Dog Tags: A romance anthology featuring military and canine heroes

by Kate Kinsley

  They searched all day, until their feet were freezing, and the clouds moved back in to dump more snow on them.

  Molly and Kujo spent another night wrapped in each other’s arms. She comforted him the only way she knew how—with her body, making love into the small hours of the morning. Still, Six didn’t return.

  The days drifted by until the end of the week when they were due to leave the cabin.

  It was their last day at the mountain cabin. Kujo was out of the bed before Molly.

  She opened her eyes to find him standing in front of the potbelly stove. She took the opportunity to study him, while he wasn’t looking. God, she loved his broad shoulders and narrow waist, and the way his eyes crinkled when he grinned or laughed.

  He hadn’t smiled since Six had disappeared.

  “Hey, you,” she whispered.

  He spun to face her. “You’re awake.”

  She laughed. “Yes, I am. Unless I’m talking in my sleep.”

  “I have coffee.” He poured hot water into two mugs, stirred in instant coffee and carried the mugs to the bed, handing one to Molly. Then he sat on the side of the bed.

  Molly wrapped her hands around the warm mug. “I hate to leave.”

  Kujo nodded. “Me, too.” He sipped his coffee, staring at the door. “It might not make a difference, but I’d like to look for Six one more time.”

  Molly nodded. “You know I’m perfectly okay with that. We can spend as much time as you need here, looking for Six.”

  His lips thinned. “We can’t stay here forever. If we don’t find him today, hopefully, he can find his way home.”

  Swallowing the lump in her throat, she took his hand. If he hadn’t come back to the cabin by now, and he hadn’t made it back to their home, he probably wasn’t going to make it back at all. She didn’t say it out loud. Molly wanted Kujo to hold on that little bit of hope for just a little longer.

  She swung her feet over the side of the bed and pushed to stand on the cold, wood floor. For a moment, her vision blurred, she swayed, and her stomach churned.

  Kujo steadied her with an arm around her waist. “What’s wrong?”

  “Nothing,” she said. “I just got up too fast.”

  “Lean on me,” he insisted.

  She slipped her arm around his waist and leaned into his arm, loving the woodsy scent of the man. She wished they didn’t have to leave, but they needed to return to their home. It would be Christmas soon. After the holiday, Molly would go back to her job with the FBI. Kujo would take on another assignment with the Brotherhood Protectors.

  “Better?” Kujo asked.

  Molly straightened. “Better.” In that moment, her stomach upended. She dove for the door, yanked it open and ran out barefoot into the snow, where she promptly emptied the contents of her belly.

  Kujo was right with her, holding her hair back from her face.

  When she could stand straight again, he scooped her up into his arms and carried her back inside to stand next to the stove where her hands and feet could thaw from the chill outside. When he was certain she could stand on her own, he grabbed a towel and dried her feet. Then he pulled a pair of his thick socks over her toes and heels. “I’m not going to go look for Six,” he said. “I think it’s time for us to get down off this mountain.”

  Molly shook her head. “Oh, no. I’m fine. Actually, I feel better now that I’ve purged my stomach.”

  Kujo’s eyes narrowed. “I’m not leaving you here alone while I go out looking for Six.”

  “You’re right. You’re not going out looking for Six by yourself.” She squared her shoulders. “I’m going with you.”

  “No way,” Kujo said. “You almost passed out and then barfed your guts up. You’re in no condition to take care of yourself.” He lifted her hand. “We’re taking you into town to see a doctor.”

  “I’m okay,” she said. “Really, I am. I think I ate something wrong.”

  “You haven’t eaten anything this morning,” he pointed out.

  Molly waved a hand. “Then, last night. I’m not leaving until I’ve looked for Six one last time.”

  “I’m not letting you out of this cabin to do that.” Kujo crossed his arms over his chest.

  “Who do you think you are?” she asked with righteous indignation.

  “Just a boy taking care of a girl.” He crossed to stand in front of the door.

