La Costa Chica de Amor

By O. Collins

Ramon had never traveled outside of the United States. But his first trip abroad gave him an experience which equaled a lifetime of journeys.

What began a normal vacation to Mexico took Ramon's mind, body, and soul beyond there to a place and time that he never knew existed. And it all started from a chance encounter with a stray dog and beautiful Latin woman named Llesenia. He'd simply wanted to return home with tales of his adventures and supporting photographs. But a group of banditos would have it another way.

 Now he was forced to try to escape more than just the stress of his job as a construction worker. But avoiding danger was a task which he'd faced and met before. In the end however he couldn't run away from fate.  

While fleeing his robbers Ramon ran straight into the path of a natural disaster unlike any that the country had ever witnessed before. As a result, he became part of the history of a people that intrigued him. And along the way he came learn about romance and tragedy

• Language: English
• Publisher: O. Collins
• Release date: Jun 23, 2018
• ISBN: 9781386954217

Book preview

Dedicated to all the people who were affected by the natural disasters of 2017.

Forward:

On September 7, 2017 a devasting 8.1 magnitude earthquake struck the pacific coast of Mexico in the state of Oaxaca and other surrounding regions. Coincidently it occurred the same day that I began writing this book. I didn’t know what to think when I learned of the disaster on CNN the next morning. Naturally I was taken back by the concurrence, and a few days passed before I resumed this project as I pondered what the Universe was trying to tell me. When things like that happen, you must wonder what does this really mean? Today I still am without an answer.

At the same time of the earthquake Hurricane Irma was also occurring, which I fled from Florida to Michigan to escape. Five days later I returned to Miami. Then in the week that followed I met a lady who’d just relocated to the U.S. after living in Mexico for twenty years.

Have you ever been to Oaxaca?  I asked the woman.

Are you kidding me? she replied. I’ve spent a lot of time in Oaxaca...it’s a beautiful place. You should definitely go there one day. 

She went on to say that if I didn’t write this book then I would be ignoring part of my destiny. Later she showed me sketches she’d made of some people and places in that region. I was drawn to one of the pieces of artwork, which we verbally agreed to use for the cover of this book. But close to finishing this project I decided to forgo using the drawing because I feel it isn’t appropriate for a romance genre novel. Thank you anyway Rene.

I continued to meet other people who’d travelled to the region and echoed Rene’s opinion about Oaxaca and the people who live there. They also encouraged me to follow my destiny, which I still am not fully aware of what that is.

But with certainty I can say that readers of this work will find it both entertaining and thought provoking. And it is my hope that you will be as compelled as I am to learn about a race of people and their culture, which I believe is not well known. I speak in the present tense of my intrigue because my journey to discover more on the subject is still incomplete. Sadly, I must admit that I have never ventured to Mexico.

In conclusion I ask that you understand that the main purpose of this work is to entertain. And I hope it stirs your emotions, and connects with your own personal experiences. Deleitarse!

CHAPTER 1

Ramon Collins drove down the Mexican highway tapping his hand on the steering wheel and nodding his sombrero covered head to the reggaetón song blaring through the speakers. At one point he glanced at himself in the rearview mirror and laughed at the irony of a non-Spanish speaking person jamming out to Latin music. Since vacationing in the country Ramon had become accustomed to listening to Latin music. Unsurprisingly it was played everywhere including on the three radio stations that his car stereo was able to pick up. The American's lack of understanding the song’s lyrics was irrelevant to him though because their rhythms took his soul even further away than the physical distance he’d traveled away from home. In fact, Ramon had begun to embrace the whole Mexican culture, and as a result decided to extend his forced unpaid leave from work. After recently being involved in several altercations on the job his lead foreman gave him the options to either resign, or take some time off from work to clear his head. The supervisor also suggested that Ramon, his top forklift operator, consider taking some company sponsored anger management classes. Ramon chose to take the second option. And with a good amount of savings in the bank he decided to travel outside of the states for his retreat. His cousin Derrick had recently visited Mexico and returned boasting of its great fiestas, perfect weather, and beautiful women who loved American men.

