Cowboy Six Pack

by Kari Lynn Dell

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  www.melissakeir.com

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  Cowboy Wrecked

  D’Ann Lindun

  Other Titles by D’Ann Lindun

  The Cowboys of Black Mountain:

  A Black Mountain Christmas

  A Cowboy To Keep

  Ladies Love Cowboys: the daughters of Clem Jamieson

  Promise Me Eden

  *

  Mississippi Blues

  Vaquero

  *

  Anthologies:

  Cowboy Country

  Cowboys Forever

  Cowboy, Mine

  Cowboy Time

  Cowboy Yours

  Dreaming Of A Hero

  First Ride

  Five Roads From Beltane

  Holding A Hero

  Lovin’ Christmas

  More Cowboy Country

  Rock Stars: Our Songs

  Cowboy Wrecked

  Copyright © 2017 D’Ann Lindun

  All rights reserved.

  COWBOY WRECKED

  There’s nothing Rayanne Whitfield wants more than a family to call her own. Top bull rider Luke Greer is badly injured in a riding accident, leaving him unable to sire children. Can these two find a way to build a life together?

  DEDICATION

  To Brandi, always.

  PROLOGUE

  December

  Las Vegas, Nevada

  Luke Greer settled onto the back of Drugstore Cowboy, a red brindle Brahma bull. The crowd hushed, waited in anticipation for the matchup of the year—top rider against top bull.

  Making sure his bull rope was secure, Luke gave his helmet one last push onto his head, took a deep breath and nodded. The gate swung open. The bull hesitated for a moment, before exploding into 1,800 pounds of enraged beef intent on getting the cowboy off his back. Just as determined to ride him, Luke gritted his teeth and held on, his left hand wrapped desperately in his rigging, his right waving like a flag in the wind.

  One second.

  The bull jerked Luke’s shoulder so hard it felt dislocated. He gritted his teeth.

  Two.

  The massive beast lunged, landing with a thud that snapped Luke’s jaws together.

  Six to go.

  In what had become his signature move, the bull launched himself up into the air, throwing his enormous head toward the ground when he landed. Although Luke had studied tapes, and talked to other cowboys about how to ride the beast, the move still caught him off balance. He threw his weight back. But the bull’s momentum sent him flying forward. Catapulted him over the bull’s head and onto the hard, cold arena floor. His mouth and nose filled with dirt.

  Stunned, he lay still for a second. Was anything broken?

  He spit out mud. Fought to suck in air.

  Pushed up on his hands.

  Fell on his belly.

  Rolled over and lifted his head.

  A few feet away Drugstore Cowboy slobbered and slung his head from side-to-side. He pawed, throwing dirt into the air. The enraged Brahma wasn’t content throwing him in front of the Thomas and Mack crowd, packed in for the last round of the National Finals Rodeo; Drugstore Cowboy wanted to smash his rival.

  With a bellow, the bull charged.

  Too late, Luke tried to scramble out of the way, crab crawling backwards. Before he could make it to the safety of the fence, the Brahma’s massive head smashed into his face, one hoof stomped his stomach, the other ground into his groin.

  Luke’s spine rattled and he saw stars.

  With a scream of agony, he flopped back onto the sand.

  Where were the bullfighters?

  Dimly, he saw them move in and tempt the angry bull away from him.

  ~*~

  Where am I?

  Luke fought his way through the fog. He was surrounded by white—ceiling, walls, sheet covering him.

  What the hell?

  He blinked. Still in a cloud of white.

  “You’re awake.” A voice next to him seemed to come from nowhere. Somehow managing to turn his head, he spotted a petite brunette in the brightest pink he’d ever seen. She looked like someone had dunked her in Pepto Bismal. Even her hair tie was hot pink. Thank God. He thought he’d lost his ability to see color there for a bit.

  “Where am I?” His voice sounded raspy. His throat felt like he’d swallowed half of Nevada’s sand.

