Shannon here: Today I’m sharing one of my favorite excerpts from my new release, The Cowboy’s Missing Memory. Comment or answer the question in post dated July 3rd – 7th to enter the drawing. Deadline: July 14th, 11:59 pm central time.
In this scene, the hero, Clint Rawlins has just arrived home from the hospital after a bull wreck. Due to a traumatic brain injury, he’s missing the last two years of his life. He remembers his dad died, but to him it’s only been six months when it’s actually been two and a half years. His mother is engaged, but Clint’s doctor has cautioned the family and his therapist to break the news gently once he’s settled in at the ranch.
Lexie Parker is an occupational therapist and she worked with Clint’s dad after he was diagnosed with a degenerative brain disease from too many bull wrecks. She and Clint never met until he woke up in the hospital after his injury. Since Lexie grew close to his mom, Audrey, during her time as his dad’s therapist, she agrees to work with Clint. The book had some heavy subjects and emotions, but this scene had a comedic turn and I enjoyed writing it.
Excerpt from The Cowboy’s Missing Memory by Shannon Taylor Vannatter:
What had she gotten herself into? Late-afternoon sunlight streamed through the windows as Lexie helped Clint transfer from the wheelchair to the couch in the Rawlinses’ family room, then parked the chair in the corner. She was supposed to be enjoying four weeks of rest and relaxation. Instead, she’d signed up for a month of intensive therapy
“This is nice.” He leaned his head back on a cushion and closed his eyes. “There’s no place like home.”
Why couldn’t she just walk away? she asked herself. And the answer was simple—because she loved Audrey. “I checked out our therapy room. Your equipment is all set up. We’ll start in the morning. I’ll be here around nine.”
“That fast? I just got home.”
“No rest for the injured.” With him settled, she took the opportunity to look around. The Rawlinses’ home was warm and inviting, with a cowhide rug in front of a creamy Austin stone fireplace, overstuffed furniture and massive overhead beams. “Your mom’s in the kitchen if you need anything.”
“I’ve put her through the wringer,” he murmured, regret echoing in his tone. “I don’t know what I was thinking. I don’t remember the expansion to Fort Worth idea. Or my decision to compete in the rodeo this year. A year I didn’t even know was here. Did I compete last year?”
“I don’t know.” If he had, not even his sister Carly knew about it. Could he have secretly competed with no one the wiser?
“I honestly don’t know why I ended up on that bull’s back.”
“Well, that’s what we’re here for. To help you get those answers.” She released a breath. “I better take off. I need to unload my car at my parents’ and get settled in. You can relax the rest of the day. Tomorrow, we’ll begin retrieving your memory and recovering your mobility.”
“What if I don’t get my memory back?” he asked.
“It’s possible. But rare.”
“Dad’s illness started with memory loss. And it all came from bull wrecks.”
Which was why he should have known better. “How many wrecks and concussions did your dad have?”
“I’ve lost count.”
“You’ve had two.”
“That I know of.” He groaned. “At the moment, my brain is toast.”
“Listen, Clint…” She knelt in front of him. “Part of therapy is a positive attitude. I know it’s hard, but you can’t dwell on the negatives and have a successful recovery.”
He nodded. “Right. I’ll work on that.”
She patted his hand. And electricity shot through her fingers. Whoa. No touching the cowboy. Since she’d seen him in his hospital bed, she’d been drawn to him. She might get too attached to her patients, but she did not fall for them. Especially some selfish bull rider who’d run off to the rodeo every time he was short on cash.
The doorbell rang and she stood. But before she could respond, the door opened.
Ted entered. And froze when he saw Clint. “Oh, I didn’t know you were home yet?”
“Who are you?” Clint asked with a frown. “And who do you think you are, barging in my mother’s house?”
“Oh, I, um, I rang first.” The older gentleman’s face went crimson. “I’m, uh, Ted. I didn’t think y’all were back from the hospital yet. You must be Clint. And—” His gaze went to Lexie for help.
