Catch Me A Cowboy by Jacquie Underdown Page A

Wil.
    Emily stood by and watched the theatrics, conflicted about the result. On one hand, she was happy to see Regina go because that meant she had secured more time with Wil. And, on the other, she felt guilty because her own intentions were insincere. Then again, she could guarantee that every other girl’s intentions were also dishonest.
    The consensus on the way back to the contestants’ quarters was that nobody could be sure, from now on, exactly who Wil desired and who would be sent home.
    Emily was desperate to vent to Xanthi, so after dinner and a shower, Emily snuck out the back towards the thick-trunked tree in the distance.
    â€˜Did you survive the cut?’ asked Xanthi when she answered the phone.
    â€˜Yes.’
    â€˜You don’t sound very happy about it.’
    Emily pressed her head back against the tree and sighed. ‘Wil’s a great guy.’
    â€˜And that’s a problem because?’
    â€˜Because he asked if I was willing to leave my life for the country and I said yes.’
    â€˜And?’
    Emily screwed her nose up and clicked her tongue. Did her best friend not know her at all? ‘Surely, if I win this, they couldn’t possibly expect me to move here. I can’t cook for starters, and you know I hate housework. What else would I do here?’
    â€˜Who says you’d have to do any of that?’
    Emily switched the phone to her other ear. ‘Are you trying to get rid of me?’
    Xanthi laughed. ‘No, I’m just saying that if you like this guy, then see where it goes. You have no idea what his expectations are.’
    â€˜I know he wants the winner to move to the farm.’
    â€˜Yeah, okay. But when? I’m sure he’d be just as willing to make sure the relationship works first before anyone is expected to move anywhere. And besides, you may end up falling head over heels for this cowboy and find yourself willing to do anything for him.’
    Emily scoffed. ‘I doubt it.’
    â€˜It sounds to me like you may have some feelings for him already?’
    Emily closed her eyes and bit down on her lip. She did. She knew it. Because she would never feel this guilty about lying if he was someone she hadn’t developed some crude emotions for. But how could that be after such a short time?
    She had watched reality shows in the past and thought the contestants were brilliant over-actors, but perhaps she’d been too harsh. Being a part of the show, bundled together on this farm, was a different experience altogether. Yes, it was contrived, but she was real. Her emotions were very real. And she was sensing that Cowboy was the same.
    â€˜I respect him,’ she said.
    â€˜Right. Respect? That’s a step above doubting his motivations like you were last time we spoke.’
    A crackling noise in the distance broke through the silence. ‘I better go. There’s someone here,’ she whispered.
    â€˜Oh. Okay. Call me—’
    Emily hung up and shoved the phone in her dressing gown pocket. She focused on the dim landscape around her. The sound was getting closer. Quick footsteps, like an animal. Emily’s heart rate ratcheted. It could be a wild boar, or something equally dangerous. She tensed and spun to rush back to the house when she heard loud panting.
    She glanced behind her as a creature sprung out from the long grass and jumped at her legs. Emily bit back a scream until she realised it was a dog. It was wagging its tail and in no way threatening.
    A chuckle sounded in the distance, accompanied by long footsteps. ‘She won’t hurt you,’ came a deep male voice that made her body come alive.
    Wil.
    He was strolling towards her. ‘Sorry, Daisy got away from me and I didn’t want to call her back, in case I drew attention to you.’
    Emily shook her head and tentatively petted the dog’s head.
    â€˜Not a dog person?’ he asked with a chuckle.
    â€˜That obvious?’
    â€˜A