All a Steer Can Do Is Try

By J.D. Walker

Clifford Ames is almost forty years old, and his ever-patient dog, Bambi Turgelson, is his only friend. Why? Because his egotistical boss and former closeted lover, Lambert Morton takes fiendish pleasure in working him to death, twenty-four-seven. Clifford knows he should leave the company and his unrequited love behind, but he keeps punishing himself by staying and taking the abuse, thinking things will be different, one day.

A wedding invitation from a far-flung cousin gives him the impetus to make a change, even if it's just for a three-day weekend. Enter Jetson Briscoe, son of the owner of the picturesque resort where the wedding is being held. His own personal Paul Bunyan come to life, Jetson gives Clifford a glimpse of the kind of life he could have, without the stress and crippling headaches and possible ulcer he deals with day-to-day. Will it be enough to make him change?

• Language: English
• Publisher: JMS Books LLC
• Release date: Jan 31, 2016
• ISBN: 9781634860529

J.D. Walker

J.D. Walker likes to keep her stories short and sweet. A multi-published author, she is also a musician, artist, and lover of all things knit and crochet. For more information, visit lifebyjo.com/jdwalker.

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All a Steer Can Do Is Try

By J.D. Walker

Published by JMS Books LLC

Visit jms-books.com for more information.

Copyright 2016 J.D. Walker

ISBN 9781634860529

Cover Design: Written Ink Designs | written-ink.com

Image(s) used under a Standard Royalty-Free License.

All rights reserved.

WARNING: This book is not transferable. It is for your own personal use. If it is sold, shared, or given away, it is an infringement of the copyright of this work and violators will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.

No portion of this book may be transmitted or reproduced in any form, or by any means, without permission in writing from the publisher, with the exception of brief excerpts used for the purposes of review.

This book is for ADULT AUDIENCES ONLY. It may contain sexually explicit scenes and graphic language which might be considered offensive by some readers. Please store your files where they cannot be accessed by minors.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are solely the product of the author’s imagination and/or are used fictitiously, though reference may be made to actual historical events or existing locations. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

Published in the United States of America.

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For A. You inspired this story.

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All a Steer Can Do Is Try

By J.D. Walker

I live and work in the city, but I grew up on a farm. My best friends back then were animals—not my brothers or sisters, or the multitude of cousins I had scattered across the countryside.

There’d been Blackie the cow, who disappeared one day while I was at primary school. The meal that evening had consisted of steak and potatoes, but I didn’t put two and two together until the next morning since she didn’t come when I called. Then, there was Puggy the pig, who squealed at me whenever I came around. He, too, disappeared one day, though I didn’t notice any bacon at breakfast time. Candace, the best mouser on the planet, gave me love whenever she felt like it. Which was…never, actually. I pretended she did anyway.

Last but not least was Bullray the poodle, who looked at me funny until the day he died because of the marijuana-laced brownies I’d given him when I was fifteen. I thought I’d about killed the damn dog, the way he lay on his back, legs stuck in the air and hardly breathing. That must have been some trip. Had he chased fire hydrants while high? It was the only time I’d ever prayed to any deity who would listen to bring back my best friend. He recovered, but he never ate anything I gave him ever again. Smart mutt.

Basically, I seemed to have bad luck when it came to pets of any kind, but I’d like to think I’ve improved over the years. They made more sense than people, most days. Naturally, that did nothing for my dating life, of which I had none. I was the steer who wished he could, but…well, you understand, don’t you?

Which leads me to my current predicament.

My cousin, Ian Lilley—thrice removed—is getting married this coming weekend at a chic little resort four hours away. I’d checked out the website and found it to be trendy without trying too hard. Ian had tracked me down somehow and asked if I would attend his wedding. Maybe it was because