Showstring

By Jon Keys

Beef and beefcake, tight Wranglers and a lifetime of anguish, cattle and competition. Can Jayden and Ben mesh their wildly different backgrounds?

Jayden Laine has spent his life in the city, dreaming of cowboys and cattle ranches. He looks forward to each fall when his real life is exchanged for his dreams at the state fair.

This year, as he steps into the barns, he's greeted by everything he's come to see, along with the additional sight of Ben Ramos fighting to move a two-thousand-pound bull that's decided he doesn't want to cooperate. What happens next starts a juggernaut of emotions in Jayden that turn his world upside down. Now all he has to do is reevaluate his entire life and decide who to believe. And he has only a few days to do it.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Pride Publishing
• Release date: Apr 18, 2017
• ISBN: 9781786515636

Jon Keys

Jon Keys’ earliest memories revolve around books; with the first ones he can recall reading himself being “The Warlord of Mars” and anything with Tarzan. (The local library wasn’t particularly up to date.) But as puberty set in, he started sneaking his mother’s romance magazines and added the world of romance and erotica to his mix of science fiction, fantasy, Native American, westerns and comic books. A voracious reader for almost half a century, Jon has only recently begun creating his own flights of fiction for the entertainment of others. Born in the Southwest and now living in the Midwest, Jon has worked as a ranch hand, teacher, computer tech, roughneck, designer, retail clerk, welder, artist, and, yes, pool boy; with interests ranging from kayaking and hunting to painting and cooking, he draws from a wide range of life experiences to create written works that draw the reader in and wrap them in a good story.

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Showstring

ISBN # 978-1-78651-563-6

©Copyright Jon Keys 2017

Cover Art by Posh Gosh ©Copyright March 2017

Edited by Jamie D. Rose

Pride Publishing

This is a work of fiction. All characters, places and events are from the author’s imagination and should not be confused with fact. Any resemblance to persons, living or dead, events or places is purely coincidental.

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any material form, whether by printing, photocopying, scanning or otherwise without the written permission of the publisher, Pride Publishing.

Applications should be addressed in the first instance, in writing, to Pride Publishing. Unauthorised or restricted acts in relation to this publication may result in civil proceedings and/or criminal prosecution.

The author and illustrator have asserted their respective rights under the Copyright Designs and Patents Acts 1988 (as amended) to be identified as the author of this book and illustrator of the artwork.

Published in 2017 by Pride Publishing, Newland House, The Point, Weaver Road, Lincoln, LN6 3QN

Pride Publishing is a subsidiary of Totally Entwined Group Limited.

SHOWSTRING

Jon Keys

Beef and beefcake, tight Wranglers and a lifetime of anguish, cattle and competition. Can Jayden and Ben mesh their wildly different backgrounds?

Jayden Laine has spent his life in the city, dreaming of cowboys and cattle ranches. He looks forward to each fall when his real life is exchanged for his dreams at the state fair.

This year, as he steps into the barns, he’s greeted by everything he’s come to see, along with the additional sight of Ben Ramos fighting to move a two-thousand-pound bull that’s decided he doesn’t want to cooperate. What happens next starts a juggernaut of emotions in Jayden that turn his world upside down. Now all he has to do is reevaluate his entire life and decide who to believe. And he has only a few days to do it.

Trademarks Acknowledgement

The author acknowledges the trademarked status and trademark owners of the following wordmarks mentioned in this work of fiction:

Wrangler: Wrangler Apparel Corp.

Boy Scouts: Boy Scouts of America Corporation

Dr. Pepper: Dr. Pepper/Seven Up Inc.

Chapter One

Stepping into the barns from the bright sunshine, I paused for a moment to let my eyes adjust. The earthy scent of cattle merged with the sweet odor of hay and the sharp bite of pine shavings to play across my senses while I waited. I lost myself in this world each fall during the state fair. It always took a little sneaking around so my father didn’t know how I was spending my time. If he discovered that my desire for cowboys hadn’t changed, he’d send me off for treatment again—or worse. But this was my time to dream that I was normal, to pretend I didn’t know I was damaged.

Locking my guilt away, I moved down the aisle, determined to allow myself a few moments of peace. The neat rows of cattle lying contentedly on immaculately groomed beds of wood chips revived the world I lost myself in each time. While forming an important part of my fantasy life, the cattle intimidated me. They were huge, but in my mind, if I could learn to work with the beasts, I hoped one of the cowboys would be interested in me. As ridiculous as it seemed, it was a dream I clung to furiously.

Sorry, excuse me.

Startled, I glanced up to find myself in the way of a guy who looked only a few years older than me, leading a massive black animal. The heat of my clumsy embarrassment burned across my face as I scrambled out of the way. Sorry. I wasn’t paying attention.

The tan cowboy gave me a bright smile. "If it wasn’t for old fat-ass Norman here, it wouldn’t be a problem. But he doesn’t like to be led. So taking