Border Town

By Louisa Bacio

A thin line exists between reality and the paranormal, between one country and the next. Lucia grew up stuck between cultures on the border of Texas and Mexico and the wavy lines of reality. With the help of her two sisters, she runs the family ranch, or what’s left of it. A hurricane shifted the river, with land ending up on the other side of the Rio Grande. Mother Nature unleashed more than land wars. A prophecy foretells a supernatural beast slaughtering the livestock every seven years. When the carcasses of goats show up drained of blood, she reaches out for help.

Shaw McDiamond doesn’t want to be stuck in a hick town that’s dry and humid, chasing after the legend of the chupacabra. As part of an elite force of paranormal agents that work the border, Shaw’s group, S.L.I.C.E., exposes aliens of another kind. This vampiric creature is like nothing he’s encountered before, and the woman he’s working with unnerves him even more.

Lucia and Shaw clash over legend and reality, prophecy and free will. As the killings escalate with the attack of a ranch hand, the storm returns, and the two become trapped in an ever-shifting world they can’t control. But to survive, they’ll have to do it together.

• Language: English
• Publisher: After Glows Publishing
• Release date: Sep 26, 2017
• ISBN: 9781944060855

Louisa Bacio

A Southern California native, Louisa Bacio can’t imagine living far away from the ocean. The multi-published author of erotic romance enjoys writing within all realms – from short stories to full-length novels. Bacio shares her household with a supportive husband, two daughters growing “too fast,” and a multitude pet craziness: Two dogs, five fish tanks, an aviary, hamsters, rabbits and hermit crabs. In her other life, she teaches college classes in English, journalism and popular culture. Check out the latest happenings via her blog http://louisabacio.blogspot.com

Book preview

Publisher

Border

Town

A thin line exists between reality and the paranormal, between one country and the next. Lucia grew up stuck between cultures on the border of Texas and Mexico and the wavy lines of reality. With the help of her two sisters, she runs the family ranch, or what’s left

of

it

.

Years ago, a hurricane shifted the river, cutting through the property with their land partially ending up on the other side of the Rio Grande. Mother Nature unleashed more than land wars. Legend tells of a supernatural beast slaughtering the livestock every seven years. When the carcasses of goats show up drained of blood, she reaches out

for

help

.

Shaw McDiamond doesn’t want to be stuck in a hick town chasing after the myth of the chupacabra. As part of an elite force of paranormal agents that work the border, Shaw’s group, SLICE, exposes aliens of another kind. This vampiric creature is like nothing he’s encountered, and the woman he’s working with unnerves him

even

more

.

Lucia and Shaw clash over folklore and reality, fate and free will. As the killings escalate with the attack of a ranch hand, the storm returns, and the two become trapped in an ever-shifting world they can’t control. And to survive, they’ll have to do it together.

1

A howl broke the silence of the night, sending shivers down Lucia’s back. She tugged her jacket tighter around her body, holding the strings of the hoodie close. Mami warned her about walking the property late at night under the full moon, but with the slaughtering of the farm animals the past few evenings, she needed to make sure nothing prowled.

She gripped the cold metal flashlight. The light illuminating the pathway wavered with the shaking of her hand. Stupid to be out here alone, but who else was able to do it? Purposely, she’d left her herding dog, Foxy, inside for fear something may happen to her. She wouldn’t send her younger sisters on this ill-advised adventure. Roxanne would break one of her glitter-painted fingernails and Dominique probably would be more likely to recite poetry to the intruder than fight

him

off

.

With their dad laid up after the amputation of his lower leg due to diabetes, the responsibility fell on her, the oldest. Being the first in birth order sucked on so many levels. At twenty-five, she didn’t want all the responsibility. After their mother left, Lucia stepped in as the mother replacement.

Now she felt the epitome of #ParentingFail.

