by Elle James
Gunny entered the kitchen and sucked in a loud breath. “Nothing smells better than fresh coffee.” He nodded to Jake. “Good morning.” To RJ, he got right down to business. “What’s in the oven?”
“Biscuits. Timer’s set. I’m headed out to feed the animals.”
“That would be both of us,” Jake added. If he hadn’t come down when he had, he was certain RJ would’ve been on her way out alone. “How did you get past me? I was listening.”
She met his gaze with a crooked smile. “I like the guests to sleep in so that I can get things done before they come down. I’ve learned to be stealthy in my movements.”
“What time do you rise every morning?”
She shrugged. “When I wake.”
“Not helpful,” he grumbled. “Can you give me an estimate? If I’m going to provide any protection for you, I have to be with you nearly twenty-four-seven.”
“I told you, I don’t need a bodyguard.” Her chin lifted with that stubborn look she was so good at giving.
“And I told you, too bad,” her father said, his jaw firm. “Jake’s your shadow, whether you like it or not.” Gunny faced Jake. “She rises between four-forty-five and five o’clock every morning. She’s done it so long, she doesn’t need an alarm.”
Jake let slip the smile forming on his lips at the cranky glare RJ shot toward her father.
“Get over it, Jules. I want you alive more than I care if you get mad at me.” Her father waved his hands, shooing them toward the door to the dining room. “Go. I can manage breakfast for us and the guests.”
RJ left through the back door of the kitchen without waiting for Jake. She was down the porch steps and half-way across the yard before he caught up with her.
“What’s first?” Jake asked.
“Feed the horses hay and grain. Fill the water troughs inside the barn and out in the pastures.”
Once they had given each horse a couple sections of hay and a bucket of sweet feed, Jake and RJ topped off their water in the barn and in the paddock. All the while, they worked in companionable silence
“Come on,” RJ said. “Gunny likes his breakfast hot. He won’t start until we’re all seated at the table. I don’t like cold eggs any more than he does.” RJ hurried back to the lodge to help get breakfast out to the guests before they set a platter of scrambled eggs, another of sausage and bacon and another filled with of the fluffy biscuits on one of the empty tables in the dining room.
Kujo helped fill glasses with orange juice.
Jake took over filling mugs with coffee or hot water for tea for the guests.
Once everyone was taken care of, they all sat at the table they’d set for the four of them.
“As far as I’m concerned,” Gunny said, starting the conversation, “I welcome the Brotherhood Protectors to Lost Valley Ranch.” He turned to RJ. “You okay with it?”
RJ’s gaze shot to Jake.
For a moment, he thought she would tell Gunny, no way in hell.
She lowered her gaze to her plate and nodded. “I’m good with it.”
Jake wondered what she meant by that. Was she just acquiescing because her father wanted it? Or was she good with Jake being there for a year and potentially kissing her again?
Assuming he took the job Hank offered.
Did Hank really know how far he’d sunk from his days in the Navy? And if he’d seen him before Kujo had shown up, would he have still offered him a position with the Brotherhood Protectors, much less the lead over the Colorado office?
In a twenty-four-hour timeframe his life had been turned upside down. Did he want to go back to his apartment and drown himself in another beer, and another?
Hell no.
He looked across the table at RJ. If he left, who would take over guarding this woman’s welfare? Did he trust anyone else to keep her safe?
And why did he care so much? He didn’t really know the woman, other than what he’d observed from the moment he’d breathed life back into her motionless body to the point where he’d kissed her in the starlight.
She was loyal and true to her only family and cared deeply about the ranch they both worked so tirelessly to maintain.
RJ was an extraordinary woman who didn’t even recognize how her strength made her incredibly sexy. Some men would find that strength intimidating.
Not Jake.
And he couldn’t imagine letting anyone else protect her. At the very least, he’d stick with her until they found the man who’d attacked her and killed the real estate broker.
