last year. Well, ex-fiancée.
“Tara, I appreciate what you’re trying to do but I really hate the idea of being on stage like a horse at auction.”
Tara’s face softened with sympathy. She reached out and rested a hand on his forearm. “Everyone does. And I know this season must be hard for you, after losing your dad last year. But imagine how hard it is for the Stewarts? Remember how Granite Junction came together for your family? You can pay it forward and help someone else.”
He stared at the double doors to the barn leading outside and the gently rolling hills covered with snow in the distance. Damn Tara for being right and hitting him right where he was most sensitive. The town truly had come together for him and his family when they had lost their dad last year, with meals, help around the ranch, and more. He had been numb for days, weeks really, after losing the father he’d idolized and been so close to for his whole life. But his mother needed him, and, while he had his brother to help him, someone had to step up and take on the ranch. It wasn’t like he hadn’t been prepared. He’d been working with his father most of his life. He just thought they’d have more time.
He took his hat off and scrubbed a hand through his hair. “Does West ever win an argument with you?”
Her grin broadened, the smile of someone who knew she’d won. “He thinks he does. You won’t have to do a thing. We’ll arrange the whole date package. Restaurants and other places donated meals and locations for the date. You’ll just need to show up and be charming. You can do that, right?”
“Show up? Sure.” He hadn’t been charming in years. He didn’t know if he even knew how to be charming. And his ex definitely would have agreed with that.