Page 17 of Her Cowboy Blind Date

“I like being able to walk without pain.”

“There’s that.” He grinned. “Or toughen up and regain your strength.”

“I’m doing okay.”

“Sitting in front of a screen isn’t doing you good. You’re riding tomorrow?”

Cindy nodded. “A short ride. Becky hasn’t been near a horse in years.”

“We can fix that.” Joe turned to Becky. “Do you know your way around a horse?”

“I know not to walk behind them.”

He chuckled. “That’s a start. Can you ride?”

“I could when I was a kid. We’ll see if muscle memory is a real thing.”

Lori held her spoon mid-air. “Where did you learn?”

“Family friends own a horse stud near Sydney.”

Joe sipped his water. “You’re lucky to have that opportunity.”

She nodded. “It was fun.” Her parents’ old school friends had built a lavish country mansion and lived like royalty. Their horse stud wasn’t homely and welcoming like Cindy’s family ranch.

Cindy’s father was the quintessential cowboy, and everything Becky had imagined in a career rancher. He kept them entertained with witty conversation about life on the ranch. Who knew the antics of cows could be interesting?

Becky glanced over at the living room, watching the time tick over on the tall antique grandfather clock. Sam was due anytime. Lori had put aside a serving of stew, and they’d have pie for dessert after Sam arrived. Becky could understand why Sam didn’t want to miss out on dinner.

She helped Cindy clear the table, rinse the dishes, and load the dishwasher. She poked around the pantry with Lori, fascinated by the vast collection of glass jars full of preserved fruits and vegetables from last year’s harvest. The large glass jars of tomatoes would be awesome in her pasta sauce.

Becky picked up a jar of marinated olives. “Your pantry is like a farmers market stall.”

“I enjoy doing the preserving, but it is time consuming.”

“But so worth it. On Sundays, after church, I’d visit a nearby farmer’s market with my friends and meet Mum there. She’d bring her walking trolley bag, and we’d stock up on organics.”

“Does your mother attend church?” Lori asked.

Becky gulped. “Sometimes. It’s complicated.” Mum was burned by bad experiences, years ago. When Mum was worked up about church issues, it wasn’t fun being on the receiving end. Dad claimed he was too busy for church. His schedule as a surgeon was crazy and unpredictable.

“We’ll head into town for Sunday service, followed by a late lunch here. We rest on Sundays, unless there’s an emergency.”

“Sounds like a plan.” According to Cindy, the small church in town held lovely services. Becky looked forward to a new church experience, worshiping with Cindy’s family and congregation.

Cindy poked her head into the pantry. “Let’s get started on our meal prep before Sam arrives.”

“Sure,” Becky said.

Cindy and her mom had worked out a plan to cook a range of meals tonight and tomorrow that could be frozen. Cindy returned home at least once a month, often for family celebrations, and she could bring back a new supply of meals to top up Becky’s freezer.

Her play schedule would make it harder to find time to cook in the dorm. Easy and nutritious soups, stews, and pasta dishes would be helpful. Becky picked the short straw and gained the fun job of slicing multiple pounds of onions. Her eyes watered, and she grabbed her sunglasses from her purse.

Lights flashed outside and Lori smiled. “That would be Sam.”

The back door opened, and Sam strolled inside, luggage in tow, and his cowboy hat hiding his unruly curls.

“Hey.” Becky stood and joined the chorus of welcomes.

---