Working with
traveling carnivals and itinerant farm labor gangs during his teen and early
adult years took Gaylon Greer up, down, and across the United States and
introduced him to a plethora of colorful individuals who serve as models for
his fictional characters. A return to school in pursuit of a high school
diploma while serving in the Air Force led to three university degrees,
including a Ph.D. in economics, and a stint as a university professor. After
publishing several books on real estate and personal financial planning, as
well as lecturing on these subjects to nationwide audiences, he shifted his
energy to writing fiction. Gaylon lives near Austin, Texas.
Gaylon’s Web Site: http://gaylongreer.com/
Amazon Author
Page:
Accustomed
to a life of privilege, Shelby Cervosier new finds herself running for her
life. Accused of killing an American Immigration agent, Shelby has undertaken a
mission on behalf of a secretive American espionage agency in exchange for a
promise of legal amnesty and political asylum in America. Now, however, the
agent who coerced her into accepting the assignment wants her dead to cover up
the bungled mission. Two hit men compete for the bounty that has been placed on
her head.
Shelby
and her younger sister flee into America’s heartland in search of a safe haven.
They find only fear and danger, however, when they are captured by one of the
assassins, Hank.
Prepared
to do whatever it takes to keep her sister safe, Shelby cooperates with her
capturer. Deciding that his feelings for them are more important than bounty
money, Hank takes the sisters under his wing and secrets then away to his
hideout: a farm in a remote corner of Colorado. They become a part of his
extended family; they have finally found sanctuary.
Their
safe new world is shattered when the second hit man, a relentless psychopath,
captures Shelby’s little sister and uses her to lure Shelby and her lover into
a middle-of-the-night showdown on an isolated Rocky Mountain battleground.
Excerpt:
With Carmen's legs wrapped around her waist, Shelby held the
child close and caressed her back and shoulders. “You remember Hank, don't you,
sweetheart?”
Carmen clung tighter, pressing her face against Shelby's
neck. “I don't like him. He hurt you.”
Shelby stroked her little sister's hair. “Things were mixed
up. He was trying to help us.”
“He's mean. He took you away.”
“He brought me back, though. He wants us to be together.”
Carmen loosened her grip and sneaked a look at Hank.
Shelby reached out and stroked the side of his face. “We
hurt him too. He just wants to help us. To love us.”
Hank smiled at Carmen and asked, “Is Snaggly still with
you?”
She leveled her grave, shiny black eyes on him and nodded.
“Do you suppose I could say hello to him? I've missed him a
lot.”
Carmen turned her gaze back on Shelby.
Shelby set the little girl on her feet. “Go get him. It's
all right.”
Mounting the stairs slowly, Carmen seemed to question the
wisdom of the move, but she must have reached a decision upstairs. She bounded
back down cradling the snaggletoothed, clown-faced rag doll in her arms. As she
approached Hank, she slowed but kept moving until she was close enough to pass
the doll to him.
Squatting, he turned it one way and then another to examine
it. “Looks like he's doing okay.” He twisted the doll to face him. “You having
a good time here, Snaggly?” As if he were listening, he nodded and wrinkled his
brow. “I'm sorry I acted so mean when I first met you. There was danger, and I
needed to get you away from that place.”
Eyes carefully focused on the doll, he nodded again.
“Uh-huh. Yes, I liked you more and more as we traveled together. I really hated
taking Shelby away, but it was the only way to keep you guys safe. We came back
as soon as we could. Shelby loves her little sister more than anything in the
whole world, and I love Shelby.”
He shifted his gaze to Carmen. “I'm having trouble
understanding what Snaggly says.”
Carmen giggled. Hank held the doll out to her, and she edged
closer to accept it.
“Do you think he understands why we left him with Jason and
Linda?” Hank rested a knee on the carpet. “Why we had to stay away so long?”
“He kind of understands.” Carmen hugged the doll.
“How do you think he feels about it?”
“It's okay. He likes you a little bit.”
“That's good.” Reaching out, Hank caressed the doll's face.
“I like him a lot.”
Where to Buy: Amazon
