Caught In The Crosshairs

SPECIAL FORCES, DEADLY FORCES

Recruited for a top secret mission, elite sniper Sergeant Cara Hanson is determined to prove herself—as a female sharpshooter—to her commanding officer. But when the assignment goes horribly wrong, Captain Dean McGovern takes their team into hiding in a remote Wyoming cabin. Both fiercely protective, Cara and Dean work overtime to figure out who’s leaving notes and taking shots at them. Cara tries hard to resist the more-than-professional feelings she’s developing for Dean…and when their lives are on the line, it’ll take the soldier in her to keep them both alive.

“It’s not too late to change your mind,” Dean said. “I can turn around and head for Fort Carson.”

“Can you please stop offering me the chance to change my mind?” Cara said. “My place is here.” She almost added with you. But she didn’t want him getting the wrong idea.

She felt a growing closeness between them, but they were totally at odds with each other. His world was one of knights in shining armor and damsels in distress. It was a world that she didn’t belong in.

He glanced down at her with a solemn expression. “I wish you’d gone back to base,” he whispered, “but it means a lot knowing that you want to stay with your commanding officer.”

“I do,” she whispered back, “I need to stay with you.” She’d never been so sure of anything in her life. Her place was by Dean’s side whatever the storm ahead. She touched his forearm. “We’ll get through this. Don’t worry.”

His arm flexed beneath her touch and his body stiffened. “It’s not me I’m worried about.”

Dear Reader,

I hope you enjoyed reading my debut book. I had a great deal of fun writing it. I knew from the get-go that I wanted to write a story to conclude with the words I will lift up my eyes to the hills. From where shall my help come? The power of Psalm 121 is strong, speaking to all those who need reassurance that God’s protection is always enduring.

Both Dean and Cara are fierce protectors, striving to save each other from danger. They seemed like a good match, both determined to atone for past events and make the world a safer place. But ultimately, it is neither Dean’s physical strength nor Cara’s rifle that wins the best result in the end—it is the power of prayer. As Cara’s life hangs in the balance, Psalm 121 provides the inspiration that both Dean and Cara need to find their way back to each other. And, through prayer, he is able to guide her home.

Thank you for reading my story. I hope it will be the first of many, and I look forward to welcoming you as a reader again.

Elisabeth

ELISABETH REES

was raised in the idyllic Welsh town of Hay-on-Wye, which is famous for its vast array of secondhand book stores. She grew up as one of four sisters, the daughters of the local parish vicar, and she spent much of her childhood reading historical romance novels. A love of romantic fiction stayed with her through her adult life and, after pursuing a very unfulfilling career in information technology, Elisabeth decided to try her hand at writing romance herself. Something clicked into place, and she now writes full-time from her home in Carmarthenshire, West Wales, where she lives with her husband and two children.

Caught in the Crosshairs

Elisabeth Rees

For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved.

—Romans 10:10

To David, Lloyd and Alys—my wonderfully perfect family

Contents

Cover

Back Cover Text

Introduction

About the Author

Title Page

Bible Verse

Dedication

ONE

TWO

THREE

FOUR

FIVE

SIX

SEVEN

EIGHT

NINE

TEN

ELEVEN

TWELVE

THIRTEEN

EPILOGUE

Dear Reader

Questions for Discussion

Extract

Copyright

ONE

Cara Hanson lay in the cool grass and lined up the target in her crosshairs.

The target was moving, searching for her, but she was invisible. Like a cat stalking its prey, she kept her weapon trained on the movement in the undergrowth. This would be an easy shot. She curled her finger around the trigger and smiled as she squeezed.

She heard the man cry out as he felt the impact on his back, and a deep, red stain appeared on his jacket. She’d got him! A cry of triumph left her lips, and she rose from the bracken like a monster looming from a lair. Her ghillie suit was covered with camouflage netting, making it impossible to tell whether she was man, woman or yeti.

“Aw, man, these paintballs really sting.” A U.S. Army private crawled out from the thick bushes and clambered to his feet. He turned to Cara standing on the hillside and shouted, “How did you do that? I didn’t have a clue where you were.”

“And you never will,” she shouted back, laughing.

The private took off his jacket and laid it on the ground, shaking his head in amazement at the perfect shot, right between the shoulders, just below the head.

“Nice job,” he called. “Thanks for not taking the head shot.”

“It didn’t seem fair to fill your ears with paint,” she called back. “It never washes out.”