Free Her Cowboy's Christmas Wish (Harlequin American Romance) by Cathy McDavid

flanked the horse, one of them grabbed the bucking strap and jerked it loose. The horse immediately stopped kicking and began trotting. The other pickup man extended his arm to Ethan, who reached for it.
    Caitlin relaxed, let her shoulders sag. The worst was over.
    Suddenly, the horse gave a last mighty buck and unseated Ethan, launching him into the air. Caitlin stifled a cry and clung to the fence railing with such force the coiled wire cable cut into her palms.
    By some miracle, Ethan righted himself and landed on his feet…only to pitch face-first onto the ground. The crowd let out a collective gasp.
    Caitlin found herself hurrying along the arena fence, stopping when she was directly across from the spot where he had fallen. The first pickup man rode his horse over to check on Ethan, blocking her view. She was just about to move when Ethan began to rise. The crowd applauded as he stood and hobbled awkwardly away.
    Hobbled! Had he hurt his good leg? What would he do? How would he get around? He must be in terrible pain.
    She followed him from the other side of the fence, zigzagging between people in an effort to keep up. She lost sight of him when he exited through the gate and had to make a detour around the cattle pens. By now, she was practically running.
    Where had he gone?
    Finally, thankfully, she located him standing behind the chutes, talking to a group of men. Hands braced on his hips, he leaned forward at the waist. It was a posture Caitlin often observed in people who were injured.
    Enough was enough. She’d drag him, kicking and screaming if necessary, to the first-aid station and examine him. Keep him still long enough to listen to her advice to take it easy.
    She set out, resolute. At the same moment, one of the men clapped Ethan on the back and laughed loudly. Caitlin was shocked. Did the cowboy have no consideration for someone in pain?
    “Ethan,” she called.
    He turned then. And rather than a grimace, his face wore a wide, exuberant grin.
    Sweet heaven, he was handsome. She came to an abrupt halt, her mind emptying of everyone and everything save him and what they’d once had together. What they could have together now if he would just come to his senses.
    He limped toward her. “Did you see?”
    “Yes. Are you all right?”
    “I couldn’t be better.”
    Realization dawned. Slowly, but it dawned. The men surrounding Ethan were congratulating him. Because he… She recalled hearing the buzzer. He had gone a full eight seconds. He’d said something about that the other night. If he lasted eight seconds, Clay would allow him to compete in the upcoming jackpot.
    Dammit!
    Fury bubbled up inside her. More at herself than Ethan. What a fool she’d been to think even for a few seconds that they could rekindle their former relationship.
    “I just wanted to make sure you were okay.”
    She expected him to return to his friends. After all, her tone had been anything but inviting.
    Only he didn’t. He kept coming straight toward her. Before she could object, he hauled her into his arms and swung her in a wide circle.
    “Put me down before you hurt yourself again.”
    “I did it!”
    “Ethan, please. Your shoulder.”
    He released her. The moment her feet touched the ground, he lowered his mouth to hers, stopping a fraction of an inch shy of kissing her.
    “I’ve been wanting to do this for the last three days.”
    Three days? Was that all?
    She’d been waiting the past eight years, eleven months and twenty-one days to kiss him.
    Just like that, their years apart melted away. Ethan’s lips moved expertly over hers, applying just the right amount of pressure to coax a melting response from her. He’d always been an amazing kisser. That, or they were just amazing together. Their bodies fit perfectly. Her soft curves nestled against his hard planes as his arm circled her waist and drew her against him.
    Caitlin was tempted to lose herself in his kiss. Set aside her worries and concerns and embrace