Page 29 of Navy

Molly just laughs, saying to Navy, “Talk about keeping it in the family.”

She’s not wrong.

But Molly had done what she did best and broken any awkwardness that there might have been. We’d set up lunch as buffet style and soon everyone had drinks in hand and was stuffing their faces. Gram seemed to be having the time of her life. She was nearly back to her old self now that she was back on her meds, which had me drawing a breath of relief.

Not long after that, teams were chosen, and a mini war broke out on the paintball field. These guys didn’t play around. After an hour was up, I was done. It hurt like hell when someone made contact; we’d all have bruises tomorrow. The kids had also started to get bored and had been leaving the field one by one.

Hope and I had set up tables just inside of the barn earlier, and we’d brought out sandwiches, crisps, and fruit, knowing they’d be hungry once they all finished. A fire had again been laid in the temporary fire pit and more chairs had appeared. We ladies had got comfortable with glasses of wine and were getting to know each other. I’d never had women friends like this, they brought me up to speed on what they all did, asked how things were now with Tristan and his company, and if there was anything we needed. Even Gram had been overwhelmed but happy at the outpouring of support. She’d come out for an hour or so. Then she, Hetty, and Aggie had disappeared back into the warmth of the main house.

We’d been watching the goings on in the field in amusement. “Do you think they remember they’re not in the military anymore?” Avy remarked as we watched Navy give a hand signal to Reaper, who replied with a different signal. I had no clue what they were saying, but they seemed to if the way they all flowed as a team showed. It was a little hot to watch.

“Is it me or is that a little hot?” Julia asked, waving a hand in front of her face.

I giggled, “Oh, thank god, I thought it was just me.”

“Nope,” Abby agreed, “there’s just something about watching all that maleness in uniform working together.”

“Pity it’s not summer,” Rea muttered. “We could have persuaded them to take their shirts off.”

“Mmh, yes, it’s been a while since we saw Cairo without a shirt,” Molly sighs a little wistfully. Making the rest of us snort with laughter.

“I think we need to make this an annual thing,” Hope agrees, “but in the summer.”

“Definitely,” Abby agrees, “you have my number. Let’s get something in the calendar.”

“What’s happening tomorrow?” I ask Hope.

“Were doing a shoot off,” Hope says. “Molly is going to teach the kids how to throw knives, but they can shoot too if they want.”

“Cool,” I reply. “I haven’t done any shooting for a while.”

“You shoot?” Hope questions, looking surprised.

“I do. My stepfather was an arsehole, but he did insist I learn everything a lady of wealth needed to know. I can ride too.”

“Fantastic,” Molly says. “Does Navy know you can shoot?”

“No,” I reply a little hesitantly, wondering where she was going with her questions.

“How good are you?” Molly asks.

I shrug, “Fair to medium, I’d guess.”

Molly rubs her hands together, “Are you up for a little bit of fun? If they don’t know you can shoot, we can set up a little wager with the men.”

“I may not be any good anymore. It’s been nearly two years since I last shot a gun.”

“We can’t do it now because we’ve been drinking but if you can slip away tomorrow morning, we’ll go and get a few practice shots in. Someone other than Molly and me will have to be in charge of setting it up because the men will catch on if it’s us. We’re shit stirrers,” Hope informs me with a smile.

“I’ll do it,” Julia says, putting her hand up like she’s in school. “They’d not suspect me.”

“She’s right,” Abby nods, “nobody would suspect Julia.”

“As long as any money made goes to a charity,” I insist.

“It will,” Molly assures me.

“Then I’m in.”

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