Free Shapeshifter Romance: Duty of a Lion (Paranormal Army Hero Navy Seal Shifter Protector Alpha Lion Romance) (Fantasy Military Action Adventure Urban Wolf Romance Short Stories) by J.K. Hudson Page B

immediately.  It twisted and turned, trying its best to unseat the cowboy on his back, but Roy stayed on.  Brenae’s knuckles were white as she held the seat under her.  Three, two, one!   She jumped up and cheered while the crowd roared with applause.  He’d won!
    He let go of his rope and the bull flung him into the air.  He landed on his feet just as the bull crashed into him, tossing him up and over his head with his horns.  Brenae shrieked as Roy spun in the air and hit the ground with a thud.  The bull sailed around the arena, challenging the bull fighters as they tried to lead him away from Roy’s still body.  Brenae went to the rail and started to climb over it to get to Roy.  A firm hand grabbed her.
    “He’ll be ok, but you won’t help anything going into that arena while the bull is still loose.  Let them do their jobs, you meet him over there.”  He pointed towards a small arena gate beside the one that the bulls ran through.  She thanked him and glanced one last time at Roy.  He still wasn’t moving, but the bull was calming down and heading for the gate.  By the time she got to the side gate, the bull would be in his pen munching on hay.  She walked quickly, trying to avoid all the people who had piled onto the track to get a better look at the motionless cowboy and the medics waiting to get the all-clear to attend to him.
    She reached the gate after what seemed like an eternity, holding her breath while she watched the medics checking Roy over.  Without warning, he raised his hand and waved to the crowd while he lay prone.  The announcer came over the loud speaker to let him know that he had won it all.  Roy gave a thumbs-up and then let his arm fall back down.  He still hadn’t moved, but it looked like he was talking to the medics.
    It seemed like forever that she was standing there, making deals with God if he would just let Roy walk out of here on his own two feet, when the medics helped him sit up and he slowly got to his feet.  He’d had the wind knocked out of him and his arm looked like it might be broken, but he was okay.  Tears spilled out of her eyes as she sank against the rails with relief.  The man beside her opened the gate and gave her a gentle nudge.  He winked and smiled and she ran towards Roy, her cowboy. 
    He saw her and smiled as she ran through the dirt towards him.  She stopped just short of him and tenderly wrapped him in a hug.  He pulled her away from him and wiped the tears from her sweet face. 
    “I thought I’d lost you,” she said, tears falling unheeded down her face.
    “Darlin’, I’ll never let you go.  With that, he wrapped his one good arm around her and leaned in for a kiss while the crowd cheered around them.
     
    THE END

Bonus Story 2 of 10

Riding To The North
     
    There aren't many things better than hard liquor and pleasant company in the old, withered west. Especially if you're a cowboy returning from a two-month cattle drive. Jack, however, was never too much into saloons, or fast acquaintances with happy and always underpaid women. He preferred the open plains and big skies to towns, but this weekend he had to visit one to resupply, if he wanted to continue his trip south.
    So, when Jack saw the first signs of the town as he approached on horseback, he was almost obliged to lower his hat. The less I see about this town, the better it will be for me , he thought. He reined his horse in and was now looking for the least shady-looking saloon. I have to take a long sleep before looking for a supplier around here.
    Jack's hands were lying relaxed while he was holding the reins. A sudden burst of laughter almost made him jump off the saddle. He was able to hold his cool demeanor though, and simply turned his head looking for where the laughter had come from; it was one of the town's saloons; a recently painted building, with a big, rectangular sign hanging above the small, swinging doors.
    He reined in front of the saloon and