Wishing on a Rodeo Moon

WISHING ON A RODEO MOON

Grace Brannigan

Women of Character Contemporary Series

Echoes From The Past

Once and Always

Heartstealer

Wishing on a Rodeo Moon

Women of Strength Time Travel Trilogy

Once Upon A Remembrance

Soulmates Through Time

Treasure So Rare

Author Website: http://www.GraceBrannigan.com

All Characters, places and events are fictitious and are not associated or inspired by any person living or dead.

Wishing on a Rodeo Moon

By Grace Brannigan

Copyright 2012 Elaine Warfield

Published by Elaine Warfield at Smashwords

ISBN: 978-0-9801108-7-6

Smashwords Edition, License Notes

All rights reserved. This book is protected under the copyright laws of the United States of America. No part of this book may be reproduced by any means whatsoever, mechanical, photographic, electronic or in the form of an audio recording or stored in a retrieval system, transmitted or otherwise be copied for public or private use -- other than for brief quotations in articles and reviews without prior written consent from the publisher Questor Books.

This book is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you're reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to Smashwords.com and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author. Happy reading!

Grace

Questor Books, P.O. Box 100

East Jewett, New York, 12424 USA

About Wishing on a Rodeo Moon

Tye is a risk taking, partying cowgirl, a bull rider at the top of her game, until the night a bull drops dead and pins her beneath him. With her rodeo career in limbo and bitter over the loss of her leg below the knee, Tye needs to redefine who she is without rodeo.

Ten years before she split with the man she loved over rodeo, but now Jake 's back and offering her a lending hand.

With his return, Tye begins to wonder if they can recapture the love they once shared.

However, she's determined to return to rodeo and Jake wants no part of it. He'll help her get well, but when it's over, he's the one walking away this time.

Can two strong willed people find a common ground to heal each other's hearts or will rodeo rip them apart forever?

Chapter One

Someday, that bull would kill someone. Tye Jenkins just knew it. She straddled the top rail of the bull chute as old Hit Man moved restlessly from side to side.

Tye let her gaze roam the rodeo yard. Her heart jumped like a young colt on a brisk morning as she stared, transfixed, at a dark-haired man. Jake Miller. He stood close by, a cocky look of assurance on his lean face. He was a head taller than most of the men around him, a stranger in business clothes among mud-spattered cowboys. His suit looked expensive, not the most common attire down by the pens. She had never before seen him dressed like that, yet he carried it off with nonchalance and elegance. He stood, feet planted on ground churned up by countless boots and three days of rain, his dark head bare to the falling mist. Tye didn’t try to stop the smile spreading across her face. Only Jake could pull off a suit at a rodeo in the drizzling rain.

She hadn’t seen or heard from Jake in ten years, not since that terrible night she’d left. He’d showed up now, the night she planned to remember for the rest of her life -- the night she’d make the rodeo finals. With the bittersweet knowledge of the past firmly in her mind, Tye sensed it was fitting Jake should be here to see her triumph.

Even knowing she was short on time before her ride, she continued to stare at Jake. Why was he here? What was that expression in his face -- a mixture of pain and want? Tye wiped the mist from her eyes, knowing she was wrong. She drew a deep breath.

He had changed, matured, yet something in his eyes remained the same. How long had she loved that strong face with its wide cheekbones, no-nonsense jaw touched by the faintest shadow of beard and deep-set eyes of the lightest blue? Her seventeenth summer she had loved him with a young woman’s vibrancy. They’d spent endless time together, planning, talking, dreaming. Back then, Tye had thought Jake could do no wrong.

She drew a deep breath and looked around. Why was he here? It wasn’t to see her! He was already drawing attention: she could see some of the girls nudging each other. Her throat dry, Tye drew a deep breath and then pressed her lips together. There were a lot of handsome faces like Jake’s, but he had a presence. He always had. Jake was special, that’s why she had loved him so much, until she had walked away.

Tye Jenkins!

Hearing her call, Tye stood up against the metal bars, gripping the top rail tightly. As she did so the bull in the chute hopped sideways, rattling the metal gates.

Adrenaline pumping, Tye jerked her gloves on, her gaze sweeping the yard, oblivious to everything until her glance lit once more on Jake. He was still there. Seeing him broke her concentration, brought in a flood of memory. Live, intense heat struck Tye and she closed her eyes tightly for a brief moment in exasperation. She had gotten over him. Anyone with a lick of sense knew ten years was a long time to pine over any man.

