Rocky Mountain Rescue, Elle James [rooftoppers .TXT] 📗

closed my eyes for most of it. What I do know is that I never want to do that again.”

RJ frowned. “And I never want to see my dearest friend clinging to a ledge with barely enough room for a foot, much less two to keep her there without falling.”

“I, for one, am thankful for that narrow ledge. It was the only thing between me, and the same fate Miles Curry suffered.”

RJ shivered. “I can’t tell you how hard I prayed that the wind didn’t decide to make a showing at that moment.”

JoJo lifted her chin. “So, what’s going to happen to Stover?”

“For one, he won’t be running for Congress,” RJ said.

Jake nodded. “For another, Hank Patterson’s computer guru, Swede, got hold of the hospital in Ramstein. They did process a rape kit on you. The DNA was a match for Lawrence Stover.”

RJ’s lip curled. “That bastard’s going to jail.”

JoJo nodded. “He’s still claiming he’s innocent.”

“The DNA doesn’t lie. We should get final results within the next couple of days. Swede also determined that Stover and Curry were at the same forward operating base during the time of your attack.”

JoJo’s breath caught and held in her throat. The two men had been trusted members of the US military. How could they have done what they had?

“Did you ever get your memory back from the attack?” RJ asked.

JoJo shook her head. “No, but I got enough back that I remembered the man beating me had light-colored eyes and medium-colored hair.”

“It shouldn’t matter,” Jake said. “The DNA match from the rape kit sample will provide enough evidence to send Stover to prison at Leavenworth for a long time. And Curry isn’t a problem anymore.”

Max slipped an arm around JoJo’s shoulders. “You’re safe, now.”

Emily sat on the porch stairs. “If you want, we can continue our hypnosis sessions to get those memories back.”

JoJo shook her head. “No, I’d rather not. It’s bad enough I have the nightmares without the hypnosis and will for a long time. Why bring it up even more? I know in my mind that Stover and Curry were responsible for what happened to me. Curry admitted it to me before he pushed me off the cliff.”

Max’s jaw hardened. “And Stover refuses to admit it. But we’ll get him in court.”

A car drove up in the lodge driveway.

JoJo glanced toward RJ. “Are we expecting anyone?”

RJ grinned. “Actually, we are. I got a call from Hank last night. He said he was sending Kujo down from Montana on a special mission.” RJ lifted her chin. “You remember Kujo. He’s one of Hank’s Brotherhood Protectors. He’s the one who came down to help set up the Colorado office. He has a special surprise for JoJo.”

Jake smiled. “Swede tracked you back all the way to your unit, and then forward to the flight medics who airlifted you out to the medical staging unit. The flight medics have been taking care of someone special for you.”

JoJo frowned. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“Swede spoke to the medics,” Jake continued. “They said that some Afghan women found you and that a dog had been hanging around, protecting you.”

JoJo nodded. “The dog dug me out and pulled on my arm until I rolled over and could breathe fresh air. I remember that. That dog saved my life. If he hadn’t come along, those women wouldn’t have found me.”

Jake nodded. “One of the medics on board that helicopter thought that dog belonged to you. She loaded him into the helicopter with you. They’ve kept him safe and healthy until you could come back for him. When she found out where you’d landed in Colorado, she worked with a rescue organization to have the dog shipped to the States.”

JoJo leaned forward. “Seriously?”

Kujo stepped out of the SUV and opened the back door. A German Shepherd jumped out.

JoJo frowned. “I’m almost sure that isn’t the dog that dug me out of the dirt. It was more of a mutt. A mixed breed.”

Jake grinned. “No, that’s Kujo’s dog, Six. Kujo rounded to the back of the SUV, opened the hatch and snapped a lead on an animal’s collar.

A moment later, a dog about half the size of Six leaped to the ground. He had short, kind of yellow fur with one perky ear and one floppy one.

JoJo pushed to her feet, her eyes filling with tears. It was the dog that had saved her life. “It’s him. I know it’s him.”

“The medics took good care of him while he was in Afghanistan. He’s had all of his shots, he’s been dewormed and treated for parasites and fleas,” Jake said. “All he needs is a good home with someone who will treat him well.”

JoJo stepped down from the porch, her heart swelling in her chest. “But he’s not my dog,” she whispered.

Kujo walked with the dog to the deck and smiled up at everyone. “Were you waiting for me to start the party?”

Gunny laughed. “Sorry, Kujo, we started the party without you.”

“No worries,” Kujo said. “I brought a friend for JoJo. Seems they’ve met before.” He grinned. “The medics who airlifted you to the medical staging unit have taken care of your dog since you left over six months ago.”

“Actually, that dog doesn’t belong to me,” JoJo said, squatting in front of him to scratch behind his ears.

“He can be,” Jake said.

She looked up at Jake, her eyes shining. “What’s his name?”

“The medics named him Roscoe. But if you decide to take him, you can name him anything you want.”

JoJo smiled. “Roscoe’s a good name. I like it. But what am I going to do with a dog when I move back to my apartment?”

“You’re not going back to that apartment, or any other apartment,” RJ insisted.

“You’re staying here at the Lost Valley Ranch. At least, for now,” Max said.

RJ grinned. “Is there something you need to tell us?”

Max shook his head. “Not yet, but soon.”

“Roscoe is welcome to stay here at Lost Valley Ranch,” RJ said. “From what Swede