Padre

by Robin Hardy

New York copywriter Royce Lindel takes a chance on a camping trip with two female friends in remote Big Bend, Texas. Little do they know that their schedule of activities includes being dumped in the desert by their guide. Matters look bleak until they stumble across other campers: three men whose business in the wilderness involves drugs and guns. When the men reluctantly rescue the stranded New Yorkers, Royce falls in love with the one they call Padre. But she doesn't know his real name or why he's running. She doesn't even know how he feels about her-until she's kidnapped by the people he just robbed. Robin Hardy is the author of the Streiker Saga, the Sammy series, and the Annals of Lystra. She is also the editor of W.W. Melton's classic devotional, Sifted But Saved. For photos, articles, guest features, and updates on new releases, see www.robinhardy.com.

Genres: Christian Fiction, Christian

252 pages, Paperback

First published July 1, 1994

About the author

I've written a new series! It's a distant sequel to The Annals of Lystra (begun in Chataine's Guardian) and The Latter Annals (begun in Nicole of Prie Mer). This is where it begins:

Thirty-five years after the assassination of Henry, Surchatain of Lystra, the province is no more and its capital Westford a shadow of its medieval greatness. With the fever now ravaging the palace, the army, and the town, a new Surchatain has ascended the throne of Westford, requiring a loyalty oath for all his subjects and soldiers.

Efran, Captain of the Red Regiment of the Army of Westford, is Polonti—a member of the brown-skinned, black-haired race generally regarded with contempt by Southerners on the Continent, including many in Westford. Knowing of the loyalty oath required on pain of death, Efran lays plans to leave once he has recovered from the fever himself.

But Efran is hindered by entanglements with the Surchatain’s two daughters—one who despises him and one who adores him.

He is appointed guardian of one Chataine. When the palace begins crumbling on its foundations, Efran takes his charge and a street urchin to an abandoned fortress south of Westford in the midst of wolf territory. While he gathers more homeless children at the fortress, the other Chataine prepares to lead an army against him for the legendary treasure hidden in the desolate Abbey of St. Benedict on the Sea.

The Stories of the Abbey of St. Benedict on the Sea comprise 36 novellas, each around 50,000 words, that make for one continuous story from the beginning to a definite end. ​To introduce this series, I'm offering free pdf and epub downloads of all the stories. Each pdf includes links, pronunciations, maps, and an illustration with notes.  (The epubs  contain all of the above except maps.)

Reviews

[R · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great story!! Loved reading it!!

[Jennie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun to read more of Hardy’s works as we anticipate a trip to Big Bend this fall.

[Olivia Roberts · Rating 3 out of 5]

A horse riding vacation of three New York coworkers take a turn when their prepaid guide dumps them in the middle of nowhere and ride off with their rental jeep, clothes and money. The three young women stumble upon some cowboy campers who actually takes them in, feed them and offer them safety. The group turns out to be thieves stealing drugs and money being brought across the border. The women find themselves in further danger with the striving parties. Some how, friendship, loyalty compassion and love surface above much of the greed and decent. Some of characteristics of God are sometimes seen in man in this story. A good read.