Page 4 of Her Cowboy Blind Date
“No, it’s not, because she’s just like you.”
“Really? Is that so?” He sat in the driver’s seat and closed the door. When was Cindy going to admit defeat and give up by closing the door on this ridiculous idea?
“Like you, she’s been burned and isn’t looking for anything serious. She’ll graduate with her Biblical studies diploma in May and fly home to her old life in Australia.”
“This is all pie in the sky.” He rolled down the window in his truck. “Why would she want to go on a blind date with me?”
“You’re both Christians, for starters. And you might surprise yourself by wanting to be her friend. You may even like spending time with her.”
“Hold on a minute. I’m in the truck and switching to hands-free.” He turned over the engine and rubbed his fist over his eyes. Cindy wasn’t going to let up. He thought about the car wash story, and the split-second decisions that could change a person’s life.
“Okay, Cindy.” He pulled out of the parking space.
“Are you saying yes?”
“I’m saying yes. Will you get off my case and let me get back to work?”
Cindy squealed, and he turned down the truck volume, glad his phone wasn’t close to his ear.
“You won’t regret this, Sam. Thursday night still work for you?”
“Sure, but you’ll have to convince her to do it. Good luck with that.”
“I don’t need luck.” Her indignant tone filled his truck. “Watch your phone and I’ll message you the details by midday Thursday. You won’t regret this.”
“Hope not. Gotta go.” He ended the call and turned onto the highway out of town. Cindy was more like a younger sister than a cousin. He’d lived with Cindy’s family on the ranch for a few years during elementary school. Dad’s injuries from a workplace accident at a mill had forced their temporary relocation to the ranch.
Mom had worked long hours at two jobs in Colorado to pay their bills. Aunt Lori had homeschooled him, Uncle Joe had taught him how to be a cowboy like him and his older cousins. Sam was a step closer to leaving Gilead and starting over on the Colorado ranch he called home. He no longer had family ties in Gilead. Last year, Dad and Mom had moved to a town closer to Wichita, where Dad’s family lived.
He had his doubts that Cindy could twist the Aussie girl’s arm and convince her to go on a blind date with him. If she was attractive and had a cool accent, she’d have guys at the college falling over themselves to date her. He’d pray for wisdom if Cindy managed to pull off her crazy plan and land him a blind date for Thursday night.
CHAPTER 2
The following afternoon, Bek sat in her comfortable desk chair in her dorm, notebook computer open, and her Old Testament history assignment displayed on the screen. It was due later today. She’d proofread the text and check the bibliography was complete before submitting it online. Most of the typos she’d corrected were silly mistakes from when she’d slipped back into the habit of writing Australian English.
She stretched her arms, straightened her spine, and rolled her shoulders. This was the last semester she’d be studying and living on campus. She’d return to Australia in early June and search for a new job. A career-building job that was more challenging than the tour guide work she’d left behind when she’d moved to Kansas. Maybe her big brother, Zach, was right, and she should consider studying to obtain high school English and History teaching qualifications.
Her phone pinged with a new notification. She opened the Messenger app and skimmed the long message from Mum.
It was early morning in Australia so she’d reply later. Bek missed her family back home, and she was glad Mum had finally come to terms with her decision to study in Kansas.
Mum knew why she’d chosen to leave Australia, although she suspected Mum still blamed her older sister, Kelly, for the distressing situation that had unfolded. Kelly was the wild child who ran with the wrong crowd, and she’d introduced Bek to the guy who’d tried, and failed, to ruin Bek’s life.
Bek couldn’t hold Kelly responsible for his actions. She’d chosen to date Jarrod, knowing his interest in attending church might not be genuine, knowing he could be lying when he’d said he shared her faith. That had been her oldest sister, Mel’s, assessment of the situation. She should have taken Mel’s concerns more seriously. He was an actor, after all, and he’d fooled her for too many months.
She’d repented and accepted the consequences from her unwise and misguided choices. Six months away from Sydney had given her clarity to discern what had gone wrong, and how she could protect herself from being conned again. Each day she prayed she’d walk closer with Jesus and seek His will for her life.
Her phone pinged again. A photo of Billie wearing winter clothes at the beach filled her phone screen. She read the accompanying note. Pensacola in Florida, on the Gulf coast. Billie and her husband, Zach, planned to drive south along the Florida coast to warmer weather.
Last month, Bek had enjoyed her Christmas break from college with her parents and siblings in Hawaii. Zach had described their Hawaiian Christmas vacation as Bek traveling halfway home and extending the olive branch that had pacified Mum. Zach and Billie had traveled with Bek back to the mainland. They’d spent the New Year in Nashville and hired a SUV to tour the chilly Midwest until Bek’s second semester classes started.
Zach understood why she’d wanted to spend a year at Bible college. He’d seriously considered going to Bible college himself prior to marrying Billie and had suffered through Mum’s objections to him discarding his merchant banking career. Zach’s support meant the world to Bek.
Her brother and Billie had visited several Bible colleges during their travels, including her college in Gilead. They’d soon visit a Bible college in Trinity Lakes, Washington, in the small town where their friend, Joel, was temporarily living and working.
A knock sounded on her door. “Who’s there?” Bek called out.
“Cindy.”