It’s like paradise down there! Derrick boasted to Ramon while they sat on the porch flipping through photos from the trip on his phone.

Yeah, I’m gonna go there one day too Ramon assured Derrick, and from the moment he arrived in Mexico he constantly thought about that promise he’d made to his relative, and to himself.

Even now as he continued down the Carretera Pacifico he felt proud of living of out one his dreams, and thought I wish Derrick could see me now as he passed the ‘Bienvenidos A Michoacan’ sign. Then the message alert on Ramon’s phone sounded and he took his eyes off the road to grab the device.

Shortly after leaving Puerto Vallarta the signal on his phone was lost, which increasingly worried him more as he drove through the countryside. Gas stations were few and far in between, and there was also the potential threat of encountering corrupt Mexican police, or gang members which he’d read and heard stories about. Thus far, the locals had been friendly to the solo American, yet he felt little concerned now, especially with less than two hours left before sunset.

Ramon hoped that he’d received a text from Derrick, or one of his other family members so he could reply bragging about how much he was enjoying his trip. But he was quickly disappointed when clicked on the message alert and seen that it was only his phone carrier informing him that his bill was due soon.

I know when my stupid bill is due he murmured tossing his phone back onto the seat. Then he focused his attention on the road again just in enough time to see an object dart in front of his vehicle.

Oh shit! Ramon exclaimed slamming on the brakes to avoid hitting the stray dog that ran across the road. The Chevy Cruze barely stopped, and when it did Ramon heard the whumping sound of his car's tire rolling on the pavement.

Damnit, stupid dog! Ramon pounded the dashboard before looking over to the animal who caused the near accident.

What are you staring at troublemaker? Ramon said out of the window to the mutt who stood there wagging its tail.

He cautiously opened the door of his vehicle wondering if the abandoned animal would attack him once he stepped out onto the pavement. Even though the dog didn't seem aggressive the leery traveler reached under the seat and grabbed his hunting knife anyway.

The dog was likewise suspicious of Ramon and growled at the man when he exited the car.

Ok, I don't want any problems boy Ramon spoke calmly to the dog who began walking towards him.

Wait to see what happens first Ramon told himself trying not to think of the worst thing that could happen. Yet he kept having flashbacks of when another stray dog bit him many years ago. The palms of his hands became sweaty as the canine neared closer to him, and he was anxious to pull the knife from under his shirt. But then suddenly the dog stopped two feet away from him and resumed its sitting position.

You're a good boy huh. Ramon said, slowly reaching out his hand for the dog to smell it. And after a few sniffs and licks the two became friends.

Ramon then walked to the other side of his vehicle to view the damaged tire. This is all your fault, he told his new companion.

Of course, the careless driver was responsible for the incident as well, and after staring at the tire for a minute he looked at the dog and said, Guess I'm just as much to blame for this as you.

Fixing a flat tire was a minor issue for the man who grew up in the Vehicle City around car factories and mechanics, and who had been working on cars since he father taught him how to at a young age. And he was confident that he would be on the road again soon. But when he searched the trunk for a car jack he discovered that it was missing, and it seemed that his situation of being stranded became worst.

Wait, my phone has service now! Ramon suddenly remembered.

Everything was going to be alright he thought as he rushed to retrieve the device from the passenger seat of the car. But that hope quickly diminished once he held the device in his hand.

Who the hell I’m going to call for an emergency in Mexico? Ramon asked himself staring at the phone. Certainly 911 didn’t work in Mexico he assumed. Or did it. There was only way to find out. He rapidly typed in his screen lock code then dialed 911 impatiently waiting for an operator come on the line and say 911, what's your emergency? Yet the call didn't connect because the signal on his phone went dead again. Determined to get service Ramon dialed the number repeatedly, but his efforts to call for help failed on each attempt. Frustrated and a little afraid of what his fate would be he slammed the phone to the ground, kicked the flat tire, and cursed the name of God