Page 64 of Her Cowboy Blind Date

“Sure. It’s not as cold outside tonight.”

Cindy stood. “Ooh I’d better leave you lovebirds and head back to the dorm.”

“Will you be at the play?” Becky asked.

“Of course.” Cindy put her empty plate on a tray. “I have a ticket near the front. Good Friday is always the best performance.”

He nodded. “It’s the day for it.”

Becky smiled. “It sure is.”

He helped the girls clear the table and walked with Becky toward the exit.

She reached for his hand, threading her fingertips through his.

A lump formed in his throat. The Logan secret was driving him crazy. How could he bring up the subject and encourage her to talk?

“I’m glad I can wear sneakers at the play,” she said.

“Me too.” The comfortable sneakers he wore were his usual walking shoes.

“I can’t believe tonight is the finale.”

“Yup. My final show after seven years.” Huge gulp. He’d miss working with the crew next year.

“Moving to the ranch is a big change.”

“A good change.” Irrespective of what happened with Becky and his parents, he’d made the firm decision to relocate from Gilead to the ranch.

They walked in silence. His frustration escalated another notch. He had no choice but to raise the subject himself.

“Becky, I have a question.”

“Sure. What’s up?”

He slowed his pace. “When were you going to tell me about the Logan secret engagement story?”

She gasped. “How did you hear?”

“Mrs. Alleghany. Yesterday morning.”

“Oh.” She let go of his hand and crossed her arms across her body.

“What’s the deal?”

She kept walking, head down. “It’s complicated.”

Was that all she had? He counted to twenty. Silence. “And what does that mean?”

She looked away, her body language rejecting his attempts to continue the conversation.

He took a deep breath. And another deep breath. Kept walking. Becky’s rejection was like a beesting that would fester over time.

Miley had behaved in the same way when Sam had confronted her about Matt. Miley had shut down. Refused to talk. Didn’t defend herself. Didn’t attack him. Didn’t engage.

“I can’t do this, Becky.”

She stopped walking, swinging around to stare at his feet. “Do what?”

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