Page 7 of Her Summer Hope

Evans took his own advice to heart and seemed to have enough bothering him to go through handfuls of women.

Kyle was long past those days of simple hookups and even simpler women. He’d never been one for a one-night stand or meaningless sex.

His last long-term relationship hadn’t fared well through a particularly trying deployment, and he thought maybe that’s why he’d been a little reckless on that last one. There was nobody left back here to be careful for, and so he hadn’t been.

Regina had really done a number on him.

The bullet that tore through his forearm and the edge of his hand had been the last straw after years of somewhat more minor injuries. That wasn’t to say that he’d had it easy. There had been way too many close calls to count, including one particularly brutal run-in with an RPG.

He rubbed his temples as the headache threatened to come back and turned away from the mirror. He didn’t particularly enjoy looking at himself these days. It seemed like he went to bed a carefree young man and woke up damaged and old, with death riding on his shoulders.

Not today, McClellan, he thought. Not today.

It was more of a plea than a challenge.

“Yo, Rev! You good to go?!” Evans hollered through the employees' hall.

“Roger that! On the move,” Kyle shouted back.

The employee section of the chalet was plain and unadorned, with five small bedrooms and two unattached bathrooms. They didn’t need luxury—actually, they eschewed it whenever possible. They were all somewhat nervous about getting soft, and maybe with good reason.

Without the constant danger and the need to be the best, what would keep them in top form?

There was a small kitchenette and living room just off of the main gourmet kitchen that served the guests. They had options for their meals. If they wanted company they could come into the dining room. If they wanted solitude they could have a tray sent to their room or even take a meal to-go if they wanted to wander the grounds.

He and the guys would be mostly eating in the dining room to set a good example. Healing involved more than just fixing and adjusting to physiological damage, they had shit that they needed to get straight in their heads too. The right kind of friendship could help with that.

The chalet was surprising in that it didn’t have the usual mountain cabin motif. Instead, the design firm had suggested something different and so the theme of the place was southwestern.

Inside, the walls were stucco and colorful, pastel stone. Woven rugs and blankets adorned the tiled floor and the cushy leather furniture. It was almost stereotypical, right down to the skull over the large fireplace. He had been assured that the colors were soothing and pastoral—whatever the hell that meant.

He thought it turned out pretty good, though it was a little strange for this part of the country.

He joined his brothers out in the main living room and noticed that they had all made an effort to clean up, at least a little.

Except for Murdock.

He eyed the silent man with a raised eyebrow but said nothing.

Murdock was the biggest of the bunch and the meanest when he needed to be. He rarely spoke and was always alert. He moved like a ghost through the house and the hills. His messy blond hair was long and wavy and brushed his shoulders, and his beard was golden brown and hid his face…probably on purpose. He looked a decade older than Kyle though he was only thirty-eight or so. He looked wild, untamed.

He was wearing his old faded OCP pants and a clean, but worn-thin, olive drab t-shirt. At least he’d washed his hair, though it didn’t look like he’d even tried to drag a comb through it.

Kyle thought they were lucky he even showed up at all.

Murdock wasn’t good with people, and it was only because Evans had saved his life once that he followed him everywhere like a giant, overprotective shadow.

“Car coming,” Evans said, interrupting his thoughts.

They all listened intently, but Kyle heard nothing. They watched the driveway and sure enough, a few moments later a van pulled up into the circular drive.

“How the hell did you hear that?” John grumbled.

Evans grinned and pointed to his ears. “Not as many explosions under my belt, old man!” he yelled as if John was deaf.

John punched him on the arm and then they all walked out to the waiting vehicle.

Kyle went first and met the clean-cut older man coming around to open his wife’s door. He was wearing khakis and a light blue polo shirt and Kyle wondered if maybe he shouldn’t have worn one as well.

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