The Texan's Surprise Son
TAKEN BY SURPRISEBull rider Jacob Baron is shocked to discover he’s a father. Despite the lack of strong role models in his own life, he’s determined to do right by his son… even if Cody’s attractive aunt, Mariana Snow, seems to question his parenting skills at every turn.Jacob is the perfect dad. He also has gorgeous eyes and a mouth that can only be described as sexy. But Mariana’s own father was a rodeo star. She knows their charms can’t be trusted. She’s only hanging around for Cody’s sake, that’s all. At least, that’s what she keeps telling herself…
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âMay I speak to you a moment?â Her glance darted briefly to his brothers. âPrivately.â
âWe were just heading home,â Jacob said.
âThis is important.â
âIt seems you know my name.â He gave her a careful smile once they were alone. âMind telling me yours?â
âMariana Snow.â
Jacob felt as if heâd taken a blow from behind. âIâm sorry about your sister. I heard what happened.â
Leah Snow. That explained why heâd found this woman familiar. Three years ago heâd dated her sister, though describing their one long weekend together as dating was a stretch. He hadnât seen her since.
Still, the rodeo world was a small one, and heâd learned of Leahâs unexpected passing after a short and intense battle with breast cancer.
âThank you for your condolences,â Mariana said tightly. âItâs been a difficult three months.â
âI didnât know Leah had a sister. She never mentioned you.â
âIâm not surprised.â Mariana reached into her purse.
âLeah didnât tell you a lot of things.â She extracted a snapshot and handed it to Jacob.
He took the photo, his gaze drawn to the laughing face of a young boy. âI donât understand. Who is this?â
âThatâs Cody Snow. Your son.
For the past eighteen years CATHY McDAVID has been juggling a family, a job and writing, and doing pretty well at it, except for the housecleaning part. âMostlyâ retired from the corporate business world, she writes full-time from her home in Scottsdale, Arizona, near the breathtaking McDowell Mountains. Her twins have âmostlyâ left home, returning every now and then to raid her refrigerators. On weekends, she heads to her cabin in the mountains, always taking her laptop with her. You can visit her website at www.cathymcdavid.com.
To my son, Clay.
I couldnât be more proud or more impressed by the strides youâve made in recent months. This journey youâre on is a difficult one, but Iâm with you every step of the way. Love always, Mom
Contents
Only a fool would venture near eighteen hundred pounds of bucking bull crammed into a metal chute the size of a closet. Jacob Burke Baron not only went near the bull, he intended to ride the son of a gun. All the way to a win.
Eight seconds and a score better than eighty-three were all that stood between him and a gold buckleâfirst prize at the Louisiana State Fair Rodeo. He could do it and come one step closer to earning a championship title at the National Finals Rodeo in mid-December.
Also at stake today, beating his younger brother Daniel. After three rounds of bull riding over a long, tiring weekend, Daniel currently held the number one spot. Stealing that from him would be icing on a very tasty cake.
âSteady,â Daniel said in a low, calming voice that might have been meant for the bull or Jacob. Hard to tell.
His brother straddled the side of the chute, acting as spotter for Jacob, who levered himself above the bullâs back, waiting for the exact right moment. When Daniel had taken his run earlier, Jacob spotted him. They might be fierce competitors, but they were also brothers. Close ones. The good and bad circumstances of their lives had created a bond nothing and no one could sever.
Gripping the sides of the chute, Jacob lowered himself one slow inch at a time. The bull, a heavily muscled brute named Gumption, sensed what was coming and kicked the chute wall with a hind leg. The loud bang reverberated in Jacobâs ears.
He ignored it. Once in the zone, nothing short of an earthquake would distract him.
Glancing down, he studied the bull and made mental notes. Which way was Gumption looking? Did he paw the ground with his right or left foot? How fast was his breathing?
Jacob had watched the bull perform with other riders during the first two days of the rodeo. Because of his diligence, he knew Gumption charged straight ahead when released. Jacob would incorporate that important detail into his strategy.
Bull riding, rodeoing in general, was a physical sport. No question of that. But there was also a mental aspect, and it could make the difference between a competitorâs leaving with a win or nothing more than a round of sympathetic applause from the audience.
With painstaking care, Jacob settled himself in position on Gumptionâs back and grabbed the flat braided rope with his right hand. Only a rope. With a cowbell attached for weight. There were no saddles or bridles in bull riding. Letting the rope drop on the off side, he waited for Daniel to reach down and grab it. In addition to spotting, Daniel would âpull the ropeâ for Jacob, enabling his grip to be as tight as possible. It was a job for only the most trusted.
