Texas Twilight (40 page)

“What is it?” Lily asked as they excused
themselves and walked on.

“Just a little surprise, nothing important.”
Not to us, he thought, wondering how Bixby had coped with it for
all of these years.

Tucker came dashing up. His face was flushed
from running, and his hair flopped into his eyes. “Shooting
competition is about to start.” He pointed with his arm down the
street and past the school. “Everyone’s down in the wash and the
targets are set. If you don’t hurry you’ll miss it.”

“Come on,” John said to Lily. “I may as well
hold onto this,” he added, holding up the medical bag. “As much as
I hate to think it, something could go wrong.” He chuckled as they
hurried through the crowd. “I guess a doctor’s work is never done.
It’s either feast or famine.”

By the time they arrived over fifty
spectators were gathered behind the five shooters, and five targets
were set out one hundred and fifty feet away. They waved to Chaim
and Emmeline, who were sitting in chairs placed in the back of a
buckboard. Charity and Brandon stood at the front of the crowd, as
well as his aunt and uncle, his two female cousins, and Theodore
and Tucker. Although Charity was the only woman in the
competition—and a young woman at that—she held her rifle by her
side proudly and smiled at them all.

“You all know the rules,” Mayor Billingsworth
called out loudly. He was sweating profusely and wiped his face
with his handkerchief. “When I give the signal you’ll all shoot
together, one shot only, at the target in front of you. The person
farthest from the bull’s-eye will be eliminated. Good luck to all
of you. Get set, shooters.”

Charity looked around until she met John’s
gaze. He gave her a wink, and then a wave to Brandon.

“Who do you want to win?” Lily asked so no
one else standing close by could hear. “Your best friend or your
sister?”

“Seems I’m in a predicament, doesn’t it?” He
pulled her close. “How about I just concentrate on you,” he said
next to her ear, giving it a kiss as he finished. “I don’t think
I’ve told you yet how beautiful you look.” He let his hand slip
down her side just a smidge, feeling her shiver and draw a deep
breath.

“Oh, you,” she laughed, her eyes sparkling in
the sunshine. “Always the tease. I am going to tell…

“On the ready,” Billingsworth shouted.
“Fire.”

Five shots split the air. Everyone laughed
and clapped as the mayor and another fellow made their way down the
hard-packed dirt until they were at the first target. Walking
briskly, the two marched down the line, stopping to inspect each
contestant’s work. Soon the man came running back and the mayor
walked a good distance away to a safe waiting spot. The man asked
one of the shooters to leave.

“On the ready.”

C
harity lifted
the rifle to her shoulder and took aim.

“Fire.”

When the
smoke cleared she watched as the mayor and the man walked down the
line again. She glanced over at Brandon, who had his hat pushed up
and an easy grin on his face. He’d been waiting for her to look his
way. She gave him a saucy smile, then looked back at John and Lily,
standing in the front row with the rest of her relatives. Brandon
was feeling pretty big for his britches. She’d been considering
letting her aim stray just a hair, but, not now. She knew
that look
when she saw it.

The helper was back and dismissed the man to
Brandon’s left. There were three shooters left. She glanced over at
the older man between her and Brandon and wondered at his ability.
His clothes were tattered and her eyes widened when she saw that he
was barefooted.

“On the ready.”

“Fire.”

Charity lowered her rifle. She drew her
bottom lip in between her teeth and chewed. Her concentration had
wavered. It was possible she’d pulled up. No, the runner was back
and dismissed the elderly man, who shook his head in great
disappointment. “Sure could’ve used that money,” he said as he
walked away and took a spot to watch the outcome.

“Good luck, darlin’,” Brandon called to
her.

She turned.

His grin
was mischievous. “May the best
man
win.”

Before she could respond the mayor called
out, “On the ready.”

She hefted her rifle, knowing this was it.
She was good, but so was Brandon. She honestly didn’t know who
would win.

“Fire.”

Mayor Billingsworth and his helper studied
the targets as they went back and forth between them. The man said
something, pointing to the center of one, and Billingsworth shook
his head, then walked to the other. It seemed it was a tie. The man
came running up. “We can’t tell. We’re going to back ‘em up a bit
and shoot again.” The crowd cheered loudly and Charity took a deep
breath, settling her nervous heart, squelching a burning temptation
to look at Brandon again.

