Chapter Eleven
It was a somber group that sat around the big dining room table at Sanctuary. Etta and Deacon sat at either end of the table. Grady sat to Deacon’s left and Mason to his right. The other four seats were occupied by men Etta had met only a few minutes ago when a big SUV pulled up in front of the main house and they piled out.
Had it been in any other circumstance, Etta would have found that sight one of the most pleasurable she could imagine. Brodie Judge, Logan Just, Silas Jaen and William, or Billy, Jett all had the look of men trained for battle and good at it. She’d learned a long time ago that men such as they had a look that was unique. It was in their eyes, in the way they carried themselves, and the way they moved.
It was, at least to her, the sexiest thing in the world. But today her reaction was one of gratitude. All of these men were SEALs that had, at one time answered to Deacon. Admiral Angel had reassigned all of them to Sanctuary until the threat against Etta and Deacon was neutralized.
If she was going to face danger, there was nowhere else she’d rather be than with the men seated at the table. One thing, however, struck her as odd and despite the severity of the situation, she couldn’t help bringing it up.
“Don’t you find it interesting that every one of you has a last name that starts with J?”
Billy Jett grinned and Etta wondered how many women had fallen victim to that. Hair as black as a raven’s wing and eyes the color of a Carolina blue sky, Billy was a natural born charmer. “Deac’s superstitious.”
“Pardon?”
“Superstitious. See J is the tenth letter of the alphabet, but if you break it down in numerology it’s one plus zero, so that equals one. And the number one is…well, you know. One. Uno. Top Dog.”
Etta got it, but not in the way Billy meant. She’d studied a lot of schools of thought over the years, including numerology. Jungian psychology placed one as a symbol of unity. She could see Deacon responding to that symbolism. A SEAL unit had to be cohesive. The old saying, “there is no I in T E A M,” fit a SEAL team perfectly.
She looked at Deacon and saw the nearly imperceptible downward tilt of his head and the way one side of his mouth lifted slightly. “Yes, I understand,” she said to Billy and looked around the table. “Sorry for the interruption. I understand from speaking with Admiral Angel that you’ve all been assigned cover for the length of your stay.”
She looked at Billy, who was seated beside her. “You’re an up and coming country western singer who ran into a streak of bad luck and took a job here to make enough to get your truck fixed so you can head for Nashville.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
“Are you good?”
“Baby, you have no idea.”
All the men laughed and even Etta smiled. “No doubt, but what about as a singer? Do you have a guitar?”
“Yes, ma’am.”
“Then I suggest you make sure you’re seen playing it. The entire ranch has the weekend off, but on Monday we’ll be back to business as usual and the rest of the employees have to believe your role.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
“Excellent.” She scrolled through to the next file on her tablet, scanned the cover story, and then looked at the man seated next to Billy. “Logan Just.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
“Demolitions expert.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
“But here you’re an electrician and ranch hand as needed. As far as anyone knows, including the employees, we’ve experienced electrical problems and are having all of Sanctuary checked for faulty wiring and any fire hazards. That will give you free rein in all of the buildings.”
“And access to install the surveillance equipment,” Grady added.
“Yes, sir.”
After consulting the file to make sure she was correct, Etta turned her attention to the man seated beside Grady. “Silas Jaen. Am I pronouncing that correctly?”
“Yes, ma’am. Just like Tarzan and Jane.”
Etta smiled. “Do I hear a bit of Georgia in that accent, Mr. Jaen?”
“You do, ma’am.”
“And aside from being one of the top snipers in the Navy, you’re good with animals.”
“I am.”
“Then you’ll be working with me in the animal rehab as the new animal center manager.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
“Good. Now,” she looked at the man seated between her and Silas. “Brodie Judge.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
“You’re going to be a problem, aren’t you, Mr. Judge?”
“Not intentionally, ma’am.”
“You’re not going to wreck any of our vehicles or turn them into supercharged, nitrogen-powered death traps?”
Everyone laughed, including Brodie. According to his file, he could do just that. Brodie was something of a mechanical genius. Between him and Logan, they could probably build a submarine out of spare parts.
“I was just messing with you, Mr. Judge. You’re going to be assigned to the garage. It’s not demanding, but it is centrally located and there’s room for you to store whatever your team needs and to use as a staging area.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
“Okay, I think I’m clear on everything.” She looked around at everyone. “But I’m sure you have questions, so now’s the time.”
