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    A Desperado for Christmas
    A Desperado for Christmas
    A Desperado for Christmas
    Ebook90 pages1 hour

    A Desperado for Christmas

    By Vijaya Schartz

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    About this ebook

    Border patrol Agent Kaitlin Harrington hates Christmas for personal reasons. This year, as she guards the Mexican border, she encounters more than she can handle in the person of a gorgeous Desperado, a despicable human smuggler of all people! Miguel is fascinated by the green eyes of the feisty auburn-haired beauty bent on impeding his important work. But he is a man of many secrets...

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherVijaya Schartz
    Release dateDec 7, 2011
    ISBN9781466103702
    A Desperado for Christmas
    Author

    Vijaya Schartz

    Award-winning author Vijaya Schartz never conformed to anything and could never refuse a challenge. She likes action and exotic settings, in life and on the page. She traveled the world and claims she comes from the future. Her books collected many five-star reviews and literary awards. She makes you believe you lived these extraordinary adventures among her characters. So, go ahead, dare to experience the magic, and she will keep you entranced, turning the pages until the last line. Find more about Vijaya and her books at http://www.vijayaschartz.com

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      Book preview

      A Desperado for Christmas - Vijaya Schartz

      A Desperado For Christmas

      by Vijaya Schartz

      Smashwords Edition

      Copyright © 2008 Vijaya Schartz

      Cover Art by Kendra Egert

      ISBN 978-1-4661-0370-2

      This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are a product of the author’s imagination. Any resemblance to a person or persons, living or dead, business establishments, events or locales is purely coincidental.

      This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to Smashwords.com and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

      Dedication

      To all the good men and women willing to risk everything, in order to defend human rights and freedom.

      Chapter One

      I hate Christmas, okay? Kaitlin Harrington tucked a rebellious strand of auburn hair under her cap and turned away from her partner, Josh.

      Night had fallen, and she crawled up to the edge of the ridge to gaze through her night binoculars. Nothing moved in the desert landscape of rocks, Palo Verde, Sage, and Saguaro. No bird cried. No predator prowled. Great! A slow, boring night on border watch, but she couldn’t stand spending it at home with her cat. Too many bad memories of her last Christmas Eve… That’s why she’d volunteered.

      What gives? Josh never knew when to shut up.

      With a sigh, Kaitlin turned to Josh and reclined against the slope of the ravine. By moonlight, she looked over their small camp under a clump of Palo Verde.

      She forced a smile. It wasn’t Josh’s fault. You don’t want to know. It’s a long story...

      Josh leaned his short two hundred-pound frame against the Border Patrol Hummer. The button of his olive shirt strained against a round belly, showing the black material of his Kevlar vest. Did your boyfriend jilt you on Christmas Eve, or something? Now you hate all men? Is that your sad story?

      Something like that. Damn Josh for guessing.

      Kaitlin struggled to remain calm. But she didn’t tell him that the plastered bastard had kicked her belly, and she’d lost her unborn child on that fateful night a year ago. Raised Catholic, Kaitlin never lost her faith, but she found Christmas too painful to celebrate. Since her ordeal, Kaitlin had learned to fight back. Never again would she be a victim.

      That’s no reason to spoil Christmas for everyone else. The moonlight glinted on Josh’s badge and he grinned suggestively. When I agreed to work on a holiday, I was hoping we’d at least have some fun. Why haven’t you kissed me yet?

      You wish. She struggled to make light of his advances. After all, he was her partner.

      Josh took one step toward her. I’d like a chance to play connect the freckles on that smooth skin of yours. Is your whole body covered with them?

      Give it up, already. Kaitlin rose and frowned in disbelief. What the hell is wrong with you? After three weeks of trying to get in my pants, you still don’t get the message?

      Oh, you don’t scare me with those angry green eyes. The insensitive slob lifted his cap and smoothed his short sandy hair. Believe it or not, most women find me charming.

      In a titty bar, no doubt. Kaitlin knew about Josh’s reputation. She’d seen the desperate girls who’d laugh at any stupid joke for the lure of a few dollar bills in their G-string.

      What’s wrong with titty bars? His eyes rounded in feigned shock.

      Nothing. Kaitlin shrugged. She didn’t want to get into another argument about the exploitation of women.

      In the moonlit landscape, the lights of an approaching vehicle wobbled across the hilly terrain, bearing straight for their camp. The purr of the engine carried over the muted sounds of the desert. Kaitlin slid down the slope as the light beams swept the camp. The green patrol Jeep turned then stopped, the engine still running.

      Kaitlin caught up with Josh as he walked up to the vehicle.

      We’re calling it quits for the night, Bob, the driver, yelled out the window. He pointed to his partner. Will, here, says we’re wasting our time. The desert is empty tonight. The illegals won’t cross the border on Christmas Eve.

      Will, barely visible in the passenger seat, nodded. Those freaking Mexicans love their Feliz Navidad.

      They are not all Mexicans. Kaitlin curbed a sharper comment. With these guys, she’d be wasting her time trying to explain discrimination.

      We are going for a few cervesas in Nogales. Bob revved the engine. Want to join us?

      Kaitlin shook her head. You know damn well I don’t drink. She had witnessed up close what liquor could do. It had prompted her ex-boyfriend’s violent behavior, and she wanted no part of it. What about orders?

      Will waved away her comment. We'll be back before the end of the shift.

      Kaitlin shook her head. She wouldn’t abandon her post. Her team acted so unprofessional, even for a holiday, she would have no part of it. As an army brat, she had learned discipline and duty early on.

      Josh raised his eyebrows up and down. You mind if I do, partner?

      Knock your socks off, big guy. I’ve got everything under control here. Kaitlin waved him away. Go. Enjoy your beer.

      Josh hurried to Kaitlin’s Hummer and foraged around the passenger seat.

      She’d be better off without him. His incessant chatting no doubt carried over miles of desert in the eerie silence, signaling their presence to any living thing, whether snake, scorpion, javelina, bob cat or coyote... the four-legged as well as the two-legged kind.

      Josh returned, carrying his bag of personal effects. Appreciate it, partner. He opened the back door of the Jeep then turned to her, one foot inside the vehicle. You sure you’ll be all right?

      Don’t worry. I’ll be fine. She waved him off. Good riddance.

      Josh stuffed himself into the back seat of the Jeep and tapped Bob's shoulder. Can we make that a titty bar run? he heralded in a loud voice.

      She heard the three patrolmen laugh as Josh slammed the door. The jeep bounded east, its taillights bobbing until they disappeared behind the first rocky outcrop.

      Kaitlin shook her head in disbelief. Men! The night fell silent once again. She sighed with relief and gazed at the stars in the cloudless sky. Except for Orion, she couldn’t name any of the constellations. The chill pierced through the sleeves of her uniform, although the stiff Kevlar vest served

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