“Intense?”
Her eyes widened. “Exactly. Then you get back to the real world—as some people consider it—and there’s no sense of life and death or urgency whatsoever.”
“Now, you know everything there is to know about me,” Max said. “I’m a broken-down soldier who’s trying to figure out his way in life again. If it weren’t for the Brotherhood Protectors, I’d still be looking for a job. When my only skills include weaponry, tactics and mountaineering, my resume doesn’t check a lot of employers’ boxes.”
“Sounds like the Brotherhood Protectors have got your number though,” JoJo said. “From what RJ tells me, they’ve done good things up in Montana, and now, they are looking to do that here in Colorado. So, you’ll be on the ground floor of this new office. That has to be a good thing.”
He nodded. “We’re still in the startup phase. Word hasn’t gotten out, so I still don’t have my first assignment. On the other hand, it’s nice that we can help with the remodeling and also help Gunny manage the dude ranch and bar.”
“And it’s a good thing the Brotherhood Protectors came along when they did,” JoJo said. “The rent you guys are paying on the place has really helped out Gunny.”
When they reached the back of the Watering Hole bar, Max opened the door for her and held it, waiting for her to go in.
She paused and met his gaze. “Again, I’m sorry I attacked you, and thank you for coming to my rescue when I passed out.”
He nodded. “My pleasure. And you didn’t hurt me, except for the part where you bit me. No worries, and maybe, someday, you’ll be comfortable enough to tell me what happened today. What scared you so much you felt the need to deep six me.”
Or not, JoJo thought, as she entered the building. Being raped and almost killed was not something she felt she could share with any man at that point. Not even Gunny.
Chapter 2
Banished from waiting tables in the bar, Max helped Gunny make sandwiches in the kitchen while RJ and JoJo handled the bar and dining area in the Watering Hole.
“Thanks for helping out in the kitchen.” Gunny swiped a slice of bread with a layer of mayo and slapped it onto the other side of the sandwich.
“I’m sorry I wasn’t more help in the dining area,” Max said. “My leg’s still a little stiff and makes for an unsteady gait.”
Gunny nodded, cut the roast beef sandwich in half and laid it onto a plate. “While you’re still renovating, recruiting and getting the word out that Brotherhood Protectors are here in Colorado, I’m really appreciative of all the help the organization is giving us here at the Lost Valley Ranch.”
Max nodded. “We’re more than happy to help. I don’t know about Jake, but I’d go crazy if I didn’t have anything to do.”
Gunny grinned. “There’s always something to do on the ranch, and if not on the ranch, then here in the Watering Hole. Speaking of something to do,” Gunny said, “I haven’t even told RJ yet, but I had a local politician schedule a retreat for this weekend.”
“That’s only four days away,” Max said.
Gunny grimaced. “Less than that. The politician and his aide will be here tomorrow. The rest of his campaign committee will be here on Thursday.”
Max hiked an eyebrow. “That soon?”
With a nod, Gunny pulled out a hamburger bun and scooped a burger off the grill, sliding it onto the bun. The man didn’t seem in the least stressed. “That soon.”
“Are you ready?” Max plucked a leaf of lettuce from the head sitting beside the old Marine and laid it on the plate beside the hamburger.
“Considering it’s kind of late in the season and schools are all back in session, we can use the business, and I didn’t have any reservations tying up the conference room. So, the timing’s good.” He glanced up. “I’m just looking forward to a little help taking care of all the people who will be here. Some will be here for the weekend, and some will just be commuting back and forth from Colorado Springs. They’re gearing up for the next election. So, it’ll be a mix of campaign staff, and they’ll also have a meet-and-greet or a shake-and-grin, or whatever civilians call it, for the locals to come out to the ranch and get to know the candidate.”
Max cut into a tomato and placed a slice on the plate with the hamburger. “Sounds kind of like a big deal to me.”
Gunny shrugged. “We’ll have a big barbecue on Friday night and invite the public. Saturday will be an ATV tour. We’ll take the campaign staff out for little teambuilding activities, so they can get to know each other and have a little fun together. Thankfully, they’ll be in town Saturday night at a restaurant that they’ve reserved in Fool’s Gold. I’ll have RJ and JoJo working pretty much 24/7. They’ll be on call for whatever the guests might need, along with me.”
“Any way that I can help, count me in,” Max said. He scooped fries onto the plate and set it on the window ledge between the kitchen and the bar.
Gunny leaned toward the window and shouted, “Order up!”
The man was a rock. Nothing ruffled him. Not even the thought of a crowd of people showing up with only a day or two to prepare.
“Seems like there will be a lot of work getting ready for this.”
“It’ll get done,” Gunny said with confidence. “I have a chuckwagon stored in a shed that I’ll pull out for the Friday night barbecue. It has a huge grill on one side and drink chests on the other. We’ll have ranch activities for all the guests. RJ and JoJo will conduct the ATV tour Saturday.”
“Sounds like fun,” Max said.
“I just hope the weather cooperates,” Gunny said. “There’s supposed to be an early cold front sweeping down from the north late Friday evening, hopefully, after
