Page 55 of A Cameo for a Cowgirl

“It’s great, thank you.”

She glanced out the panoramic window. The restaurant had rotated to now show a different view, one reaching beyond downtown’s high-rise buildings and stretching through the prairies to where the peaks of the Rockies could just be seen. Where the ranch was. Where the western town was. And where a certain man was. The man she’d watched on TV today, and a man who desperately needed Jesus. Lord, touch him.

* * *

Harrison grasped the bouquet in one hand and knocked on the door. She’d already called him forward, but this was taking things to a whole new level. But after the past few days of questions that forever circled in his brain, he needed to finally ask them or go insane.

And now, it was Friday evening, and with the shooting schedule meaning he’d gotten off early, he’d arranged for Maxine to pick up these flowers so he could deliver them himself.

He took a delicate sniff. He hoped she liked wildflowers. They didn’t smell like some flowers he’d given women before.

The door opened, and Mrs. James appeared. “Harrison?”

He cleared his throat like a nervous schoolboy. “Hello Mrs. James.”

She smiled. “Leonie, please.”

“I, uh, wondered if Cassie was at home.” Her car said she was.

“Oh.” Her gaze dropped to the flowers then lifted to him. “I’m afraid she’s not here. She’s been in the city the past few days.”

In the city? Doing what? There with whom? Was she on a date—with a good Christian man? “When does she return?”

“On Sunday, after church.”

Church. Of course. He should’ve known.

By then these flowers wouldn’t look as fresh and would be fit for the trash. “Um, is Poppy here?” She might appreciate flowers as a thank you for all the driving she’d done for him.

“I’m afraid you’re all out of luck. She’s in Winnipeg helping out a friend.”

He thrust the bouquet at her and smiled his most charming smile. “Well, these are for you. To say thank you for your hospitality on that day I got bitten.”

Leonie took the brown paper-wrapped bouquet gingerly, and smiled. “I’m sure the original intended recipient would still like them when she returns.”

“No, don’t tell her.” He took a step back. “I don’t want her to know.”

“But she’ll see them, and ask questions, because heaven knows my husband hasn’t given me flowers in thirty years.”

“Oh.” His heart sank. “I didn’t realize that. He should have, though. I mean, given you flowers.”

She chuckled, fortunately. “That’s what I’ve said more than once.” She gestured for him to come inside. “Would you like to join us for dinner? It’s just me and Derek tonight.”

“I shouldn’t. You two probably would like to spend the night together.” He winced at how that sounded. “I mean—”

“We’ve spent plenty of nights together.” Her eyes twinkled. “But if you’re trying to say we should go on a date then I’m afraid we don’t do that very often either.”

“Well, tonight could be the perfect opportunity.”

She shook her head. “Not for a man who gets as exhausted as he does. Besides, Derek says he prefers my cooking to anything he can get in a fancy restaurant. And when we can have the best Angus steak in the province here, why spend a fortune paying to eat it somewhere else?”

Good point. “He sounds loyal.”

“He is. I’m very blessed. Derek is such a good man, a faithful husband, and a loving father.”

Harrison’s heart prickled.

“And I don’t mind if you’re here to explain why I suddenly received flowers from a handsome young man, even if we both know I’m not who he came to give flowers to.”

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