Sharon Dunn - Thanksgiving Protector

PROTECTING THE BABY

When border patrol agent Kylie Perry’s informant is murdered, she makes good on her promise to raise the woman’s baby girl...but soon becomes the target of a killer. Now Kylie must find a way to juggle motherhood and her work on a joint task force aiming to capture a notorious drug kingpin—and somehow stay alive. Texas Ranger Austin Rivers, who’s partnering with Kylie on the case, is a lone wolf dedicated to his job. Yet as the criminal’s henchmen come after Kylie and her baby, Austin vows to protect them. And as Thanksgiving approaches, the man who never thought he was father material risks everything to save a woman and child who feel like family.

“I think you need to put that baby in protective custody,” Austin said.

He glanced away, then back at her. “So you can do your job and get beyond this threat.”

Kylie couldn’t believe what she was hearing. “So I can do my job?” Was that what mattered the most to him?

Austin stepped toward them, his hand gestures indicating he was rattled. “Both of you could have died out there.”

“I know that. Don’t you think I know that?” More than anything she wanted to keep Mercedes safe but the thought of being separated from the baby nearly broke her in half.

Austin was right, though—something bad could have happened to Mercedes.

It was clear he was uncomfortable with her new status as a single mother. He just wanted her to be Kylie: unattached, trusted border patrol agent.

He would have to accept she was a package deal now.

* * *

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,

I hope you enjoyed the exciting and romantic journey that Kylie and Austin went on. One of my favorite scenes in the book is the final one where Kylie, Mercedes, Austin and Robert have a very nontraditional Thanksgiving. Many of us have an ideal picture in mind when we think of the Thanksgiving meal, a room filled with extended family and a table overflowing with homemade food, lots of laughter, cooking together and positive feelings. While this ideal is wonderful and should be celebrated, not everyone experiences holidays like that because of geographic separation, strained family relationships or financial struggle. Our Thanksgiving might seem to fall short of that beautiful picture.

Because of circumstances out of her control, Kylie is not able to give Mercedes the Thanksgiving she pictured for their first holiday together. Yet she is able to find something positive about the moment—that she and Mercedes are together. Wherever you are this holiday season, with family, alone or with friends, celebrating abundance or facing financial hardship, in good health or struggling with sickness, I encourage you to let go of that picture we all carry in our heads of the “ideal” holiday season. Instead, ask God to open your eyes and show you what you truly have to be thankful for. You won’t be disappointed.

Ever since she found the Nancy Drew books with the pink covers in her country school library, SHARON DUNN has loved mystery and suspense. Most of her books take place in Montana, where she lives with three nearly grown children and a spastic border collie. When she isn’t writing, she enjoys hiking with her husband enjoying God’s beauty.

Thanksgiving Protector

Sharon Dunn

www.millsandboon.co.uk

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Give thanks to the Lord,

for He is good and His love endures forever.

—Psalms 106:1

This book is dedicated to my Aunt Kathy and Uncle Bill for taking me in all those years ago and being Jesus with skin on. I will always be thankful for your love and wisdom and my life will never be the same because you opened your hearts to me.

Contents

Cover

Back Cover Text

Introduction

Dear Reader

About the Author

Title Page

Bible Verse

Dedication

ONE

TWO

THREE

FOUR

FIVE

SIX

SEVEN

EIGHT

NINE

TEN

ELEVEN

TWELVE

THIRTEEN

FOURTEEN

FIFTEEN

SIXTEEN

SEVENTEEN

EIGHTEEN

NINETEEN

TWENTY

TWENTY-ONE

Extract

Copyright

ONE

Bad things happen at night.

Border patrol agent Kylie Perry stared through her night vision goggles and repeated the words that had kept her alive every time she went out on patrol at this hour—words that reminded her to be prepared for anything.

Tonight could be big. All intel pointed to the drug lord Rio Garcia crossing the border into El Paso from Juarez, Mexico. Rumor had it he was coming to seek revenge on his sister, Adriana, who had betrayed him.

Catching Garcia would be a coup for both the border patrol and the Texas Rangers she was working with tonight.

With the rushing rumble of the Rio Grande current pressing on her ears, Kylie scanned the high thin grass that surrounded the river.

A voice burst through the radio. “I’ve got movement at ten o’clock.” Austin Rivers, one of the rangers she was assisting, couldn’t hide his excitement. Apparently, he liked the action as much as she did.

Kylie’s heart skipped into double time as she turned her head toward where Austin had indicated. She scanned until her view took in one person moving at a rapid pace across the river. That couldn’t be their target. Rio Garcia would have four or five henchmen with him. He never went anywhere without his bodyguards.

But maybe he was changing tactics.

“Kylie, let’s see if we can catch him.” Austin’s voice came through the radio. “The rest of you hold your position. This could be nothing.”

Heart racing, adrenaline surging. Kylie took off running. A moment later, she heard Austin’s footsteps behind her. Her feet pounded the ground. She knew the fastest route to the river. Because of their knowledge of the people, terrain and geography, border patrol was an invaluable asset on these ranger missions.

The glowing figure disappeared in the tall brush on the American side. One person alone. Who could it be? She couldn’t tell if the yellow glow she’d seen through the night vision goggles had been a man or woman.

Kylie quickened her pace as she gulped in air.

As they approached the river, she slowed down and drew her weapon. Austin came up beside her and pulled his gun, as well. She scanned the landscape looking for the solitary figure. Her ears tuned into every sound. Austin pressed close to her, their shoulders nearly touching.

Minutes passed as the tension bore down on her and twisted her stomach in a knot. The high-wire tension was made worse by the sweat that trickled down Kylie’s neck. Even a November night in this area felt hot to her. She was a Montana girl, born and bred. As much as she loved her job, she wasn’t sure she would ever get used to the desert climate of El Paso.