Gabe (In the Company of Snipers, #8)(37)

“Tired. Said she needed time to think. The dogs are with her so she’s not alone.”

“You talk with Mark yet?”

“Yeah. Guess Connor and Rory tore into Kelsey’s car. They also got hold of some surveillance footage near the shore where Kelsey wrecked, too. They’ve got definitive proof four guys tried to kill her, but get this. A lone Samaritan showed up at the last minute. He rousted the other guys and pulled her out of the river.”

Gabe’s heart jumped to the back of his throat. It couldn’t be. No way. “Alex?”

Zack shook his head. “You know better. Mark says no. The guy was thicker in the middle. Didn’t walk like the boss. Come on. Get moving. We’ve got work to do.”

“Good enough.” Gabe pushed off the floor in time to see Zack’s backside clear the front door. Yeah. There was no way Alex had saved Kelsey. Why the question sprang to his lips the way it had, Gabe couldn’t explain. Chalk it up to hope springing eternal, or something crazy like that.

He checked the view out the kitchen window before he fixed himself a cup of coffee. The sight of Kelsey alone in her backyard tugged at his heartstrings, which were damned tender anyway. There’d always been something about her that got to him. She’d proven herself to be a very resilient woman, but he couldn’t suppress his instinct to protect her, even when Alex was still alive. The feeling only intensified with him gone.

When the day came she took another man in marriage, so be it. Kelsey was sister material. Like Ember and Izza. That was all. But whoever took Alex’s place had better be one helluva man because, whether she knew it or not, Kelsey had one bad-assed family of brothers and sisters at her six.

He paused at the back door. Kelsey had knelt to Whisper and Smoke’s level. Both dogs sat in front of her with ears forward, listening intently. She rocked forward and backward, one moment with a hand on Whisper’s wide forehead, the next hugging Smoke like he was a little boy instead of a loyal hound dog, and damn it. A crying woman with broken fingers made for a pitiful sight.

Gabe ventured forth. Neither the dogs nor Kelsey heard him step out on the back porch, but he heard her. “Everyone thinks I’m crazy, but I felt him. I think you know he’s been here, too.”

Whisper placed a huge paw on her shoulder.

“There has to be a really good reason he can’t come home right now, don’t you think?”

Gabe could’ve sworn he’d heard guttural agreement in the black dog’s growly voice. When Kelsey bowed her head, he couldn’t bear to keep his presence hidden anymore.

“They look like they’d do anything for you,” he said softly as he crouched beside her.

Kelsey turned away, a sob caught in her throat. “Wh... what?”

“I didn’t mean to startle you, ma’am. I’m sorry, but these dogs sure love you. They’ll do anything for you, huh?” He ruffled Smoke’s ears and neck. “I’ve worked with them before. They’re the best trackers around, aren’t they?”

She wiped her face and sniffed, the back of her hand to her nose, the splints stiff and straight and stabbing Gabe’s heart. “They’re not just pets. They’re my... boys.”

“I see that.” By now, Smoke faced Gabe, bright-eyed and ready to play. “So why does a dog bond with one person and not another? Harley’s an old Army K-9 handler. He and dogs go together like beer and pizza, but these particular dogs love you more. Anyone can see that.”

“They saved me,” she whispered. “A long time ago.”

He let her sad comment go, stroking the thick ruffle on Smoke’s neck. “Where’s the ball, Smokey? You want to play?”

Smoke took off with his nose to the ground, but Whisper remained steadfast at Kelsey’s side. She pushed up from the lawn and retreated to the garden swing nearer the back door, although now it resembled more of an arbor bedecked with a dense vine. She’d dressed for the day in stonewashed denims and a light blue sweater over a purple button-up blouse. Her eyes were on her hands, her fingers interlocked like awkward knitting needles as she lowered onto the wooden slats.


“You were sleeping when I walked by the living room,” she said. “I hope I didn’t disturb you.”

“Zack rousted me.” He stretched his back and ran a hand through his hair, hopefully brushing out the bed-head he no doubt had. “I can pretty much sleep anywhere. You look good sitting there in all those purple flowers. Wisteria?”

“You know your vines.”

“Yeah. Mom’s got one like it on her patio. The darn thing’s a weed.”

“They can get out of control.” She pulled a fragrant clump of purple to her nose. Just that quickly, a shadow shifted over her countenance. “They’re like children. Before you know it, they’re into everything.”

“Are you warm enough?” He had to ask. She’d shivered talking about children.

Kelsey released the flower and tucked her hands under her arms. “I’m fine. Zack wouldn’t let me out the door without my sweater. Aren’t you guys tired of babysitting me yet?”

“If you’re really asking if I’m tired of your company, that would be a big fat negatory, ma’am. Why? Are you trying to get rid of me?”

“Just seems to me that you guys have better things to do than sit around here all day and wait on me.”