Book 1: A Cowboy Worth Waiting For
The Cowboy Academy Series
On this page, you’ll find the story blurb, an excerpt, the story behind the story, and bonus content.
This cowboy’s done with love…Or is he?
Former rodeo queen Ronnie Pickett has always had a talent for matchmaking—and now she’s going pro. Her first customer? None other than her friend and teen cowboy crush, Wade Keller. Of course, convincing the widowed bronc rider and single dad that it's time to date again is gonna be a challenge. But no one warned Ronnie about the occupational hazard of falling for her very first cowboy client…
Readers love A Cowboy Worth Waiting For:
“I highly recommend this book to anyone that enjoys a sweet romance filled with angst and good-heartedness as love comes to those who least expect it.” Goodreads Reviewer, 5 Stars
“This clean romance is like a breath of fresh air.” Goodreads Reviewer, 5 Stars
”I enjoyed this book which has its humorous moments and its emotional parts too.” Goodreads Reviewer, 5 Stars
”Loved this book. It’s about young love, friendship, loss, and family.” Goodreads Reviewer, 5 Stars
Excerpt:
“Wade Keller, you need me.” Ronnie Pickett’s pert little nose was thrust high in the air, and her silky black hair swung from beneath her black cowboy hat.
Wade Keller’s chest heaved, and it wasn’t because he’d just jogged out of the arena after a semi-successful bareback bronc ride at a rodeo north of Tulsa. Ronnie’s words yanked the rug from beneath his widower feet.
“I’m starting a matchmaking service. Now, you need a wife and Ginny needs a mama,” Ronnie explained matter-of-factly, smiling kindly at Wade’s ten-year-old daughter. “I’m going to find you the perfect woman.”
Gaping, Ginny stared up at Ronnie with an expression that was half-worshipful and half-shocked.
Ronnie had that effect on people. She was a force to be reckoned with when she set her mind to something. Wade just hadn’t expected her mind to be set on finding him a wife.
“Ronnie’s right.” Wade’s father beamed at her as if her conclusion had flipped a light on in his nearly bald head, currently covered by a wide white Stetson. Frank Harrison was actually Wade’s foster father, although sometime during the past twenty years, Wade had stopped attaching the “foster” label to him or any of his other foster family members. “You should hear Ronnie out.”
And marry again?
Wade shook his head. Normally, he gave credence to his father’s opinion, but not today. He stared Ronnie straight in her big dark eyes and said, “Not interested.”
Wade’s score from his ride on Graveyard Express was announced. As he’d suspected, it wasn’t going to be high enough to put him in the money. His rhythm had been off. He’d been lucky to stay on for eight seconds but not lucky enough to place.
Another waste of a Saturday entry fee.
He couldn’t afford to lose anymore. Disappointed and annoyed, Wade took Ginny’s hand and tried to move past Ronnie.
She stepped in front of Wade, cutting him off. “Not so fast.” Ronnie tossed her hair over her shoulder as if she were a bronc tossing off an inexperienced rider. “You’ve been avoiding me, and that’s bad because you need me.”
Wade hesitated, struck by those three words once more: You. Need. Me.
Do I need Ronnie Pickett?
Currently, Wade was on a dismal losing streak. Some would argue that he needed something. But was matchmaking Ronnie—and a second wife—the answer to his prayers?
He took stock of the petite woman in front of him. Never one to shy away from color, Ronnie was dressed like a Valentine’s Day card—shimmery red boots, a bright pink flowered button-down and blue jeans with white flowering vines climbing up her seams. She was the polar opposite of his wife in practically every way—louder, more colorful, more assertive. And wherever she went, a well-meaning accident was sure to follow.
Do I need Ronnie Pickett?
If forced to decide right now, he’d have to say no.
And so, he said just that, “No.”
“But—”
“Whatever you’re selling, Miss Ronnie—” he gave her a stern look “—I’m not interested.”
Ronnie put her hands on her slim hips. She’d been bold in high school and emboldened by every rodeo win in her short barrel-racing career. He could remember a time when a dare combined with her magnetic, brash character and dark, silky locks had enticed him to ask her to Clementine High School’s junior prom. She’d thanked him for asking and told him they were too much alike to be a couple. And then she’d pointed out that her shy, quiet friend Libby worshipped the ground he walked on and was just what he needed.
And oddly enough, she’d been right. He and Libby had become a couple. After high school, they’d gotten married. They’d been well-suited. He’d been happy until Libby passed away.
A lump tried to fill Wade’s throat.
Didn’t mean Ronnie was right about him needing a wife and mother for his little girl. After losing his parents when he was in middle school and losing Libby two years ago, Wade didn’t think he could take any more heartache. Love was risky.
While he’d been sorting through his thoughts, Ronnie’s mouth had been moving. It was only her last words that sank in. “Wade Keller, do you want to be lonely in your old age?”
Thirty-two wasn’t old. And living on the Done Roamin’ Ranch was never lonely. Many of his brothers still lived and worked on the D Double R.
Wade pushed his hat back, stared Ronnie down and got right to the point. “I don’t mind being alone.”
Wade’s father chuckled the way he did sometimes when he thought one of his sons said something illogical. Given the number of cocky, full-of-themselves teenage boys Frank and Mary Harrison had taken in as fosters at the D Double R over the years, Frank’s life had been filled with laughter.
Wade set his jaw. “I’m too busy to go looking for a woman.” He had his plate full helping his parents and brothers run their rodeo stock company, competing in bareback bronc riding and raising a little girl.
“I know you’re busy. That’s why I can do the searching for you.”
The Story Behind the Story
This is the first book in my Cowboy Academy series. I wanted to write a cowboy series with real rodeo cowboys. But I didn’t want to do one family with 3-5 kids in rodeo. So I created the Done Roamin’ Ranch (D Double R), operated by Frank and Mary Harrison. They supply stock to rodeos (bucking bulls and broncs, cows for roping, etc.). And they’ve been foster parents to twenty plus teenage boys. And now, those boys are fully grown, competing and working in the rodeo!
Authors aren’t supposed to have favorite books… But I love this one. It brings all the feels (and tears, lots of tears). My heroine Ronnie was Wade’s wife’s BFF in school. Ronnie promised her BFF on her deathbed that she wouldn’t let Wade be alone. But that becomes difficult because Wade goes into hermit mode, which leads Ronnie to take desperate measures.
Easter Egg: In the first draft of the book, I wrote Ronnie with a hearing problem, one that was getting worse. That aspect of her character was edited out because my editor and I felt it didn’t fit well with the lighthearted tone and fast pace of the book. However, if you notice, there are still places in the book where Ronnie has trouble hearing.
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