Free The Cowboy Meets His Match by Leann Harris

door.”
    Sawyer stopped and studied Betty, wishing she could’ve been close when he and his brother needed someone like her. She returned his gaze with a penetrating one, then grabbed the bag of flat bread and shoved it at him. “For later.”
    At some level, he knew the older woman sensed the pain of his past. He’d known hunger. “You’re doing good work.”
    Betty ducked her head. “There are too many people going without. My husband always had a job and we were blessed.Ican do no less than share with others . ”
    â€œAnd change lives,” Sawyer murmured. “Thank you, ladies, for the meal. Now I need to go back and work.” He paused. “Are your dad’s notebooks here?”
    â€œYes, they’re in the library.”
    â€œThink they might have the final numbers in them?”
    â€œI don’t know, but we should look.”
    He followed her to the library. She pulled down last year’s notebook and handed it to him. They settled on the love seat and looked over the figures.
    â€œThese don’t look like the final numbers,” Sawyer commented.
    Studying the final lines, Erin knew they weren’t. “I agree. These look like working numbers.” She glanced up into his face, realizing how close they were. She swallowed and his gaze didn’t leave her face. “I’ll look around to see if Dad has an addendum with the final figures.” She closed the notebook and jumped up, feeling like a jack-in-the-box.
    He slowly came to his feet, fighting a smile.
    What was so funny, she wanted to ask, but she knew. Acting like a fifteen-year-old, which wasn’t something she had done—until now.
    â€œI’ll have a listing of big contractors I need to call tomorrow. If you drop in, you can see who’s shown interest in bidding.”
    â€œWhat time?”
    â€œLet’s try nine.”
    â€œI’ll be there.”
    He nodded and left the room, leaving Erin clutching the notebook and feeling lost.
    * * *
    As Sawyer walked to his truck, he caught a glimpse of Tate disappearing into the barn.
    â€œTate, got a moment?” Sawyer called and waited for the teen. When Tate reappeared, the cautious expression on his face warned Sawyer to proceed carefully. “I hope I didn’t barge in and ruin your Sunday lunch.”
    â€œNah.”
    â€œI didn’t mean for your sister to bring up those old stories.”
    â€œShe’s only a girl, and girls like to embarrass people.”
    Tread carefully , he warned himself. “You know what I think? Your sister remembers that time with laughter and joy. Both your aunt and sister are strong women.”
    Tate cocked his head. “They want to tell me what to do all the time. They think they’re always right.”
    â€œTrue, but girls do that. It seems to me Betty was only defending her nephew. Maybe she went about it the wrong way, but sometimes we do wrong in trying to do right. I think they’re acting out of love.” He smiled. “I’d give them a break.”
    Tate shrugged. “If you say so.”
    â€œI guess when you’ve been raised by a mom who was afraid of making a decision, who needed someone to make up her mind for her, it’s refreshing to meet a woman who can make a decision for herself.”
    Tate stared at him.
    Sawyer wanted to snatch the words back. Tate didn’t need his lecture. Sawyer nodded and slipped into his truck. As he drove away, Sawyer saw Tate standing in the driveway, staring at him.
    Well, Tate wasn’t the only one who was surprised. At lunch, sitting by Erin and across from Betty, Sawyer had found himself admiring them. From the conversation, he knew Betty felt a need to feed the hungry. He admired a heart so open that she’d feed anyone who walked through her door. Betty reminded him of the church people who’d housed and fed Caleb and him in Plainview.
    Caleb and he had escaped an