“Ladies and gentleman,” Mark, the rodeo emcee, announced. “Welcome to the opening ceremonies of the Bakersville Rodeo! We’ve got a week full of fun and adventure planned for everyone. Zach and Dusty McCray have brought back their bull, El Diablo, and are still offering that half-mil purse to anyone who can ride him for a full eight seconds. Maybe this is the year. Any of you cowboys up for the challenge?
“Our rodeo queen contest is underway, and we’ll have this year’s pretty ladies come out and strut their stuff in a minute. First though, please welcome last year’s rodeo queen, Amber Cross. Miss Cross is escorted by her father, the one and only Thunder Morgan!”
Deafening applause echoed from the stands of the rodeo arena as Amber took the stage on her father’s arm.
“Amber won’t be single much longer. Next week, after she crowns our new rodeo queen, she’ll become Mrs. Harper Bay!”
More thundering applause.
“Congratulations, Amber,” Mark said.
“Thank you so much, Mark. I’ve enjoyed being your queen for a year, but I’m going to love being Mrs. Bay for the rest of my life.”
“Well said, Amber. And Mr. Morgan, it’s an honor to have you here at our small-town rodeo. But I understand you’ve been here before.”
“Yup,” Thunder said. “Busted broncs here fifteen years ago and won a large purse. Thank you, Bakersville!”
Thundering applause again.
Amber and her father left the stage as Mark introduced the grand marshal of this year’s parade, Chad’s brother Zach McCray.
Harper was waiting for her in the wings.
“You looked beautiful out there, baby,” he said.
“Thank you, kind sir.”
“You know, the good people of Bakersville don’t know what a favor I’ve done for them.”
“And what might that be?”
“I let them have you for two more months when I should’ve marched you straight to the justice of the peace and made you mine forever.”
“Next week’ll be here before you know it,” Amber said.
“True. And you know what’ll be here even before then?”
“What’s that?”
His dark eyes gleamed. “Tonight.”
Continue The Temptation Saga with Book Six: Trusting Sydney
Continue the The Temptation Saga with Book Six
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Chapter One
Bakersville, Colorado, Present Day
“Ladies and gentleman,” Mark, the rodeo emcee announced. “Welcome to the opening ceremonies of the Bakersville Rodeo! We’ve got a week full of fun and adventure planned for everyone. Zach and Dusty McCray have brought back their bull, El Diablo, and they're still offering that half-mil purse to anyone who can ride him for a full eight seconds. Maybe this is the year. Any of you cowboys up for the challenge?
“Our rodeo queen contest is underway, and we’ll have this year’s pretty ladies come out and strut their stuff in a minute. First, though, please welcome last year’s rodeo queen, Amber Cross. Miss Cross is escorted by her father, the one and only Thunder Morgan!”
Sam stood in the McCray brothers’ private box at the rodeo arena, taking care of his nephew, Sean. Deafening applause echoed from the stands. A platinum blond siren took the stage on his idol’s arm.