Cowboy Christmas: A Roughstock Short

by BA Tortuga
11 pages / 3150 words
Available file types - html, lit, pdf, prc, epub, Sony-optimized pdf

Dillon loves his job as a rodeo clown, but he's not sure he wants to spend his Fourth of July holiday at a tiny arena, working the barrel. He's only doing it because his lover, Coke, is a good guy who promises the small-town rodeo organizers he'll fight their bulls for them. Dillon knows Coke will make it up to him, though, in more ways than one. Will Coke and Dillon actually get to enjoy their holiday the way Dillon hopes?

Sample

Dillon Walsh had thought his days of having to work the Fourth of July were over. Really, that was why he was on the big tour now, where they had a break for the Fourth.

Right?

Right.

Cowboy Christmas. Him and Coke, hanging with the puppies, sucking down beer and shooting roman candles into the sky. Possibly riding a horse or two, slowly.

For fun.

Early in the morning before the heat became a living, breathing, evil, awful thing.

That was the plan. That was the goddamn deal.

So why was he outside, in 104 degrees, in a tiny Texas arena, sweltering in a barrel on the holiday that should mean a cold pool and a hot grill?

Dillon glanced over at the bullfighters, dressed old-style in tattered denim and striped red and white cotton, faces painted wildly. Two of them were young, bouncing, lean and mean. The other one was a block of pure muscle, craggy face wreathed in a happy grin that Dillon could see from where he was.

Oh, right. Coke.

Some buddy from ten thousand years ago had called begging a favor and Dillon had known -- known -- he should have turned Coke's ringer off because Coke had never said no to anyone in forty years and viola.

Rodeo.

Jesus.