Cowboy Mine (3B Ranch Series) Book 1

The roar of the crowd was a familiar thunder in Beau Blanton's ears, but today, it felt different. He donned his protective vest, the worn leather a second skin, as his thumb hovered over his phone. Half an hour until his ride, half an hour until he faced 'Good Ole Boy,' a bull notorious for breaking more than just bones.

His ritual was unbreakable: a call to his half-sisters, Ava, Kassandra, and Eve. Failure to speak with them often spelled disaster in the arena. Today, he needed all the help he could get. A cold dread settled in his gut, not just for the ride, but for something unseen, something waiting.

He ran a hand through his dark hair, a frustrated sigh escaping him. Why did God allow so much suffering? Why had his father died in the arena? Why was Ava, innocent and beautiful, born with such a devastating condition, then abandoned by her own father? And why had his normally intelligent mother fallen for a man like Rodney, only to neglect her own daughter because of her disability?

"Hello, Daddy?" Ava's small, excited voice whispered, cutting through his turbulent thoughts. A warmth spread through him, chasing away the chill. He loved being called 'Daddy' by her, felt more a father than a brother. It meant she was alone in the vast living room, waiting. He smiled, a genuine, rare smile. "Howdy, kiddo. How's my favorite lucky charm?!"