The Pirate & The Adventurer & The Cowboy

write about romance and adventure for a living, but we live in the real world."

    "I know." Sarah shook her head thoughtfully. "But at least you and I still have our eyes out for the right man. Kate has given up looking for him altogether. I wonder if she'd even recognize him if he came along?"

    "Probably not. Even if he did happen along, he'd have a heck of a job on his hands just getting her attention. The only men Kate really sees these days are the ones she puts in her books."

    "Maybe. But you know something?" Sarah cast one last glance at the cover of Buccaneer's Bride . "I really do have this feeling about sending Kate off to AmethystIsland. Go ahead and laugh if you like, but I think she's in for something more than just a routine South Seas island vacation."

ONE

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    "W hat on earth do you mean, hand over my purse, you little worm?" Kate stood in the narrow, cobbled alley and stared in outraged disbelief at the little man wielding the big knife. It was all too much.

    She was hot, tired and thoroughly disgusted. Her canvas-and-leather flight bags hung heavily from her shoulders and her camera felt like an albatross around her neck. The purse the little man was demanding so rudely was slung diagonally across her body and bulged with magazines, guide books, cosmetics and a small statue carved out of lava.

    The once rakish-looking safari dress was now damp with perspiration and sadly wrinkled from several hours of sitting in a cramped coach-class airline seat. The traveling had become an endless nightmare. Kate was convinced that owing to some oversight on her part during a previous lifetime she was now doomed to travel through this South Seas purgatory forever, never again to know the comforts of civilization.

    The little creep standing in front of her waving the knife was definitely the last straw.

    "You heard me, lady."

    The small, unkempt man reminded Kate of a rat. He darted a nervous glance over her shoulder and then back over his own. Satisfied that the alley was still deserted except for his victim, he motioned with the wicked-looking weapon. "I said give me your purse. Hurry. It ain't like I got all day, y'know."

    "You've obviously spent so much time in this heat that you've fried what few brains you've got. Quite understandable. This place is an oven. But pay attention. If I'd wanted to get mugged, I could have stayed home. I have not endured an endless flight, eaten rotten airline food, had my luggage lost and missed my connections just to wind up turning over my purse to the first two-bit thief who comes along."

    "Jesus, lady, will you keep your voice down?"

    "Why should I keep my voice down?" Kate's voice, already laced with outrage, rose yet another notch in volume. "I have no intention of handing over my purse or anything else to you. Now get out of this alley and leave me alone."

    "Now look here, you crazy bitch." The man waved the knife threateningly, but he took a step back when Kate's eyes narrowed. Once more he glanced anxiously over his shoulder. "I ain't got time to be nice about this."

    "Neither do I." Kate grabbed her camera and held it up to one eye. She focused on her target and squeezed the shutter-release button. The man's mouth fell open in shock. "A charming pose. You know, if you knew what I've been through today, I'm sure you'd find yourself another poor helpless tourist to rob. I am not in a good mood."

    "I don't care what kinda mood you're in."

    Kate ignored his interruption. "Furthermore, I am a person who has been under a great deal of stress lately, according to my friends. People who have been under stress are unpredictable and dangerous. You never know what they're going to do." She squeezed off another shot.

    "Hey, what are you doin'?" The little man swore and leaped back another step, instinctively raising a hand to shield his face. "Stop takin' pictures of me. What's the matter with you? Just give me the damned purse."

    "Very well. Since you insist." Kate let the camera fall to her waist. Grimly, she let the heavy shoulder bags slide to the pavement. She tugged at the leather strap of her purse.

    "That's better. Come on, come on."

    "This," Kate said through her teeth, "has been the worst trip of my entire life and I've hardly gotten started. I can't wait to get home and tell my friends what they did to me. Here. You want my purse? Help yourself." Kate turned the bulging bag upside down and dumped the contents at her feet.

    The would-be thief