Rodeo Sweetheart (16 page)

“No kidding.” She laughed hoarsely.

“Looks like you didn’t win the title of Rodeo Sweetheart after all.”

“Titles are overrated.” Sam mumbled into his shirt, inhaling the crisp aroma of laundry detergent mixed with the familiar scent of horses and leather.

“You’ll always be my sweetheart,” Ethan whispered into her hair, and she shivered.

“Promise?”

“Isn’t a real cowboy as good as his word?” Ethan smiled.

Sam grinned back. “I don’t see a real cowboy around here.”

Ethan stiffened in protest. “Hey, I’ve made some real progress—”

“You didn’t let me finish.”

He quirked an eyebrow.

Sam tightened her grip around him and rose up on tiptoe to meet him face-to-face. “I only see the one man capable of lassoing my heart.” She pressed her lips against his before Ethan could argue.

But from the way he kissed her back, she knew he wouldn’t have anyway.

Dear Reader,

Like most girls, I went through a horse-crazy phase that never really went away. After begging God for a horse of my own for years, you can imagine how ecstatic I was when my parents finally granted my wish in junior high. I became the proud owner of a paint horse named Bo, and although we had to sell Bo when I got into high school, I still carry sweet memories of him to this day. So when I first got a glimpse of Sam’s story, I grew excited, eager to dive back into my horse-crazy roots and paint my readers a word-picture on a Texas ranch.

In June 2009, while writing this novel, my husband and daughter and I took a trip to see my mother-in-law in south Louisiana. I told my husband I wanted to take a picture of me on one of her quarter horses, thinking it’d be a cute way to promote this book later.

Well, I got my picture, but I don’t think it’ll ever be printed. About thirty minutes after I took the picture and rode for a bit, my mother-in-law mounted the same horse and had a traumatic accident. She was in a coma for months and as of today, we’re still not sure what level of brain activity or physical function she’ll ever get back.

This book was hard to write. Not just because of the deadlines I faced during times of family crisis, but because I was hurt. I was scared. I was mad. I didn’t know if I wanted to even think about horses, much less write about them. But I kept on, and with God’s help and the encouragement of my friends, I did it. And I’m glad. Because I know for a fact that if my mother-in-law was physically able to today, she’d get right back on the horse she’d fallen from.

So this is my tribute to her.

Many blessings,

1. Sam’s family ranch is everything to her. Have you ever been particularly attached to a house or piece of land before? Why?
   
2. One of the reasons Sam is so anxious to make her family home what it used to be is because of her father. Have you ever tried to do something in honor of a lost loved one? What was it?
   
3. In the story, Sam feels that she can’t talk openly with her mother Angie about her plans to bull ride because she feels her mom would disagree and talk her out of her goal. Have you ever had to keep a secret in order to do what you felt was the right thing?
   
4. When Sam first met Ethan, she labeled him a “city slicker” and a “greenhorn tourist.” Have you ever judged someone prematurely before meeting them? Why?
   
5. Ethan was immediately attracted to Sam because she was so different from the type of girls he was used to seeing in New York. Do you believe opposites attract as a rule or as an exception?
   
6. Ethan’s family was at the ranch under false pretences. After Ethan got to know Sam, he wanted to share his secret with her. Why did he feel he couldn’t yet?
   
7. Jeffrey Ames only cared about wealth and status, even at the sacrifice of his own son. Do you know anyone
   who has allowed the greed of the world to overcome them in this way? How do you handle being around such people?
   
8. Sam and Ethan were an unlikely match—seemingly polar opposites. But what did Sam and Ethan have in common?
   
9. Sam was willing to put her very life on the line in a dangerous attempt to meet her goals. Have you ever been so passionate about something that you risked your life to succeed? How did the situation turn out? Would you do it again?
   
10. Sam’s best friend, Kate, was a stable force in Sam’s chaotic life. What friends have you had over the years that were there for you in a crisis?
    
11. In the story, Sam rode a mechanical bull at the town fair. Have you ever ridden a mechanical bull? What was your experience like?
    
12. Sam is very comfortable around horses, having spent her entire life on them and around them. Do you enjoy horseback riding? When was the first time you ever rode a horse?
    
13. Ethan was willing to put the comfort of his wealthy lifestyle aside when he fell in love with Sam. Have you ever had to change careers or lifestyles in order to be with your spouse or significant other?
    
14. When Ethan revealed his father’s plans for the Jenson ranch, Sam knew she had misinterpreted Ethan’s inten
    tions. Have you ever been in a misunderstanding with someone that hurt you, only to find out you had misunderstood them? How did you get past the hurt?
    
15. When Sam rides in the rodeo at the end, she tosses her hat in a tribute to her father. Have you ever made a public gesture in honor of a loved one in your life? Tell us about it.