Page 36 of Talon
“Please.I should be able to get these in the oven before you’re done there.Then I’ll get started on the eggs.Can you make gravy?”
“Sure.Not sure I’ve ever done it on this scale, but gravy’s not a problem.”
“Thanks.”One by one, Kerry placed the biscuits on a cooking sheet.
They worked in companionable silence, Kerry working on the biscuits while Madison chopped and browned the ground beef while sipping at her coffee.She glanced around but still didn’t see a clock.
“What are you looking for?”Kerry asked the second Madison looked around.
“A clock.I was wondering what time it is.”
“Almost five now.The guys will start coming in at about five thirty.We usually serve between five forty-five and six.Thanks to you, we should still make that.”
“What would you have done if I hadn’t come out?”
“I was just thinking about it.I would have finished the biscuits and called Lurch to send me a prospect.”
“Like Talon?You could have just gone and woken him up.He’s in the bedroom.”
Kerry shook her head.“I don’t issue orders to the men.That’s Lurch’s job.If he assigns one to help me, then I give instructions, but I don’t just find one and tell him to do things.”
Madison frowned.“What about when you need help?”
“What do you mean?”
“Say something breaks and you need help to get it fixed.”
“I call Lurch.He sends someone or comes up himself.”She placed the last of the biscuits on the sheet.
“What if Lurch isn’t around?”
“Then I go to Ghost.”Kerry used a blade looking tool to scrape the loose flour and bits of dough that clung to the board together then off into her hand so she could throw it away.“You’ve got to understand.All of these men have served in one branch of the military or another.They are all used to a chain of command.It also makes it easier for Lurch if I go through him, rather than commandeering whoever I see first, because then he knows where each man is, what they’re doing and what to expect to get finished or not.”
Madison frowned.She’d never thought about it that way.Dad had been a survivalist, but he’d never been in the military.She wasn’t familiar with that kind of structure.Growing up, things had been just her and Dad.There had never been any need for any kind of chain of command.
She was still thinking about everything she’d learned when the scuff of a shoe on the hardwood floor caught her attention.Turning, she spotted Talon in the doorway, dressed but hair sticking up in every direction.
“What are you doing up?”he asked, his voice thick with sleep.
“I had to use the restroom, then I heard someone in here and thought it was you.”She continued to stir the beef that was almost cooked.“Kerry said she was cooking alone this morning, so I offered to help.”She lifted one shoulder and let it fall as she looked back at what she was doing.
He came up behind her and wrapped his arms around her waist.“That’s great.I’m glad you’re feeling at home enough to jump in and help.”
“I’m just doing what I’m told, but I’m glad to be able to pitch in.Especially when it’s needed.”
“Speaking of needed.What’s with Robyn this morning?”She felt him twisting around to look at Kerry, his arms still around her.
“She called me this morning as I came in.Said she wasn’t feeling well and didn’t want to share it if she was coming down with something.”
“So you were going to do all this cooking alone?”Madison could tell he wasn’t happy with the idea.“I don’t like that we just have two of you and if something happens, then the remaining is cooking alone.I’ll talk to Lurch and see about getting either me or Steele in to help you two.”He turned back to Madison and nuzzled his nose along the side of her neck.“Let me get a cup of coffee then I’ll take over for you while you get dressed.”
“I’m good here for a bit,” she said, meaning it.
“I’m sure you are, but the rest of the guys will start trickling in for coffee and food in about ten minutes.If you don’t mind them seeing you like this, I certainly do.I don’t want them getting ideas.”He kept his voice quiet.
Madison didn’t know if Kerry could hear him but knowing the other men would be coming in soon did make her a little more eager to go get dressed.
“Eeps.”She couldn’t help the sound of surprise that escaped her.“All right.Get your coffee and finish browning this.I’ll get dressed, then make the gravy.”
