Bryson Merritt may have started life as a broken baby in a basket, but he got lucky with an extraordinary set of circumstances that brought him his adoptive parents. Rich, supportive, and kind, they've given Bryson everything he's ever needed in order to deal with his ongoing recovery issues. If only they could give him some luck when it comes to picking out the right kind of guy.<br><br>When Bryson meets Duke at a horse auction, all he can think about is getting Duke's sweaty hands all over his body. Until he meets Beau -- the beautiful dark horse in Duke's care, who shares Bryson's mobility and pain issues -- and realises exactly where Beau's final destination is. Enraged by what he sees as an unfair, undeserving, and cruel punishment, Bryson decides to buy Beau, problems or not, experience or no, and walks away without looking back.<br><br>However, once again forces have gathered to help Bryson out, and Bryson finds himself working alongside Duke for the sake of Beau. Bryson's attraction is rekindled, but now Duke isn't interested at all. Worse still, it looks like a possible relationship with Duke isn't the only thing that is going to end in tragedy.

Still Standing

“Beau? What’s going on, buddy? What happened?” Bryson stroked Beau’s face and side, hoping to calm the breathing pattern. He leaned down and listened to Beau’s chest as if he knew what to make of whatever he might hear. He made a mental list of everything that could possibly go wrong with anything: poisoning, heart failure, disease, heat stroke, allergic reaction, parasite, insect bite. Then he realised that he was wasting precious time. He reached for his phone, panicked when he couldn’t find it—it was alwaysin that pocket—then remembered his previous Google searches, his findings, his phone in his hand…“The ledge!”


Chapter 41