Exiled to an abandoned presidio in southwestern Texas, Father Alonzo Vargas is accustomed to being utterly alone except for his white donkey, Angelica. He is also fully acquainted with the corrupt and rotten sheriff, John Cullen, the man responsible for his semi-permanent exile. When he finds a victim of the sheriff hanging upside down from a tree, he immediately cuts the man down and vows to nurse him back to health.<br><br>Ben McKinnon has never done anything to cross Sheriff Cullen -- except defend the land he inherited from his father. The land Cullen covets. He's surprised when the exiled priest makes it clear that he will not only be a nurse, but will also become Ben's ally in the fight against Cullen. He's even more shocked when he realizes he doesn't just want Father Alonzo as a friend. Ben cherishes the other man's mind, his body, and his heart.<br><br>But Alonzo is not a free man. And if Sheriff Cullen has his way, they will both be dead men.

Those Who Cherish

Alonzo might have hit his knees, except that the man still held him against the wall. His other hand closed around Alonzo’s throat, and he lifted the priest off the floor, squeezing until Alonzo’s face started to turn purple and his eyes began to bulge.


“You know what I think? I think the boss will be more than happy to get you off his back. I think he might even give me a raise. But between you and me…” The man leaned in closer, blocking Ben’s view of Alonzo’s face. “I pretty much just want to kill you.”


There was no time left. Ben inched closer to the nearest man. No one had yet to notice him. He avoided the loose floorboard that would have creaked under his weight and took another step. When he lifted the gun to aim, however, one of the chain links scraped against another.


He fired just as all heads whipped in his direction. His target stumbled backward from the force of the blast, crimson blossoming across the front of his dingy shirt.


Chapter 21