  She adjusted an IV drip line that ended in his right hand. “UMC Medical Center. You were hurt pretty badly a couple days ago, but we patched you up.” She lifted the sheet and fiddled around with a bandage across his abdomen and groin. He felt numb from the waist down, but not paralyzed. His worst fear. If he couldn’t ride bulls he might as well be six feet under.

  “What’s wrong with me?” he croaked.

  She avoided eye contact as she poured water into a cup and helped him sip from a straw. “I’ll let the doctors explain.”

  “Thanks.” He closed his eyes, exhausted.

  “The doctor will be in soon.” The cute nurse left him alone with his fear. What was she not saying?

  ~*~

  Luke didn’t know how long he’d slept when he was awakened by movement in his room. He turned his head and spotted a balding doctor standing by the chair next to his bed.

  “I’m Doctor Vittori. How are you feeling?”

  “Hey, Doc. Like a bull ran over me.” He tried to grin, but the pain meds had worn off and he hurt from head to toe.

  The doctor didn’t smile. “Precisely.”

  Suddenly, it all came rushing back—the ride and the way Drugstore Cowboy had thundered over him as if he were no more than a bug on a train track. “How bad am I busted up?”

  “Your right leg is broken and will require six to eight weeks in a cast. Your spleen was not as bad as we feared. Both will be fine after some time off to heal.” The doctor studied his chart. When he looked up, his expression was grim. “However, your testicles were ruptured by the bull.”

  “What?” Luke shook his head. He couldn’t remember much past the head butting the bull had given him. “My nuts were crushed?”

  “Yes.…” Luke didn’t hear more until he said, “Once the swelling goes down we’ll know for certain, but it’s unlikely you’ll father children.”

  “No kids?” Luke’s head spun. He was single and liked it that way, but he’d always assumed he’d eventually settle down and have a passel of boys. His throat tightened. “You sure?”

  “Not 100 per cent, and there are options—”

  “Yeah, I know. Adoption.” Not for him. His brother had been through an adoption nightmare. Luke had no desire to follow in his bootsteps.

  “I’m sorry,” Doctor Vittori said. “The damage was too extensive…”

  “I get it.” Luke looked away and swallowed.

  “The swelling and bruising will likely last about a month. Any longer than that, go see your family doctor.” The physician cleared his throat. “If everything goes well you’ll be—”

  “Good as new?” Luke stared at the wall.

  “Healthy. With a normal sex life.” He made a note. “No rodeo until you’ve healed. I’d give it six months, maybe more, to ride again. I know a lot of you cowboy types climb right back on those animals, but if you don’t want to re-injure yourself you’ll take my advice. We’d like to keep you a couple days for observation.” He turned to leave. “I’ll issue a prescription for pain. Let me know if there’s anything else you need.”

  “Thanks for patching me up, Doc.” Luke turned his head to look for any signs of a mistake in the doctor’s eyes, but all he found was compassion.

  “I’ll check with you tomorrow.”

  Luke managed to nod. “Okay.”

  When he was alone, he wrapped his hands in the sheets so tight he felt as if the circulation might cut off. He came from a small family—just one divorced brother. He’d always assumed he’d have a bunch of kids
to pass on his name and legacy. That was only part of it. He was a tough-as-nails bull rider. If his buddies, and worse the press, found out he’d essentially been castrated, he’d be a joke. No one would want to back him then.

  He’d lose his sponsors, his career.

  A shudder worked its way up and down his spine.

  No one could know about this, ever.

  CHAPTER ONE

  May

  Black Mountain, Colorado

  Rayanne Whitfield hefted her bag and turned off the light switch. One more week before school let out for spring break. Although she had no special plans this year, she was looking forward to some time to herself. She planned to paint her bedroom, possibly the kitchen, too.

  That reminded her she needed to stop by the market and pick up a few things. She tossed her oversized purse into the passenger seat of her economy car and climbed in giving her seatbelt a hard tug to make it reach. Maybe she ought to buy some frozen, diet dinners.

  A few minutes later, she stood inside the store staring at an unappetizing array of fish and seafood when a good-looking cowboy held up a box of frozen cod. “Is this any good?”

  “Yuck.” She made a face and shook her head. She reached into the case and picked out her favorite brand. “Try this kind instead.”

