by Tessa Layne
She yelps, then lets out a soft giggle. That giggle does me in every time, and she knows it. Giving me a sly look, she raises her voice. “Not to take away from the happy couple, but Mason and I wanted you to know we got married this afternoon.”
Stay Tuned for Mason Carter and Luci Cruz’s story in August of 2019
Read on for an exclusive preview of Prairie Redemption, featuring Parker Hansen’s brother, Cody, coming in November
“You’re up, Cody,” Colton Kincaid called, offering an arm to help him climb into the chute. “Eight seconds. You’ve got this. Clear your head, don’t think about anything but being one with the animal.”
No matter that the animal was Damnation, the fiercest bull on the PRCA circuit this year. Damnation was undefeated. Not one cowboy had stayed on for the full eight seconds. Cody Hansen shot Colton a look of thanks. He aimed to break the bull’s streak tonight. Tonight’s rodeo in Omaha was the last qualifying show for the NFRs in Vegas. He was already in third place, but he wanted to go in on top. Show the world that the riders from Prairie, Kansas, were not to be ignored.
Tonight, he’d come full circle, and he was proud that Colton had mentored him every step of the way. This ride was for Colton as much as it was for him. Adrenaline coursed through his veins, sharpening his focus, dulling the noise of the crowd. He worked the rope, heating the rosin, then jammed his glove into the handle. He flexed his grip, checking his position, then gave the signal to tighten the rope one last time. Beneath him, Damnation snorted. He leaned forward speaking low to the beast. “You’re mine tonight. I’m gonna take you for a ride, fella. I know your moves, so bring your best, because this is it. Tonight’s the night Cody Hansen goes down in history.
Over the loudspeaker the announcer introduced him to the crowd. “And from Prairie, Kansas, bull riding’s prince in denim, Cody Hansen. Heading into the NFR’s in third place, mamas it’s time to lock up your daughters because this prince charms more than the bulls. Give it up for Coooodyyyyyy Hannnnnnnnseeeennnnn.”
The roar of the crowd washed over him like a balm and he raised his arm, nodding. Damnation burst from the gates with a hard twist to the left, Cody threw his weight back, keeping his spurs high, and moving as a counterbalance to the two-thousand-pound beast. But then Damnation paused, and instead of twisting back in the opposite direction like Cody had anticipated, he popped straight up, and then kicked his back legs up. Cody’s body whipped forward, his center of balance lost.
In quick succession, the bull lurched and twisted, flipping him like he had no bones. Try as he might, he couldn’t regain his purchase, and he listed farther and farther to the right, the full weight of his body pulling against his right shoulder. And then he heard it, a loud pop, as his shoulder slipped out of the socket and his arm went slack. Pain shot up his arm, blinding him. He had the sensation of flipping feet over head, being tossed like a rag doll, and somewhere in the back of his mind registered the gasp of the crowd. The noise in his ears was deafening, but whether it was his screams, someone else’s, or simply the roar of adrenaline, he couldn’t tell. His ribs exploded in pain, sending white-hot sparks into his vision. A sickening crunch, the roar of a freight train. Shit. Was this how it was going to end? Just as he was about to grab the brass ring? Fuck this bull. He tried to lift his head, open his eyes, find his bearings, but everything felt so heavy, so slow. And with a sound like the clang of a bell, utter darkness.
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WHERE IT ALL BEGAN…. COWBOYS OF THE FLINT HILLS
PRAIRIE HEAT
PRAIRIE PASSION
PRAIRIE DESIRE
PRAIRIE STORM
PRAIRIE FIRE
PRAIRIE DEVIL
PRAIRIE FEVER
PRAIRIE REDEMPTION
The Heroes of Resolution Ranch
A HERO’S HONOR
A HERO’S HEART
A HERO’S HAVEN
A HERO’S HOME
Coming in 2019… Hang onto your hats! The badboys are coming to Prairie
MR. PINK
MR. WHITE
MR. RED
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
I’m incredibly grateful to Anne Valburg for all her medical expertise but especially in rural medicine. Many thanks to my friend Nell, and her amazing little daughter who loves Batman and who inspired Lulah. You added so much to this book.
Lastly, I’m so grateful to my writing team – who make my books and words look so good – Kara, Charity, and Amanda. You help make every single one of my books shine.
To Kait Nolan aka Blurb Doctor – thanks for your wit, and your generosity, you have a gift and I’m grateful to be the beneficiary!
And always to Mr. Cowboy and my fierce, sassy daughters. To coin a bad Bryan Adams song – Everything I do, I do for you.