“I’m Lexie, his therapist.” She bit her lip, her mind completely blank on how to help the poor guy out.
“So you’re here to do what exactly?” Clint pressed. “Rob us? But robbers usually don’t offer their names. Unless Ted isn’t really your name.”
“Ted goes to our church,” Audrey announced, popping up from out of nowhere. “He’s here to, um—”
“Feed the cat.” Lexie tried to help her out.
“Yes.” Audrey smiled. “Thank you, Ted, but as you can see, we’re home now.”
“I’m glad your son’s home, ma’am. I’ll just be on my way.”
“Mom?”
“Yes, dear.”
Clint cast a suspicious glare on Ted’s retreating back. “You’re allergic to cats.”
About me: Award winning author, Shannon Taylor Vannatter writes contemporary Christian cowboy romance and has over a dozen published titles. A romance reader since her teens, she hopes to entertain Christian women and plant seeds in the non-believer’s heart as she demonstrates that love doesn’t conquer all—Jesus does.
She gleans fodder for her fiction in rural Arkansas where she spent her teenage summers working the concession stand with her rodeo announcing dad and married a Texan who morphed into a pastor. In her spare time, she loves hanging out with her husband and son, flea marketing, and doing craft projects.
Connect with her: Shannon’s Website, Shannon’s Blog, Shannon’s Facebook, Shannon’s Goodreads, Shannon’s Pinterest, Shannon’s Twitter, Newsletter Archives, Shannon’s Amazon Author Page and Shannon’s Bookbub. Sign up for her Newsletter to get a free e-book, recipes, behind the scenes info, & enter exclusive giveaways: Shannon’s Newsletter
Recently, Shannon joined Scrivenings Press as co-owner/acquisitions/content editor.
About the book – The Cowboy’s Missing Memory:
Can he reclaim his past…and build a future?
He needs to remember.
She’s his best hope…
After a rodeo accident took away Clint Rawlins’s mobility and two years’ worth of memories, occupational therapist Lexie Parker is his only shot at recovering and regaining independence. Lexie is drawn to Clint…but she’s wary of the amnesiac’s all-too-vulnerable feelings. And with the possibility of him returning to his dangerous bull-riding side job, she refuses to risk her heart. But resisting her charming patient may be harder than she expected…
(Available in Walmart mid-June through mid-July)
The Cowboy’s Missing Memory – Amazon The Cowboy’s Missing Memory – Christian Book
I’m giving away five copies of The Cowboy’s Missing Memory and five copies of my Western Collection two in one with Jill Lynn – Counting on the Cowboy and Her Texas Cowboy will be split among commentors. Winner’s will be revealed on Shannon’s Blog on July 15th.
Follow my blog tour to enter:
June 2: Jennifer Heeren’s Blog: https://jenniferheeren.com/blog/
June 11: Joy Avery Melville’s Blog: https://www.journeystojoy.net/
June 13: Patti Shene’s Blog: https://pattishene.com/pattisporch
June 25: Laurie Wood’s Blog: https://www.lauriewoodauthor.com/author-my-blog
June 25: Reading is My Superpower Blog: https://readingismysuperpower.org
June 30: Catherine Castle’s Blog: https://catherinecastle1.wordpress.com/blog/
July 3: Inkslinger Blog: https://shannontaylorvannatter.com/inkslinger-blog/
July 6: Amy Anguish’s Blog: https://abitofanguish.weebly.com/blog
July 7: Inkslinger Blog: https://shannontaylorvannatter.com/inkslinger-blog/
July 10: Linda Rondeau’s Blog: https://lindarondeau.com/snarksensibility
Question for Readers: Are you allergic to anything? If so, what happens if you accidently come into contact with your allergen?
Come back July 10th for Neena Gaynor!
Love this scene! I have to read this book!
Thank you Patti.
I don’t have any food allergies but I am very allergic to poison ivy. I’ve had to have shots before and once I got poison from putting my husband’s jeans in the washer. He can pull it up with his hands and not be affected!