For a few moments, there was silence, then Brodie spoke up. “Is it true you killed Gabe Angel, ma’am?”
Etta had hoped that wouldn’t be asked, but was prepared for it to be. There were many people in the military curious about the woman who killed Gabe Angel, the Admiral’s son who turned traitor and got his entire team killed except for his commander and his wife, the psychiatrist who had put him back on the active duty list.
“Yes. And before you ask, yes, I certified Gabe fit for duty. I’d still stand by that recommendation today. He wasn’t suffering from PTSD. That was what he wanted me to believe and I did. So I own that. I fell for the ruse.”
“But you saved Deacon when you shot Angel.”
Etta nodded. “He was a traitor.”
“You’re a brave woman, Doctor Whitestone.”
“Thank you, but it didn’t feel that way.” She looked around. “Anyone else?”
“Yeah, me.” Billy said. “I saw this picture of you and Gabe and Admiral Angel. Angel has it on a bookshelf in his office. Correction, had. Anyway, your hair was black. Why’d you bleach it?”
Etta smiled. “I didn’t. You know how you’ve heard the expression scared stiff, or so scared you’re white as a ghost and that sort of thing?”
“Yeah.”
“Well, apparently there’s something to it. My hair started turning white three days after the massacre in Mosul and within two months I had an inch of white roots, so I buzzed my head and let it grow and it never turned dark again.”
“You think it scared the color out of your hair?”
“If it didn’t, it should have.” She tried to make a joke of it.
“We’re not gonna let that happen again, ma’am.” Billy promised. “And you can take that to the bank. You’ve got the best men in the world sitting at this table and we’re not gonna let anything happen to you or Commander Johns.”
“Thank you. I have complete confidence in that. Now, I know you and Deacon have things you want to go over and I have animals that need tending so I’m going to leave you for a bit.”
“I don’t think that’s smart, ma’am,” Silas said. “I’ll tag along and get familiar with the animal center. Commander Johns can bring me up to speed later.”
“Deacon?” Etta asked.
“That’s a good idea.”
“Okay then.” Etta picked up her tablet and rose. Silas followed her out and silently they walked to the medical building. Etta unlocked it and put her tablet on her desk. Silas looked around, checking exits and windows and then followed her out.
She didn’t speak the entire way, but paid attention to Silas, who walked beside her. He didn’t seem uncomfortable with the silence. Despite the smile he’d cut her way and the manner in which he seemingly looked around in curiosity, he was surveilling the area. To his credit, he did it in such a manner that a civilian would never notice and that impressed Etta.
“So, you’re an advance scout as well,” she said as they stopped at the entrance of the animal center and she reached into her pocket for the keys.
His expression registered just a hint of surprise. “They said you were good. What gave me away?”
“Your eyes. Searching, evaluating. Even when you’re supposed to be charming the doctor.”
“Pardon?”
“Your smile didn’t reach your eyes.”
This time his smile did. “Guess I need to work on that.”
She shrugged and pushed open the gate. “I highly doubt anyone would ever know. Want to help me feed the animals?
“Sure, what kind do you have?”
“A menagerie.”
Etta led him around the side of the building where pens lined the walls beneath the massive overhang. On this side of the building were the cats. Along with the two bobcats that were attached to JJ as if he were their own, there was a male lion who was nearing adulthood and an adult bobcat.
“Is that a mountain lion?” Silas asked as Etta unlocked a side door.
“It is. And from what I’ve been able to determine, this area isn’t known to have a large population, so I’m guessing that he was found somewhere else as a cub and brought here. He must have gotten loose and was hit by a truck. The man who hit him called the Cotton Creek Police and talked with Deputy Judd and—”
“Judd as in related to Grady?”
“As in his wife.”
“Oh yeah, I heard she was a badass ex-Delta turned cop. Sorry, continue.”
“Long story short, she called me, and I brought him here.”
“You just drove over and picked up a lion.” His statement was spoken with enough disbelief, she almost bristled.
“I’m a licensed vet, but yes. He had a broken back leg, two broken ribs, and a lot of lacerations and bruising, but he’s a strong boy and is almost ready for release.”
