Cowboy Up
by Harley Wylde
Cowboy Romance, Age Gap, Suspense
Date Published: April 26, 2024
Mia – I ran away from home when I was seventeen and attached myself to a too-old-for-me cowboy. Then he knocked me up, slapped me around, and left me. My baby and I would have had nowhere to go, but the sweetest cowboy I’ve ever met threw me a lifeline. It was only supposed to be a marriage of convenience. I wasn’t supposed to fall in love with him. When life keeps throwing us one obstacle after another, I have to wonder if I made the right choice. What if I’m ruining Jackson’s life?
Jackson – I have really big shoes to fill. Not only is my dad a retired rodeo national champion, but he’s also part of the Dixie Reapers MC. He saved my mom, and he’s been my hero ever since I was a kid. So when my friend starts yelling at his girlfriend and slaps her around, I know I have to step in. Now I have a family I didn’t plan for, and I have no idea how to tell my parents. But with trouble following us no matter where we go, there’s only one place I can turn – to the Dixie Reapers – because I’ll do whatever it takes to keep my family safe.
EXCERPT
Carter’s face twisted into a snarl, his grip on the beer in his hand tightening until I feared the bottle might shatter. I should have known things would turn out this way. Although, I’d never seen him act like this with a woman before. I remained tense and ready to intervene the moment I thought he was going too far.
How many beers had he had? Five? Six? He looked completely plastered. I was thankful I’d decided to come to this rodeo. At first, I’d thought to pass and go to a different event, but when I found out Carter was heading here, something told me to follow.
Why the fuck was he doing this right by the arena? I could barely focus on my upcoming ride. A quick glance showed I needed to get moving if I wanted to make this ride count.
“You stupid little whore,” he spat, his words laced with venom and rage that made my blood run cold. “You think I’m gonna stick around and play daddy to some brat? You’re out of your Goddamn mind!”
Mia recoiled, her eyes wide with terror. Shit! If he took a swing at her, I’d have to forget my damn ride and go help her. Hold on just a bit longer.
“Jackson, it’s now or never,” said one of the cowboys waiting for me. I pulled my attention away from Carter and Mia, hoping I wasn’t making a mistake. I knew I’d ride like shit if I sat here worrying about her.
Closing my eyes, I cleared my mind, blocked out all the noise around me, adjusted my grip and gave the cowboy a nod. He opened the chute and the bronc beneath me bolted in a straight line. Bastard didn’t start bucking until we’d reached the other end of the arena. If I got a shitty score for drawing this horse, I was going to be pissed.
The horse’s hooves would pound into the dirt, then he’d go airborne again. He did his best to scrape me off on the arena fencing when he couldn’t seem to throw me. Sweat dripped into my eyes and I held on, hoping for a high enough score to at least keep my place. I was gunning for nationals and needed every point.
As the buzzer sounded, I jumped off the bronco. The moment my feet hit the arena floor, I took off for the fence. My body still hummed with energy from the ride, every muscle tense. I cleared the fence and closed the distance.
I’d never seen my friend act like this before, and it sickened me.
“Please, Carter,” she begged. “I didn’t want this to happen either, but we have to do something.”
“Then get rid of it!” he bellowed, causing heads to turn in their direction. “I don’t give a damn how, just make sure it’s gone!”
The bond between us as friends had shattered in an instant, and I couldn’t let Carter hurt Mia any further.
“Hey!” I shouted, my voice firm and commanding. “Leave her alone, Carter!”
He whipped around to face me, his eyes blazing with fury, and for a moment I saw the man I’d once considered a brother. But that fleeting glimpse disappeared as quickly as it had come, replaced by the monster he’d become. I’d like to hope it was only the alcohol, but I worried I might be seeing his true self for the first time.
“Stay out of this, Jackson!” he snarled, his hands clenched into fists at his sides. “This ain’t your business!”
“Like hell it isn’t,” I shot back, my heart pounding in my chest as I positioned myself between him and Mia. “You don’t get to treat her like this, not while I’m still breathing.”
My words hung heavy in the air between us, a testament to the line we’d crossed and the friendship we’d just left behind. We stood there, two men who’d once been closer than brothers, now locked in a battle neither of us could back down from. I’d never let him, or any man, hurt a woman. Not in my presence. I’d been raised to take care of those weaker than me, and Mia definitely qualified.
“Get the hell away from her, Carter!” I demanded, my voice unwavering. She trembled behind me. I heard her suck in a breath and sniffle, which meant she was most likely crying. I felt her shaky hands press against my back.
“Who the hell do you think you are?” Carter seethed, his bloodshot eyes filled with rage. He threw his beer to the ground, the glass shattering against the dirt, and clenched his fists.