  “You can’t go looking for Six on your own,” she said. “You need a backup. Someone to cover your ass if you should be stalked by a wolf or a bear.”

  His eyebrows drew together. “You’re not going mucking around in the woods and mountains when you’re feeling sick to your stomach and lightheaded. It’s a recipe for disaster.”

  Molly blinked her eyes. “I feel fine now. In fact, I feel better than fine. I feel downright normal.” She grinned. “I was only dizzy because I got up too fast. I’m up now, moving, and everything is as it should be.”

  Kujo’s eyes narrowed as he ran his gaze over her from head to toe.

  “If you don’t take me with you,” Molly crossed her arms over her chest, much like Kujo had, “I’ll follow you, anyway. So, get over it and take me with you.”

  “If you faint, I’ll have to carry you out over rocky ground and through the trees.” He lifted his chin. “What’s to keep us from falling over a cliff?”

  “If we fall over a cliff, at least we’ll go together,” she said with a grin.

  Kujo’s lips quirked on the corners. “You do have a point. If we’ve gotta go, I’d rather we went together. Though I’d rather you didn’t go at all.” He tipped his head toward the food they’d brought. “You should at least eat something before we go.”

  Molly grabbed a handful of saltine crackers from a box on the shelf. “This will be enough to keep me going. I don’t think I can handle anything else.”

  Kujo’s eyes widened. “See? You don’t feel better.”

  Molly sighed. “I do. Really. I just don’t want to risk being sick out there. The crackers will help settle my stomach, and they’ll keep me from bottoming out because I haven’t eaten.”

  “You’re a hardheaded woman,” Kujo growled.

  “And you’re a hardheaded man.”

  Kujo chuckled. “It’s a wonder we’re still married.” He gripped her arms and brought her close. “I love you so much,” he said. “I don’t want to lose you as well.”

  Molly hugged him back. “You’re not going to lose me. I promise.”

  Chapter Six

  They spent the next couple of hours searching for Six and not finding a single trace of his existence. No pawprints, no droppings. Nothing. It was as if he’d disappeared off the face of the earth.

  The sun hit its zenith and started its descent, heading toward the mountain peaks.

  Kujo and Molly returned to the cabin, packed their belongings and loaded them into the back seat of the truck.

  Kujo didn’t say it, but nothing felt right without Six sitting in the back seat with all their stuff, sticking his head between the two front seats to watch the road ahead. When they were ready, Kujo stood outside the cabin door, peering into the shadows of the trees and up the rock face of the mountain where he’d seen the pawprints that first night.

  Molly rested her hand on his arm, without saying a single word.

  Kujo took her hand and led her to the passenger side of the truck where he helped her up into the cab. Then he slipped behind the steering wheel and drove down the mountain toward the little town of Eagle Rock. As soon as they reached the edge of town and the cell phone towers, Kujo’s phone beeped, indicating incoming text messages and voice mail. Several of his teammates had left messages, each of them wishing he’d had luck finding Six and to let them know as soon as he returned to town. The last message was a recording from Hank.

  “Hey, Kujo and Molly. I know you won’t receive this message until you get back in town. But I want you to know Sadie insisted we go ahead with the annual Christmas party at the ranch, e
ven with the new baby. All the ladies and guys pitched in to decorate and cook the food to make it happen. We’re having the party on the originally scheduled date. That’s the Saturday night that you two get back to town. So, if you feel up to it, please join us. Everyone will be there, and we’d love to see you.”

  Kujo glanced over at Molly. “What do you think?”

  Her gaze shot out the window at the street in front of them. “I don’t know. I don’t feel much like celebrating. We didn’t find Six.”

  “True, but if we go home and stay at the house all evening, we’ll just get more depressed because he’s not there.”

  “I guess that means we’re going to a party,” Molly said, her voice wry.

  Kujo didn’t want to go to a party, but he couldn’t face staying home when Six’s dog bed and food dish would be empty. The space in Kujo’s heart that Six had filled would be empty and hurting. Molly loved Six as much as he did. She’d be sad.

  Christmas was the season to spend time with friends and family.

