A Cowgirl's Heart Read online

  “She is focused. Sampson looks good. They are ready. Now, we must do our bit and wait.” He gave her an encouraging smile.

  She nervously nibbled at her nail, giving a start of pain when she realized that she had bitten it down to the quick. Joao reached out and gently removed it from her mouth. Gabi gave him an irritated glare in return.

  “She’s next,” Luciano said, leaning forward in anticipation, his gaze intent on the arena.

  Gabi edged forward in her seat, unconsciously mirroring him. Luciano was right, even from the crowd you could see the look of determination on Frankie’s face as Sampson barreled down the chute. The girl was taking no prisoners as she guided the gleaming ebony horse around the first drum, his muscles rippling beneath his onyx hide. Horse and rider moved as one as they flew across the sand like a laser-guided missile, intent on their target. The second and then the third barrels were clean, Sampson chasing down the finish line like he had the devil on his heels. The time flashed up. The fastest of the day. Gabi ecstatically bound to her feet, shrieking triumphantly.

  “She did it! She’s just qualified for the American Rodeo!”

  Joao was on his feet beside her, Gabi only vaguely aware that Luciano was also standing and cheering. Without thinking, she grabbed Joao’s face between her hands and planted a great, big, sloppy kiss on him. Gabi came jolting back to reality the moment she found herself staring into Joao’s enormous, shocked eyes. Without a word, she released her hold on him and bolted from the stands, almost making as good a time as Sampson had moments earlier.

  “Well, that’s a first,” a grinning Luciano noted. “But do the women you kiss, usually run away afterwards?”

  “No, but maybe this one wants me to chase her?” Joao speculated, his eyes following her fleeing form.

  “Maybe. But are you sure you want to catch her?”

  “Yes. When I catch her, I will make sure she never wants me to let go.” Joao said determination printed on his face.

  Buy A Cowgirl’s Passion now here on Amazon and Kindle Unlimited

  Acknowledgments

  A debt of gratitude to my editor Rebekah Groves for her continued patience with me.

  Another big thanks to Megan from Designed with Grace for her cover design. Still keeping the faith that we will eventually strike the motherlode for shirt clad cowboys

  Also by Edith MacKenzie

  Have you read them all?

  In the barrels and hearts series

  Available on Amazon and Kindle Unlimited

  A bull rider’s paradise

  The prequel to the Barrels and Hearts series. True love is only the beginning….of the story. Find out where it all began with Ana and Eduardo. Sometimes finding love is easy. It’s keeping it that’s hard.

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  A cowgirl’s dream

  An Aussie cowgirl far from home. A handsome Brazilian bull rider. Can they have a rodeo love story of their dreams?

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  A cowgirl’s heart

  An Aussie cowgirl in need. Her childhood friend to the rescue. Can friendship turn into a love story?

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  A cowgirl’s passion

  One feisty cowgirl. One steadfast Brazilian bull rider. Will she see what is right in front of her?

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  A cowgirl’s pride

  An Aussie cowgirl from the wrong side of the tracks. A handsome equine vet. Can they find a way to have their happy ever after?

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  A cowgirl’s love

  A young Aussie cowgirl. A widowed rancher. Does age matter when it comes to love?

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  A cowgirl’s movie star

  A fiery cowgirl with big dreams. A movie star far from home. When their two worlds collide, will their love be strong enough to hold them together or will they be pulled apart

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  A cowgirl’s billionaire

  A cowgirl adrift. A broken billionaire cowboy. Can he free himself from the past to be the man she needs now?

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  Christmas Standalone Books

  Boots and Mistletoe

  About the Author

  Edith MacKenzie or Eddie Mac to her friends is an author of sweet and wholesome contemporary cowboy romance. They say in literary circles to write what you know, and Eddie has certainly taken that to heart. Before embarking on a writing career, she trained horses professionally and brings that wealth of knowledge to her writing.

  Now a mum to a boy and girl, as well as wife, she delights with her tales of strong cowgirls and their adventures in finding love. When not weaving the love stories of her characters, she enjoys hanging out with her family and animals, as well as reading, fishing and camping.

  Just remember—once a cowgirl, always a cowgirl.

  Glossary of Aussie Slang

  Now everyone knows that cobbers from the Land Down Under speak the Queen’s English, but if you don’t know

  to Tracky Daks from your Servo, I’ve put together a quick little cheat sheet.

  A few stubbies short of a six pack - Crazy

  Ankle Bitter - Small child

  Arvo - Afternoon

  Blind - Intoxicated

  Bloody - Very. Used to extenuate a point

  Bloody oath - Yes or its true

  Bludger - Someone who is lazy

  Buggered - Exhausted

  Cark it - Die

  Choccy Bikkie - Chocolate cookie

  Clucky - Feeling maternal

  Crook - Feeling sick

  Daks - Trousers e.g. Tracky Daks are tracksuit pants

  Dog’s breakfast - Messy (does not relate to food), a bit of a shambles

  Dry as a dead dingo’s doing - Exceptionally dry

  Flat out like a lizard drinking’ - Not doing very much at all

  Grog - Alcohol

  Hit the frog and toad - Hit the road, get going

  Man’s not a camel - A man gets thirsty and would indeed like the beverage you are offering him

  Mate - Friend or conversely could be someone you barely know

  Nay, Yeah - Yes

  Pull the wool over someone’s eyes - To trick or mislead someone

  Reckon - For sure

  Ripsnorter - Can also be interchanged with beaut, bonza. Someone doing something exceptionally good

  Servo - Petrol Station

  Six one way, half a dozen the other - Undecided

  Sparrow Fart - Before the crack of dawn. Very, very early in the morning

  Stone the flamin’ crow - An utterance of surprise of annoyance

  Strewth - God’s truth. Used to express surprise or dismay

  She’ll be right - Everything is going to okay

  Tell ‘em they’re dreaming - Is never in a million years going to happen

  Tighter than a fish’s bum - Said person is very frugal with their money

  To blow smoke up someone’s bum - To give praise that might make the other person cocky or overly confident

  Up yourself - Stuck up

  Ute - Pickup Truck

  Whoop whoop - Middle of nowhere

  Wrap ya laughing gear ‘round that - Eat this

  Yarn - To talk or tell tall tales

  Yeah, nay - No

  You bloody ripper - Very good, a job well done