She reached inside the door, which was not an entrance into the building but a food locker. Etta picked up a set of tongs and then gestured to a big tray of meat. “How about getting that for me?”
“Sure.”
Silas slid the tray from the cooler locker and she shut it before motioning to him. “Lion first.”
She walked over and knelt down in front of the door to the cage. “Hey there, big boy.”
The lion, who was at the back of the cage, gave a half-hearted growl of warning and a hiss. Etta didn’t let him intimidate her. She’d learned his habits. “Okay, grumpy. If that’s the way you want it.”
She unlocked the food door, slid it open and then selected a big slab of meat from the tray, guided it through the opening and into the feeding dish. She then moved two cages down to the male bobcat.
He was as unfriendly an animal as she’d ever encountered. The moment they approached, he let out a scream that would raise the hair on the back of your neck in a split second.
“Good God, that’s one pissed-off cat,” Silas commented.
“Perpetually. He’s been here five weeks and is as untrusting now as the day we brought him in.”
“What happened to him?”
“Bear, I think. The poor old thing was nearly sliced to shreds. Took almost sixty stitches to sew him up.”
She put food into the cage for the cat and moved toward the last cage. She opened the door and two bobcat cubs barreled out. One leapt straight up into her arms. The other waited until she had the first secured in the crook of one arm and then it jumped.
“That’s cool,” Silas said.
“These are the twins. Bobby and Betty. We were going to release them, but then they latched onto JJ and wouldn’t leave so they’re sort of our mascots. I put them in the pen at night, but am thinking of leaving it open now that they’re a bit older. Want to hold one?”
“Will they allow it?”
“Sure. Thanks to JJ, they’re very people oriented. Even Deacon has been seen sitting in his porch swing with one asleep on his lap.”
“I’d give money to see that. What about this meat?”
“Oh, would you mind putting it back into the food locker?”
“Sure.”
She sat down on the dirt and petted the cubs. They’d grown quite a lot, but were still kittens at heart and loved to play. The problem was, their claws were deadly. She deterred them from using her legs as a balance beam by directing their attention to something else, like getting their bellies scratched. That was one of their favorite things.
“I can’t believe they let you scratch their bellies. It’s hard to get a regular house cat to do that.”
“Not if they trust you. Sit.” She patted the dirt beside her and he sat down.
Betty, the female immediately got to her feet to sniff Silas. He allowed it and after she was satisfied, she put her front paws on his chest, stood on her hind legs and gave him a nice lick across his chin.
“I think she likes you,” Etta said.
“She’s pretty.” Silas stroked Betty and scratched behind her ears. “JJ trained them?”
“Pretty much.”
Silas looked over at her. “I was there when he made it back, you know. I saw—him. What had happened. I didn’t think he’d make it. It was bad.”
“Yes, it was. But physically he’s made remarkable progress. He’ll have scars, but I’d say he’s regained his strength and agility.”
“And up here?” Silas tapped his knuckles against the side of his head.
“He’s almost there.”
“Almost isn’t good enough.”
“You’re preaching to the choir. I made that mistake once. I won’t again.”
“With Gabe?”
“Yes. Did you know him?”
“Met him. Didn’t like him. No offense. He was just too—” Silas turned his gaze directly to her. “The truth was, it felt like he liked killing too much. That’s not what we’re about.”
“No, it’s not.”
“But we can’t back down from it, you know? And JJ? He’s gotta pass class if he’s gonna survive out there, Dr. Whitestone.”
“I know, and it’s Etta, please.”
“Thanks, Etta. I know Angel thinks the world of you, and he’s not one to give praise unless it’s earned, and Commander Johns as well. You saved his life and for that alone, I’d walk through hell for you.”
“I don’t want anyone to walk through hell for me, Silas.”
“I know, but we do what we have to when we have to. You feel me?”
Etta smiled. “You sound a lot like Grady.”
“Birds of a feather, ma’am.”
“Yes, indeed. You certainly are. Okay, so why don’t we get the rest of the animals fed and then I’ll head back to my office and let you get back to the men?”
“Yes, ma’am.”
Etta smiled and stood. She still wasn’t convinced that trouble really was on its way, but in the off chance that it was, she sure felt better having men like Silas and the other SEALs staying at Sanctuary.