Page 94 of Buck Wild Orc Cowboy
“If I had my guess, I’d say this basket will win you an amazing meal,” Tark said, knuckling his brother’s shoulder. Sel returned the gesture.
I swallowed and flexed my fingers at my sides.
“He’s Sel, right?” the woman in the yellow gown asked, fanning herself.
A woman beside her leaned close, though she didn’t lower her voice. “Have you tried his cookies and cakes? They’re to die for.”
“What will you offer?” Tark shouted above the murmurs. “We have some anonymous bids for this one, so keep that in mind.”
“Ten dollars!” one of the bonnet-wearers said, holding her hand up.
Dungar, in his sheriff’s outfit, kept track of the bids.
“Twenty,” he called out. “Anonymous bid.”
“Thirty,” another person shouted.
I waited.
“Thirty-five,” someone added, grinning.
I raised my hand. “One gold nugget.”
A hush fell over the barn.
Tark blinked. “Uh…right. We should probably clarify. I assume we’re talking marble-sized nuggets?”
I nodded.
“So, they’re worth…let’s say about one hundred dollars each?”
“Way more than that,” someone said.
“Is it real gold or that fool’s stuff?” another person asked.
More joined in, debating whether I should be allowed to bid with gold or if I had to offer real money.
A woman with a long, pointy nose looked my way, her gaze sliding up and down my frame. “You mined it yourself?”
Gracie had already coached me.
I smiled. “Yes, I mined it up in the hills.”
Gracie elbowed me, trying not to laugh.
“I’m raising my bid to two gold nuggets,” I said over the furor.
One of the prairie-clad women twisted in her seat to gape my way. “Who brings that much gold to a picnic basket auction?”
“She’s got a pouch,” her friend hissed, pointing to my hand.
“I need to head into those hills,” the other said with a grin. “Tell us where you found it.”
“It’s a secret,” I said. “I can’t tell you.”
The women groaned.
Once everyone was willing to agree that one nugget could be equal to one hundred dollars, though I suspected that was much too low, more bids erupted. Competition got hot, but I wasn’t letting Sel’s basket go to anyone but me.
