Page 11 of Her Cowboy Blind Date

“Cindy volunteered two years ago. She had a small on-stage role in the crowd scenes.”

“She’d mentioned the play was fun and exhausting. I love the theater, and I’m prepared to put in the work.”

“Have you done any acting?”

“No. Never. I’m not interesting in acting.” Or actors. Once burned, never again. “How about you? Have you been in front of the camera?” He had the looks to pull it off.

He chuckled. “I hate public speaking. All those people watching? Not for me.”

“That’s fair. Last year I picked up a tour guiding job. It was fun, but it would have been horrible if I hated talking into a microphone.”

“Was that a tourist job in Australia?”

“Yeah — in Sydney, which is where I’m from. It had its moments because I’m a history major with limited foreign language skills and most of our guests were from Europe or Asia. What do you do for work?” Cindy had mentioned he fixed machinery.

“I’m a farm mechanic.”

“What does that involve?”

“Spending a lot of time driving to farms and ranches.”

“Do you do cowboy work?”

He grinned. “I grew up doing ranch hand work. Not so much these days.”

“So the hat isn’t for show.” She pointed to the beige cowboy hat. “You really are a cowboy?”

“I am. Don’t you have cowboys in Australia?”

“We have Jackaroos and Jillaroos. Their hats are a bit different.”

“Interesting. I’ve heard about your massive outback ranches.”

“We call them cattle stations.”

“Okay.” He drank his tea. “Does that mean you have sheep stations, too?”

“Good guess. They’re located a long way from where I live.”

“You’re in the city, right?”

She nodded. “A beach suburb.”

“Nice.”

“Can you fix cars as well as farm machinery?”

“Do you need help with a car?”

She shook her head. “I don’t need wheels. Everything is walking distance.”

“I do work on cars. My uncle, Cindy’s dad, taught me a few things. I’ve always liked fixing stuff.”

She sipped her hot chocolate. “Do you have family in Gilead?”

“Not anymore, except for Cindy. Last year Mom and Dad moved closer to Wichita.” He paused, his gaze serious. “Do you miss Australia?”

“I do. I’ll be home in a few months.”

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