Lora's in the middle of a messy divorce with her bull rider ex-husband. Just because she left the WBR circuit and is making a name for herself as a trainer, now his buckle bunny of a girlfriend thinks she can take half of Lora's farm, her two best horses, and even her truck and trailer in the divorce and do the same thing. Lora's tired of propping up Billy and it is long past time he learned to cowboy up and take responsibility for his own life. She's swearing off men for good. Until her best friend introduces her to an up and coming D-series barrel racer with plans of his own.
Note: This women's fiction story contains romantic elements and the romantic plot grows stronger as the series continues.
Excerpt
“Lora!” Arden jumped out of the cab of the truck, looking so put together as always, with her light brown hair pulled back in a ponytail, her Weaver t-shirt tucked into her jeans, and her buckle from winning a round of the NFR a few years ago, glinting with the setting sun. Her boots, as brilliant turquoise as her truck, looked brand new. She raced across the gravel and pulled Lora into a hug, heedless of the eu de Vetrolin clinging to her. At least she smelled minty. “How the hell are you?”
“Better now that you’re here.” Lora stepped out of the embrace in time to see a man step out of the passenger side of the truck. “You didn’t tell me your friend is a guy. You have someone new? I thought you and Toby were engaged?”
Arden laughed. Her usual loud and boisterous laughter rang through the air and startled a flock of sparrows. “Clint? Oh god no, we’re not dating. He’s just a friend. He rides barrel racers and is riding shotgun with me for the next six weeks while his horse heals so he can get a feel for what the big leagues are like.” She motioned him over. “Come meet, Lora.” Arden whispered, “I think he’s a bit star struck at the moment.”
Clint’s long legs carried him across the gravel, his boots worn, his jeans worn in all the right places, and a plain black shirt stretched across his chest. An easy smile lit his face and his green eyes sparkled. The wind rustled his short-cut reddish brown hair, giving him a cowlick for a moment. “Hi. Arden has spoken a lot about you.” He held out his hand.
She clasped it, taken aback by his appearance and by Arden’s reaction when she’d asked if they were dating. His grip was firm, warm, and when he released her hand, she still swore she felt his touch. Oh no, the last thing she needed was another relationship. Not when the ink on her divorce papers wasn’t even there yet, though hopefully within about two months everything would be final, and she had no idea where Clint would go after his ride-along ended.
“How many horses have you brought with you? I have three empty stalls, plus can set up the dry lot with a trough and hay for the weekend. Just let me know what you need.” Lora strode toward the trailer where Arden’s horses, Stryker and Timber, were no doubt waiting.
“The usual suspects. If you don’t mind the stalls, and I can clean them and get bedding or pay a day rate if you need me to. I’ll turn them out, but thinking we all need a nice, relaxing weekend.” She opened the big door and fastened it to the side of the trailer. She stepped inside and unfastened Timber’s lead from the side of the trailer and led her out. She passed the lead rope to Lora, who led her into the barn. The three stalls were along one side, closest to the door, and she chose the middle one and led Timber, a muscled chestnut mare, into it. After removing the halter, she shut the door, then went back to the trailer. Arden led Stryker, a big black gelding, and placed him in the stall closest to the door, leaving one empty stall between her horses and the resident ones. Clint filled water buckets while they gave the horses some hay, with Arden assuring that she would make sure they got their grain later.
“Why don’t we go up to the house? I’ll let you guys argue over who gets the spare bedroom.” Lora said with a glance back at her guests.
“I can sleep in the trailer or a couch. I’ve been known to sleep on a few bales of hay.” Clint replied.
“He’s not kidding. One night he was up walking Stryker because we thought she was colicing. After the episode passed, he said he’d stay in the barn and when I went down in the morning, he was using a horse blanket for a pillow and sleeping on bales of hay.” Arden patted Clint on the shoulder. “He’s a good guy.”
“Sounds like it.” Lora wondered if Arden might be pushing Clint in her direction, and if so they were going to have to have a conversation. By the time they reached the house, Lora knew Arden was playing match maker.
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About The Author
Mary Kit Caelsto never grew out of the phase of being a "horse crazy girl". Though she's now over 40, she's finally fulfilling her dream of writing equestrian books for others who haven't grown out of being "horse crazy". She lives in the Ozarks with her four very spoiled and very opinionated horses, as well as a large flock of poultry and enough cats to qualify her as a crazy cat lady. Her husband, though not an equestrian himself, understands and supports all her equestrian dreams.
She's convinced three of the best things in the world are the smell of a sun warmed horse, the smell of leather tack, and making sure to hug her horses every single day.
Picture of the author and “SuperDuck” taken 3/2019. Hair color varies depending on mood.
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