Her Rodeo Cowboy

Her Rodeo Cowboy
Debra Clopton

Finding Her Way To Love Everything accountant Montana Brown thought she knew about love and marriage goes topsyturvy when her parents split up. Shaken, she heads to Mule Hollow, Texas, to stay with family and take a chance on an old dream: being a cowgirl. With all her might, she tries to resist the charms of a too-handsome cowboy.Luke Holden is going after his own dream of expanding his ranch. A wife isn't on his wish list. But the Mule Hollow matchmakers are fixin' to lasso Luke and Montana together—with a little faith and love.

“Great run.”

The Texas drawl startled Montana. She recognized the cowboy she’d seen watching her from the stock pen.

“Thanks.”

He grinned from beneath his straw Stetson, gray-blue eyes studying her with interest. “I’m Luke Holden, a friend of Clint and Lacy’s.”

“Montana Brown.” His handshake was strong, and he was about as cute as they came.

“Clint said you’re here to compete in the upcoming rodeo.”

He’d been asking about her. The idea sent an unwanted thrill through Montana. “I plan to.”

He grinned. “You’ll win if that’s the case.”

Her stomach did a little electric slide at the way it lit his face up. “So, Luke Holden, what do you do in the rodeo?”

“I’m supplying the stock. Speaking of which, I need to get back to it. Nice to meet you, Montana Brown.” He tipped his hat, turned and strode toward the exit.

Many women came to Mule Hollow to find a husband, but Montana had no room for complications.

And Luke Holden was one cowboy who had complication written all over him.

Dear Reader,

I hope you enjoyed Her Rodeo Cowboy. I’m always thrilled when readers choose to spend time in Mule Hollow with me and the Mule Hollow gang.

I loved the man that Luke was in this book. He didn’t let the bad in his life determine who he became, but instead, he became the man he wanted to become—the kind of man that he’d needed in his life as a child and hadn’t been blessed to have. He became someone others could depend on. Montana needed that kind of man in her life now, and she needed the folks of Mule Hollow, too. Isn’t it wonderful how God puts just what we need into our paths, just when we need it? I pray that you’ll be just what someone needs in a time of need … or that if you are in need, that God will place just the right person in your path to help you. He has done it for me so many times.

I hope you’ll join me in the next few months for the two Mule Hollow Homecoming books. They will be Jess Holden and Colt Holden’s stories. I don’t always get to write back, but I try. Still, I love hearing from readers. You can reach me at P.O. Box 1125 Madisonville TX 77864 or debraclopton.com.

Until the next time, live, laugh and seek God with all your heart,

Her Rodeo Cowboy

Debra Clopton

www.millsandboon.co.uk (http://www.millsandboon.co.uk)

I know that I have not yet reached that goal, but there is one thing I always do. Forgetting the past and straining toward what is ahead, I keep trying to reach the goal and get the prize for which God called me through Christ to the life above.

—Philippians 3:13–14

To Chuck with all my love. God is so good.

Chapter One

Her timing was going to stink. Montana Brown wasn’t one bit happy about it as she and her horse, Murdock, rounded the last barrel in the arena. They were too far away from the barrel, and it was all her fault. Poor Murdock was giving it his all and she wasn’t. Her mind—her focus simply wasn’t where it was supposed to be… .

It wasn’t on the barrels they were running, despite the awesome opportunity she’d been given to train here in this beautiful huge covered arena that belonged to her cousin Lacy Brown Matlock and her husband, Clint Matlock. It was a wonderful place on the outskirts of Mule Hollow—which just happened to be the cutest little Texas town Montana had ever seen. Honestly, she couldn’t ask for anything more perfect. But even with all these perfect conditions, instead of concentrating on barrel racing, her mind kept going where she did not want it to go … her dad.

“Focus, Montana,” she muttered, feeling her horse’s muscles bunch and gather beneath her as the powerful animal cleared the barrel. Digging her heels, knowing they needed all the speed they could gain, she urged Murdock to give it one last shot of speed as they raced toward the timer.

Forgiveness. The word snapped into her thoughts like the pounding of Murdock’s hooves. She’d been thinking about this place since she’d gotten up that morning, and her riding showed it. How do I forgive him—

“Stop,” she commanded through clenched teeth. “Focus!” Shoving all thoughts away, she tried to concentrate on moving with Murdock. No doubt about it, yes, sir, her timing was going to be as rank as a skunk on a windy day!

Crossing the time line, she pulled on the reins and leaned back with Murdock as the gray dug his hooves into the dirt and slowed. Cringing, she forced herself to look at the digital reading and her heart sank at the number, despite already knowing it wasn’t going to be good.

Some might be satisfied with the time; she wasn’t some. If she wanted to win, her time had to be better than good.

And Montana Brown was here to win.

This was her shot, and she didn’t plan on wasting it. She just had to get her head back in the game.

These last few weeks, so much of her life had been turned inside out.

When Montana quit her job and walked out of her dad’s accounting firm, she hadn’t known what she was going to do.

Uncertain and confused, she’d called her cousin, Lacy Matlock. Lacy had insisted Montana come stay with her and her husband Clint. The small town of Mule Hollow where she lived was holding a huge homecoming rodeo in a month, and Lacy wanted Montana competing in it. She’d even insisted Montana could help take care of their new baby boy, Tate, if she was worried about a job.

Montana had needed a job, but she’d been so angry when she’d quit that she hadn’t really given it much thought and taking care of a sweet baby would be wonderful while she took a chance on reviving her old dream of becoming a professional barrel racer. Believing this was the answer to prayer, Montana’d packed her bags, stored her things and headed to Mule Hollow.

She was glad to be here. Glad to have family who cared. She could practice all she wanted, and by the time the rodeo started up in three weeks she knew she could be in the running for the win. She needed that. Montana knew as well as Lacy did, that her parents’ breakup had affected her deeply.

“Stop thinking about it,” she muttered. Leaning forward, she patted Murdock’s neck. “Don’t you worry, fella, we’re going to practice hard so you won’t be embarrassed.”

As if relieved, he nodded his head and pranced a few feet. Despite their bad score, Montana chuckled. “You are the vainest horse I know and I love you.”

And she did. Poor horse had been put out to pasture the last few years as she’d gotten sidetracked with her career. Sidetracked with pleasing her dad and doing what was expected of her. But that was done now. It wasn’t an issue anymore. Forgiveness was.

“Okay, this is ridiculous. Let’s go again, Murdock. And this time I’ll give it my all, just like you are giving it yours.”

Looking up at the huge, covered arena, she closed her eyes and imagined the stands full of spectators here to watch a competitive rodeo. There was no way she was going to come out here and embarrass herself or Murdock by doing a poor job. No way! Breathing in the quietness of the place, she tried to settle her thoughts and focus. “Please, God, help me do this,” she whispered. Closing her eyes once more, she let the silence of the huge space fill her senses.

Opening her eyes, she set her lips in a firm line and her sights on the barrels.

She was going around those barrels again; but this time she was going at them like the cowgirl she used to be.

The cowgirl that she’d come back to Mule Hollow to find.

And to do that, she’d better get her head on straight, concentrate and stop letting this forgiveness issue wage war on her.

Because forgiveness just wasn’t in her heart right now.