  Yeah, they’d go to the party.

  When they arrived at their house, it was just as he’d thought. The entire place felt wrong and depressing without Six there to greet them.

  They unloaded the truck and put away the groceries, threw their clothing into the laundry room and hurried into the shower together.

  Kujo washed Molly’s red hair, massaging her scalp the way that made her purr like a contented cat. He let the suds wash over her shoulders and down her body, his hands following their paths. Pulling her back against him, the hard ridge of his cock pressed against her buttocks.

  Molly leaned her head back against him, resting it against his chest. “We’re going to be okay, aren’t we?”

  He nuzzled her ear. “Yes.”

  “I miss Six.”

  “Me, too,” he said, nibbling her earlobe. “But I have you.”

  “And I have you,” she said.

  “As long as we have each other, we’ll be all right.”

  Molly turned in his arms and kissed him.

  Kujo couldn’t imagine what he’d have done without Molly. Six meant a lot to him. So did Molly. Though he’d lost Six, he still had Molly. He couldn’t screw that up.

  He made love to her, pressing her back against the cool tile wall of the shower, her legs wrapped around his waist, his staff buried deep inside her slick channel.

  She laced her hands behind his neck and rode him hard.

  God, he loved this woman with all of his heart.

  When the water cooled, Kujo turned and switched it off. He grabbed a towel and dried every inch of her body, kissing her smooth skin along the way, enjoying the feel of her body beneath his lips.

  She dried him with a fresh towel and kissed him all over. If they didn’t have a party to go to, he’d have taken her to bed and made love to her all over again. Instead, they walked naked into their room and dressed.

  Kujo slipped into a pair of jeans, a crisp white button-down shirt, his cowboy boots and a black leather jacket.

  After Kujo finished dressing, Molly made him leave the bedroom, claiming she had an early Christmas present for him that she needed to wrap.

  “I haven’t gotten yours yet,” he protested.

  “Don’t worry. This was something I’ve been working on for a while.”

  He paced the living room floor, mad at himself that he hadn’t gone to the jewelry store yet to pick up the ring he’d had sized to fit her right hand. They had a few days before Christmas. He’d be able to get to the jeweler before Christmas Day and have them wrap it for her. It was an emerald ring that would go nicely with the color of her eyes.

  When Molly emerged from the bedroom, she was stunning in a long, red dress that fit her body like a second skin. The fabric clung to every inch of her like it belonged. She’d pulled her red hair up into a messy bun on top of her head, exposing the long line of her neck and the curve of her shoulders.

  “Wow,” he said. “That’s new.”

  She gave him a sexy smile. “I bought this as a gift for you for Christmas. I’d planned on wearing it to the Christmas party as a surprise.”

  “Well, I am surprised, and that dress is gorgeous.” He pulled her into his arms. “Should I change into something more formal?”

  She shook her head. “No, you look wonderful just the way you are.” Molly wrapped her arms around his neck. “Still want to go to the party?”

  “I have to admit I’m having second thoughts, seeing you in that dress. I’m trying to think of all the different ways I can take it off of you.” He drew in a deep breath and let it out slowly. “But we can’t waste that dress on just me.”

  “Why not?” she asked.

  “I have to show you off and make all of my teammates envious.” He smiled down into her eyes. “Besides, the longer I have to wait to strip you out of that dress, the hotter I’ll be. And I can study its design so I can make quick work of taking it off you.”

  She turned, showing him her back. “It’s easy,” she said. “It’s just one short zipper in the back.”

  His groin tightened. The zipper was very short, extending from the small of her back to halfway over the curve of her ass, leaving most of her back naked.

  “You’re going to make it really hard on me, keeping my hands to myself,” he said.

  She chuckled. “Is the key word hard on?”

  Kujo clutched her to him, pressing her hips to his. “Damn right.” He kissed her then set her at arm’s length. “Let’s get there so we can get back. I’m ready to test that zipper.”

  Molly handed him a white leather coat. He held it open while she slipped her arms into it. Then she cinched the belt around her waist. “I’m ready.”