Mushrooms; itchy face if unknowingly eat something that did not know contained them.
Aspirin; migraine. I stay away from aspirin since I don’t know what else could happen.
Oh Suzan. That makes me sad. I love mushrooms. So I guess all you can take is Tylenol or Ibuprofen.
I am highly allergic to Latex. I found out in high school biology class The first reaction wasn’t too terrible my skin all peeled off and i got short of breath. The next time I had an anaphylactic reaction. So need less to say I stay away from all things Latex
Ouch, Gayla. Skin peeling off. Yes, I’d definitely stay away from that.
I have no food allergies (so thankful) that I know of, but kiwi makes my tongue feel weird so I don’t eat it. I do break out from poison ivy. It got in my blood stream once so I needed steroids. It was not pretty! Thanks for the chance to win a prize!
Poison ivy is the worst. My son is allergic too. He never had it, so he assumed he wasn’t allergic. Until he was ten and was building a fort. He pulled it out of the way and tore it off with his bare hands. He broke out all between his fingers and on both hands. He had to get a steroid shot and he was the pitcher for the baseball team that year. He had to miss two games.
Thankfully I’m not allergic to anything. But I know a few people in our church who have several food allergies and need to eat gluten free. It makes it hard to cook, I bet!
Love the post, the more I follow the blog for this book, the more I want to read it for myself!
Me too Connie. It’s the most horrible itch. It makes me want to peel my skin off. I had to get a shot once. I get it from my pets’ fur just about every year. I found 2 things. 1st if you can, soak it in the hottest water you can stand. It makes it itch really bad but it releases the histamines, gives relief, and slowly kills it. Also there’s an all natural poison ivy pill at the health food store. They work wonders.
I’m so thankful I don’t have food allergies, Trixi. I made one of my heroines allergic to shellfish once. I told my husband while I was writing that book that if I ever develop an allergy to shellfish, just shoot me and put me out of my misery. I love seafood. Yum.
LOL, you made me smile….I wonder what her answer is?!
I have a seasonal allergy and I’m trying to avoid being outside when it’s the worst…
Me too Natalya. I take a Zyrtec every night.
I’m not allergic to anything but I do get a rash from coming in contact with many plants.
Oh my Joan. I hope you have it figured out which plants at least.
I’m not allergic to anything that I know of. I liked the excerpt. It sounds like a really interesting book. Thank you for sharing.
Be very thankful, Diana. I’m fighting seasonal allergies as we speak. I’m glad you enjoyed the excerpt.
The only thing I know that I’m allergic to is poison ivy. I used to have to get 4 shots every spring, I was so allergic! Awful, awful stuff!
Of all the things Clint could remember, one had to be that his mom was allergic to cats. ☺
Poison ivy is the worst. An itch that can’t be described. Or tolerated. I enjoyed writing that scene. The book has kind of a heavy subject and Clint is struggling, so it was fun to add some comedy here and there.
I forgot to add, I went to:
July 6: Amy Anguish’s Blog: https://abitofanguish.weebly.com/blog & couldn’t find your interview. 🙁
Here’s the direct link: https://abitofanguish.weebly.com/writing/author-interview-shannon-taylor-vannatter
Thank you!
Thanks for following my tour, Robin.
I had 5 ER visits within a short time. My doctor decided to do allergen testing. I learned I was still allergic to all the same things I was allergic to when a kid. My reaction was severe hives with itching so intense I thought I’d go insane.
One Sunday I decided to eat a hamburger from a fast food joint. When the violent reaction reared it’s ugly head again, I figured it out for myself.
Alpha gal is a tic that gives the victim a most unpleasant surprise. There is a delayed reaction from this pest whenever the person bitten eats any mammalian meat. It can take years before same person can enjoy meat again.
I love you and love your books!
Wow Kathy, I may have to put that in a book. I’d probably never eat meat again. I love you too. Thanks for the compliment.
I have winners! Suzan Burgett and Diana Hardt won this drawing. I appreciate everyone who followed my blog tour.