I shudder as if a ghost whispered in my ear.
“Is it bad?” Ashley watches with wide eyes.
Well, it’s not great. He was first wounded over a day ago, and since then things have gotten a whole lot worse. But I don’t tell her how we found him. She doesn’t need that image. I force a smile and tell the kind lie. “He’ll be fine. A few stitches in the right places and he’ll be cracking jokes in no time.”
If he were awake, he’d be saying something inappropriate. Like, ‘since we’re all here and I’m already naked…’.
I almost smile, instead I steady myself to do a proper assessment now that we aren’t in danger of being shot. I did a visual and checked his pulse when we stopped for food. That he didn’t tell me off for fussing was not a good sign.
“Do you need help?” She asks.
“No. I’m not going to be able to do much out here, and we might cause more damage on the last leg home.” I am not looking forward to that hike.
I check his pulse. It’s thready and I don’t like it. I glance up at Hargrave. “I want to put a line in…ask Priest if he thinks we can stretcher him the rest of the way.”
Hargrave is up and out.
I ignore the rope marks on his wrists. The hole in his side is a little puffy and the edges are ragged. I think they were using it to hurt him. The one in his calf is bruised and torn around the edges. I draw in a breath, trying to think of what I can do. He’s not getting any of the fun meds because I don’t want to kill him. The best I can do is disinfect and cover everything, as we’re hours away from base.
Hargrave crouches at the entrance. “He said do it. We’ll put the stretcher together while you work. Ashley, are you right to help?”
I glance at her. “If you’re going to vomit, please do it out there. If you’re going to pass out, stay where you are.”
“I’m fine.”
“Hmm.” She’s in denial and I have no doubt there will be a breakdown in her near future. I’ve seen it happen. Get safe and fall apart. We all learn how to pull it back together though, because we need to get out there and do it again tomorrow. “Fine.” I nod at Hargrave. “I’ll be ready in five.”
He’s already pulling the stretcher out of my bag to assemble. He tosses the thermal blanket over so I can wrap Reed when I’m done.
I pull on gloves. “I’ll need you to roll him when I say. Okay?”
She nods.
I deal with what I can see while he’s on his back. Drying his skin to make a good seal with a bandage. I move as fast as I can, wrapping the wound in his arm before getting Ashley to put him on his side. I repeat the process. Then tuck the blanket beneath him.
“Ready?” Hargrave holds the stretcher.
I nod, and we get it into position, so when we put him on his back, he’s ready to travel. He doesn’t stir. I check his pulse again, and then his eyes. His pupils still respond, and he gives a slight twitch.
“Is he going to drown on the way back?” Ashley asks.
I force air out between my teeth, and concentrate on finding a vein that I can stick the line into. I end up using one in his good leg. I check the speed of the drip, then glance at her, and then the tarp over our heads. “We’ll drape this over him.”
“We’re ready to move out.” And even if we aren’t, Reed needs us to be. I lean in and kiss his cheek. “Just a little longer. Then you’ll be tucked up in a nice hospital bed full of the good drugs.”
I don’t want to lose him. He’s the best thing that's ever happened to me.
CHAPTER23
Ashley
The guys have rotatedwho is carrying the stretcher and who is behind, keeping guard. All I have to do is keep walking, following the guy in front of me. Even that is a struggle. I don’t know how they do it. How are Colton and Hargrave still going? They’ve covered so much more ground than Priest and me.
Priest is at the front when he calls a stop. I think it’s to switch carriers. Colton walks around from the back, leaving me at the back with Hargrave.
Did Priest see something?
Colton creeps forward, moving past Priest. He’s gone for what seems like hours. I want to sit, but if I do, I may not get up.
