Hernando Cortez had lived his life. The glory had been his. God watched over his deathbed, and the gold…its secret would soon be buried with him.
CHICAGO, 1893
Ten years ago that Reese Sullivan rode away from his wife Vanessa and young son Trey. His reasons were strong. And his own.
Vanessa used her beauty and cleverness to seduce an ambitious and kind Wes Underwood. Now he was dead. Ambushed and robbed. And with a cold irony, she has come to Detective Reese Sullivan the hunt the killers down.
Now an angry and bitter son will ride with the father he hates to avenge the death of the step-father he loved – and something more; to reclaim what was taken from his step-father’s body – the key to a vast and fabled treasure. They will embark on a perilous journey that will pit father and son against unseen enemies, natural disaster, and each other – while back home in El Paso the women they love face an unimagined danger at the terrifying end of the …
EXCERPT:
“It's not a pretty way to die, lawyer. And it takes a long, long time.”
Mendoza was laughing again, softly, something obscene in his joy at being reminded of past pleasures. Momentarily panicked, Wes Underwood began to bargain for his life. With the grinning giant that stood before him, and now—even more urgently—with the ominous figure that stood behind Trey's back. “For God's sake, man!” he pleaded. “I can't tell you what I don't know!” It was a lie, poorly told in a brief moment of throat-drying fear, a man's desperate attempt to hold on to a fortune in gold he was sure existed; a treasure that bound him with dreams of wealth so great that he was willing to die for it. Even now.
Suddenly, Mendoza stopped laughing. There was the subtle sound of steel slicing through starched cotton. “For God's sake...” Underwood screamed.
Trey Underwood watched as the knife ripped through his father's white shirt just to the right of the buttons. From the belt upward, in the blade's wake, a narrow rivulet of blood appeared, bright red and spreading. Instinctively, as much as the rough hands on his arms would allow, the older man backed away from the pain. He stared down at his taut belly, aware that he had been cut, his knees going weak, and then tensing as he realized the wound was only deep enough to draw blood. He swallowed, mentally cursing the dryness in his mouth that made his tongue feel thick and unmanageable, his keen attorney's mind working.
He was no good to them dead, and that thought consoled him and gave him courage. He pulled himself erect, his posture changing as his spine straightened. “Kill me,” he breathed, “and you'll never find it. You won't even know where to begin to look...” A grim smile pulled at the corners of his mouth. For the first time during the long hours since his captivity, Wes Underwood felt in control.
Be sure and leave a comment for a chance to win the giveaway, the ebook LONG RIDE TO LIMBO.
Mendoza was laughing again, softly, something obscene in his joy at being reminded of past pleasures. Momentarily panicked, Wes Underwood began to bargain for his life. With the grinning giant that stood before him, and now—even more urgently—with the ominous figure that stood behind Trey's back. “For God's sake, man!” he pleaded. “I can't tell you what I don't know!” It was a lie, poorly told in a brief moment of throat-drying fear, a man's desperate attempt to hold on to a fortune in gold he was sure existed; a treasure that bound him with dreams of wealth so great that he was willing to die for it. Even now.
Suddenly, Mendoza stopped laughing. There was the subtle sound of steel slicing through starched cotton. “For God's sake...” Underwood screamed.
Trey Underwood watched as the knife ripped through his father's white shirt just to the right of the buttons. From the belt upward, in the blade's wake, a narrow rivulet of blood appeared, bright red and spreading. Instinctively, as much as the rough hands on his arms would allow, the older man backed away from the pain. He stared down at his taut belly, aware that he had been cut, his knees going weak, and then tensing as he realized the wound was only deep enough to draw blood. He swallowed, mentally cursing the dryness in his mouth that made his tongue feel thick and unmanageable, his keen attorney's mind working.
He was no good to them dead, and that thought consoled him and gave him courage. He pulled himself erect, his posture changing as his spine straightened. “Kill me,” he breathed, “and you'll never find it. You won't even know where to begin to look...” A grim smile pulled at the corners of his mouth. For the first time during the long hours since his captivity, Wes Underwood felt in control.
Be sure and leave a comment for a chance to win the giveaway, the ebook LONG RIDE TO LIMBO.
Oh, Kit, you had me on pins and needles throughout this entire story! Loved it, as I love all your work! It was definitely a very different kind of story and one that made me empathize with the characters and just downright despise the evil ones. LOL CONGRATULATIONS on another Sundown Press release! And what a gorgeous cover!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Cheryl. I might just have to dig out the sequel, South to Purgatory and get working on that one. :)
DeleteWell, what are you waiting for???? LOL
DeleteYes! Congratulations Kit!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Charlie! This is the kick in the posterior I've been needing. :)
DeleteAw, thanks, guys. :)
ReplyDeleteAction, vengeance and a treasure. Sounds like a good read.
ReplyDeleteHope you won't be disappointed. :)
DeleteI love all of Kit's stories. This one is a great read. Congratulations Kit.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Carolyn. I love it when someone enjoys something I write. Or cook. Or crochet...
DeleteWow, now that is an excerpt. This will move to the top of the TBR list. Congratulations! Doris
ReplyDeleteThanks, Doris!
DeleteCongratulations-it sounds like a great read. Cher'ley
ReplyDeleteIt was fun writing; brought back a lot of memories of long horse back rides. My own were a lot less adventurous, though. :)
DeleteThe setup for the story is mighty deep--a son who loves his stepfather and works with his biological father whom he despises to find the killer and the key. This ought to be a painful, yet exciting, story to see how the two of them work things out. I'm already eaten up with curiosity to learn why his father left in the first place.
ReplyDeleteA big congratulations on the release of Long Ride To Limbo, Kit. Interesting title, BTW, and I think the cover is just beautiful.
All good things to your corner of the universe...
Livia never ceases to amaze me. She also actually reads the stories, and ties the covers in beautifully!! That doesn't always happen. We sure are a lucky bunch in that regard.
DeleteCongratulations on releasing Long Ride to Limbo, Kit. Best of luck.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Sean.
DeleteWow! Can't wait o read this story
ReplyDeleteSounds great, Kit. Congratulations on your new work.
ReplyDeleteThanks, John. Not so new but definitely in need of a sequel. Time does march on.
DeleteThere have been cruel, evil men for millennia. They prey on the good and the weak in society, taking from them whatever they want. Good men will band together, some on principle and some for revenge to track these predators down and make them pay. LONG RIDE TO LIMBO sounds like it will be a good exploration of these themes.
ReplyDeleteCongratulations on the release.
I think I should have you write my blurbs! Well done. And thanks.
DeleteLooks like another winning story,Kit and a very colorful cover too!
ReplyDeleteCongratulations.
Livia is a treasure! I love her covers. I also love the fact she cares enough to make them relevant to the story. That doesn't often happen. Kudos to her for making my writing look so good.
DeleteLooks like another winning story,Kit and a very colorful cover too!
ReplyDeleteCongratulations.
*biting my fingernails* Holy Moly that was an intense excerpt.
ReplyDeleteDon't bite too hard. Ding, ding, ding. And the winner is! Please e-mail me at kit.prate@aol.com for your free copy. :)
DeleteKit, No way can anyone read that blurb and then that awesome excerpt and not run to get LONG RIDE TO LIMBO. Holy cow! Congratulations on its release and wishing you much success. Talk about loaded with a lot of punch and in every direction. It's sure to be a big hit. Am ordering it now, so count me out of the drawing.
ReplyDeleteTHANK YOU! I hope you enjoy the story.
Delete