Deliberately, she looked away. Rubbing rosin on her gloves and rope, Tye centered her attention one hundred percent on what she knew of the bull, Hit Man. True to form, he was bouncing in the chute like a young kid throwing a temper tantrum. Hit Man shot her a glance now and then, probably to see if his head games were rattling her. He was one of the oldest bulls on the circuit, but anyone in rodeo knew he’d give you the ride of your life.

Tye's heart pounded wildly in her chest and up into her throat as she threw her leg over the chute and climbed down on the bulky-muscled bull. Quickly, she gripped the flat, braided rope as the bull lunged from side to side. Dry-mouthed, Tye wrapped her hand while the bull bellowed. He turned his head and seemed to glare at her with one eye, then with a quick twist tried to horn her.

Watch your legs there, Tye! someone shouted, but she had already pulled them up. Tye focused on keeping her feet from being pinned between the animal's sides and the metal bars. Steadying hands of the cowboys at her back helped her stay upright as the bull continued to ram the sides of the chute.

Her fingers tightened on the rope and she gave the signal to open the gate. With vivid clarity Tye saw the gate swing open, felt the rush of air from her lungs. Like a race car in its first heat, a ton of Brahma bull exploded into the rodeo arena; twisting and spinning. His cloven hooves sank into the mix of mud and manure. He knew his job and damn! he did it well.

The ornery bull did his best to defy the laws of gravity. He lunged forward, coiled to the right, came down, whipped to the left and dove again. Tye had watched this bull and knew what to expect, but every bone in her body was being jolted to hell and back. She was determined to ride it out and do it in style. As the bull spun, she spurred him, her concentration intense.

The clock in her head ticked off. Tye held fast like a winter's burr on a blanket. Two. Three. . .this was the longest six-second ride of her life. Five. Triumph began to burgeon in her chest. She had him. Hit Man wasn't getting away.

As the bull reared his head up, they hung suspended in the air for a moment. Then, with surely no more than a quarter of a second left, Tye felt him twisting, going over, taking her with him.

All time stopped, silence reigned, the cheering crowd disappeared. There was only she and Hit Man. It seemed to Tye, in that split second of realization that the bull had won. She tried to throw herself clear, but she couldn't get her hand free.

They slammed into bone-chilling mud. Tye felt her head snap sideways, saw the dull grey sky overhead. Clods of dirt and mud slapped her. She smelled manure, then sweat and heat rolling off the animal, which lay atop her. When she tried, she couldn't move, so she lay still, her legs pinned under the dead weight. If looks could be believed, the bull had dropped dead.

#

A kaleidoscope of images flashed before Tye. Her first pony, the mare Daddy brought home from the rodeo. Ribbons on her wall, the first bull she had ridden. The gate opened and Tye knew again exhilaration mixed with fear. What a ride. A high like no other.

Daddy, a hard-drinking, fun-loving man. A family man, when he was home. He had been gone a lot when she was growing up. One rodeo after the other. Daddy said he lived to rodeo.

Tye experienced again the guilt inside her, but she hadn’t spoken up, not even when her brother, Ben, smashed the plaque listing Daddy's rodeo honors. If only she had told her family it was her fault Daddy had left. If she had tried harder to win more ribbons and trophies, maybe Daddy would have stayed.

A dark-haired man flitted in front of her, with piercing blue eyes, so light they looked ghostly. Jake. She had always loved him, never stopped. But he hated her for what she’d done. His mouth moved, his beautiful mouth. She didn't understand the words, but they had a calming effect.

The crazy swirl of remembrances slowed and dimmed as Tye floated gently.

Chapter Two

Tye moved her wheelchair into place on the van’s elevated ramp. The motor whirred as the lift lowered her to ground level, then came the gentle bump: sounds and sensations that had become all too familiar over the last months. Gripping the chair’s wheels nervously, Tye assessed her surroundings. After four weeks in the hospital and another eight weeks at the rehab center, she found this place as a sight for sore eyes.

Some of the tenseness eased from her shoulders. She had left her new living arrangements up to her brother Ben, and he hadn't disappointed her. The ranch was set right in the heart of Oklahoma, and yet appeared to be in the middle of nowhere. For a brief moment, as she stared at the modern, one-story ranch house and dark brown stained barns off in the distance, she was reminded of home. An ache began to churn below her ribs. Home.

Someday she would have to deal with the mess she had made of her life.

