Page 15 of Cowboy Seeks Husband

Chad lifted his head. “Shakespeare? Nice.” When Roan gaped at him, Chad laughed. “English major,” he said. “And just so you know…” He pointed at Victor, who was being guided away by Dave with just enough hustle in his step to indicate he still really needed to take a leak. “Bio Chemical Engineer.” Mousy Antoine turned around in his seat to see Chad and Roan more easily, and Chad pointed his way. “Accountant. Ben back there’s a mechanic. So we’re not all dumbasses here.”

“I never said—”

“No, but you assumed. And so did I. Don’t worry about it. How about you? I’m guessing you’re no dummy either.”

“Me?”

“Yeah, what’s your field?”

“Environmental engineering.”

Chad stared at him in silence, then began to laugh. Loudly. “Holy shit, and you’re going to live on a beef cattle farm for six weeks. I bet they’re hoping for some environmentally charged drama between you and Walker.”

Roan sat back, stunned. “You really think so?” Hours of psychological testing and interviews, but he was here because of his abandoned degree? He wasn’t so sure of that. Molly hadn’t mentioned it at all. She’d been much more into his so-called “sob story.”

“Yeah, man. Now that we’ve figured that out, the producers are going to be disappointed, aren’t they?”

“I don’t know. I guess?” Roan frowned. “Cattle farms are important to the American economy, plus there are fair ways to run them that aren’t as damaging to the environment. I have no grudge against them. You really think that’s why they picked me? My…” He didn’t want to bring up his mom. “My personality had nothing to do with it?”

“Ah, shit.” Chad patted Roan’s thigh. “Don’t listen to me. What do I know? I’m just speculating, trying to feel more in control. You know how it is.”

“Right,” Roan said, a little miserably. It didn’t matter why they’d picked him to be here—sob story or abandoned degree. He had to make sure he stayed through most of the six weeks.

He needed that money.