  He took her advice and tossed it into an overflowing cart. “Thanks.”

  “You’re very welcome. So are you feeding an army? There’s only me and my cat, Patches, at my house. He doesn’t eat that much.” She resisted slapping her forehead. He doesn’t care, Rayanne, and I just scared him off with the cat comment. I should’ve screamed single, lonely and desperate.

  He ignored that. “Nope. Just four of us, but we all have big appetites.”

  “Oh, well, good luck getting things they’ll like.” Damn. He had a family. The first good looking man I’ve seen in ages and he has a wife and kids. She forced a bright smile before moving away.

  “Hey, wait,” he called. “What’s your name?”

  She hesitated. Why? “Rayanne Whitfield.”

  He held out his hand. “Cody Utah.”

  Her eyes widened. “Oh my. You’re that famous bull rider who recently moved to town.”

  “That’s right.” He gave her hand a firm shake.

  “Well, welcome to our little spot. Oh my. I’ve never met anyone famous before. This is so exciting. Wait until I tell Patches.” The cat, again!

  “Listen.” He paused. “Would you like to come out to the ranch sometime? I mean, there are other people there, but I have all this food and I don’t think we can eat all of it.”

  She giggled nervously. Did he think she could eat all the extra groceries? She fought her doubts. “I’d love to. What time?”

  “How about six-thirty?” He didn’t sound enthused. If she weren’t staring at another lonely night of a TV dinner and a rerun on the tube, she might have reconsidered.

  “Perfect.”

  “I live out at the old—”

  “I know where you live. I’ll see you promptly at six-thirty.” Giving him a jaunty little wave, she practically danced down the aisle. Not only had a handsome cowboy invited her to dinner, he had kids. Some might shy away from a divorced man with children. Not Rayanne. At twenty-nine, she hadn’t even been engaged. A ready-made family sounded perfect.

  ~*~

  Cody had showed her around his ranch and they’d settled on the porch swing. Rayanne hadn’t seen any children, nor any sign of anyone else. She opened her mouth to ask why when the door burst open and one of her former students flew out. He stumbled to a stop when he saw her. “Hey, Miss Whitfield.”

  “Hi, Justin.” What was he doing here? Maybe he was one of Cody’s students.

  “Cody, my mom needs help. One of the heifers is in the ditch and Mom can’t get her out alone. Can you help us?”

  With an apologetic glance at Rayanne he hesitated. “I can’t—”

  Rayanne could see he was torn, and she waved him away. “Go. I’m fine.”

  He paused. “I’m sorry—”

  “I understand,” she said. “Go, before the cow dies.”

  Justin sped toward the ATV parked near the corrals.

  “Hold on.” Cody disappeared inside for a minute. When he returned, one of the best looking men Rayanne had ever seen followed him, hobbling on crutches. “This is my buddy, Luke Greer. He’ll keep you company until I come back, if that’s okay?”

  “It’s been awhile since I’ve hung out with a pretty lady.” Luke’s blue eyes twinkled. “We’ll make do, Miss…?”

  “Whitfield,” she managed, rendered nearly speechless by being dumped on a stranger. “Rayanne.”

  Luke waved Cody and Justin off. “Rayanne and I’ll figure something out.”

  “Thanks.” He hurried away.

  “I should just head home.” She stood and took a step when Luke caught her sleeve.

  “I was about to grill myself a steak. Why don’t you stick around and eat with me?”

  Although her stomach rolled, the thought of sharing another rubbery TV dinner with Patches didn’t appeal to her. “If you’re sure it’s not too much trouble…”

  “Not at all.” He sounded sincere, yet she hesitated. “There’s plenty.”

  She nodded stiffly. “All right. Thank you. If you’re positive—”

  “Absolutely.” He opened the door with his elbow. “I’ve got the grill going out back. Would you like lemonade? Or a beer? Something stronger?”

  Although something stronger sounded good she said, “Lemonade, please.”

