E.E.Burke's Best of the West: Living the Dream

Well, it's bulls and blood

It's dust and mud

It's the roar of a Sunday crowd
It's the white in his knuckles
The gold in the buckle
He'll win the next go 'round

It's boots and chaps
It's cowboy hats
It's spurs and latigo

It's the ropes and the reins

And the joy and the pain
And they call the thing rodeo

~ Garth Brooks

This summer, I was behind the scenes at the Deadwood PBR Rodeo and met some of the men and women who live this life day in and day out. They’re polite young cowboys who seem to have come from a time gone by, their wives were hanging out, visiting around the campers while the kids played. They are following a dream.

I know what it’s like pursue a dream, and how rough it can sometimes be, and how often you have to tell yourself the sacrifice is worth it. 

Though chasing my dream doesn’t involve the physical challenges faced by bull riders. I generally don't get hurt, banging away at the laptop! 

It takes real fortitude and amazing "grit" to get on top of a bull. Just being behind the scenes and seeing these guys prepare for the ride gave me goosebumps. 

Some riders pace, others stand still and take deep breaths, some swing their arms like they're in an imaginary fight, I saw one guy doing calisthenics. They do whatever it takes to for them to get their minds focused and prepare for an adrenaline rush like no other.

The gate opens. The crowd goes wild!

This is Chase Outlaw, who was having one of the best seasons of his career before he was seriously injured. Like so many of these tough cowboys, he takes the dream seriously and is determined to get back in the game. Frankly, it'll take a while before he's well enough to climb back on. 

What happens when a rider like Chase gets hurt? The medical bills, the time off from work, and the emotional and financial toll on the rider and the family are daunting. 

These cowboys, with their courage and determination, inspired a group of writers to get together to support them. We decided to do what we do best--write stories--to raise money for the Western Sports Foundation. The WSF was created to provide a safety net for athletes who face what could be insurmountable obstacles. It's a great organization and has the riders best interests at heart. Whether they need help getting back on their feet or planning for the future, the WSF is there for them. www.westernsportsfoundation.org

Wild Deadwood Tales includes 17 original short works of fiction. From rodeos to romance, Wild West excitement and adventure, and even a few ghost stories.  Five of the authors featured in the anthology are members of GLIAS: E.E. Burke, Angi Morgan, Liz Selvig, Amanda McIntyre and our newest crew member, Jacqui Nelson.

Every dollar we earn on book sales is donated to the Western Sports Foundation.

Read great stories, help these cowboys and their families reach their dreams.

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