Free Love Under Two Navy Seals by Cara Covington Page B

appearing smugly proud and totally smitten, were Sarah’s two husbands, Caleb and Joshua. At the other end of the grouping, Amanda Jessop-Kendall, also reclining in a rocker, obviously pregnant and smiling, was flanked by her husbands, Adam and Warren. The men had one hand each on her shoulders, in a touch that Julia had always thought instinctive and unconscious. The love between the three of them was palpable.
    This particular occasion had been a Fourth of July picnic, Julia knew, and was one of the times the families had entertained a couple of very good friends who, even in their day, had been rather well known.
    “Holy hell, is that Bat Masterson and Wyatt Earp?” Dev looked over at her.
    “It is. That Adam Kendall was a Texas Ranger, and both Caleb and Joshua Benedict had served as US Marshals more than a time or two. Somewhere along the way, they met and became good friends with the famous lawmen. I also know from reading Sarah’s journal that Bat Masterson played an integral role in protecting her from a would-be assassin, in Denison, Texas.”
    “Huh. So these Benedicts are what—your great-great-grandparents?” Drew’s brow was furrowed, and Julia grinned. She knew he was trying to figure out the family tree. It usually took newcomers quite a while to get all the connections.
    “Actually, they’re all six of them my great-great-grandparents, because Sarah’s daughter Chelsea married Amanda’s sons, Jeremy Kendall and Dalton Jessop.”
    “So that’s how it is that everyone in town is your cousin!” Drew looked as if he’d solved a great mystery.
    “My only first cousins in town are Benedicts. The rest are fourth or fifth cousins, several times removed. Then too, later that same generation and the next, there were more marriages between both Jessop-Kendalls and Benedicts and the children of their friends, the Parker-Joneses. And of course, the children of the man and woman who comprised Sarah’s household staff—Rita and José Mendez—settled in Lusty, and thus we have Mendez, and Sanchez cousins as well.”
    “Don’t forget that nice Peter Alvarez who came home to us just a couple of months back. He’s marrying Jordan Kendall and Tracy Jessop, so that’s a triple connection right there!”
    Sarah turned at the sound of the soft, feminine voice. “Hi, Aunt Anna.” She went over and gave her aunt a hug and kissed her cheek.
    “Hello, dear. I see you’ve brought your men around for a visit.”
    Sarah introduced the men and then just stood back and watched the tough Navy SEALs with her even tougher aunt.
    “You were both raised in Pennsylvania,” Anna Jessop said to the men. “But you”—she smiled at Dev—“ you were born in the South. Georgia, I believe.”
    “Ah…yes, ma’am. My parents moved us from Atlanta to Hazleton when I was seven.” Dev shot a glance at Julia. She just smiled at him.
    “Kate told me you both served on the same SEAL team for a number of years, and now you’ve moved on to the next phase of your careers. You’re teaching what you’ve learned to young recruits over at Goodfellow.”
    “We are,” Drew said.
    “Well thank you both for your service to our country. We all owe everything to those of you who have the courage to stand in harm’s way.”
    “Oh, well—” Dev looked sweetly flustered. Drew actually blushed.
    “Of course, you won’t be in the Navy for the rest of your lives,” Anna Jessop said. “Have you given any thought as to what you’ll do after? Men, in my experience, need to keep busy. Just look at Julia’s uncles, Caleb and Jonathan. They thought they’d retire and help Bernice out with the running of the household. ” Anna made a kind of a snorting sound that left no one in any doubt as to what her opinion was of that idea.
    “Um, I take it retirement didn’t work out well for them, ma’am?” Drew ventured.
    “No, indeed it certainly did not. So they’ve opened their own private investigation agency. They’ve got their