Love Inspired Suspense July 2015 #1 by Valerie Hansen, Sandra Orchard, Carol J. Post

proud of him, though.”
    â€œI am. We just like to needle each other. You’ll see.” He gave a soft chuckle. “Our sister, Becky, is the worst.”
    â€œYou’re sure they won’t mind my stopping here for a few days, at least until I have new instructions from the marshals? I mean, I wouldn’t want to make trouble.”
    â€œBelieve me, there’s no way you’ll make more trouble than the three of us can stir up. We love to tease each other and pull practical jokes.”
    A tall, stalwart man in a T-shirt and jeans appeared at the side of the house, waved and started their way. Daniella could see the family resemblance even though the second man needed a shave. In spite of this one’s rugged image, she judged Isaac to be slightly better-looking.
    Jake trotted out to the SUV with a hammer in his hand, peered in at Isaac’s passenger and broke into a face-splitting grin. “Whoa! Good one, bro. You head for the office to work even though you’re stove-in and bring home a pretty lady. That’s what I call a good job.”
    Stove-in was right.
Moving stiff-legged on his injured side, Isaac climbed from behind the wheel. Daniella had opened her own door at the same time so he introduced her to his brother with a wave. “This is Jake, as you’ve probably guessed. Jake, Daniella Dunne. Becky’s a lot prettier than he is. And more polite.”
    Jake wiped his hand on his jeans before shaking hands with her, then looked over at his brother. “Girlfriend or damsel in distress?”
    â€œDamsel, definitely,” Daniella answered for him. “The distress part is true, too.”
    â€œSorry to hear that.” Jake’s grin faded. “How can we help you?”
    â€œI’ll take care of Ms. Dunne,” Isaac interjected. “I’m going to put her things in Becky’s room for now. Later, the women can work out whatever arrangements suit them.”
    â€œOoooh-kay. You play cop while I finish nailing up the new cabinets in the washroom.” Jake started away, then stopped and turned. “Don’t run off and forget Abby. I’d hate to see you get so involved with a pretty face that your dog suffers.”
    â€œI’d never do that,” Isaac insisted. Clenching his jaw, he let the little beagle out of the traveling crate he sometimes used and removed her working harness before releasing her and picking up his houseguest’s tote.
    Abby’s sharp yaps brought larger dogs running. Daniella ducked behind Isaac, her hands resting lightly on his shoulders.
    â€œDon’t let the dogs scare you,” he told her. “They’re as gentle as Abs. They just look ferocious.”
    When she said, “They sound like it, too,” her host laughed.
    â€œStand still and let them sniff you. After that you’ll be considered one of the family.”
    A wiggling brown nose the size of the diaphragm on the business end of a stethoscope touched the knee of her jeans. “I think he smells Puddy.”
    â€œThat’s no problem. We have plenty of cats in the barn and the dogs treat them all with respect, even the kittens.”
    â€œYou’re sure? This one has teeth as big as a wolf.”
    â€œThe better to protect you with, my dear, to paraphrase the old fairy tale. Make friends with these dogs and any one of them will defend you to the death.”
    â€œInteresting choice of words.” She rolled her eyes. “What breeds are they?”
    â€œThose two brown-and-black ones are large mutt crossed with very large mutt,” Isaac said with a smile. “The third is probably shepherd and yellow Lab. We stick to purebreds for K-9 work because their talents are more predictable, but in private life I like to rescue needy animals.”
    â€œWell, I feel like a juicy bone about to be served for supper,” she joked, beginning to relax as her furry new acquaintances lost interest in her and