‘Makes a welcome change,’ she said when I was back in the tent with her and wrapping a bandage around her ankle to strap it. ‘Having someone nursing me for once.’
I smiled at her, feeling my heart still pounding in my chest, thanks to the adrenaline that had coursed through me when I found her. ‘Full disclaimer,’ I said, cracking a single-use ice pack to activate the ammonia nitrate and water inside. ‘I’m not a qualified doctor, so take any medical advice I give you with a grain of salt.’
‘Whatisyour medical advice, doctor who isn’t a doctor?’
‘Take it easy for a day or two and you should be fine.’
‘That’s a relief. I was worried you were going to have to perform a rudimentary operation with a… a… pocketknife and a fish hook.’
I smiled, feeling the tension ebb from my shoulders. ‘That would have been a last resort, but if it meant the difference between life and death, I would have done it.’
She stared at me, her eyes apologetic and full of emotion. ‘I’m sorry I scared you.’
I ran a hand through my hair. ‘Going to be a few new gray hairs tomorrow, I’ll tell you that for free.’
‘Gray hairs?’ she scoffed. ‘Surely not. You’re far too young.’
‘It’s kind of you to say, but I can assure you, the tides have well and truly started to turn.’
‘Well, I hadn’t noticed. And hey, even if you do get the odd gray hair it’ll just make you look more distinguished.’
‘That’s something I’ve never been called before.’
‘Distinguished?’
‘Yeah.’
She yawned. ‘That’s a crime.’
‘Tired?’
She shook her head. ‘Not really. I think it’s just the adrenaline wearing off.’
‘I don’t think mine will for at least a week.’
‘I really scared you, huh?’
‘Let’s just say I’ve been at sea during some pretty gnarly storms but I haveneverbeen as scared as I was tonight.’
‘Come here.’ She patted the space beside her.
I maneuvered myself in the small space and lay down beside her, so that we were facing each other, sharing a cushion as a pillow. She reached out and smoothed my hair away from my forehead.
‘I’m sorry.’
I caught her hand and held it to my lips, kissing her fingers softly. ‘Stop saying that. You don’t need to be.’
‘I gave you this big speech about how capable I am and how you didn’t need to fuss over me,’ she said sheepishly. ‘And then I went and did this.’
‘It was a random accident. Could have happened to anyone, myself included.’
‘Well, thank you for being my hero, anyway.’
Her words almost choked me up. ‘I’ll always be your hero,’ I said gruffly. ‘If you’ll let me.’
31
MAE
