Page 54 of Her Cowboy Blind Date

“How far to our destination?”

“Less than an hour.” It wouldn’t be long until she noticed the hills creeping up on the horizon.

“I can wait.”

“That works.” She was an easy driving companion. An easy fit in his life. Spending time with Becky was a pleasure. He loved having the opportunity to give her a new experience and show her a unique slice of Oklahoma.

Pete had accompanied him the last time he’d taken this drive. Pete and Emma were swamped with wedding preparations and counting the weeks until Easter Saturday. He and Becky had caught up with the soon-to-be newlyweds over coffee at church this morning, and Emma had mentioned she’d started counting down the days.

Miley now avoided him at church. A big relief. Pete was grateful his family’s relations with Miley had improved, and there was less tension. Becky had received Pete and Emma’s tick of approval. His friends assumed his close friendship with Becky was moving into relationship territory. They weren’t wrong. He wanted them to be right.

Becky gasped and pointed at the windscreen. “Hills. They’re real hills.”

He shook his head. “I’m glad you’re happy.”

“I miss hills. You’d understand if you’d seen where I grew up in Sydney. We live in a neighborhood known as the eastern hill in Manly.”

“Manly. That’s the name of a real place.”

“There’s a story behind it. If you visit Australia, I’ll fill you in.”

If he visited. He wanted to visit her homeland after hearing her rave about her home in the beautiful city by the ocean. He’d follow her to the other side of the world, if she loved him.

Love.

The only word that could describe the feelings running through him like a fast-moving stream. If only love was enough. He’d pray love could be enough.

* * *

Becky inhaled slow, deep breaths, pacing herself. This was why she avoided the step machine at the gym. Her legs muscles were feeling the uphill workout as she hiked along a trail and staircases leading to the summit at Cathedral Mountain. Sam followed close behind, the trail too narrow for them to walk together.

They’d stopped for lunch in a quiet picnic area in Gloss Mountain State Park, Oklahoma. The brochure she’d collected at the gate entrance had updated her on the park’s fascinating history. She’d read the signs and tourist information, intrigued by the plentiful rocks that looked like clear pieces of glass. She could understand why, in the 1800’s, the park was known as Glass Mountain. A typographical error was blamed for the name change.

The handrails along the trail came in useful, especially for the rough section of ground leading to the summit. Her hiking boots did their job, keeping her feet steady as she navigated the final steps to flat land at the top.

Sam walked over and reached for her hand. “What do you think?”

She threaded her fingers through his, her tingles from his touch ramping up higher than the summit. “Not what I’d expected. I’d expected trees and greenery, not red dirt and sparse vegetation.”

“It’s different, for sure.”

“And we can see lakes in the distance.” She adjusted her baseball hat, glad she wore jeans and a lightweight long-sleeved t-shirt. A gorgeous spring day. The Cadillac gleamed in the sunshine in the parking lot below.

“I call this place a hidden gem.”

“It sure is. Reminds me of the Australian outback.” She pulled her phone out of her pocket. “The view is stunning. We need photos.”

He let go of her hand. “Go for it. We have time to walk the trails.”

“It’s so flat up here.” No steep peaks like other mountains.

“Watch your step. It’s not summer but it’s warm enough for rattlers.”

“Huh.”

“Rattlesnakes.”

“Oh.” She stepped toward him, clutching his arm. “Are they deadly?”

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