“On the ready.”

She sighted down the long gun just like her
pa had taught her and held her breath. She pulled the trigger.

Again the men stood at the targets. They
shook their heads. They picked them up and kept on walking. She
hadn’t any idea how far they’d gone, but it was going to be a true
test of her ability.

“I really mean it, Char,” Brandon said, close
to her ear and making her jump. She’d been concentrating on the
mayor and the targets, and hadn’t heard him approach. “Good luck.”
He looked deep into her eyes. “And, don’t you dare let me win.
Honestly— I’m happy whatever the outcome.” The admiration in his
voice made her soften. She smiled. Without warning, he stepped
closer and kissed her square on her lips right in front of
everyone, making the onlookers cheer loudly.

“That’s not fair,” Uncle Winston called.
“He’s distracting her.”

“
I think
she’s distracting
him
.” It was a
scantily clad saloon girl who was waving vigorously in their
direction. “Helloooo, Brandon.”

Amid the laughter, Brandon held up his hand
as if swearing to tell the truth. “I’m innocent, honey, believe
me.”

“On the ready.”

Charity took aim, wishing this crazy
competition was over and done with. It was as if she could feel the
onlookers staring down her back, and the sun was taking its toll.
What the heck was taking the mayor so dang long? Her hand
tensed.

“Fire.”

There. This would surely decide it. Most
likely Brandon had won, and she didn’t care. She turned around and
shrugged at John and Lily. Both men came hurrying back as fast as
they could.

“I’ve never seen anything like it before in
my life,” Mayor Billingsworth stated. “They’re exactly the same.
We’ve decided that since the pot is so big, we’re going to split it
between the two of ‘em. That way everybody wins.” He pulled out the
wad of bills and counted out half to Charity and half to Brandon.
“Congratulations, you two.”

“But—” someone called out.

“It’s done. Final ruling from the judge.”

“She’d beat me eventually,” Brandon said.
“This way saves my pride. Thank you, Mayor.”

The crowd had dwindled by the time friends
and family were finally finished talking about the competition.
Charity smiled and listened, once in a while offering a comment.
Brandon had a healthy sheen on his skin. He took off his hat and
fanned his face. “Sure is warming up. How about we take a stroll to
the water stand and get a drink, then go put these rifles away? I
want to have some fun.”

She couldn’t hold a grudge against his
earlier teasing. “Sure. That sounds good. They might even have some
lemonade.” They started to walk.

“Hold up. I’ll be back in a second.” Brandon
zigzagged through some people until he’d found the old man who’d
come in third. Charity hurried over when she realized what he was
doing. “I’d like to give you mine, too,” she said, slipping the
money into his pocket. The look on his face was one she’d never
forget.

“Thank you, kindly,” he said, overwhelmed. “I
don’t know what else to say except that.”

“Well, we’re just visitors, after all”
Brandon replied gently. “It makes all the sense in the world that
you’d won if we hadn’t decided to come to town. We just wanted to
have a little fun.” Brandon snatched up Charity’s hand and they
hurried away.

“There, that looks pretty.” Charity stood
back, admiring the yellow bow she’d tied around the box dinner
she’d prepared for her and Brandon. She and Lily had spent the last
hour resting and prettying up after the busy afternoon they’d had.
That left them a whole ten minutes to hurry over to the town hall
for the auction that would be followed by the ball. “You think
he’ll like it?”

Lily laughed at the silliness of her
sister-in-law. “Brandon would like it if you had filled it with
cold liver and stale bread.”

“You think so?”

“
Oh my
heavens, Charity, yes. That man sets the sun on you. John and I are
having so much fun watching the two of you together.
Finally
together, I should say. He has
told me of your long and complicated courtship.” She ran her hands
down her blue-silk dress and took a quick look in the mirror at the
hair fashioned half on her head and half falling to her waist.
“Give me one second to run up and check on my Tante, and I will be
ready to go.”

“Okay. Hurry.”

