Page 40 of Her Cowboy Blind Date

“Yes, please.”

Mrs. Alleghany took over the conversation. “Have you heard about poor Leo? He broke his arm riding a push-bike. Fancy that.”

Hmm. She tapped her card and paid her for coffee. “Who told you that story?” A tall story with not even a shred of truth.

“I can’t remember, dear. He’s lost his chance to get discovered like our John Johnson. A terrible disappointment.”

She nodded and pressed her lips together. If Mrs. Alleghany only knew the truth, which was a juicer story than she’d concocted. Leo had injured himself while doing a handstand on the back of a horse. The broken leg had put a crimp in Leo’s dream to pursue stunt work for TV and movies.

Becky thanked Letty for her coffee and walked outside. She pulled on her hood and continued her usual route along Main Street. A guy in a gray hoodie crossed the street ahead of her. Logan. She kept walking and he was soon beside her, matching her pace.

“Hi, Bek. Thanks for agreeing to meet me.”

“What’s going on, Logan? Why are you here?”

“It’s a long story. My life is different now to when you knew me in Australia.”

“Okay.” She sipped her coffee. The Logan she remembered was a hedonistic playboy with a white powder habit. She’d seen him high more often than sober.

“I hit rock-bottom last year. After I returned to the States. I was drinking too much. Taking too many drugs.”

It was good he’d recognized he’d had a problem. “Did you go to rehab?”

“Yeah. My mentor, John Johnson, took me under his wing. Helped me clean up. Led me to Jesus.”

“You’re a Christian.” Wow. She had wondered, since the passion play was very Christian. Thank you, Jesus. He’d saved Logan from a path that led to destruction.

“My faith journey hasn’t been easy. I’ve made a lot of mistakes. Hurt a lot of people.”

“Haven’t we all.” She’d made her share of mistakes.

“I’d like to talk more, but the paps will be sniffing around soon. I don’t want you dragged into the spotlight. I’m assuming you’re calling yourself Becky because you’re hiding in Gilead.”

“That’s right. After everything blew up with Jarrod, I had to get away.”

“Did he treat you badly?”

“He cheated on me.” Her gut tightened. “The photos were splashed over the internet for the world to see.”

“I’m sorry, Bek. He’s not a good guy.”

“I know that now.” Jarrod had said he was happy to wait for intimacy until they’d married. He’d attended church with her. He’d said and done all the right Christian things in public. He’d talked about whisking her away to Bali and proposing on a tropical beach at sunset. The paparazzi had exposed his double life and sent her running to the other side of the world.

“Bek, I’d like to chat more. As friends. I promise I’m not hitting on you.”

She nodded. “I’d like to hear your story. Hear more about how you met Jesus.”

“For sure. The paps will make it tricky. I want to protect your privacy.”

“I understand and appreciate that.” Jarrod’s thirst for media attention had destroyed her privacy. “The town will soon be full of visitors. That could make it easier to blend in.”

“Or it could make it harder to spot the paps and their cameras. I have limited options for where I live and how I can give them the slip. I’ve got a couple of guys on standby to work as my lookalikes and confuse everyone.”

“A good idea.”

“That’s why I don’t want you looking for me. You’ll see my doubles around town. Approaching them in front of the paps will expose you to unnecessary scrutiny.”

“Sure.” She walked along a tree-lined path on campus. It was beautiful and quiet, but there were plenty of places to hide in bushes or climb trees. “What about the play? I can’t avoid you there.”

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