Page 26 of A Moment In Time

They walked over to Rand, Wynter, Corbyn, and Cassie, who were at the back of the room.

Rand stroked his chin. “Hmm. Seems the mature cowboy got the highest bid.”

Gage smiled. “By seven dollars and forty-six cents.”

“Hey. Seven dollars and forty-six cents is still seven dollars and forty-six cents.”

Paxton came up to them. “If you ladies will excuse these lucky men for a moment, we have a bet to resolve.”

Wynter laughed. “Do we even want to know?”

“Probably not.”

The four men left the women and went to the bar. Paxton went behind it and retrieved the slips of paper. “Okay, I’ll read mine first.” He opened it and laid it on the bar. “Corbyn.”

Corbyn smiled. “Thank you brother.”

Paxton opened Rand’s next. “Another one for Corbyn.”

Gage scowled at Rand. “I see how it is.”

Paxton opened Gage’s. “Gage bet on Corbyn.”

Rand took a step away from Gage. “So you expected me to bet on you. But you bet on Corbyn, too?”

Gage shrugged. “He’s a doctor.”

Paxton opened the last one. “Corbyn bet on Gage.”

Rand laughed. “It really doesn’t matter. No one bet on me, which I believe means the forty dollars is mine. I got the highest bid.”

Gage shook his head. “By seven dollars and forty-six cents.”

Paxton handed the money to Rand. “You won fair and square.”

Rand folded the bills in half and put them in his shirt pocket. “Thank you gentlemen. Now I believe we have three young ladies waiting for us to escort them to dinner.”

They returned to the dining room where the auction had ended and the tables were being set up for the dinner. The three women had moved three tables together.

Corbyn laughed. “What’s this?”

Cassie smiled. “We figured it’d be more fun with the six of us, since we’re all friends.”

Corbyn and Rand seemed as relieved as Gage felt at the suggestion. “Great idea.” He and Corbyn moved the chairs over, then they sat down with men on one side and women on the other.

Wynter looked at them all. “Very cozy.”

Gage looked at Sydney. “Why three-hundred sixty-seven dollars and fifty-four cents?”

“That’s how much I have in my checking account.”

Gage groaned. “Don’t tell me that. I need to pay you back.”

Corbyn laughed. “You also need to start paying her more.”

Sydney raised a hand. “That’s not all the money I have in the world. I have savings.” She smiled at Gage. “But a raise would be nice.”

Gage nodded. “We’ll talk about that tomorrow.” He looked at Corbyn. “Thanks, brother.”

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