Luke’s Ride
The time has come for him to cowboy up…He’s spent fifteen years at the rodeo, protecting riders when they hit the dirt. But what exactly is a bullfighter after a bull takes him down in the arena and lands him in a wheelchair? That’s what Luke Cameron’s still struggling to figure out. And if Katie Garrison, in the middle of a controversial divorce, can help him find a new kind of life…well…he’s not one to turn her down! But she’s still a married woman and her husband isn’t going to let her go without a fight. Besides, Luke may never walk again. What kind of life can he give a woman like Katie?
Читать Luke’s Ride онлайн беплатно
The time has come for him to cowboy up...
Heâs spent fifteen years at the rodeo, protecting riders when they hit the dirt. But what exactly is a bullfighter after a bull takes him down in the arena and lands him in a wheelchair? Thatâs what Luke Cameronâs still struggling to figure out. And if Katie Garrison, in the middle of a controversial divorce, can help him find a new kind of life...well...heâs not one to turn her down! But sheâs still a married woman and her husband isnât going to let her go without a fight. Besides, Luke may never walk again. What kind of life can he give a woman like Katie?
Luke let out a soft wolf whistle.
âDang, girl! Why do you keep that handsome mane bundled up like an old-maid schoolmarm?â
Katie tried to gather her hair back into some order and finally settled for pulling it to hang through the back of the cap.
âMy husband didnât like me to wear it loose,â she replied. âToo casual, he said. He wanted me to cut it to look more polished.â Reflexively she rubbed the third finger on her left hand.
âYour husband sounds like a damn fool. Sorry, but thatâs how it looks to me. Iâm glad you stood your ground.â
âMe, too, not that it matters now.â
âSure it doesâit matters to you.â He studied her. âSo...you ran away from home?â
Thanks for joining me and the Cameron family for the third novel in the Cameronâs Pride series. Lukeâs Ride digs deep into the dangers cowboy bullfighters face every time the chute gate swings open and explores the true meaning of âcowboy upâ both in and outside the bull-riding arena. I hope youâll enjoy becoming better acquainted with Luke Cameron and Katie Garrison, cheering them on through their challenges and triumphs. Iâd love to hear from you with comments or questions: [email protected].
Enjoy the ride!
Helen DePrima
HELEN DEPRIMA grew up on horseback on her grandfatherâs farm near Louisville, Kentucky. After spending a week on a dude ranch in Colorado when she was twelve, Helen fell in love with all things Western.
She spent wonderful weeks on the same ranch during her high school summers. After graduation she headed for the University of Colorado to meet the cowboy of her dreams and live happily ever after in a home on the range. Instead she fell in love with a Jersey boy bound for vet school. She earned her degree in nursing and spent four years as a visiting nurse in northern Colorado while her husband attended Colorado State University.
After her husband graduated, they settled in New Hampshire, where Helen worked first in nursing and then rehabilitating injured and orphaned wildlife. After retirement, she turned again to earlier passions: writing and the West, particularly professional bull riding.
To my husband, for his advice and support.
Acknowledgments
To my endlessly patient and supportive agent Stephany Evans who endures my megrims with good grace.
To Melissa Maupin, my valued First Reader for her encouragement and excellent suggestions.
To Earlene Fowler for her kindness and prayer.
Love you all!
Contents
A HAND TOUCHED his shoulder, a gentle shake at first, then rougher. âLuke, youâre dreamingâwake up!â
He gave a last shuddering gasp and opened his eyes, still seeing the great bulk of the bull hurtling toward him, the dirt slamming up toward his face. He rubbed his eyes with both hands, trying to erase the images.
âOkay,â he said. âIâm awake.â
The hand shifted from his shoulder to his wrist as Betsy Fulton, his favorite night nurse at Hill Country Rehab, stepped from behind him to the side of his bed. Smart galâheâd been known to strike out in the nightmareâs grip, and from the hips up he was still quick and strong as a mountain lion.
Nights were always bad. All his life, Luke Cameron had worked hard and played harder, able to sleep like a healthy animal. Now he dreaded the hours after the bustle died down in the unit and he dawdled over dessert and coffeeâdecaf only after 4:00 p.m.âas long as anyone would hang around to gab. Eventually the night staff would chase him to his room, citing the benefits of a normal sleep-wake cycle. Alone in his bed, he fought off sleep with its dreams of running and leaping, laughing with his fellow bullfighters in the face of danger, only to wake pinned to his bed by the weight of his useless legs.
