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“It’s a beautiful evening for it,” Rachel said.
Jake smiled down at her and held out his hand. “I’m glad to see you’re feeling better.”
“Thank you,” she said as she shook his hand.
“Are you giving Griff a run for his money trying to keep up with you?” Jake grinned and shook hands with Griff.
“Not really,” she said. “I need to step up my game.”
Griff liked that she had a sense of humor, even when she’d become the target of a serial killer.
“We hope you’ve come to stay here until the killer is caught.” A woman with sandy-blond hair pulled back into a ponytail joined them. “Hi, I’m RJ Tate. I know I’ve run into you in town a few times, but I don’t think we’ve actually been introduced. You’re the new deputy in town.”
Rachel nodded. “Yes, ma’am.”
Jake slipped his arm around RJ and pulled her close. “RJ is my fiancé. She and her father, Gunny, are the owners and operators of the Lost Valley Ranch and the Watering Hole. RJ, this is Griff, the newest member of the Brotherhood Protectors.”
RJ held out her hand and gave his a firm shake. “I’ve heard a lot about you. You’ll be a welcome addition to the team.”
“Thank you.”
“Gunny,say hello to Rachel and Griff,” RJ called out.
The gray-haired man raised his spatula. “Hello!” Then he flipped the burgers on the grill, added more and closed the top again. “Grab a beer. Chow will be ready soon.”
Jake led Griff and Rachel to a large tin tub full of ice, beer and sodas. “Choose your poison.”
Rachel leaned down, snagged a longneck bottle of beer and twisted off the cap.
Griff did the same and downed a long swallow of the cool brew.
“Come meet some of the gang,” Jake said. “All of them are former special operations, whether they were Navy SEALs, Delta or Rangers.”
He stood at the base of the steps leading up to the porch and said in a loud, clear voice, “Hey, listen up.”
Everyone stopped talking and turned toward Jake.
“This is John Griffin, Navy SEAL, recently separated from active duty. He’s our newest recruit to the team. With him is one of Teller County’s finest, Deputy Rachel West.”
Griff raised a hand. “You can call me Griff.”
Jake pointed to a man with blond hair, cut high and tight. He stood with his arm around a woman a foot shorter than him with rich brown hair and brown eyes.
“Max Thornton, former Army 10thSpecial Forces.”
Max shook Griff’s hand. “Welcome aboard.”
“With Max,” Jake continued, “is JoJo Barrera-Ramirez. She’s prior Army and one of the finest mechanics I know. She can fix anything.”
“Anything mechanical, but I’m hopeless at fixing my hair,” she said with a crooked grin. “Nice to meet you, Griff.”
Jake nodded toward a tall man with black hair and blue eyes above them, leaning against a porch rail. “Cage Weaver, former Army Ranger.”
Weaver nodded and tipped his head toward the auburn-haired woman standing beside him. “This is my fiancé, Emily Strayhorn.”
Jake smiled at the redhead. “Emily is a mental health therapist at the VA hospital in Colorado Springs. She plays a vital role in helping our guys and gals dealing with PTSD.”
He pointed to the tallest man, who had brown hair and brown eyes and a thick shadow of stubble across his chin. “Griff, you might be familiar with Navy SEAL Sawyer Johnson. I believe you two served together at some point in your careers.”