He turned to Kujo. “I’m in as well.”
Kujo nodded, and Gunny grinned.
“That’s great news. How soon do you want to start operations?”
“Immediately, if you don’t mind. I can call around and have someone set up our computer and security systems,” Kujo said. “If you have any recommendations for carpenters, we can get the basement remodel started as soon as possible.”
“How many of the lodge’s bedrooms will you need me to set aside?” Gunny asked.
“Three would be good. One for me and one for Jake,” Kujo said. “I have another recruit in mind that we might bring on sooner rather than later. And we can build another room or two into the basement as we expand our operations. Other than Jake, I don’t anticipate future agents staying here. Those of us in Montana have our own homes. But getting some of the guys started, we’ll need temporary living quarters for a few weeks.”
“We can accommodate three rooms,” Gunny turned to Jake. “I’ll make sure your room has a connecting bathroom since you’ll be living with us on a fulltime basis.”
“I don’t mind sharing the one across the hall,” Jake said. “I don’t want to take a prime room away from one of the lodge’s customers.”
Gunny’s lips twisted into a wry grin. “The Brotherhood Protectors are our customers.” His brow furrowed. “As far as that’s concerned, do you need help moving in your belongings? Perhaps you have furniture of your own you’d prefer to have in your room.”
Jake snorted. “I’ll be moving out of a furnished apartment with just my clothes and a few personal items.”
“That’s it?” Gunny shook his head. “I guess as a Navy SEAL you didn’t want to get weighed down with belongings.”
“Something like that. I can collect everything in one short trip and give my landlord notice that I’m leaving.”
When Jake had cleared his apartment in San Diego, he’d donated the contents to a homeless shelter, packed what he could into a duffel bag and drove to Colorado Springs where he could be close to the mountains he loved. He hadn’t had a plan for what he’d do when he got there. He’d been fortunate enough to find a furnished apartment he could move right into.
And that was where he’d been for several months until Hank sent Kujo to find him.
Jake glanced toward RJ.
Her gaze met his, and he felt as if she could see right through him.
Jake looked away. “I’d like to be fully involved with the renovations,” he said to Kujo.
“And you will. I’ll keep you up to date on what’s happening.”
“Understood.” Jake nodded. “My priority is Miss Tate.”
“I don’t want to be anyone’s priority,” RJ said, her mouth tightening.
“We know,” Gunny cut in. “You can take care of yourself. But for now, humor your old man. Jake is your shadow. Don’t make his job harder by ditching him.”
She frowned. “I wouldn’t purposely ditch him.”
“Yeah,” Gunny said. “Like you didn’t ditch every nanny I hired to watch you when you were little.”
“I was a child,” she said. “I’m not seven years old anymore. And it was only the two nannies who smelled like old shoes.”
Kujo laughed. “I would’ve ditched them, too.”
“Since I’m stuck with a nanny, he’s coming with me today on my scheduled trail ride. I have six other riders.”
“Couldn’t you cancel the ride?” Gunny aske
d. “Or I could take them. No need putting yourself out there where someone could ambush you.”
“I’ll be with seven other people. Safety in numbers and all that.” She pushed back from the table. “Now, if you will excuse me, I’m going to get ready for a ride through the hills. I could use some fresh air and sunshine.”
“In the meantime, I’ll get some quotes and time estimates on the renovations,” Kujo said. “And I’ll have our computer guy back in Montana do some surfing on the web and see if there’s anything we should be aware of concerning the murder victim.”
“While you’re out,” Gunny said, “I could make a run into Colorado Springs for supplies.”
RJ frowned. “Let me do that when we get back. I have a few things I need to pick up. Besides, it might be better to have someone here at all times since we’ve had a customer attacked.”
Gunny’s lips pressed into a thin line. “You make a good point. Should I hire some security for the bar?”
“We can perform that function for you,” Kujo said. “And, as discussed yesterday, we’ll have cameras installed around the premises so we can monitor who’s coming and going.”
