Malcolm, who normally never took offense, had had a bad day. The guy fought like a demon, so why Hondo had even thought about screwing with him made little sense. But the fight had eased tensions among the many varied personalities in the group, as it usually did.
“I’m good, Hondo. Thanks.” Jane smiled at him, sitting in her room at the ranch and wishing she was back in Seattle. Alone. Where it was quiet.
He walked away but left her door open. She stared at the door, willing it to close. It didn’t, and she didn’t have the energy to get up.
She hadn’t been hurt that badly, or she hadn’t thought. But she’d spent a lot of time sleeping or resting. It felt like forever since she’d jogged. She hated feeling so helpless.
Hal and Joe surged into her room with grand smiles and carrying a tray of bacon and orange juice. At four in the afternoon.
Still, they were her favorite foods, so Jane happily thanked them.
While she ate, they caught her up on all she’d missed since…yesterday.
“We said nothing to your uncle about that thing I did,” Hal said.
“You told Joe?” She shot him an accusatory glare.
“I overheard him muttering to himself and made him talk.”
Hal sighed. “He’s huge and he threatened me. I had to tell him.”
Joe smiled. “Don’t worry, Jane. I’m a vault. A very big, very scary vault. I say nothing. Never, to anyone.”
“Say what?” Uncle Chris asked in a gruff voice. He’d been mothering her for a week. His constant presence bugged her, and she knew it bugged him. He hated feeling helpless as much as she did.
Joe and Hal jumped.
“Nothing at all. Just catching Jane up on all the gossip.” Hal clapped a hand on Joe’s shoulder. “We’re heading out with Smith and Minjun tonight. Want us to bring you back anything?”
Chris paused. “Nah, but if you head out to Poulsbo tomorrow, make sure to drop off some goodies from Sluys to Grace.”
Jane watched their eyes glaze over but could empathize. Sluys baked her favorite treats. Despite not having a sweet tooth, she always tried to grab a Viking cup, a type of cinnamon roll that was to die for.
Her uncle grinned at her and added, “And get a few Viking cups for the kids.” Meaning her and Raine.
Hal and Joe nodded and left them alone, but as Hal moved through the doorway, he turned, twisted his fingers over his lips, and threw away an invisible key.
Jane, still irked at being called a kid, would have smacked her uncle if she’d had the energy for it. “Why am I so tired?”
“Physical trauma takes a toll.” He sat on her bed. He looked the same as always. A tall, older man with a square jaw, and brown eyes, so dark they looked black, that seemed to see right through a person. He had a rangy strength with big hands and big feet, and he still palmed her head in his hand as a sign of affection. As if her noggin was a basketball.
“You look good,” he said, studying her. “I know it’s killing you not to be at work, but you have a concussion, Jane. This ain’t the movies where you can get blown up and punched and shot and be back at work by two. Make sure you heal right so you’re good to go when you’re operational.”
“Aye, aye, Colonel.”
He grinned. “Smartass.”
“Speaking of, have you and Raine made peace yet?”
He groaned. “And here we were, you and I, getting along just fine. No, the girl won’t talk to me. Every time I find her, she has an excuse to duck out.” He frowned. “I think a few of the boys are helping her avoid me.”
“Probably Shawn and Minjun.”
“I know. Minjun’s slick with that smile. Even I can’t stay mad at him.”
She chuckled. “Is it weird for you to be home with everyone?”
“Kind of.” He rubbed his short, salt and pepper hair, the sophisticated cut at odds with the hard warrior who liked nothing better than to slam a few beers while betting on who could belch the loudest and longest. “We need the downtime though. It got a little rough on our last mission.” He got that angry look on his face she liked directed at anyone but her. “Shawn and I had a talk.”
