His eyes met hers.“You didn’t go out …?”
“I showed her the cub, that it was all right, and she seemed to understand we were just trying to help.It was the only way I could get some fresh water,” she explained.
“That was a damn fool …”
“Not any more than rescuing that cub.”
He moved slightly, and she saw the sudden strain in his face, the clenching of muscles in his cheek.“Don’t move,” she said.
“Why didn’t you leave?”
“I told you earlier.Mama bear wouldn’t let me.”She knew the other explanation—that she was worried about him—would only worsen things.
“But you got water.”
She shrugged.“I don’t know the way out.”
“That didn’t bother you before.”
“There’s the cub.”
He hesitated.“How is it?”
“Hurting.Like you.”
His breath seemed to catch, and she saw beads of sweat form on his forehead.She dampened the cloth she’d been using and wiped it away.He flinched.“Don’t.”
“You need help.”
“Not from you.”
“You didn’t do it, did you?”She didn’t know why the question exploded from her at that moment.She both needed and feared confirmation of her growing conviction that he’d been wrongly accused and punished.
Instead of answering, he said wearily, “Go away.”
“I can’t.”
“The hell you can’t.I don’t want you here.”
“It’s too late now,” she said, a lump in her throat making her voice hoarse.
He ignored her denial.“Just … just promise you won’t mention Clint and Ben.”
“You don’t believe my promises.”Her hand went up to wipe his forehead again, and his wounded hand came up to push it away.His subsequent hiss of breath was loud and filled with agony.
She wanted to tell him not to move, but he wouldn’t want even that show of concern.
“If you want me out of here,” she said, “then you’re going to have to take me.That means you have to get better.And you won’t get better without rest.”It was the only thing she could think of to make him stop fighting her, fighting his obvious need for her.
His face relaxed slightly.“Clint … should be back.”
“Sleep,” she said.“Get some rest.”
“I don’t want …”
“Until you’re better, there’s nothing you can do about what you don’t want.”
His gaze met hers.Rebellious.Angry.And then surrendering as he closed his eyes.It was, she knew, as much an attempt to close her out as to obey.
