There’s something bittersweet about
a hero or heroine who stands in the shadows hoping with an aching heart that
the one they love will one day take notice. Janie’s situation in ROUGH RIDER
particularly resonates with me as she secretly pines for Dirk, the cowboy she
knows she can never have.
Excerpt
#1
Dirk emerged from the med trailer on his own, albeit a little
unsteady. Janice watched him out of the corner of her eye as she flanked the
next two bulls. With his arms over his chest and one booted ankle crossed over
the other, he leaned against the chute to watch the last two rides. It was a
deceptively casual pose that might have fooled anyone who didn’t know him, but
she could tell by his pallor and shallow breathing that he hurt far more than
he was willing to show. A moment later, the medic brought him a sling, but he
didn’t put it on.
“C’mon, Dirk,” she cajoled. “Don’t be a dumb-ass. Let me
help you with that.”
“Don’t need it,” he growled.
“Then why are you favoring the arm?”
He released it instantly from his chest with a scowl.
“Please,” she cajoled. “No one’s gonna think less of you
for wearing the sling. Everyone saw how that bull freight-trained you.”
“Need both arms. I promised Rachel I’d dance with her
tonight.”
“Then she’ll need to make do with a one-armed two-step.”
“No good. She’s Miss Rodeo Montana and I’ve just won the
All-Around. The sling’ll screw up the pictures. She’s already gonna be pissed
enough about my face.”
“That’s ridiculous!” Janice snorted but then grimaced at
the truth of it. His face really was a mess with a split lip and a nose swollen
to half again its normal size.
Dirk shrugged. “The whole PR thing is her gig. I won’t
ruin it for her.”
“Then just take it off for the pictures.”
His mouth compressed. “Thanks for the concern, Janice, but
just let it be, will you? I already have a mother.”
“Sorry…I just…well, you know…”
He cocked a brow. “No. I don’t know.”
“I thought maybe we’d become friends is all.”
“A man can never be friends with a woman,
Janice. Unless she’s a troll, there always reaches a point when the guy starts
thinking about gettin’ into her jeans. It’s just how it is. You ain’t no troll,
and I got a thing going with Rachel.”
Janice looked away, hoping he wouldn’t notice the flames
heating her face. “That’s not what I…but you’d never…” She stammered at the
idea that he’d ever think of her in that way.
“No?” His gaze tracked slowly over her and his mouth
kicked up in one corner. “Think again, sweetheart. By the way, I’ve noticed
Grady sniffin’ around you. Be careful with him, Janice. He rides damn close to
the edge sometimes.”
“What do you mean?”
His mouth moved, but the announcer’s blaring voice drowned
out his reply.
“Next up is last year’s CNFR champion bull rider, Grady
Garrison of Three Forks, Montana, coming into the short round on Rio Bravo.”
Janice grinned. “Speak of the devil…”
“Yeah,” he said. “And he’s about as much trouble.”
Janice grimaced. “Look, Dirk, I’ve been around long enough
to recognize his type. Grady blows about as much hot air as a Chinook.”
His gazed narrowed. “Don’t be fooled. He does blow a lot
of smoke, but his bad boy act isn’t an act, and he doesn’t know
how to keep his mouth shut either.”
Her temper flared. If Dirk didn’t want her, why shouldn’t
she go out with Grady? A drink or two was no big deal. “You didn’t take my
advice about the bull, why should I take yours?”
“Because you’re a nice girl, Janice,” he replied. “I’d
hate for him to change that.”
On those parting words, Dirk tipped his hat and limped
away to join some teammates, leaving a dull ache in Janice’s chest. “That may
be,” she whispered to his back, “but it seems nice girls always finish last.”
***
Dirk, meanwhile, doesn’t even
recognize his own very real attraction to Janice. By the time he figures out
that it’s really Janice that he wants, it’s too late. His buddy has already
staked his claim.
Excerpt
#2
For four years now riding rough stock had taken the edge
off, had relieved some of the restlessness that shadowed him, but now the
twitchy feeling was back with a vengeance and he didn’t know if rodeo was still
the answer. There had to be something more, something to fill the void he felt
deep in his gut. He just wished to hell he knew what it was.
He looked up to find Janice watching him. She quickly
diverted her gaze back to her plate. Janice. That whole situation really
had his head all screwed up. He never should have gone to her last night in the
shape he was in. He felt a trace of guilt but had a hard time summoning any
regret over it. On the one hand, he damn sure wasn’t ready to jump feet first
into a new relationship, but on the other, Grady’s sniffing around her almost
had him spitting nails.
***
Rough Rider is in itself a rough
ride. Dirk and Janice both make some really bad decisions. In Janice’s words: “Sometimes
people make big mistakes. Huge life-altering mistakes. At the time they think
they’re doing the right thing, but they realize later that it was for all the
wrong reasons.” When their stars finally
align years later, they are two very different people. Both wounded and wary,
they very much deserve their happy ever after.
Excerpt #3
Dirk shoved the suitcase to the floor, wanting nothing
more than to lay her down on the bed and kiss her senseless. He pushed the
remaining clothing aside, grimacing at the pile of white cotton granny panties
and cross-your-heart bras. He held up a pair with a scowl. “Please tell me
these aren’t yours.”
“No.” Janice laughed. “They’re Mama’s. I’m packing her
things for her. She’s decided to move up to her cousin’s place in Helena.”
“So you weren’t packing to go back to Vegas?”
“No,” she said. “Told you I’m stubborn. I was hoping if I
stuck around long enough, you’d eventually see the light.”
“I’ve seen it all right, sweetheart. The whole damn sun is blazing
in this room right now.”
By Victoria Vane
Sourcebooks Casablanca
Contemporary Western Romance
February 3, 2015
ISBN: 9781492601159
Two wary hearts …
Janice Combes has two loves, bucking bulls and Dirk
Knowlton. But Dirk only has eyes for a dazzling rodeo queen. How can Janice
ever compete while mired ankle-deep in manure? Exchanging playful banter with
Dirk is all Janice can expect—until the stormy night he knocks on her door
dripping wet and needing a place to crash.
Different Dreams…
Dirk Knowlton is living the cowboy dream. Life should be
good—roping, branding, backing broncs, riding bulls, but there's a void he
can't seem to fill. After getting hung up by a bull, he wonders if this is
really the life he wants. Restless and rebellious, he bolts…but there’s a
certain cowgirl he can’t forget.
When a battle-scarred Dirk returns to his Montana ranch
he's determined to hang on at any cost. Janice has come back home to lick her
own wounds. When old dreams turn to dust, can two wary hearts take another
chance on love?
Sounds like a great read. Thanks for the excerpts.
ReplyDeleteThank you Sally!
ReplyDeleteLove the excerpts!
ReplyDeleteThanks Helen. This series has been a whole new writing adventure for me.
DeleteI loved this book, Vicki. A real winner
ReplyDeleteSo glad to see you back here, and congrats on the release!
ReplyDeleteThanks Shana! I'm happy to be back too! :-)
DeleteThank you so much, Christy!
ReplyDelete