“Someone who won’t stand by and watch you hurt a woman,” I replied, my pulse racing, knowing the situation was spiraling out of control.
“Stay out of it, Jackson!” Carter spat, his face contorted into a snarl. “I told you this ain’t your business!”
I shook my head, refusing to back down. “It became my business when you laid a hand on her. Or are you trying to tell me one side of her face is redder than the other for a reason besides you hitting her?”
Carter’s nostrils flared, the alcohol and anger fueling him like a wildfire. He lunged at me, swinging a wild punch aimed straight for my face. I could feel the heat of his fist as it narrowly missed me, my instincts and years of rodeo reflexes kicking in as I expertly dodged the blow.
“Is this how you want to handle things, Carter?” I asked, my heart pounding even faster now, adrenaline coursing through my veins. But before he could answer, I retaliated with a powerful punch of my own, connecting with his jaw.
“Son of a bitch!” he cursed, stumbling back a few steps, clearly stunned by the force of my blow.
“Leave her alone or I swear, I won’t hesitate to knock some sense into you,” I warned, my eyes locked onto his, showing him I meant every word.
He glared at me, his face reddening with humiliation and fury, but he didn’t make another move. His hands fisted at his sides, and I wondered if he was going to take another swing at me. The sweat dripped off my brow as I stared into Carter’s rage-filled eyes, preparing for his next move. I couldn’t afford to let my guard down -- not with Mia’s safety on the line.
“Is that all you got?” Carter snarled, wiping blood from his mouth.
“Leave her alone, Carter,” I warned, my chest heaving with the effort it took to keep my emotions in check. “This ends now.”
“Over my dead body,” he spat back, throwing another punch. But I was ready. With practiced ease, I sidestepped his attack and landed a decisive uppercut to his jaw.
He came after me again, but in his drunken state, he was no match for me. As much as I hated to hurt the man who’d once been my friend, I landed blow after blow to his ribs, gut, and face. If he’d backed down, I’d have let him go. He charged me again. I slammed my fist into his cheek.
Carter’s body crumpled to the ground like a rag doll, the fight finally drained out of him. Silence fell over the rodeo arena as everyone held their breath, waiting to see what would happen next. Shit! I hadn’t even realized everyone was watching us. Didn’t surprise me no one was stepping forward. They all wanted to watch the drama unfold, but no one wanted to take responsibility for whatever happened.
He groaned and struggled to get to his knees.
“Stay away from her, Carter,” I warned.
“Think you can tell me what to do?” he spat, his voice slurred with alcohol.
“About Mia? Yeah, I do,” I replied. “Someone needs to protect her from you. When did you become such a mean drunk?”
“Who are you to decide what’s best for her?” Carter sneered, wiping the blood from his lip as he advanced.
“Someone who won’t lay a hand on her in anger.” The alcohol had completely pickled his brain. “Go sleep it off, Carter.”
He staggered to his feet and disappeared into the crowd. I had a feeling he’d come for her again. Maybe not today, but sometime in the future. I trusted my gut, and it was telling me Mia was still in danger.
“Jackson, please,” Mia whispered, her hand on my arm. Suddenly, the noise of the surrounding chaos seemed to fade away, and all I could hear was her voice, her fear and vulnerability plain for me to see. In that moment, I realized this wasn’t just about teaching Carter a lesson. It was about showing Mia she had someone in her corner, someone who would protect her no matter what.
“Okay,” I said. “It’s over.”
I took her hand in mine, leading her away from the crowd. I might not know a lot about pregnant women, but the stress couldn’t be good for her or the baby. She needed somewhere quiet, and we both needed time to think.
“Where are we going?” Mia asked, her eyes still brimming with fear.
“Somewhere safe,” I assured her. “Away from all this. Just trust me, okay?”
“Okay,” she agreed, her voice barely more than a whisper.
I could feel her body trembling as we moved through the sea of people, and I wished more than anything that I could take away her pain. But for now, all I could do was guide her toward safety, one step at a time.
“Almost there,” I murmured, my eyes scanning the area for any sign of danger. “Just keep holding on.”
About the Author
Harley Wylde is an accomplished author known for her captivating MC Romances. With an unwavering commitment to sensual storytelling, Wylde immerses her readers in an exciting world of fierce men and irresistible women. Her works exude passion, danger, and gritty realism, while still managing to end on a satisfying note each time.
When not crafting her tales, Wylde spends her time brainstorming new plotlines, indulging in a hot cup of Starbucks, or delving into a good book. She has a particular affinity for supernatural horror literature and movies. Visit Wylde's website to learn more about her works and upcoming events, and don't forget to sign up for her newsletter to receive exclusive discounts and other exciting perks.
Contact Links
Author on Facebook, Instagram, & TikTok: @harleywylde
Publisher on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and TikTok: @changelingpress
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