Tough tomboy Tabitha Conrad rides bulls and bareback broncs like a champ. In only her second rodeo season, she's headed for the finals. An over-protective older brother and his buddy sometimes take care of her a little too well. She's having trouble living up to the bold, bawdy reputation most cowgirls enjoy.<br><br>Wes Duncan lost his father and an older brother to bulls in the arena. Now he's working as a rodeo clown, determined to save as many downed riders as he can.  He finds feisty little Tab immensely attractive but as his best friend's kid sister, she's off limits.<br><br>As much as he admires her spunk and determination, every time she comes out on a bull, he almost has a heart attack. What can he do to keep her safe? And if he gives in to his heart and his lust, who will keep her safe from him?  Before they know it, Tab and Wes are caught up in a whirlwind of passion and misunderstandings. It takes a very close call to bring them to their senses and get Tab up for the ride of her life.

Cowgirl Up

Wes had another man, a guy in rodeo clown garb, by the throat, pinned against the back of a trailer. “You filthy, yellow, chicken-shit sorry excuse for a man! What the hell were you doing, cozying up with some buckle bunny behind the chutes while a rider needed help? I ought to kick the dog turds out of your sorry ass. Its no thanks to you that Tab made it over the fence. If she hadn’t, I swear I’d have killed you already.”


The shorter man had begun to turn pale, hardly able to speak. He flailed awkwardly, struggling against Wes’s iron grip. “I—I—That bull never goes after riders. How was I to know?”


Wes let off another string of the foulest language Tab had ever heard him use. “Any bull can turn on a downed rider, you dumb fucker. You’re getting paid to be out there and lure them away. You told me you wanted to take it today and I let you. I was hung over bad enough I knew I couldn’t do a good job.”


Chapter 11