Tye thought back to that fearful night three months ago. When she woke up in the hospital recovery room, Mama had been there. And surprisingly so had Daddy.

Tye’s memory flashed to her first glimpse of the empty space where her leg should have been. In a span of seconds, fear, desperation and finally disbelief had ripped through her. She would never be the same. Her life was over. Tye recalled again, with shame, the hateful words she had flung at her Mama.

When she had finally accepted the fact that her lower leg was gone, she had made a vow: nothing and no one was going to keep her from returning to rodeo. She wanted it back with a vengeance. She’d worked hard at her therapy and religiously performed the exercises.

Just because her leg had been amputated below the knee didn't mean she was quitting. Getting to the rodeo finals might take longer than she’d first anticipated. She had to believe she could make it or she’d go crazy. Rodeo had consumed her life for so long, there was nothing to fill the void.

She had seen the look in her daddy's eyes that one time he had come to see her. The pity had made her angry and determined to get back to one hundred percent. She wouldn’t give up. She would see what look he wore when she made the finals. Finally leaving the rehab and coming to this place to regroup was the first step in achieving that goal.

She also needed to repair the strained relationship between her and Mama. Each day Tye put it off, it became that much harder. Pride wouldn’t allow her to go back home after the terrible things she’d said to Mama in the hospital. As for her apartment, it had been taken over after the accident by someone who could afford expensive rent. So she had no place else to go except here.

Looking around, Tye began to feel a surge of hope. For the first time since her accident she could be comfortable and relax somewhere. Wherever she looked was pure Oklahoma. Vast and familiar.

Tye wheeled her chair onto the smooth blacktop. The walkway continued toward the house, to a side door with a short ramp.

Ben had assured her the ranch house was fully equipped to handle special needs. It belonged to a friend of his, but Tye hadn't been interested enough to inquire further. At the time she'd been in an apathetic frame of mind. She had never dealt with depression before. Now she struggled with it almost daily, and it depleted her.

At the best of times she doubted herself, wondered if she was crazy to try and be normal once more. At the worst, she wondered how she could resume normalcy if part of her, a leg she’d always taken for granted, was gone. The doubts raged mostly at night, but sometimes they crept into her daylight hours.

I'm going inside, Tye told the driver. I'll get my bag later.

That's okay, Tye, he said with a quick smile. I'll bring it in.

Tye shrugged, unable to summon the energy necessary for ordinary responses. She wheeled herself up the short ramp. A large knobbed handle had been screwed into the door above the doorknob. Tye pushed it down and the door swung inward.

She wheeled herself through the doorway and into a large, bright room lined with floor-to-ceiling windows. The walls were painted a warm ecru with darker wood trim.

A kitchenette occupied the far right side of the room, and grab bars were placed at various points throughout the kitchen. The stove and sink were open beneath for wheelchair access. The cabinets were low and also had large handle pulls.

Tye moved into the bedroom. Attached to the headboard of an attractive maple-wood bed was a trapeze for ease of movement. Closets with wide handles lined one wall.

Tye inspected the small bathroom off the bedroom. This room had also been equipped with grab bars for the tub and toilet, with an optional bath seat for the tub.

She rolled her head back, the remainder of the tension draining from her body. The apartment had been well planned. Tye heard someone in the other room. She wheeled her chair back to the living room, irritated that the driver hadn’t left.

I told you to leave them. Her voice trailed off as surprise -- shock -- clutched her insides.

Jake Miller stood in her doorway.

Tye’s heart fluttered in a panic, anxiety churning in her chest. Jake -- dammit, what’s going on? she whispered. He stepped inside, holding her suitcase and overnight bag, then leaned down and placed a case on either side of his booted feet.

He straightened and walked forward. He looked taller and bulkier than Tye remembered, but then ten years was a long time. Light blue eyes in a dark, lean face caught her off guard, making her grip her fingers together. He’d always been so handsome, and so unaware of it. Needing time to collect herself, she drew a short, choppy breath. The sensation of panic escalated. She needed to ease it, but all she could do was stare. Jake. God! Why was she being punished? Hadn’t the empty years been punishment enough?

Jake nodded at her, his gaze steady. She sensed the wariness in him. She’d always been able to pick up on Jake’s emotions. They used to laugh about it. Tye wasn’t laughing now; she was doing her best to ease the pain in her throat.

