“Big time.” JJ thought of the arsenal that would put most police station armories to shame. The tunnels under the houses. “He went way past the basic prepper stuff, like the solar panels and generators and stocking up on food.”

Kit gave her a smile. “I love the way the Hermitage is set up, actually. It makes my permaculture heart happy.”

“Agreed. The houses even shrug off earthquakes,” JJ said with a laugh. “But, back to the road. The sarge designed it so that, from Swan Avenue, it seems to dead-end. If someone does make it around the U-curve, this section is so rutted, it appears impassible. I must admit his strategy is effective. No tourists try to visit this side of the lake.”

As JJ stopped the car before turning onto Swan, Kit turned slightly to look behind them. “I see. You can’t even tell that the road turns and continues.”

“Right?” JJ pulled out onto the nice, smoothly graveled main road and was relieved to see Kit relax. “Sorry about the ride.”

“It’s certainly not your fault. I’m surprised the guys haven’t graded the road though. Since Mako isn’t here any longer.”

“They seem to have inherited some of his wariness.” JJ shook her head. “God knows they all saw combat, and maybe having a secure fortress for a home lets them sleep better at night.

And if a rutted road was what it took for Caz to feel at peace, she’d hack a few holes in it herself.

Although Kit might not feel the same.

At the soft sound of understanding, JJ glanced over.

“When I woke up in the hospital, I felt like I had the worst of lives, had made the stupidest choices, suffered more than most people. So self-centered.” Kit snorted. “But most of us run into bad stuff—and then have to figure out how to compensate for it. If the men who served our country need a rutted road, then that’s what we’ll make sure they have.”

JJ blinked in surprise, then pleasure. Here was a woman with a wagonload of compassion. No wonder she and Frankie were best friends.

Kit gave her a firm nod. “Next time, I’ll bring a pillow to brace against my midsection when we go over the bumps.”

A couple of hours later, Kit trudged out of her physical therapy appointment, wanting nothing more than to crawl onto a couch somewhere and take a nap.

Thank goodness her PT and counseling appointments were on the same day, and she wouldn’t have to suffer going down that road more often.