“Would’ve been nice to have those last night,” Gunny said, sighing.
“Hank has a contact in Colorado Springs,” Kujo said. “His contact promised to push us to the front of the line and get us set up as soon as we settled on a location.”
“Well, you have a location.” Gunny clapped his hands together. “Let’s get him out here.”
RJ shook her head. “I liked it better when we were able to leave our doors unlocked and didn’t have to worry that we might be strangled in our sleep.”
Gunny’s eyes narrowed. “Yeah. I liked it better when someone wasn’t trying to kill my only child.”
“I’ll leave you men to solve the troubles of the world while I go for a ride.” RJ picked up her plate and collected a few others from some of the guests before she headed for the kitchen.
Jake did the same and found her rinsing the dishes before placing them in the dishwasher. He joined her at the sink and rinsed the items he’d brought.
RJ held out her hand, taking the plates and silverware one at a time and loading them into the dishwasher. When they were finished, she wiped her hands on a towel and squared her shoulders. “Ready to ride?”
“As ready as I’ll ever be,” he said.
“You don’t have to go, you know. I’ll be with others.”
“And what would happen to them if you were hurt or injured? Given our current circumstances, you might be more of threat to your customers just by default.”
Her brow furrowed. “You think?”
He shrugged. “Let’s just say, it doesn’t hurt to have backup.” Jake poked his thumb at his chest. “I’m your backup. And I have your back. Just go with it.”
She sighed. “I’m used to doing things on my own.”
“Sometimes, you have to learn how to work with a partner.”
“Well, partner,” she tipped her head toward the refrigerator, “grab the tuna salad and jelly. We’re making sandwiches for the trail.”
She got out a loaf of bread and laid out over a dozen slices.
Soon, they had a variety of sandwiches, including tuna, peanut butter and jelly and deli slices of turkey. She packed them in a couple saddlebags along with two thin blankets, flasks of water and plastic cups. “Let’s saddle up.”
He took the saddlebags from her, slung them over his shoulder, then followed her out the door and down to the barn.
For the next hour, they brushed the horses and outfitted them with blankets, saddles and bridles.
By the time the customers gathered in the barnyard, they had the horses ready and waiting. All they had to do was adjust the stirrups to fit the legs of the riders.
Jake managed to set aside the horse he’d practiced on the night before for his own use. At least the animal would be familiar with him and hopefully cooperate.
When RJ came up to check that his girth was cinched tight enough, he asked, “This isn’t your horse, is it?”
She shook her head. “No. This is Reggie. He’s one of my favorites. He’s got a lot of stamina and a calm personality.”
“Good to know.” Jake rubbed the horse’s head. “Hey, Reggie. You and I are going to get along just fine.”
“I usually ride Doc.” RJ had selected a black and white paint gelding.
“Doc?” Jake asked.
“Short for Dr. Jekyll/Mr. Hyde.” Her lips twisted into a wry grin. “Gunny named him that because he said the horse couldn’t decide whether he was black or white.”
“He has a sense of humor,” Jake said.
RJ laughed. “A warped sense of humor.” She led the animal to a post and tied him there. “I think the name fits Doc because he can’t decide if he’s going to be good or cantankerous.” She scratched behind the horse’s ears. “I like that he’s a challenge. Never a dull moment with him. I don’t let inexperienced riders get on him.”
Jake liked that she knew the personalities of the animals in the ranch stable. She spoke of them with affection and treated them with kindness.
Once she helped the riders into their saddles, she nodded to him. “I’ll open the gate. You can go ahead and mount your horse.” She turned away and led her horse to the gate that opened out into one of the fields. Striker followed.
Drawing a deep breath, Jake placed his prosthetic foot into the stirrup, grabbed the saddle horn and pulled himself up into the saddle. He was the last one through the gate.
RJ nodded at him as she closed the latch.
