When his past collides with her present, only true love can survive the wild ride...
Bullfighter Ian Tall Chief is determined to get off the reservation and onto the pro circuit. After a wild youth, and some big mistakes, heâs found his focus. The only person who can break his concentration? Lacy Evans, owner of the Straight Arrow Ranch.
But the beautiful cowgirl is dealing with problems of her own. Sheâs running the ranch alone, after her parentsâ deaths. The macho rodeo world is not ready for a female stock contractor. And sheâs discovered her parents were keeping secrets from herâones that rock the very foundation of her identity. Can she trust Ian to be the good man he claims to be?
âI know how this goes.â
Lacy paused before adding, âThere are two kinds of men here. The first doesnât think a woman like me should be anywhere near a bull because we might do better than them and that would obviously be the end of the world. The second thinks Iâm nothing but a one-night stand that hasnât happened yet.â She pointed a finger at him. âGuess which one you are.â
His lips...nice lips, rounded and full andâno, stop it, Lacy. She was not going to start thinking about his lips! All they were doing were twisting off to the side, as if he was thinking about laughing at her but trying not to.
Unfortunately, in trying so hard not to stare at his mouth, her gaze drifted back down to his chest. The wet T-shirt left nothing to the imagination. Pecs, nipples!
She snapped her gaze to the front windshield of the truck. She wouldnât look at him. That was the best solution.
âHave you considered,â Ian Tall Chief said in an amused drawl, âthat there might be another kind of man here?â
Dear Reader,
Welcome back to the rodeo, where dreams are madeâand brokenâin eight seconds in the arena on the back of a two-ton bull.
Ian Tall Chief has something to prove. Heâs got a secret, one he guards with his life: heâs got a son he gave up for adoption. Itâs been six years and he wants to be someone his son can be proud of, which is why heâs determined to make it to the rodeo finals as a bullfighter.
But his path is blocked by one very stubborn woman. Lacy Evans. Sheâs the owner of the Straight Arrow Ranch and her bulls have been giving Ian nothing but trouble. Lacy is as tough as nails, yet thereâs something vulnerable about her that makes Ian want to protect her.
When Lacyâs hidden past comes to light and collides head-on with Ianâs, will these two make it out of the arena?
One Rodeo Season is a sensual story about accepting your past and fighting for your futureâand falling in love. I hope you enjoy reading this book as much as I enjoyed writing it! Be sure to stop by sarahmanderson.com and sign up for my newsletter at eepurl.com/nv39b to join me as I say, Long Live Cowboys!
Sarah
SARAH M. ANDERSON may live east of the Mississippi River, but her heart lies out West on the Great Plains. Sarahâs book A Man of Privilege won an RT Reviewersâ Choice Best Book Award in 2012.
Sarah spends her days having conversations with imaginary cowboys and American Indians. Find out more about Sarahâs love of cowboys and Indians at sarahmanderson.com and sign up for the new-release newsletter at eepurl.com/nv39b.
To Hannah and Willa and to parents everywhere who love the children they gave up and the children they adopted.
CHAPTER ONE
âCOME ON, COME ON.â Ian Tall Chief bounced on the balls of his feet, adrenaline dumping into his system. The bull rider in the chute apparently couldnât get his grip and kept resetting. The bull kept trying to rear up and Ian couldnât blame the animal. This was taking forever. This was the last ride of the long goes, the opening round of the rodeo. âCome on, Randy.â
Ian had met Randy on the Total Championship Bulls Ranger circuitâthe minor leagues of the TCB Challenger circuitâlast year. He was friends with most of the riders. They were little more than kids, but hell, he wasnât that much older. Bull riders were a good time on a Saturday night.
If they made it that far. Randy was in no hurry to get on with his eight-second rush. At this rate, they would be in this arena in Hays, Kansas, all night long.
From behind him, he heard his partner, Black Jack Johnson, snort. Later, Ian knew, Black Jack would give Ian crap about his impatience. A good bullfighter waited. A good bullfighter did not rush in early. Bad bullfighters rushed in and spooked a bull. That got a bullfighter or a bull rider or even a bull hurt.