2. Conner

"You are the most amazing woman I've ever met," Conner said. "Your incredible beauty takes my breath away, and I'm not just talking about your fiery red hair, emerald eyes, and sexy body."

Conner held Beth close to him. The feeling of their skin touching was incredible. Her scent of jasmine and her own essence tugged at his soul. He had heard his father talking about how he knew Conner's mother was his fated mate the first time he caught wind of her unique scent. Conner had always scoffed at that nonsense. There was no such thing as a fated mate.

"Oh yeah?" she said. "Keep talking."

"You are kind and so intelligent. Although you do have a smart mouth and a stubborn streak a mile wide."

"All part of my incredibleness," Beth said.

"Ooh, you're humble, too. Gotta love that in a woman." Conner laughed.

"Thanks," Beth said. "I guess you're alright, too."

"Just alright?" he asked.

Beth pretended to think for a minute, exaggeratingly tapping her chin and scratching her scalp. She tilted her head sideways and narrowed her eyes as though she was studying him. "Yeah. I'll go with alright."

"I'll show you alright," he said, pouncing on her and tickling her.

The tickling turned into touching and making sweet love again. Conner had never guessed that he would find a woman who would make him feel so whole. As he held the sleeping woman, Conner decided that he was going to buy her a ring and propose.

We can make this work. I'll give up the rodeo and find a job on one of the local ranches. Or hell, I'll buy my own and raise broncs.I can compete locally when there are rodeos in the area.

He toyed with the idea, and the more he thought about it, the more he liked it. He pictured a nice large ranch and a whole pack of wolf shifter pups running around.

I can do this. We can do this.

Conner had lived the rodeo life long enough to know how to raise good bucking horses. He would find the right stud. It would probably be a champion ready to retire. He would find several mares that would be a perfect fit. Conner wouldn't even be worried about the horses he sold. A good bronc would have a long, happy life in the rodeo. He would be well-fed and taken care of for just a few minutes of work each night. When they were ready to retire, they would often be put out to stud.

Smiling to himself, he pictured the ranch and the horses. Peace and contentment settled in his soul. Conner kissed the top of Beth's head and snuggled in against her. He was excited about his plan. He was sure that Beth would be happy, too. Conner knew that the witch loved him. She could continue healing people who needed her while they worked together to achieve their dreams.

Matilda had come to the house early the next morning, telling Beth that she needed to get rid of Conner. She was sure that Conner was no good for Beth and would just end up hurting her.

I'll show her,Conner thought as he listened to the conversation.

He was in a great mood as he headed for the jewelry store. Conner was certain that he would find the perfect ring. He had it all planned out. Tonight, he would take her out to dinner. They would go for a walk afterward. Then, under the full moon and a sky full of bright stars, he would get down on one knee, profess his undying love, and propose.

Conner was surprised when Matilda walked up to him on the sidewalk in front of the jewelry shop.

"Good morning, Conner. Fancy meeting you here," Matilda said.

"Hello, Ms. Matilda," Conner said stiffly.

"How are you feeling?" she asked, overly effusively.

"Fine, thanks."

"I guess you'll be on your way now that you're all healed up."

"I've been thinking about that," Conner said, looking the woman straight in her eyes. "I've fallen in love with Beth. I'm going to settle down around here and ask her to marry me."

Matilda shook her head. "I don't think that's going to happen."

She waved her arms around like the conductor of an orchestra and muttered some words. He smelled something sharp and pungent, like a combination of old cheese, musty shoes, and rotten eggs. Mist seemed to appear out of nowhere and engulfed him. His brain seemed to freeze. When the fog cleared, he looked around, confused. He couldn't remember why he was here.

Conner looked at the older woman with long red hair and a smirk who was standing between him and his truck.

"Pardon me, ma'am," he said, and walked around her, sliding into the driver's side of the truck.

He shook his head and sucked in a huge breath. For the life of him, he couldn't remember why he was standing on the sidewalk. His stomach rolled and his brain hurt. Conner looked around him in confusion.

Conner saw that his bag was in the back seat of his truck. "Funny. I don't remember putting that there."

Glancing out the window, he saw that the woman was still watching him. "Does she want an autograph? She's a little old to be a groupie," he muttered.

A slight twinge in his left leg reminded him that he had been hurt, but he didn't remember much else. "That must have been a doozy of a hit."

Shaking his head, he drove to the rodeo grounds. Like normal, it was a beehive. Everyone was buzzing around taking care of the animals and talking. Conner stopped by his trailer for an apple. Zephyr, Conner's golden palomino with his white tail and mane greeted him affectionately.

"How are you, old boy?" Conner said, petting the horse who was nosing him for some treats.

Conner reached into his pocket and pulled out the apple, biting off chunks for his horse.

"How are you feeling?" Gideon asked.

