McKenna waited for the laughter to die down and then moaned, "Will no man here buy mine?" She was about to plead again when Cathleen interrupted.
"Must we, Miss McKenna? Sassy and I would rather not have a stranger buy our lunch. Please do not make us."
"No one will force you, Cathleen," said Hannish. "You and Sassy can share a lunch and I'll take the other one. Have we a bargain?"
"We do," said a relieved Cathleen.
"Maybe next year," McKenna soothed. "You are too young yet to be wantin' a husband."
Sassy's eyes widened. "'Tis for findin' a husband?"
"What did you think it was for?" a frustrated Keith asked.
Sassy glared at him. "I dinna think it was to put a woman on display so as a man might want her. I dinna think that at all."
"She has a point," said McKenna. "Hannish, you shall share my lunch with me, and 'twill not cost a penny. Keith can have Cathleen's lunch, unless he can buy one of his own."
Dugan was completely confused. "Are you sayin', if a lad does not bid high enough, he might go hungry?"
"It means exactly that," said Shepard. "What is a lunch, and a pretty woman to eat it with, worth to you? I've my eye on a little thing called, Twyla, and she is worth half a month's pay, maybe more."
"You Americans have a funny way of courtin'," Egan said. "In Scotland, we just ask them to take a walk or a ride in our buggy."
"We do that here too," said Prescot, "when a man has a buggy to take her in."
"You wish to use the carriage?" Hannish asked. "Why did you not say so?"
Prescot rolled his eyes. "Because I did not think Millie would go with me until just now."
Millie glared at Prescot, "I been tryin' to get your attention since the day I came. You are a stubborn man, and blind as a bat, you are."
Prescot pretended to look stern. "Woman, we shall discuss this over lunch, providing you do not cost me a fortune. You're a might too pretty, if you ask me."
Millie blushed. "Thank you…I think."
Hannish elbowed Prescot. "I've a few dollars I can lend."
"I am saved," Prescot muttered.
*
The 600 cottonwood trees, planted several years ago in Acacia Park, had survived well even during the years when rain was not so plentiful. The grass looked like a lush green carpet and there were plenty of benches where the older ladies and gentlemen could rest when they got tired. Donnel and Blanka were pleased to see those and made themselves comfortable right away.