The wind whipped through the thin tree line, shooting a wave of dirt across her face. She sputtered, wiping the moisture from her teary eyes. Her feet slipped on the loose soil near the river’s edge. She gazed out over the Rio Grande. Sparkling lights dotted the other side. One thing about a storm—it cleared the air. Visibility wasn’t always this good. Despite standing on her family ranch in southern Texas, right there was Mexico. All that separated here and there was a sometimes lazy river, and an often

treacherous

one

.

Yooowwwl.

She turned toward the inhuman sound, moving forward against the instinct to run in the opposite direction. A squealing noise like an animal in pain followed the latest screech, and she knew she wouldn’t make it in time to stop the killing.

Running, she did her best to avoid oversized rocks and furrowed roots sticking out of the ground. She reached the goats’ enclosure and rather than circling to get to the gate, she tucked the flashlight into her back pocket and climbed the wooden fence.

Lucia clamped her hands on the top rung and hoisted herself up. She swung her leg over the rail and maneuvered to drop. A splinter slid into her palm, and her feet landed on the soft earth.

Fearful blahs greeted her, and she pushed past the animals that seemed no worse for wear. The bleating of a kid acted as an audio map, leading her to the latest victim. The mother goat lay on her side, glassy eyes staring vacant into the darkened sky. Bite marks marred her neck, and red stained the light gray fur. Lucia reached out, giving a soothing pet to the baby before stroking the adult’s

coarse

coat

.

"I’m so sorry I wasn’t able to stop

this

,

Bell

."

The kid was a few weeks old and couldn’t survive without the mom yet. They’d either have to find him a surrogate, or hand feed the

little

guy

.

She wanted to get rid of the corpse, or at least cover her. But with the wicked winds and the weight of the goat, there was no way she’d be doing either tonight. It felt scandalous, blasphemous, leaving the carcass out here for whatever had done this deed to return and feast. Maybe it was time to hire a nighttime manager to oversee the property. Her father fought it, but there was only so much she could do. And he could do

even

less

.

Cramps tightened the muscles of Lucia’s stomach as she scanned the surrounding area. This kill hadn’t happened too long ago, and whoever or whatever did it may still be close by. Dark shadows hung around the edges of the old barn. Did one move? She ventured forward and stopped. Not a good idea. Except for the Maglite she clutched, she carried no weapons.

Dumb. She grew up on this farm, the family plantation. She knew better, but she also hated guns. Her papi walked the perimeter with a shotgun under his arm, but with the potential of people crossing the river on their quest to the U.S., she didn’t want to shoot someone by accident.

Even if they were on private property.

The crunch of footsteps coming from behind made Lucia twist, swinging the flashlight in an arc and grunting loudly.

Wow, watch it, sis, Dom easily stepped back, her

eyes

wide

.

"What are you doing out there? I could have

hurt

you

."

Dom’s gaze focused past her on the carcass. Lucia didn’t need to turn to see where her baby sister was looking. Tears slipped down her face. "I heard you scream, so I had to

come

out

."

Scream? No way. I didn’t scream. Lucia brushed off the accusation. Maybe it was the goat. She was tough and handled what needed to be done. She didn’t

need

help

.

Despite the seriousness of the situation, Dom snickered. "You might not have realized it, but you did. Like when you stepped barefoot on the tack in the haystack a few years back. I know the difference between an animal

and

you

."

Anyway, it’s not safe out here. I didn’t see what did this— she gestured toward the poor mother goat "—but it may be lurking, or come back to finish

the

job

."

Kneeling, Dom soothed the kid. What’s going to happen to him? Can we take him inside for the night?

Of course, she’d want to harbor the orphan in the house. And tomorrow, Lucia would have to be the one to pick up

the

mess

.

Mary had a little lamb, little lamb, little lamb. Mary had a little lamb whose fleece was white as snow. Dom sat in the dirt, the long-legged baby tucked into her lap, singing.

It’s not a lamb. It’s a goat, Lucia muttered. Come on, let’s take him inside. Just one night.

He can stay in my room, Dom said. "I’ll

watch

him

."

The mudroom. It’s got the wood floor and will be easier to clean.

Her sister made doe eyes, begging to get her way without saying

a

word

.

"You can stare at me all you want. I’m cold