  Kujo opened the door and stepped out onto the porch. In the back of his mind, he prayed he’d find Six lying on the decking. He’d look up at them, tail thumping the planks. However, Six wasn’t there. A hard knot formed in his gut.

  Kujo consoled himself with the fact he would have the prettiest girl at the party that night. He promised himself, for Molly’s sake, that he wouldn’t mope. He had Molly, the woman he loved. His lifeline. As long as he had her, they’d get through the loss of Six together.

  They accomplished the drive out to White Oak Ranch in silence. He focused on the road ahead and Molly in her go-to-hell red dress. He wasn’t sure what Molly was thinking of, but she wasn’t frowning, and she didn’t have a sad expression on her face. Seeing their friends, spending time talking and visiting would keep her thoughts away from the loss of Six.

  At least a dozen trucks were parked in front of the rock and cedar ranch house. The porch and interior were lit up like a convention center. Someone had strung colored lights on the porch rails and posts, giving the house a festive look and feel. It was beautiful, just like it had been for the past couple of years.

  “How does Sadie manage all this?” Molly asked.

  Swede and his wife, Allie, met them at the front door.

  “Sadie and Hank would’ve been here to invite you in,” Allie said. “But Sadie’s got the baby with her and didn’t want to stand in the cold with him.”

  Molly shook her head. “We wouldn’t have expected her to have him out in the cool night air. He’s only a week old.”

  “Did they ever come up with a name for him?” Kujo asked.

  Allie nodded. “Yes. But they haven’t told anyone. They said they weren’t sharing that name until we were all here.” She clapped her hands. “I can’t wait. And he’s such a cutie. He’s got his father’s dark hair. And I’ll bet my favorite horse he’ll have Hank’s signature green eyes.”

  Allie touched Kujo’s arm. “We all know you didn’t find Six. Everyone feels bad, but they promised not to talk about it and bring everyone down.”

  “Thank you,” Kujo said. “We’re still trying to come to grips with his loss.”

  Allie nodded. “We figure you’re sad enough as it is. You don’t need to be reminded.”

  “Thank you,�
� Molly said. “Let’s just enjoy the evening.”

  Kujo could see the moisture pooling in Molly’s eyes. He slipped the jacket off her shoulders and handed it to Allie. Swede held out his hand for Kujo’s. “We’ll hang them in the hall closet. You can help yourself when you leave.”

  With a hand at the small of Molly’s naked back, Kujo escorted her into the large living area filled with all the Brotherhood Protectors, their spouses and children. The couple made their rounds, shaking hands and greeting everyone until they came to a halt in front of a rocking chair where Sadie held a baby in her arms. Her three-year-old little girl, Emma, played at her feet with Boomer and Daphne’s little girl, Maya, and Chuck and Kate’s daughter, Lyla.

  Molly bent to hug Sadie. “How did you pull this off after just having a baby?”

  Sadie laughed and waved her hand around the room. “Everyone pitched in. I sat around and watched the masters at work.”

  “Don’t let her fool you,” Daphne said. “She did her share of directing and got it all taken care of quickly and efficiently.”

  “That’s right,” Chuck said. “Hank’s bride has this down to a science.”

  Sadie held out a hand to Kujo. “I’m sorry about Six. I really hope that he’ll find his way home.”

  Kujo took her hand and held it in his for a moment. “I hope he comes home soon.” He held out his hand to Hank. “I hear you have an announcement to make.” He grinned at his boss.

  Hank cleared his throat loudly. “I do.” He shook Kujo’s hand and let go, turning to the others in the room. “I’m glad you all could make it to the annual Brotherhood Protectors Christmas party. Thank you for making this organization the success it is. We’ve grown considerably since Swede and I joined forces to make it happen. You have my undying gratitude for making this dream come alive. And you’ll find an extra bonus in your paycheck.”

  “You don’t have to thank us, Hank,” Chuck said. “We should thank you for taking a bunch of military dudes and giving us a purpose in life.”