In one smooth motion, she swung up into her saddle and trotted to the front of the line. “Ready?”
The riders all responded with excitement. The group took off at a slow, steady trot, heading across the pasture. When they came to the tree line, RJ slowed her horse to a walk and led them onto a well-worn trail, angling upward into the hills.
Jake found himself enjoying the ride. The sun shone down on the mountains, making the sky a brilliant blue. Light, fluffy clouds floated in the distance. He could easily be lulled into an idyllic stupor, if he let himself.
Instead, he used his training as a Navy SEAL to study the terrain, evaluating locations prime for an ambush or a sniper’s perch.
He didn’t like being at the back of the line of horses. When they stopped for lunch, he’d remedy the placement and ride close to RJ.
The woman stopped several times along the trail to point out interesting views. At one location, she had everyone look out across the valley below where a herd of elk grazed in the shadow of the aspens. At another break in the trees, she showed them a view of Pike’s Peak in the distance. The majesty of the mountain held everyone in awe, including Jake. He could understand why she loved this place and being so close to nature.
The trail led down to a valley where several weathered buildings stood beside a stream. The buildings were the remains of a very small community.
RJ dismounted and helped the others by holding their horses’ heads as they dismounted.
Fortunately, Jake had no trouble getting down from his horse.
When everyone was on the ground, RJ waved a hand toward the dilapidated structures. “This is Stephensville. It was an old mining community back when these hills were filled with miners seeking their fortunes in gold. Eventually, the veins played out, and the mining companies abandoned the area, leaving little ghost towns scattered among the hills. You’re welcome to explore while I lay out the picnic lunch we brought. Just remember, the wood is old and rotting in some places. Be careful where you step.”
The six riders, three men and three women, wandered off, entering the old houses.
RJ pulled the saddlebag off the back of her horse while Jake untied the one on his. By the time they’d laid out the blankets and pulled the sandwiches and flasks out, the guests joined them, talking excitedly about what they’d observed.
When they were finished eating, RJ pulled several fl
at metal pans from a saddlebag and handed them to the guests. “If you feel a hankering to pan for gold, this stream might just give you the thrill you’re seeking.”
The guests hurried off to strip out of their shoes and wade into the cool mountain stream.
“Anyone ever find a nugget on one of your trail rides?” Jake asked as he helped fold the blankets, pick up the trash and stash everything in the saddlebags.
RJ nodded, a smile curling her lips. “Actually, someone did find a small nugget about the size of a pencil eraser. You’d have thought he’d won the lottery.”
“Where does this stream originate?”
She tipped her head toward the ground rising above them. “Somewhere up that mountain. Gunny thinks it’s coming out of an old mine shaft. I think it’s just a spring.”
“Does Gunny own the mineral rights to this property?”
RJ nodded. “Actually, he does. Not many people own their mineral rights in Colorado. He just happened to buy the ranch from a retired Marine whose family has owned this property for over a century. He sold it because he didn’t have anyone to pass it down to. And he only sold it to Gunny because he was a retired Marine.”
“Has Gunny considered reopening the mine and looking for gold?”
RJ shook her head. “From what the former owner said, the vein played out in the early 1900s. His family poked around, hoping to find another vein and never did. After that, they boarded up the shaft entrances to keep people from falling into the mines.”
“I imagine that’s a liability for many of the ranchers around here.”
RJ stared up the stream. “The mines and shafts aren’t safe. A person could slide in and not be able to climb out or be trapped by collapsing walls.” She nodded toward the guests panning for gold. “It’s enough for people to think they just might find gold in that stream. It’s one of the draws that keeps people coming back to Lost Valley Ranch. People bring their children and grandchildren to ride horses, pan for gold and play in the streams.”
“You’re good with the guests.”
Her cheeks turned a slight shade of pink. “I like people for the most part.”
“Except when they’re trying to kill you,” Jake added quietly.