Damien’s suggestion to move to Perth was tempting.She wanted to learn everything about him, though she wasn’t certain she would be suited to life as a military wife.It was hard when her mother missed special occasions and now with her brother in the army, they rarely had a Christmas together.
The humidity increased, and she shifted away from him and reached for the canteen.In the distance the bank of rain clouds was getting closer.“Rain will hit soon.”
“Yeah.It will make it more difficult for extraction.Tropical storms are full of lightning.”
She shuddered.“I don’t want to be responsible for a helicopter being struck down.”
“The rain should ease by twenty-two hundred.”
He got out an MRE.“You hungry?”
She nodded.The rice porridge seemed an age ago.
“After we’ve eaten, you can sleep,” Damien said.
“Only if you do.”
He smiled.“You first.”
She didn’t know how he did it.She’d been in a lovely hazy cocoon since they’d had sex and wouldn’t have been able to react fast if Agus had found them and stormed the camp.
Damien took a few mouthfuls of the MRE and then handed it to her.He hadn’t got another one out.
“Are we sharing?”
He nodded.
Right.In case something unexpected happened and they were here for longer.Always planning for contingencies.
Trixie’s ears perked up, and she shifted closer.Dobby passed her some jerky and then poured water into a cup so she could drink.
Mila smiled.“Thank you for rescuing her.”
He snorted.“I didn’t have much choice with the two of you begging me.”
He was such a softie.
“Can’t we extract her too?”
“I asked Radar to bring a sling.”Damien shrugged.“But it depends on how well she’s been trained.She might freak out when the helicopter comes and lash out.”
Mila took a bite of the meal.She hadn’t thought past saving Trixie from drowning, but he was right.A helicopter might be terrifying for the dog.
She stroked Trixie’s fur.
“You need to be prepared that we might have to leave her behind.”
Where she’d starve to death.
Dread pitted in her stomach and she handed Damien the remainder of the MRE packet.Perhaps she’d done the wrong thing.Trixie would have turned around and swum back to shore eventually.
“I’m sorry, Mila.”
She nodded.“I understand.You didn’t expect to be extracting me, let alone a dog.”She smiled to show she didn’t blame him and the smile turned into a yawn.
He chuckled.“Bedtime.”
“Yes, sir.”She was too tired to argue with him.Perhaps when she woke, she could work with Trixie and get her used to the idea of a harness.She lay down on the bed of leaves and made herself as comfortable as possible.