"Hey, man. I'm great. I'm ready to get back into the saddle."

"Are you sure? You were hurt pretty badly and it's only been a month."

"Positive." Conner grinned. "I'm good as new."

"Alright then," Gideon said. "We're moving on to Colorado Springs tonight. Everyone is loading up."

"We'll be ready to go," Conner said.

Gideon hesitated as though he had something on his mind. Conner waited for him to speak. "What about Beth?"

Frowning with confusion, Conner asked, "Who's Beth?"

Gideon shook his head with disapproval. "It's like that, huh?"

"Like what?" Conner asked as the rodeo clown walked away.

Conner hooked the trailer up to the truck and then loaded Zephyr onto the trailer, making sure that he was secure and comfortable. The horse was the one constant being in his life, and Conner loved him as much as he loved his best friend, Micah, who was back home in Angel's Creek.

Several other people greeted him, asking him how he was feeling. Everyone told him how much they missed him on the circuit and that they were glad that he was back.

There was a familiarity about the scene that was comforting. The group that Conner had come with a month ago had completed its circuit and come back around. Sometimes Conner competed in local rodeo circuits and sometimes the national ones. He liked this particular circuit that stayed mostly in Wyoming, Colorado, Montana, Utah, and South Dakota because he liked the people who ran it and the regulars who competed. He also had absolute trust in the clowns, especially Gideon, who was a great friend.

The three-hour drive to Colorado Springs seemed to take longer than normal. Gideon's question haunted Conner. "Beth? Why did that name sound familiar?" It was like bait on a fish hook that dangled in the back of his mind. "I guess she must have been one of the nurses at the hospital who took care of me."

He thought about Gideon's reaction when Conner asked who Beth was. It wasn't like him to be so disapproving.

Conner was upset because he couldn't remember being in the hospital. His head hurt from the confusion. He knew that the bull had trampled him when he was bucked off right at the eight-second mark. That was it. The last month seemed to be a complete blank. He vaguely remembered going to the rodeo grounds to take care of Zephyr when he was able to walk but wasn't well enough to ride. He knew that Gideon had taken care of his horse before he was able. However, he didn't remember anything else.

"Did I hit my head that hard? Did the bull stomp in my brain so much that I can't remember a full month of my life?"

The thought worried Conner. "What else am I forgetting?"

As he pulled into the rodeo grounds in Colorado Springs a weird feeling came over him. He was positive that he had forgotten something very important in Cheyenne.

"Maybe I need to find a witch or a hypnotist who can help me remember what it is that I've forgotten." He laughed.

He called Zac when he got to Colorado Springs. "Zephyr and I are going to compete tonight."

"Are you sure that you're up to it?" Zac asked. "You had some pretty serious injuries."

"I feel great," Conner said.

"What does Beth say?" Zac asked.

"Beth? I honestly don't remember anyone named Beth."

"Oookay," Zac said drawing out the word. "Well, just be careful tonight. If you feel tired, remember that there is no shame in bowing out of some of the events. You were hurt pretty badly."

"I'm good."

Conner checked on Zephyr one last time before he got ready to do the bull riding event. "Why does everyone keep asking about Beth?"

The horse neighed and nudged for an apple.

Laughing, Conner gave Zephyr his treat and headed over to the arena. His heart lurched a little when he saw that the bull he had been assigned was Demon. That bull lived up to its name.

"The best way to do this is to get back in the game. It's just like riding a bike. You have to get back on as soon as you fall off or you'll spend the rest of your life terrified."

Conner had a successful night. He won prizes for bull riding, steer wrestling, bronc riding with a saddle, and bronc riding without a saddle. As normal, some groupies crowded around the cowboys after the competitions.

One of the women caught his eye. She walked up to him and grinned. "You're one sexy cowboy," she cooed.

"Thank you," he said. "Are you looking for an autograph?"

"Why, sure I am," she said. "And a whole lot more if you're up to it."

Her intentions were quite obvious. A vague image flashed in his mind. He couldn't quite capture it. The desire that had a certain part of him standing at attention a minute ago was gone.

"I wish I could, Darlin', but I have to take care of my horse and get some shut-eye. We're leaving out of here first thing in the morning."

She got an ugly look on her face and she flicked his crotch. "Suit yourself," she snapped as she walked away.

"How could I have wanted that?" he asked. "I think I need better taste in women."

Over the next few months, Conner's body fully healed, although when there was an abrupt weather change, he felt a twinge in his arm and leg. The vague memories of a soft laugh or gentle touch faded away until Conner was sure that he just had a nice, lingering dream. No one mentioned Beth again, so her name was forgotten. Cheyenne no longer tugged at his soul. It was simply another stop on the circuit. It was another cash prize, belt buckle, or saddle.

Life was easy this way. Life was good.