In the bedroom, Lily sat on the side of the
bed and her aunt smiled up into her face. She had her knitting
needles out again, but she never seemed to complete a stitch. That
was all right, just as long as she was contented.

“You’re set to go, Lily?”

“We are. I just wanted to tell you goodbye. I
will be back off and on to check on you.”

“You needn’t worry so. If I feel more
energetic later on, I may don my ball gown and come down and join
you. It’s been many years since I’ve danced a waltz.”

Lily’s heart trembled. She pushed away the
melancholy and pointed to the window. “You should be able to hear
the music when it starts.”

“You can be sure I will be listening.”

Lily bent down and kissed her aunt’s wrinkled
cheek. “Do you need anything before I go?”

“Just a promise that you will always keep a
joyful heart. Foster an innocence of mind and body, and love John
each and every day that you are alive.”

Lily laughed nervously at the beatific
sounding request. “I promise.”

“
Happiness is the greatest good, Lily.
Be happy
.”

“Finally,” John whispered into Lily’s ear. “I
was just on my way to see what was taking the two of you so long.
Everyone is waiting.” He took their box dinner from her hands.

Lily glanced around as they proceeded to the
front room. She noticed Cradle with Theodore and Tucker, all three
washed up, shaved nicely and hair conspicuously slicked back.
John’s aunt and uncle were sitting at a corner table with Chaim and
Emmeline, the latter’s shining beauty and glow of happiness Lily
recognized immediately as love. She waved and Emmeline waved back.
After all, when she and Chaim married they would be in-laws.
Brandon was at the back of the room, talking with Dr. Bixby and
probably tormenting Charity by acting as if he’d not seen her
enter. A row of six pretty girls stood in a line along the wall,
waiting to have their box dinner’s auctioned off. Becky fluttered a
napkin in their direction, getting Charity’s attention while
Madeline watched quietly.

“There, Charity,” Lily said, pointing
discreetly. “Becky is signaling for you to join her.”

Charity stopped dead in her tracks. “I can’t
believe I wanted to do this. I must’ve been possessed by demons.”
Her face had lost its pretty glow and was now pasty white.

“Why? Are you scared?” Lily couldn’t believe
her sister-in-law was afraid of anything. But a tiny nod affirmed
her suspicions.

John turned around. “What are you doing,
Charity? Everyone is waiting on you. Get up there.”

“She is scared.”

“
What?
”

“It’s true. I can’t go up there.” The box in
Charity’s hands was quivering noticeably. “You know Brandon—and how
he likes to tease me. He won’t bid on my dinner. I’ll be left
standing there like a fool.”

“That’s the most ridiculous thing I’ve ever
heard,” John replied.

“Well, then do not do it,” Lily offered.
“Tell them you changed your mind.”

John looked at Lily as if she’d lost her
wits. “She can’t do that.”

“Of course she can.”

John leaned close to Charity’s face. “Can’t
be as bad as when Luke stole your clothes from the swimming hole
and you had to run home naked right past the bunkhouse porch filled
with ranch hands. Right?” John gave her a gentle little push. “Go
on. It’ll be fine.”

M
oving like a
turtle, Charity made her way over to the girls and was the last to
draw a number from the hat Mayor Billingsworth held out.

“I would not like to do this either,” Lily
whispered as she and John found a good place in the crowd to watch.
“I think I would faint straight away. Look at Charity. I have never
seen her so wan.”

John chuckled. “You’re right. She looks like
a snowwoman.”

Lily turned on him. “Are you making fun of
your sister? How mean of you.”

“Now, Lily, I was just having a little—”

“Welcome, ladies and gentlemen. Today is the
twenty-second anniversary of our grand Fourth of July celebration,”
Mayor Billingsworth proclaimed proudly. “Tonight we kick off the
Cattlemen’s Ball with the ladies’ dinner auction and picnic. You
all know the rules. All proceeds will go to our fund to make the
hot springs into a tourist attraction, and thereby help generate
income for our good town. A ladies’ dinner can sell for as high as
it can go. Have fun.” He waggled his finger at the first girl and
she marched to the middle of the room.