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“You know, we both managed,” Rose said, nodding at Becca. “There is something to be said for a former Navy SEAL.”

“If you’re getting at what I think you’re getting at, which is horrifying, I’ll stop you right there. I’m a military therapist. I will not be getting involved with another military man.” Monica didn’t add that she doubted any military man in this situation would be getting involved with a therapist, but that was there as well. “It would undermine my credibility as a therapist here, which is paramount both to acting as therapist for both of your significant others as well as the foundation.”

“I might agree with you if Gabe had ever been your patient.”

Monica gave Becca a pointed look.

“All I’m trying to do is point out the fact you two have sparks.Serioussparks.”

Monica laughed. “I haven’t hadsparkssince I conceived my child.”

“And considering how long that’s been, I’d say you’re overdue for some. I did mention to Jack that Gabe needed a woman, and it might take a Christmas miracle to find him one. Well, Christmas tree, sparks…”

“Result in fire. And death and destruction.”

“Wow. Who knew you were so dramatic?”

“I’m about to be dramatic about horse shit and wedding timelines,” Monica returned, pulling the binder Becca had put on the table toward her. “I mean, what if the horse pulling your sleigh to the aisle poops all over the place?”

Becca laughed. “I grew up on a ranch. My life is horse poop. Why wouldn’t my wedding be?”

And with that, Monica successfully changed the subject from sparks and foolishness to the very real upcoming event of two really good people joining their lives together in love and hope.

Which was not in the cards for her at all, but especially with any confusing former Navy SEALs.

Chapter 5

“Damn, it’s cold,” Gabe muttered, pulling his stocking cap down lower as they piled out of the utility task vehicle. They mainly relied on horses to get around in the warmer months, but that was much harder on Jack’s leg, so they’d purchased the UTV. It had turned out to be quite handy this winter.

Gabe glared at the sun slowly moving higher in the sky as the morning wore on. The ball of supposed light was doing nothing to warm the air. “Whose brilliant idea was this?”

“When did you get to be such a wuss about the temperature?” Jack asked, rearranging the straw in the enclosure.

“There are pros and cons to leaving the SEALs. One of the pros is not freezing for the hell of it.”

“Well, until someone invents water that doesn’t freeze, get used to it. And stop complaining,” Alex returned.

Gabe used the pick to break the ice that had accumulated on the top of the water tank. A few cows glanced his direction. It was strange thing, this ranch work. About six months in and he had to admit, he didn’t love it. He could tell Alex loved it bone deep. Maybe that came from growing up here. The riding horses, the mountains, all that crap. To Alex, this was a kind of calling.

Gabe didn’tmindit for as much as he liked to complain, but it wasn’t his calling. He’d only ever felt that in the navy. Which was ironic, all in all, since he’d never grown up with any military aspirations.

But then again, maybe that was life. Maybe there were no callings. Maybe people just made the best of what they had. Quite frankly, that was more appealing than the idea he had to be satisfied and fulfilled all the time.

“What about you, runt?” Gabe asked, handing Colin the ice pick. “What are you going to do when you grow up?”

Colin shrugged, poking what was left of the ice with the pick. “I don’t know. Firefighter would be pretty cool.”

“Firefighter. You told your mom that?”

“I’m not stupid. She’d have a cow if I told her that. She wants me to go to college and be bored forever.”

The three men glanced at each other. None of them could extoll the virtues of college exactly. Gabe doubted Monica would appreciate Gabe mentioning that.

“Hey, what’s that?” Colin asked, pointing to a lump in the distance.

They all shaded their eyes against the sun. There off across the pasture was a lone cow, but it wasn’t standing exactly. Gabe couldn’t quite make out what looked wrong about it.

Alex’s expression went grim. “Why don’t Gabe and Colin stay here while Jack and I check it out?”