  “You got it, darlin’.” He crutched through the house, into the kitchen where he leaned the crutches on the counter and poured them both a tall glass of lemonade. “Shall we go outside? The meat’s grilling and it’s nice on the porch.”

  “All right.” He seemed pleasant enough, but she was still smarting from being dumped on him like an old bag of clothes.

  A covered patio overlooked acres of grassland dotted with cattle. A chilly breeze blew off the San Juan Mountains. Two huge steaks sizzled on an outdoor stone grill built into one corner of the structure.

  “Are those more of Cody’s bulls?” Rayanne looked at the cattle.

  “No. We’re facing Laney Ellis’ place and those are hers. That was her son, Justin, who dragged Cody off just now.”

  “I know.” She held her drink with both hands. “He was one of my students a few years ago. I can’t believe he’s taller than me now.”

  “You’re a teacher?” He sounded interested, not bored.

  “Yes. Second grade.” She pulled her sweater close.

  “Are you cold?” He pushed a chair close to the enormous stone grill. “It’s a little warmer here. Come sit down.”

  Giving him a surprised glance, she took the seat. The heat from the stone fireplace swept over her. “May’s sometimes chilly in the Rockies. But you probably know that…”

  “I’m an Arizona boy.” He flipped the steaks. “But I’m learning about these mountains and how cold it can get here.” He grinned. “Especially at night when I’m alone.”

  Heat suffused Rayanne’s cheeks. Did he mean something by that? She was lonely, not stupid enough to jump in bed with a stranger, no matter how sexy. She glanced at him from under her lashes. His blue eyes twinkled and his lips quirked upward. Taller than her five-four by at least six inches. Lean, but muscled. One hot cowboy.

  He spoke. “How do you like your steak?”

  “Medium-well, please.”

  “Another minute and these will be perfect. Excuse me.” He crutched inside the house, returning in a moment with a picnic basket. Placing it on the table, he said, “Steak, corn-on-the-cob and baked potatoes. We need butter, sour cream, salt and pepper. Anything else? Steak sauce?”

  “No, thank you.” Her stomach grumbled.

  “Belly up to the table and put on your feedbag.” He headed inside again. “I’ll be right back.”

  Feedbag? Did he think she ate like a horse because she carri
ed a few extra pounds? So what if she did? Not every woman was a size two. Rayanne blinked back tears. She wanted to go home. This entire evening had been a fiasco from beginning to end. It had been too much to hope that a handsome man might find her attractive.

  ~*~

  Luke kept a smile on his face though his insides twisted up like a bull rope. Cody was hung up on Laney Ellis, so why in the hell had he invited another woman here? According to his explanation, he’d issued a casual invitation that Miss Whitfield totally mistook as a date. But, to run off on her was bad manners any time.

  At any rate, Luke got stuck with a situation he wanted no part of. It had been six months since the wreck and he’d kept a low profile, going home to his parents’ place in Arizona to recuperate. When Cody, his best friend from the rodeo circuit, asked him to spend a few weeks teaching up-and-comers to ride bulls at his brand-new rodeo school, it seemed the answer to Luke’s prayers. He’d jumped at the chance to be around the sport he loved without climbing on a bull.

  He didn’t want any romantic entanglements. So far, no one seemed to find it odd that he’d gone from Luke the Lover to a man who didn’t date at all. If he were inclined to go out with someone, Rayanne would not be his choice. He liked women who wore skintight Wranglers and were apt to shimmy out of them at the drop of his Stetson. A lady, especially a prim and proper schoolteacher, was not on his list of potential partners.

  He’d feed her and send her on her way. When Cody got home he was in for an ass chewing. Forcing a smile, he carried the condiments outside and slid into the seat across from his unwanted date. “I’m starving. Dig in.”

  She took a bite of steak and closed her eyes as she chewed. “Delicious.”

  “It’s just steak. Anyone can fry one up,” he said.

  “Maybe, but this is very good.” She opened her eyes and he stared into them. He hadn’t noticed before, but she sported the oddest colored irises he’d ever seen. He supposed some might say sea foam, but the strange shade—a light green that defied exact description—reminded him more of spring sagebrush back home than the ocean.