Whoa, there were knives embedded in the porch post. A hawk perched on the roof, and a big moose stood in the shadows of the forest. On the other side, guarding the shadows was an angel.

Hawk saw where her fingers had stopped. “For Gabriel. His mother named him after the archangel.”

All of them, protecting the cabin where four boys and one battered sergeant had become a family.

Chapter Twenty-Nine

Never draw fire; it irritates everyone around you. ~ Murphy’s Laws of Combat Operations

Seated at one of the pushed-together tables, Audrey listened to Tina, Lillian, and the postmistress vie for the raunchiest joke.

Honestly, she’d never blushed so much in her life. Well, aside from the first few times she’d had sex with Gabe.

Effing-A, the jokes got dirtier with every round of drinks.

Hopefully, the Saturday night crowd at the roadhouse wouldn’t mind. It was late enough the room was only a quarter full now. So, there weren’t too many people to be offended.

Behind the bar, Raymond saw her looking around and raised his eyebrows.

She shook her head; they didn’t need anything.

The bartender was such a sweetie. When Frankie told Bull to take the night off so she could get drunk and he wouldn’t hear her complain—or boast—about him, Raymond had volunteered to work.

Poor guy.

After a dramatic pause, Tina yelled out the joke’s punch line, and her audience burst into laughter. The postmistress pounded the table in approval.

Audrey tried not to pout. The party would sure be more fun if she could drink too.

“Hey, Audrey, have you and Gabe set a date, yet?” EmmaJean, the B&B owner, asked.

“We just did, actually.” Audrey smiled. “It’ll be at the beginning of November so I’ll be past morning sickness.”

“Ah.” Frankie smirked. “You want to be able to enjoy your honeymoon.”

Audrey felt her cheeks heat. Because…Gabe. “Um, yes?” She grinned. “A tropical beach has been mentioned.”

Beverly, the midwife, sighed. “I love beaches.”

She was echoed by Glenda, one of the owners of the arts and crafts store.

“Most excellent planning,” Lillian said. “Tourist season will be over, and JJ can easily handle the police work.”

“Speaking of our fine police officer, where is she?” Charlotte, the other store owner, asked.

Audrey flushed. JJ’d told Gabe he couldn’t work tonight…so he and Audrey could have their own private celebration after the party.

She had the best friends.

“JJ doesn’t get off duty until midnight,” Frankie said. “If we’re still here, she’ll join us.”

“That’s only half an hour away.” Kit snorted. “And it doesn’t look as if we’re quitting anytime soon.”

“This is such a blast, having a women’s night out. I hope we do it more often,” Tina, Chevy’s wife said. “Audrey’s book clubs are amazing, but there isn’t any alcohol. And men attend.”