She couldn’t tear her gaze away from him, but she wanted to. Lord, how she needed something else to concentrate on. She felt vaguely disoriented, then something clicked into place. She remembered him from the night of the accident -- the dark, almost black hair; those eyes, so direct and piercing. . .Those recollection caused her breath to grow shallow. She rubbed her palms together, his voice swirling through her memory. She was in quicksand, flailing. She hated this lack of control.

Anxiety made her flinch back from the hand he held out now. She needed to catch her breath, but it was erratic, getting away from her. It all seemed too much. She prayed she wasn’t in for another anxiety attack.

Hello, Tye. It’s good to see you. Some part of her registered his deep voice, rich and smoky. He appeared so calm, as if seeing her didn’t bother him at all. Her presence conjured no emotion in him, at least none that showed on his face. Tye’s panic subsided just a fraction. She ignored his outstretched hand. She couldn't touch him. How could she be expected to touch him as if they hadn’t parted with harsh words and tears ten years ago? All those wasted years.

Her breath escaped noisily and she heard a sound come from her throat, a weird, short bark of surprise. She tried again. What are you doing here in my apartment? She tried to see around him and knew instinctively they were alone. Where's the driver?

I told him I'd bring in your cases. He left.

What the hell is going on? she asked. Tye could feel herself losing control, but she didn’t care. She needed answers while she could concentrate. Damn, she felt ready to drop. Those light eyes gazed at her, but she couldn't even begin to guess at his thoughts. Ten years!

This is my place, part of my house, that is. Ben said you needed somewhere to stay. One large hand indicated the room. It's been empty, so I told Ben you could use it.

Not liking the feeling of being cornered, Tye wheeled away from him. This is your place. Your house. Ben rented me a room at your house? Tye held her breath, waiting for him to deny it. She needed to stall for time. Her thinking process felt like mush.

"Yes. I assumed Ben had told you.

Guess it slipped his mind, Tye snapped. He just told me I’d be renting a room from a friend of his. I don’t recall him mentioning that you were that friend.

Tye didn't want to feel the tightness in her chest. She was confused, not a feeling she welcomed. No way could this man be her blue-eyed protector from that terrible night. Her memory of that time seemed skewed, as if she’d seen it through someone else’s eyes. She had thought often of that night, but it didn’t seem real.

Her senses ultra-heightened, Tye knew he stood behind her. She could hear him breathing. She clenched her thigh, looking down at her legs, the one pant leg empty and flat. Why was she like this?

Jake cleared his throat. I was there that day.

That day? she repeated hoarsely, turning back to him. Desperately, she searched his face.

Jake nodded.

I don’t want to talk about it. Tye knew the truth and it tore at her. She had known from the moment she saw his eyes. She would never forget the look there, the compassion, the fear. Why had he been afraid? He had been her protector the night of the accident. In a hidden recess of her mind, she had clung to the memory of his strength during her hospital stay, and then later during the stressful, intense rehabilitation process.

It wasn’t real, she muttered. She had thought of him as a guardian angel, not a real man. Not her Jake. Damn! Tye clenched her hands. Get over it, a voice screamed inside, he’s not your Jake.

She hadn’t asked anyone about him. She had wanted to believe it was all a figment of her imagination, a spiritual presence sent during her desperate time of need. He had kept her calm while she had been extricated from under that bull. He had been her lifeline, then when medical help arrived, she hadn't seen him again. He had left her, but knowing he had been there during the worst of it had made her feel protected and special. It was strange, but she had never felt so protected in her life, and all because of a man who now looked at her as if she meant no more than a stranger.

Tye pulled her thoughts back. They were strangers.

She clenched her jaw and set her shoulders. This is too much. I cannot handle this. She had said the words out loud. Oddly, she felt as if all her dreams were being ripped away. Tye tried to stay calm, but as her gaze darted around the room, regret sliced through her.

This place would have been perfect, she muttered. Now it’s all ruined. It wasn't quite clear as to why, but she knew she couldn't stay here in such close proximity to Jake. The real Jake was no guardian angel, but a man who despised her. Maybe he had a right to after what she had done that night long ago.

Tye.

Without thinking about it, Tye wheeled quickly toward him, adroitly aiming the chair between the door and his legs.

Jake quickly pulled his toes in. Hey, he said, I've brought all the bags in. There's nothing else out there.

Tye threw back her shoulder-length blond hair and looked straight up at him. As soon as you move, there'll be something out there. Me.

He looked startled and lifted his brows. Deftly, Tye wheeled past him. She heard his footsteps follow her down the ramp. She wheeled the chair faster, faster, her arms feeling as if they’d fall off.