The Irish Cowboy: Bear Creek Rodeo

by Jessica Marin

  The Irish Cowboy

  Bear Creek Rodeo Series

  Jessica Marin

  Copyright © 2019 by Jessica Marin

  Cover Design by EDH Designs

  All rights reserved. Without limiting the rights under copyright reserved above, no part of this book may be reproduced, stored in or introduced into a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means (electronical, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise) without written permission from the author, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, brands, media and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously.

  To Sara, thank you for believing I was worthy to be part of this amazing series.

  Contents

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 1 of The Celtic Cowboy

  Chapter 2 of The Celtic Cowboy

  Bear Creek Rodeo Series

  Also by Jessica Marin

  Acknowledgments

  About the Author

  Chapter One

  RHETT

  The sun sits low on the horizon, painting the sky with vivid hues of orange, pink, and lavender. The colors of the sunset only accentuate the emerald color of the grass that’s beneath me as I sit and gaze out over my family’s land. Dusk is my favorite part of the day; the part where I get to reflect on how the day went, my gratitude toward any accomplishments made, and what I hope for in my future. I inhale the fresh air, willing it to calm my concern for what tomorrow brings.

  Tomorrow is the day I leave for the start of the new Pro Rodeo season in America.

  It has always been my dream to be part of the Pro Rodeo Cowboy Association and I’ve worked my ass off to make sure I can legitimately compete with the best of the best. I started my career in Australia, making a name for myself in their rodeo circuit. I had just applied for my Pro Rodeo card, dreaming of my adventures in the United States, when tragedy struck my family, halting my career and dreams. I was in the middle of my season when I got the phone call that one of the mares we were raising at our family’s stud farm had thrown my father off, shattering both of his legs. I left everything behind and got on the first plane back to Ireland. Recovery was long and tenuous for him, so my siblings and I had to step up and take over the family business. My mother inherited the farm from her family and with my father’s business sense, they have made it one of the more reputable stud farms in all of Ireland. Being the eldest of the Kearney children, it was always instilled in me that I would take over one day and continue our legacy. After we got my father home from the hospital, my siblings and I split up the responsibilities - I handled the business operations, my brother controlled ground operations, and my sister was in charge of animal care. We became a well-oiled machine, with business actually thriving under our new system. One year into running the business and the same feelings I had for the farm as a child reared its ugly head.

  I absolutely hated it.

  Hated being tied down to one place, knowing that the future of my family’s livelihood was my responsibility. I wanted to get out of Ireland, to travel the world, and the rodeo gave me that opportunity. I’m the happiest when I’m competing, not when I’m breeding horses for other people.

  Those eight-seconds on the back of that horse gives me the chance to chase my dreams.

  Guilt eats at me like acid burning a hole through my stomach. The pain of disappointing my family silences me from even telling them. I keep hoping that my feelings are only temporary, that I’m just bitter for putting my career on hold. But then I feel like a selfish jerk for even feeling the way I do. I’m blessed that my family even has a thriving business for me to take over. Taking care of my family shouldn’t be a burden - it should be an honor.

  The hurricane of my emotions has put me in a permanent foul mood. I used to be known for being the laid back, calm, and happy Kearney child. Now I’m always tense, distant, and moody. The idea of one day being back in the rodeo was my only ray of hope, so I threw myself into training any chance I could get. As soon as my father received clearance to ease himself back into work, I applied again to enter the Pro Rodeo in America.

  Now on the eve of my departure, I question whether I’m making the right decision.

  Should I stay here and takeover the family business or follow my dreams?

  The sound of hooves thundering against the ground brings me back to reality. I look over my shoulder to see my younger brother and his stallion barreling toward me. His cowboy hat sits low on his head, his muscular physique on full display without his shirt. Ryan Kearney knows he’s a good-looking, son-of-a-bitch and doesn’t hold back his charm where the ladies are concerned. He’s proud of the fact that he’s known as the playboy cowboy. Despite his promiscuous reputation, Ryan is becoming a respected bull rider. He has spent the majority of his young career in Spain’s rodeo circuit and feels he’s ready to conquer America with me. This will be the first time we’re in the same rodeo circuit together and already the media is buzzing with headlines that the cowboys from Ireland are coming to takeover America.

  I turn back around and sigh, wishing my solitude wasn’t about to be interrupted. Even though I’m close with my brother, we’re worlds apart in our views on how to live our lives. While we’re both chasing titles and money, Ryan’s also chasing skirts. I can understand his mindset as I used to do the same thing, but as I’ve gotten older, I have higher expectations for myself when it comes to the woman I plan on spending the rest of my life with. Being alone sucks, but I’m not going to settle down with just anyone. I’m more than willing to wait for that special someone who wants me for me, not because I’m Rhett Kearney, International Bronc Rider.

