The Cowboy Meets His Match by Leann Harris

one side of the room were bookshelves filled with binders of past rodeos. The notebooks went back to 1937.
    â€œI see this rodeo has a long past.” Sawyer nodded to the notebooks. “It’s great it’s been documented.”
    Erin pulled the first notebook off the shelf. Carefully, she put the binder on the table, opened it and slowly turned the pages.
    Looking over her shoulder, Sawyer read the name of Clayton Delong. He stepped closer. “Clayton Delong? Is he related to you?”
    She looked up. Suddenly, the air between them thickened with awareness. Her eyes drifted toward his mouth. Swallowing, she said, “He was my dad’s grandfather. The rodeo has always been connected with my family, but as time has gone on, others in the community have bought in. When our rodeo combined with the Harding County rodeo, the Delong share diminished, but Dad still sits on the board.”
    Her interest in the rodeo suddenly took on a different dimension. This was family heritage. He could respect that and admire it, but he hoped he’d read her right and she’d work to make this redo a success and not want to make it about the Delong name. So far, she’d indicated she wanted the rodeo’s success, but he’d been fooled before, so he knew not to let his heart lead the way. That didn’t stop his heart from pounding at her nearness. He was here only to fix the rodeo, nothing more.
    He swallowed the lump in his throat. “So this is in your blood.”
    â€œIt is. But since the rodeo merged with the Harding County one, our family has not been as involved. Plus, I’ve been away at school and competing in barrel racing on weekends elsewhere, so I’ve not been here. Dad’s called me and told me about the problems, but that’s ancient history. Let’s talk about your plan and how to implement it. And, if it needs to be tweaked, we can see about that.”
    Well, if he thought she’d back off, he realized he was mistaken. But he wasn’t fazed in the least.
    She opened the massive tote she had with her and pulled out his proposal, a notebook and several pens, setting them on the table. “I’m ready.”
    He knew a challenge when he saw one. “Let me get my papers.”
    She smiled in a way that indicated this wasn’t going to be easy. She would have her say. When he walked back into the room, he had his notebooks and her proposal.
    She pointed to her proposal. “Why do you have that?”
    â€œI found it in here when I was looking for the financial records for the losing years of the rodeo, and I wanted to read it.”
    â€œAnd?”
    â€œI thought you had some good ideas, so let’s discuss how we can incorporate them into my plan.”
    The corners of her mouth curled up. “Did you find the records for last year?”
    â€œNo, and I’d like to see those, to find out where the money was spent.”
    â€œMy father, as a board member, has a copy of those records, but they’re at home.”
    Erin stood and walked out to Lisa’s desk in the reception area. “Do you know where the financial records are for the past several years?” Sawyer heard Erin ask.
    â€œThey are in Mel’s office.”
    â€œCould we see them for the last year?”
    â€œSure, I’ll get them.”
    Erin appeared back in the boardroom. Before they could get started, Lisa stood in the doorway. “Those records are not in Mel’s office. I have last year’s numbers on a flash drive in my desk. I’ll bring it to you.”
    Several minutes later she reappeared. “I can’t find the flash drive, either. It’s not in my desk.”
    Sawyer met Erin’s gaze.
    â€œLisa, that’s okay,” Erin reassured her. “If you find either the hard copy or your flash drive, let us know.”
    Once they were alone, Sawyer said, “That doesn’t speak well of the record keeping around