​When a bull-headed city girl meets a bull-riding 
Wyoming cowboy, ​hooves are gonna fly.

​Following the Texas Revolution and the U.S. Mexican War, contests eventually appeared at race tracks, fairgrounds, and festivals. William F. Cody (Buffalo Bill) created the first major rodeo and Wild West show in North Platte, Nebraska in 1882.

Happy to!

​​Marriage was the last thing on Annora Lee Bostwick’s mind when she moved to Wyoming to start a new branch of the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. Her focus was centered solely on saving animals…until blackmail and deceit force her to reconsider.
Buffalo Birch Struthers had no desire to marry, but must if he wanted to keep his father’s ranch, and time was running out. His only option was a new event scheduled for the upcoming yearly ranch competition called the Ride for a Bride Race.
Can two strangers who find themselves in an unwanted but unavoidable situation set anger and obstinacy aside long enough to fall in love?
​

She had light red hair. Not strawberry blond, or the usual carrot red. Birch never would've thought of a color like red as being mellow or calm, but that's how he saw it.
She had freckles to go with the hair, and intense, green eyes with a hint of stubbornness as if she wouldn't give an inch even if you set her skirts on fire. That glimpse of obstinacy matched the tilt of her chin and the stiff way she held herself. An uppity New York spinster no doubt hoping to snag what she'd failed to catch back home—a husband.
"She's my cousin," Lissette told the mayor, an arm around Miss Bostwick's waist.
"And my bride-to-be," Jenks asserted.
"That is impossible," Miss Bostwick stated with emphasis.
Great thunder! Even her voice sounded pretty, like a meadowlark at dusk.
"I'm afraid this is my fault," Lissette said. "You see, Annora's mother wrote, asking me to help Annora find a husband. She gave me to understand that is why Annora decided to relocate here. When I saw the notice about the race, it seemed the perfect answer."
"Why didn't you ask me if I considered it perfect?" Miss Bostwick pulled the cat from her shoulder. "I've no need for a husband. I like being a spinster."
Birch swallowed a laugh at that.
"Oh, but, Annora, I... I only want to see you happy." Looking stricken, Lissette glanced around at their audience. "Please, can we discuss this later?"
"Good idea," Mayor Sythes said. "I think we've strayed from the topic, folks."
"Yes. Remove my name as the Ride for a Bride bride," Miss Bostwick told him.
Lissette's face paled. "Annora, you can't."
"I'd like to know why not."
"Ladies. Ladies." Sythes tried to get the situation under control.
Birch felt he ought to be rooting for one of the women, but didn't know which. Miss Bostwick had a right to be angry at her cousin for putting her in such an awkward situation.
"But, Mayor," Jenks whined, "I have a right to take my bride over to the church and get hitched. I won the race."
Lissette's skirts rustled as she whirled to face him. "No one expected that to happen. Birch and Hezzie always win."
"That doesn't change the fact that I won this time," he retorted.
"Which means nothing to me," Miss Bostwick said.
Birch raised his hands. "Hold on. Can I get a word in here?"
"Go ahead," Mayor Sythes gestured him forward. "Speak up, Birch."
"First, I had no knowledge about Miss Westbrook coming here—"
"Bostwick," the redhead corrected, preventing the calico kitten from climbing to her shoulder again.
"—or being the designated bride for the race. In fact, I didn't think any bride had volunteered yet."
"I can verify when the race is to take place." Mayor Sythes pulled a paper out of his vest pocket. "I have the competition rules and schedule with me." Putting on his spectacles, he read, "The Ride for a Bride Race shall commence on the day following the conclusion of the ranch competition. That means the race is to be held July 30."
"Let me see that." Jenks snatched the paper away.
Lissette clapped her hands in delight. "This means you still have a chance to win Annora's hand, Birch. Isn't that marvelous?"
He wanted to puke.

First published by Kensington Books, Charlene is now an Indie author. When she isn’t writing, she loves communicating with readers and other writers.

She also creates book covers at her site:   http://silversagebookcovers.com
 
You can find Charlene at her website:   http://charleneraddon.com

​Check out her Amazon Author Page at:
 https://www.amazon.com/Charlene-Raddon/e/B000APG1P8

On Facebook, find her at:  https://www.facebook.com/CharleneRaddon

About High Stakes:
​
Young gambler Curt Prescott plays better poker than men twice his age.  His skill raised him from a life of degradation on the streets to a comfortable living with his girl, saloon songstress, Del, in Victoria, BC.
 
In the spring of 1877, a new preacher, his wife, and daughter, Mary, arrive.  The preacher hopes to save the souls of Victoria’s “misguided”.  His wife forms a committee to eradicate them.  Curt must fight back with everything he has – including a plan to seduce Mary and shame the family.
 
As a notorious criminal, and Del’s jealous rages, threaten them all, Curt’s battle for his lifestyle becomes one of right and wrong, life and death, and love lost and found.
 
Chock-full of western grit, romantic allure, and courage of the heart, High Stakes is an adventure for men and women alike. 

http://www.wildmustangs.com/             Purchase Here: Amazon

Rawhide'n Roses,
 a Western Romance Anthology
 is a Finalist in the 
RONE  Awards Anthology category 
for 2015