She winced and put her hand over the shirt, tears sliding down her pretty face.
He scooted her over and started the engine. “We’re going as far as we can on the rim, and then we’ll have to change vehicles or find a spare.” Finding a spare was the better idea. “As soon as it’s safe, I’ll take a look at your wound. Just stay with me, okay?”
She turned, her face pale, blood dotting her neck. “Yes, Tace. I promise.” Then she passed out again.
He set her head in his lap and punched the gas, wincing as the truck rocked and then slowly moved into action. There had been a series of park ranger trucks about two miles down the road. If he could get there without incident, he could change the tire and go find medical supplies for Sami.
He maneuvered around trees while reaching down to feel the pulse in her wrist. Steady and strong although a little slow. “You’ll be okay, baby.” He said the words to reassure them both. She had to be okay.
* * *
Sami held her shoulder, not sure if numbness was a good sign or not. But she’d stopped bleeding, so the injury couldn’t be that bad. They’d driven for a while, and she had passed out for a bit, but now they were going through a small neighborhood south of Lake Tahoe. A handmade sign proclaimed an older home as a place to rent trucks.
“Perfect.” Tace turned down a long driveway littered with rocks and foliage. Two beaten-up trucks were parked next to the rough siding on the house, and darkness showed from within. A large metal shop, probably bigger than the house, rose up in the back. He drove around the home, and the moon shone down, illuminating a big, empty back courtyard. Oil and gasoline stained the concrete. One lone truck was parked over by the shop and had jeans-clad legs hanging out. “Hold on.” He jumped out and left the engine running.
She nodded.
He used a small penlight he always kept and ran for the truck, cautiously looking inside. He moved a little and then returned. “Old guy has been dead at least a month. No obvious injuries—probably Scorpius.”
Sami winced and looked toward the house. “Might be bodies inside.” She couldn’t handle the smell right now—she just couldn’t.
“Yeah.” Tace reached over and patted her thigh. “I’ll take care of it. We have to fix your shoulder. Stay here.”
He turned and disappeared through the back door of the house.
Silence pounded outside the vehicle. The wind swirled newspapers, mail, and pine needles around the courtyard. When Tace returned and opened her door, she jumped.
“I think the guy lived alone. No bodies inside, and it doesn’t look like he packed to leave.” Tace reached past her to turn off the engine and then lifted her, carrying her into a small mudroom with an ancient washer and dryer. Men’s work clothes hung from metal pegs, and the place smelled like musty dishcloths and cigar smoke. He continued into a living area with a worn chintz sofa and matching easy chair facing a boxy television with a dusty satellite dish controller on top.
“What about Barbara?” Sami asked.
Tace paused. “I made sure the body stayed covered, and it’ll be better in the back of the truck.”
Sami winced when he set her down on the sofa. Dust wafted up. “Remember the days of television?”
“Barely. Let me look.” Tace gently pulled her hand away from her arm. “The bullet sliced you, darlin’.” He pointed the penlight closer. “A couple of stitches should do it.” He stood and noted a lantern on the floor, quickly igniting it. The room glowed a soft yellow. “I bet this guy had a first aid kit. If not in the house, then in the shop. Just hold on.”
Sami nodded and leaned her head back to rest. The place felt empty and kind of sad, but maybe there was food in the kitchen. A bachelor ought to have tons of canned food. She should get her butt off the sofa and start scavenging, because they couldn’t waste any opportunity. Yet the sofa was just so darn comfortable.
She thought of Barbara again, and her eyes welled.
“Eureka.” Tace came back into the room with a kit and a prescription bottle. “Take one.” He handed over a pill.
She shook her head, even though her right side ached.
“Take it, or I’ll help you do it.” Tace leaned in. “We’re safe for a while here, and then we have to get on the road again. So you’re going to take this very nice pain pill and let your body relax. Trust me.”
Relaxing without pain? Man, she wanted to be all tough and defiant, but no pain for a few moments was just too tempting. She took the pill and swallowed the entire thing without gagging.
“Thank you.” He set out the materials. “This is gonna hurt, and I’m sorry.” Without waiting for her to comment, he lifted her shirt over her head. “Hold on.”
She nodded and curled her fingers into the sofa.
Tace slipped the needle in, and pain rippled through her. “You okay?”
“Fine,” she said, her teeth gritted. “It’s not that bad.”
He grinned. “You’re tough, baby. You really are.” He bent his head and continued, his movements sure and careful. Finally, he sat back and plastered antibacterial gel and a bandage over the wound. The minor surgery had hurt but not nearly as much as she’d expected. “All better,” Tace murmured.