  I’m looking for someone who makes me feel again.

  “There you are. I’ve been looking for you,” Ryan says while tying his horse to the same tree where my horse is tied. He sits down next to me and is silent while watching the sunset. Sweat glistens off his body and I’m thankful that he smells more like suntan lotion instead of funky body odor.

  “You need to stop riding shirtless on the grounds where patrons can see you,” I chide, wishing that I didn’t have to constantly repeat myself with him. I hate being a nag to my brother - that’s what our mom and sister are for.

  “Why? I’m gifting free public services to the men of Kildare by providing happiness to their wives when they get a glimpse of my hot body. They see me and then have something to envision when riding their husbands at night,” Ryan slaps my back and laughs at his own joke, while I just shake my head at his cockiness. One day that ego is going to get him in some serious trouble.

  “When did you get to be such a cocky bastard?” I raise my eyebrow at him, a smile playing on my lips.

  “When I realized the lasses preferred me over you.” He shrugs his shoulders, his face serious with the exception of the twinkle in his eye.

  “You wish,” I mumble, not wanting to hear about his latest escapades. Ryan gossips just as badly as our sister, Shannon, does. Normally, I don’t mind listening, but today is not one of those days.

  “When did you get to be such a moody bastard? It’s like you’ve had a tampon stuck up in you ever since you came home,” Ryan says, sensing that I’m in no mood to joke around today.

  Rip the Band-Aid off and tell him, Rhett.

  “I don’t know if I fe
el comfortable leaving Dad yet,” I answer, which is partly the truth. Our father is just now starting to get around without any help and here both of us are about to leave him. I’m just not ready to reveal the whole truth yet to my brother. I’m not ready to see the look of disappointment in his eyes.

  Or in anyone else’s eyes for that matter.

  “You’ve hired extra help and you know Shannon can run this place in her sleep.” I nod in agreement at Ryan’s words as our little sister has stepped up and shown us that while we’ve been away working on our careers, she has been the one working side-by-side with our parents on the farm for years. Even more impressive is that she still managed to do that and be the first one in the family to graduate from the university. She may only be twenty-two, but she’s mature beyond her years. She’s proven herself to be able to handle the farm better than Ryan and I could’ve ever imagined.

  Shannon deserves to inherit the farm, not me.

  I chuckle at my stupidity, shaking my head at myself for not realizing this sooner. I look up to see Ryan staring at me, his eyes narrowed, questions blazing from his eyes.

  “I don’t know what’s going on with you and it’s obvious you aren’t ready to talk about the real reasons for your pissy attitude, but know this, Rhett Malcom Kearney, this is our time to go dominate the same rodeo circuit - together!” He stands up and faces me, excitement in his expression as he looks me in the eyes. “I know you’ve seen the headlines online. Let’s go invade and conquer!” He pumps his fist in the air and I can’t help but smile at him, his enthusiasm starting to be infectious.

  “What if Dad has another accident?” I softly ask, wondering if Ryan would make the right decision.

  “Then we come home,” he says nonchalantly, as if it’s no big deal to just walk away from potentially one of the biggest times in our career. “We can’t worry about the unknown, Rhett. What we know is that we’re about to embark on one of the most exciting times in our careers and we’re doing it together. It would be nice if you were just a little bit more enthusiastic about it.”

  I see some of his fire start to diminish and I refuse to be the one to extinguish it.

  I rise up to my full height and hold out my hand to him. He looks down at it, his questioning eyes returning back to mine.

  “Ryan, it would be my honor as your brother and best friend to go together to the Pro Rodeo.”

  His smile is blinding as he grabs my hand and pulls me hard into him. We hug tightly, slapping each other on our backs like we always do.

  “Then let’s go get ready to dominate America!”

  We mount our horses and as we start to race back to the stables, I can’t help but pray that we stay safe and most importantly, injury free, during our time in America.

  Chapter Two

  TESSA

  Sponsorship contracts signed? Check.

  Concession food ordered? Check.

  Barrelmen hired? Check.

  Photographer hired? Check.

  Entertainment secured? Check.

  I run through my to-do list for today, satisfied at how much I’ve accomplished within a five hour time period. With three hours left until quitting time, I can start making my to-do list for tomorrow and maybe, just maybe, even start it early.

  Tessa Mandel, the boss babe!

  I smile at my dorkiness because I’m definitely not the boss of Bear Creek Rodeo, nor would I ever want to be. My title might only be administrative assistant, but I’ve been given the freedom to do as I please here since the general manager knows my work ethic. I give over one hundred percent even though I hate this place.

  That’s right, I hate this place.

  Hate is a strong word…

  I loathe this place.

  I loathe being looked down upon because I’m in a “man’s world”. I loathe every single cowboy, contractor or any man with two legs that thinks that I’m going to want to jump into bed with them as soon as they call me “darlin’”. I loathe the smell of manure that creeps its way into my lungs every day. I loathe seeing the animals get used and abused for entertainment.

