Alice’s face lit up before all expression washed away and she patted her daughter-in-law’s back and made a shooing motion toward the front hall. “Go. The sooner you make those calls the sooner we can settle Raider in.”
And just like that, conversation shifted to ranch business, family updates, and a sprinkle of oohing and aahing over the delicious food. This family seemed to be a Norman Rockwell painting come to life. No wonder Jackie loved life here at the ranch. Fresh air, Mother Nature at her best, supportive family, good looking men—heck, if Josh were a Sweet and needed tomarry to save the ranch, she suddenly understood how Jackie had so easily married a perfect stranger. As surprising as it was, she could see herself agreeing to a marriage of convenience with Josh in a heartbeat. Maybe it was something in the water?
Chapter Four
If Josh thought the morning at the Sweets had been busy and bustling, there was no comparison to dinner. He had no idea if the entire family showed up for him, for Katie, or just because they were hungry.
Either way, Alice’s dining table looked like a recruiting poster for Happily Ever After, Sweet Edition. Plates, platters, and bowls covered every inch of wood. Conversation bounced from one end of the table to the other like a well-served ping-pong ball.
“Pass the potatoes before Kade eats them all,” Jackie ordered.
Flashing a toothy grin, Kade reached for the bowl. “I’m carb-loading,”
“Pretty sure you have to do cardio for that to count.” Garret returned the stupid grin.
“Says the guy who spent all day sitting at a desk.” Kade pointed his fork down the table. “We chased a stray bull for two hours this morning.”
“First of all,” Garret waved a finger at his big brother, “I’ll trade chasing bulls to keeping a class of middle schoolers in line any day of the week.”
“Would this be a good time to mention that we chased that bull on horseback?” Clint reached for the green beans.
The siblings teased over who worked the hardest and who had the life of Riley. All the while laughter rolled around the table. And Josh thought, not for the first time, no wonder Kade was so well adjusted. Lots of guys had their issues and egos, but Kade was a solid soldier. He and his K9 partners through the years had saved a whole lot of lives, but no one who wasn’t there would have any way of knowing by simply hanging out with the guy.
“You doing okay over there?” Alice’s voice broke through, soft but direct. “Getting enough to eat?”
Josh glanced down at his plate. Chicken-fried steak, potatoes, gravy, green beans, a biscuit the size of his palm. “Yes, ma’am. I’m trying to pace myself so I don’t embarrass my entire unit.”
“Too late, he already face-planted in the hallway.” Kade turned to Katie. “Our other guest broke his fall.”
Katie nearly choked on her water.
Anyone else, and Josh would have had a colorful retort; instead, he plastered on a smile. “I’ll be performing nightly.”
The room filled with more chuckles and laughs, but Alice was the one to shake her head. “Please don’t. I’m not sure Brady’s up to it.”
“Sorry, ma’am.” He could have hurt someone the way he collapsed. His gaze drifted to where Katie sat, thankful he hadn’t hurt her, thinking how nice it might have been to find himself in her arms for a completely different reason than he couldn’t keep his balance.
Alice Sweet smiled and reached across the table to pat his hand. “I’m only joking. You can fall on all of us anytime you want.”
Sitting up straight, Brady let out a deep bark before rocking his head. Whether it was an agree or disagree, Josh wasn’t sure,but he was very sure that all of this was why bringing him here to heal might very well be the best idea Kade ever had.
“So.” Leaning over to scratch at Brady’s scruff, Alice turned to Sara Sue. “What’s the status with Raider?”
Josh’s fork slowed. He wasn’t sure why his pulse kicked up at the dog’s name, but there it was.
Sara Sue set down her fork and nodded. “As I expected, you’ve been approved to foster.”
“Good.” Alice’s whole expression softened.
“Raider’s six years old.”
“So he would have had at least two more years of service.” Josh remembered what she’d said earlier in the day about his not being ready to retire except for the injury. He could certainly relate. “Or as much as six.”
“Exactly,” Sara Sue agreed. “He’s been deployed three times. Mostly convoy and route security, some gate work. Solid nose, good nerves. Until the last mission.”
“Well trained,” Kade muttered under his breath.
Josh wasn’t a handler, but he’d been around the dogs and their human partners enough to have learned a good deal. That diversity of assignments meant someone had a treasured K9. “What about his handler?”
