Hop by Maryann Jordan EPUB & PDF – eBook Details Online
- Author Name: Maryann Jordan
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- ISBN #
- Edition Language: English
- Date of Publication: January 17, 2023
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- PDF File Size: 2 MB
The dawn was slipping over the horizon, but the dim illumination didn’t
faze the men and women running up the California mountainside. The
Keepers of Lighthouse Security Investigations West Coast enjoyed their
downtime training, throwing in good-natured competition along the way.
Frank “Hop” Hopkins darted past two others, swiping the underbrush
from his path, his thick legs surprisingly agile as he pounded the dirt
underneath his booted feet. He was big… he’d always been big. His mom
often said she thought she’d never get him pushed out, and once he took his
first breath, he’d squalled loud enough to bring the nurses running. Of
course, as her oft-told story continued, she added that he’d been talking
ever since.
That thought hit him as he continued up the path, reminding him that he
needed to call home later that day. Loose gravel gave way underneath his
feet, and he almost lost his balance. Bennett shot past him. “Fucker,” Hop
grumbled, not sure if he referred to himself or his coworker and friend,
speeding up as they rounded a curve.
He ran through the forest filled with oaks, redwoods, sycamores,
maples, cottonwoods, and other native trees he was still learning about.
Much of his youth in Tennessee found him with his grandfather and cousins
tramping through the woods, listening as his grandfather taught them all
about the surrounding nature. Now, wherever he was, he learned as much as
he could, thinking that one day he might be lucky enough to pass on that
knowledge to a child of his own. Yeah, well, I’ve gotta find a woman first.
His thoughts were interrupted by the sound of more approaching boot
steps hitting the ground. Increasing his speed, he raced past Bennett. Poole
and Dolby were on a different trail, but he had no idea how close to the top
they were. Same with Abbie and Natalie. With seventy-five acres of
undeveloped land consisting of mostly national forests adjoining their main
Lighthouse compound, they had plenty of room to train without landing on
top of each other. But now, he wished he knew where they were,
considering the loser had to buy beer for everyone at the bar tonight.
Another sound caught his ears, and he watched as three adult mule deer
and two fawns darted past, probably in hopes of not only seeing who was
running through the forest but attempting to stay out of danger’s way as
well. His attention on the nature around would cost him the win, but finally,
skirting around a fallen log, he raced to the flag he spied tied to a tree near
an overlook, arriving just as three other Keepers were reaching for it as
well.
“Shit, Hop! How the fuck can someone so big run so fast?” Leo
groaned, bent over at the waist as he sucked in air, one hand flat against a
tree trunk and the other wrapping around the approaching Natalie, who was
panting just as much.
Looking over, he grinned at his muscular but leaner friend. “Track and
field as well as football and wrestling.”
“Yeah, well, shot put doesn’t count,” Jeb complained.
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