Part 34 (1/2)
Her blood chilled at the thought. ”Why do you think they have night-vision goggles?”
”I heard a vehicle, earlier, but there weren't any headlights, which means they were driving blind again. That's how you do it.”
”And you know this because... ?”
”I've done it, running desert patrol. You mark the roof of your vehicle with glint tape so friendly planes don't mistake you for the enemy. Then you kill the lights and go.”
Of course. Simple as a trip to the minimart.
Kelsey glanced around at the inky blackness, then edged closer to Gage. The warmth of his body was the only comforting thing in her universe right now. That and her Ruger. But the gun wasn't really that comforting because she couldn't see worth a d.a.m.n and her hands were shaking. She tucked it back into her holster, where at least she wouldn't accidentally shoot herself or Gage.
They trudged on through the darkness. He moved with confidence, as if he knew exactly which way to go, even though it was black as tar. Kelsey didn't talk. She didn't complain. She didn't say one word about the terror swamping her, but she knew Gage sensed it. He kept touching her hand, as if to rea.s.sure her, while he guided her every step.
She wouldn't think about it.
She wouldn't think about Dylan, her student. A young man she should have been responsible for.
She wouldn't think about Gage, who'd been shot at and had his truck stolen while trying to protect her.
And she wouldn't think about the memories those gunshots had triggered, memories she worked hard to keep locked away. She wouldn't think about the panic churning inside her, and how even now-probably an hour since the last sputter of gunfire-she still couldn't stop shaking.
Gage would understand, probably. He'd been in a war zone. But her nerves were raw, and her fear was choking. She couldn't talk about it now. All she could do was walk and hold on to him and hope that they'd make it out of this.
A brief flash, then a rumble of thunder. Kelsey glanced up at the sky. Not a star in sight. No moon either. At sunset, the clouds had been thick and ominous. She knew if their current luck held, at any moment the sky would open up.
Another flash of lightning, and then it did.
KELSEY WAS SOAKED to the skin and limping, and Gage's last offer to carry her had been met with a snarl. The woman was stubborn, and two hours of hiking through the rain on an injured ankle hadn't dampened her resolve. to the skin and limping, and Gage's last offer to carry her had been met with a snarl. The woman was stubborn, and two hours of hiking through the rain on an injured ankle hadn't dampened her resolve.
He stopped to look around and she b.u.mped into him. He checked his watch and, in the dim green glow of the dial, he glimpsed her face. She looked wet and ragged and in dire need of a hot shower. Plus, she was s.h.i.+vering, probably less from the rain than the still fresh fear of being chased by men with machine guns.
”I'm going to carry you now. No arguments.”
Without waiting for a response, he gripped her waist and scooped her over his shoulder in a fireman's carry.
As expected she went ballistic.
”Stop it!” She pounded on his back. ”Stop it right now! I can walk walk, d.a.m.n it!”
”We're going up a hill,” he said, carefully balancing his load as he made his way up the steep terrain.
”Put me down down!”
”Quit squirming unless you want both of us to fall off this mountain.”
She went still, thank G.o.d, and Gage adjusted her weight. He felt the backs of her knees under his hands, and her b.r.e.a.s.t.s pressing into his back was making it seriously hard for him to concentrate.
Finally they reached the top of the steep incline. A few more steps and they were under the protective shelter of a rock overhang.
Gage set her on her feet and her shoulders quivered.
”You okay?” he asked.
A shudder moved through her and he heard her teeth rattle.
”Here, you're freezing.” He wrapped his arms around her and pulled her against his chest. Even soggy and cold, she felt incredible, and he tried not to focus on her body as he shared his heat with her.
”This is so stupid,” she muttered. ”It's probably seventy degrees out.” Her arms went around his waist.
”We're wet. And you're in shock. Getting shot at can do that to you.”
”Does it happen to you?” She tilted her head back and he could feel her breath on his neck.
”I'm used to it.”
”I thought I was used to it, too, but maybe I need more practice.”
He took her by the shoulders and eased her away from him. ”When have you ever been shot at before tonight?”
A quiet sigh. ”In northern Iraq.”
”That's one of the most dangerous places on the planet. What the h.e.l.l were you doing there?”
She drifted closer and her arms went back around him. ”Excavating ma.s.s graves. Not everyone was glad for us to be there. We ended up needing an armed guard just to get our work done.” She rested her forehead against his chest. ”I still have nightmares.”
She shuddered again and his grip tightened instinctively. His few objective brain cells were screaming for him to let go of her, but she felt too good. And she smelled too good. And the realization that she wanted wanted this kind of comfort from him was a perverse turn-on. This was the one woman he could this kind of comfort from him was a perverse turn-on. This was the one woman he could not not have, and yet he'd never wanted anyone more. What the h.e.l.l was wrong with him? have, and yet he'd never wanted anyone more. What the h.e.l.l was wrong with him?
She tipped her head back. ”Where are we?” she whispered.
”At the petroglyphs.”
She pulled away and glanced around. ”I didn't realize we were so close to camp. Why'd we stop? Let's just go.”
He pulled her behind a rock before switching on his flashlight. No sense broadcasting their whereabouts with a lantern. ”I want to look at this ankle.” He shrugged out of his rucksack and crouched at her feet. ”What'd you do, sprain it?”
”Cut it, going through that hole. Then landed on it wrong.”
He s.h.i.+ned his flashlight on her leg and pushed her sock down.
”Ouch!”
”Sorry.” The swelling wasn't bad. The sock was saturated with blood, though, and he gently pulled it away from her skin. He reached into his pack for a water bottle and doused the cut. It was about three inches long but not too deep.
”We need to get this cleaned up back at the lodge,” he said.
”Do you have any alcohol in your pack? Maybe some hand sanitizer?”
”I've got some Super Glue for emergencies,” he said. ”But a b.u.t.terfly bandage should do it for something this shallow. You had a teta.n.u.s shot recently?”
She didn't answer. He s.h.i.+ned the flashlight up at her and he saw she was gazing down at him with the strangest expression.