Elizabeth Goddard - Texas Christmas Defender

TARGETED AT CHRISTMAS

After earning the wrath of her brother, a notorious drug kingpin, Adriana Garcia has been in deep hiding on a remote Texas llama ranch. But when Texas Ranger Brent McCord manages to find her—leading her brother’s men right to her—Adriana discovers she’s a suspect in the murder of a border patrol agent. The handsome, principled ranger, whose life she once saved during a dangerous sting operation, intends to bring her in for questioning...and protection. To prove her innocence, Adriana has to trust Brent with the truth, her heart and her life. Because her brother and his henchman have the ranch surrounded, and Brent’s all that’s keeping this Christmas from turning deadly.

The cold muzzle of a weapon pressed into the side of Adriana’s head.

I’m going to die!

“Please.” She instantly regretted that she’d uttered a word.

“Adriana?” Brent growled the whisper. “What are you doing out here?”

At the sound of his familiar, welcome voice, she nearly slumped, but he caught her.

“Answer me,” he whispered.

“I heard the warning go off. I couldn’t let you face the danger alone.”

Something foreign flitted over his features, though it was too dark to see his gaze.

“I didn’t recognize you geared up like a soldier,” he said, and touched her bulletproof vest. In the moonlight, she barely made out a half grin, then it disappeared, his voice laced with weighty emotion. “I...could have killed you.”

“I’m grateful you didn’t.”

“Adriana, I told you to stay in the house, where you would be safer than out here. Why can’t you follow my instructions?”

She hated to hear the accusation, the disappointment in his tone. “I couldn’t let you face my brother or his henchmen alone. Besides, I’m here now.”

And she wasn’t leaving his side.

* * *

Texas Ranger Holidays: A Season of Danger

Thanksgiving Protector by Sharon Dunn

Christmas Double Cross by Jodie Bailey

Texas Christmas Defender by Elizabeth Goddard

Dear Reader,

What a wild ride this story was to write! I hope you enjoyed Texas Christmas Defender. I’m a seventh-generation Texan on both sides of my family and was once a member of the DRT—Daughters of the Republic of Texas. (I haven’t paid my dues, so I can’t say I’m still a member, even though my family has been in Texas long enough. Ha!) All this Texas family history and this will be my first book set in Texas. Can you believe it? I’m so happy I was given the opportunity to join this continuity series. The men and woman of the Texas Rangers have a rich heritage that begins early in Texas history and are world-renowned, often compared to Scotland Yard or the FBI. This is a state law enforcement agency, folks.

In Texas Christmas Defender, Adriana is looking for a refuge from some seriously bad people. Though escape nearly costs her everything—her safety, her life and the lives of those she loves—freedom from the evil that surrounds her is worth the cost. Inez is there to encourage her and pray for her. Isn’t that just like how God works in our lives? He sends someone to us who can pray for us and nurture us in His ways. Even if we don’t realize that person is there—trust me, they are. It’s my prayer for you today that you turn to the only One who can give you a true safe haven. Who can be your true refuge.

Thank you for reading my books! To find out about my other books, visit my website at ElizabethGoddard.com!

Many blessings,

Elizabeth Goddard

ELIZABETH GODDARD is the award-winning author of more than thirty novels and novellas. A 2011 Carol Award winner, she’s a double finalist in the 2016 Daphne du Maurier Award for Excellence in Mystery/Suspense, and a 2016 Carol Award finalist. Elizabeth graduated with a computer science degree and worked in high-level software sales before retiring to write full-time.

Texas Christmas Defender

Elizabeth Goddard

www.millsandboon.co.uk

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The name of the Lord is a strong tower; the righteous run to it and are safe.

—Proverbs 18:10

Dedicated to the One who saved me.

You are my strong tower.

Acknowledgments

As always, I want to thank my amazing writing friends and, in this case, Texas Ranger continuity writing partners Jodie Bailey and Sharon Dunn, for their help and insight in getting it right in this story. You ladies rock! A special thank-you goes to Sherri Tallmon at Hidden Oaks Llama Ranch for her help in answering a few questions about the care and love of llamas. If I didn’t already have my hands full I might consider taking on a few of these wonderful creatures! Thanks to Elizabeth Mazer for her encouragement and support and her belief in me as a writer, and to Emily Rodmell for including me in this project. Steve Laube—we celebrate seven years together this year. We’ve come a long way, Agent Man!

Contents

Cover

Back Cover Text

Introduction

Dear Reader

About the Author

Title Page

Bible Verse

Dedication

Acknowledgments

ONE

TWO

THREE

FOUR

FIVE

SIX

SEVEN

EIGHT

NINE

TEN

ELEVEN

TWELVE

THIRTEEN

FOURTEEN

FIFTEEN

SIXTEEN

EPILOGUE

Extract

Copyright

ONE

A hand clamped over her mouth, startling Adriana Garcia and muffling her scream. The muzzle of a gun pressed against her forehead. Her throat constricted.

Though she couldn’t see who held the gun to her head, she knew it had to be her drug-lord brother, Rio Garcia, come to extract his revenge.

She couldn’t breathe.

The large hands and muscled arms dragged her back and away from Kiana, the pregnant llama she’d been feeding. Adriana dropped the bucket of grain. Kiana stretched her neck, wanting to spit at the intruder. Llamas were excellent “guard dogs” and Kiana had been subtly signaling that something was wrong for several minutes now, but Adriana had misinterpreted her earlier agitation.

Adriana’s heart lodged in her throat. Her worst nightmare was unfolding this very moment. Her greatest fear had come true—her brother had found her. He would kill her now.

But not before he obtained the information he needed. Then he would show no mercy.

She should have known it would come to this.

I’m not ready to die. Oh, God, help me! Jesucristo, save me!

Even though she’d feared this day would come, and she’d prepared for it in every possible way with the booby traps and a security system, at this moment she realized she hadn’t prepared for it in earnest—from the deepest part of her soul.

Adriana had not prepared to die at her brother’s hand.

But could she beg for his mercy?

She’d had so many dreams, so many plans after her escape from her home in Juarez and the family drug cartel. Now all of those dreams were turning to dust. Why hadn’t she moved much farther away?

It’s too late now.

He forced her into the shadows of the barn, his hand still pressed hard against her mouth. The weapon bit into her temple.