“Probably. Grey said we can trust these people.”
The priest spoke up, “I know Mack Grey. I've stitched him up more than a couple times. I am a doctor and the sisters are trained nurses. I promise we will take very good care of her.”
Could he trust them? This could be another trick, another elaborate scheme set up by Mr. J to kill off a witness to his kidnapping of Caroline Cotter. But this could also be the only facility that could properly take care of Celine and ensure her health. What if Mr. J had drugged her with some type of poison? Or she had internal injuries? He couldn't save her life in an army combat helicopter over the Afghanistan desert.
“What wounds did you stitch up on Colonel Grey?”
The priest answered without hesitation, “A through and through bullet in his right shoulder, a small knife wound you've probably never seen on his left flank, and a gash on his left thigh that nearly took his life.”
Aaron took a beat – he had seen the wound on hiscommander’s left flank – although he'd wished he hadn't at the time.
“It will take you half a day to make it to another hospital,” the priest said.
“Fine, but I'm not leaving her side.” Aaron gently placed her on the gurney, stepping only far enough out of the way for the nuns to strap Celine down.
Both nuns were older, with kind eyes and cautious but efficient movements. The tallest one stepped close to Aaron and laid a hand on his arm. “I’m Sister Mary Catherine. Be at ease, soldier. We’ve got her.”
“I’m not leaving her.”
“I’m not asking you to.” She gestured for him to follow her.
Aaron stayed close on her heels. They entered the building through an open room with a few old chairs lined up against one wall and continued straight down a short hall, turning into the second door on the left. Unlike most mission style hospitals, this facility had concrete floors and electricity.
“I need room to move to examine her properly. You may stand over there.” The sister gestured to the corner.
Something about the woman put him at ease, maybe it was the fact that she seemed completely unafraid, or that the thread of determination in her voice reminded him of his own grandmother, but he nodded and stepped back. “I did a quick check in the field,” he cleared his throat and fought to sound neutral, “she may have been violated. By a man.”
“I will examine her myself and pray that isn’t the case. But if it is, I will pray for God to help her recover.”
Damn tears stung his eyes and Aaron hastily blinked them back. “Thank you.”
“Did she have any bleeding?”
“No, ma'am.”
“Are you her husband?”
The unexpected question caught him off guard. “No.”
“We must undress her to complete the exam. It won’t take long, and I will be as gentle as possible. I must ask that you step out of the room until we have completed.”
Both nuns stopped their exam and waited. Aaron felt every inch of their gazes. He technically had no legal claim to stay in there and definitely no religious rights. But he didn't want to leave her, even for a minute. “I just got her back.”
“My beliefs do not allow me to undress her before a man not her husband.” Mary Catherine gently touched his arm. “Trust me, it will be better for her if we do this part while she is still unconscious.”
The nausea that had been present since he’d first seen her bruises squeezed his stomach.
Mary Catherine went to the door and held it open. “You have my oath that neither myself nor Sister Mary Elizabeth will do anything to bring her further harm, and my only intention is to help this young woman fully heal.”
“Celine. Her name is Celine,” Aaron said, his voice gruff.
“I will come and find you as soon as we have finished Celine's examination. You may wait in the hall, or find Father Gerald, and he can direct you to the showers we have in the facility.”
Aaron did a quick, mental sweep of the room. There wasn’t any window large enough for them to get her out of if this was a set up and he wasn’t going more than one foot out that door.
“I'll wait outside. You’ve got ten minutes.” Throat tight, Aaron left the room, unable to restrain the feeling of dread when the door clicked shut behind him.
Chapter 10
