The Longleys approached from the south, Reverend Longley leading the way along the boardwalk with Mrs. Longley on his arm. Emma and Hope followed.
Hays’s attention immediately went to Emma. She wore a stunning green gown. It was tight in front, accentuating her small waist, and pulled back into a generous bustle. Her curls were piled high, with ringlets teasing her cheeks. She scanned the crowd, but when her eyes fell on him, she stopped searching.
His heart did a funny little flip, and he wanted nothing more than to cross the space and tell her how beautiful she looked.
“I’ll do what I can,” Connie said, drawing his attention back to her and the problem at hand. “I just hope Emma doesn’t suspect…”
“She won’t.” He offered Connie his arm. “Let’s go say hello to Emma—and remember not to tell her about the money. I want her to have fun tonight.”
They walked toward the Longleys, but Hays paused. “One more thing. After you bid on me and win, would you offer me to Emma for the first dance?”
Connie squeezed his arm. “I’d like nothing more.”
Hays was already looking forward to holding Emma again.
Emma sat with her family and GW Hart at a reserved table near the dance floor. A gentle breeze whispered across her skin, and the evening stars sparkled overhead. She felt cocooned in warmth from the success of the bazaar earlier in the day, and now the success of the bachelor auction and street dance.
Loyalty. It felt good to find it in this community.
Hays stood at the end of the line, waiting to be auctioned. He had been watching her all evening—and truth be told, she had been watching him, as well. Though she had been busy all week, nothing could keep her from forgetting the kiss they had shared near the Sabinal River. Every time she recalled the pleasure of the stolen moment, she had to remind herself it was a mistake.
If only her heart would believe her and let her forget.
Emma’s cheeks warmed at the memory of the kiss—and then she noticed that Mama and Papa were watching her. Emma pretended like nothing was amiss as she looked down at her reticule and counted her money once again.
“Our last bachelor of the evening,” Ruby Brown said from the stage, “is Hays Hart.”
Emma had to bite her bottom lip to stop the wide grin that wanted to make an appearance on her face. The last thing she needed was for her parents to suspect what had happened between them.
Hays stepped up to the stage, his carefree, confident grin fixed in place. Up and down the street, women cheered and clapped louder than they had for anyone else.
“Have you been waiting to bid on Hays?” Hope asked, leaning over to whisper to Emma. “I think several women have. Good thing I got my bachelor early.”
Emma glanced at Gage, who sat next to Hope, his hands clasping and unclasping in his lap. The poor man. He looked like he had been lassoed, waiting for the sting of a branding iron to claim ownership.
Some ladies, like Hope, had bid on the bachelors with romantic intentions, but the majority had bid for the simple pleasure of helping the school. Hays’s brothers had been bid on by Perla, who claimed Crockett, and the waitress Tillie, who claimed Austin. Old Widow Hansen had put her claim on Travis, and now had the man all to herself talking his ear off, pointing at various joints of her body, and no doubt complaining of rheumatism or some other malady.
But here stood Hays, in all his evening finery. Gone was the sense of good-natured competition among the women. Several narrowed their eyes with intent. One was Evelyn Palmer. She sat at a table with her father and Miss Spanner, wearing an elaborate gown.
“I believe Hays needs no introduction,” Ruby said, though she had introduced each bachelor before. “He is well-known by many young ladies in this town.”
Emma knew what Ruby had meant, but still the insinuation left her feeling uncomfortable … and jealous. Her heart thudded an irregular rhythm wondering who would win the pleasure of his company for the rest of the evening. Surely, with so many vying for his attention, the paltry ten dollars she had in her reticule would not compete.
“Who will start the bidding?” Ruby asked.
Nerves bubbled in Emma’s stomach and she took a deep breath. “I’ll start—”
“I’ll start the bidding.” A young woman spoke up.
Emma spun and looked into the large, nervous eyes of…
“Connie?”
Connie gave Emma a wobbly smile, and then she looked up at the stage. “I’ll bid two hundred dollars.”
Gasps filled the air.
Two hundred dollars?
Emma swung back around to look at Hays.
He was now watching Connie.
Emma had to swallow the pain of disappointment. Why was her friend bidding on Hays? But, then, why wouldn’t she? Emma had no claim on Hays, and it was clear Connie had always admired him. It made perfect sense that she would bid on him—but why the exorbitant amount of money? All the other bachelors had gone for five or ten dollars. Widow Hansen had spent twenty on Travis, and that had been the highest bid all evening.