  Some people love living the small town life, but I’m not one of those people. My heart belongs to the big city of Dallas and the memories of the happy childhood I once had before they were ripped from me the night my parents died in a car accident. At twelve years old, I was an orphan and forced to live with my father’s step-sister, who was my only living relative. She brought me to this godforsaken town and has taken everything of value that my parents left for me, telling me it is owed to her since she had to spend her own money to “raise” me.

  She didn’t raise me - I raised myself.

  Most of the time she was working to make ends meet and if she wasn’t working, she was busy with a new guy walking through our house almost every weekend, hoping he would save her. When she realized that he only wanted a quick roll around with her in bed, she would then drink herself into oblivion.

  I wasn’t going to be like my aunt.

  No man was going to save me.

  I’m going to save myself.

  By the time I was sixteen, I was going to school during the day and waitressing at one of the local restaurants on nights and weekends. Any spare hours available, I babysat. Any way to make money, I was doing it. When the big event of the rodeo came to town, I worked in the concession stand and that is how I got noticed. But it wasn’t from the general manager that I got noticed - it was from his son.

  Everyone in Bear Creek knew of Ty George. He was the handsome, up and coming bronc rider and son of Caldwell George, the general manager of Bear Creek Rodeo. Ty George had charisma, good looks, and intelligence. Every woman in a fifty mile radius wanted him.

  And for some reason, he set his sights on me.

  He was roaming the halls of the concourse in the arena two days before the rodeo that year. I was outside our concession stand, setting up the chips. A lone bag of chips fell to the floor and when I bent down to pick it up, his cowboy boots were right in front of me. I had heard of Ty, but never looked at him. After all, cowboys and rodeos really didn’t interest me. But when my eyes roamed up his body to his face and he smiled his devilish smile at me, I was smitten. I thought he was the hottest man in the whole entire universe. I was seventeen years old and had never had a boyfriend before, much less someone who looked like Ty. I naively drank up all the Kool-Aid that he served me for three months before I gave him my most precious gift of all.

  My virginity.

  I believed Ty when he told me he loved me.

  I believed Ty when he said he wanted to marry me.

  I believed Ty when he said he was going to take me away from Bear Creek.

  I knew something was wrong as soon as he pulled out of me; he was satisfied with his orgasm and I was left in pain from my first time experience. He never once asked me if I was okay. Never once consoled me through my tears. Never once apologized. My first time having sex was awful and left me wondering why it wasn’t what I imagined it to be like. Why didn’t I feel the passion I felt every time he kissed me? Where was all that heat we had together whenever we fooled around? He immediately got dressed once he was done, kissed my cheek, told me he would call me later and walked out of my house.

  And right out of my life.

  The next day he flew to Australia to train to be a part of the Australian Professional Rodeo Association. He knew he was going to Australia all along, but didn’t plan on telling me since I was never part of his plans. I tried calling him, but he refused to return my calls. He even changed his cell phone number and told people around town that he had to break up with me because I was crazy and stalking him.

  I was humiliated.

  The only two people who knew the truth were my best friend, Adeline, and Ty’s father. I had been part of numerous family dinners at the George residence, so Caldwell George knew who I was. To his credit, he also knew what kind of son he had and immediately sought me out.

  “Don’t cry over my son - he isn�
��t worth your tears,” he said to me when I couldn’t contain my emotions when seeing him. I was mortified to cry in front of him, but unfortunately, Ty got his good looks from his father.

  “I have a proposition for you, Tessa. Even though no one in this town would believe you if you decided to bad mouth my son, I would like to keep this little incident quiet. We have a reputation to keep and I don’t want anything or anyone to ruin it. I know that despite you being blinded by my son’s bullshit, you’re a smart cookie. Therefore, I would like to offer you a job as one of my administrative assistants at the rodeo once you graduate.”

  I started my new job the Monday after graduation.

  I may have been a fool when it pertained to Ty George, but I wasn’t a fool to turn down his father’s offer. It didn’t matter to me that Mr. George was trying to keep me quiet to save his son’s precious reputation. Ty did enough damage that no one would believe me anyway. Even if they did, Caldwell George was the big man around town and no one was going to cross him. I needed that extra money and with a broken heart, my drive to get out of Bear Creek was in full speed. My heart hardened a little bit more from my experience with Ty and I judged every single one of those rodeo groupies who were hoping to ride off into the sunset with these cowboys. But, I was still a human being with emotions and watching them so desperately throw themselves at these men tugged at my heart. I started journaling my whole relationship with Ty and the emotions that came with it. It was surprisingly therapeutic.

  Except instead of writing about my broken, sad ending, I gave myself a new ending.