Page 105 of The Science of Attraction

He gave a half shrug as we lay Jules flat again. “Hard to say. It went right through, which in some ways is good, but we need to stop this bleeding. We’re a long way from help. Give me his jersey.”

I did as he said, and he shoved it hard against the wound to stem the flow.

“Now go grab the first aid box from the office and then use my phone to call Luke and see if he’s free to send a chopper. It’ll be a damn sight quicker than an ambulance. After that, you need to ring Oakwood Medical and let them know what’s happened. Both numbers are in my phone.” He handed me his phone. “If Luke can’t come, tell Oakwood that we’ll meet their ambulance somewhere along the way. Got it?”

“Got it.” I hesitated. “Oakwood’s only a small clinic though, right?”

Zach lifted the jersey, and blood immediately oozed out. He winced. “Maybe, but it’s only a ten-minute flight. Plus, they have a great trauma doctor in charge of the place, and they’re used to handling more than their fair share of hunting accidents. Now hurry.”

I retrieved the first aid box, then stepped away, my hands shaking like a leaf as I watched Zach working on Jules while I talked on the phone, too terrified to look away.

Thankfully, Luke answered on the second ring. “Hey, baby?—”

“It’s Liam,” I interrupted, putting the phone on speaker as tears brimmed in my eyes. “Jules has been shot. We’re in the woolshed at Lane Station. He’s bleeding badly. Can you chopper him to Oakwood?”

“Holy shit! Yes, of course.” Luke was all business. “I’ll be there in twenty.”

“Land as close as you can by the yards,” Zach called out before Luke hung up.

I hung up and made the second call to Oakwood Medical who said they’d be waiting in the car park when we arrived. When I kneeled again at Jules’ side, he looked even paler, if that were possible, his skin pinched and grey—deathlike. “How’s he doing?” My voice shook.

“Give me some more dressings, will you?” Zach didn’t look up. “I can’t get this damn bleeding to stop.”

Not what I wanted to hear, and my heart tripped. I ripped open a few more dressing packets and Zach switched out the soaked ones for fresh.

“He’s gonna be okay, right?” Marty stood just behind Zach, swaying on his feet, his expression one of abject fear. I’d almost forgotten he was there.

Zach took one look and swore. “Jesus Christ, Marty.” He reached up and removed the rifle, which was still in Marty’s hands, and unloaded it onto the floor. “Go and sit somewhere, will you?”

Marty backed away, his mouth working slowly, his face almost as pale as Jules’. “I didn’t mean to hurt him... I wouldn’t... it was an?—”

The woolshed door slammed open and Spencer burst inside, breathless. “I heard a gunshot—” He stopped as his gaze clocked Jules on the floor. “Jesus Christ. What happened?” He raced over and I slid sideways to give him room.

Zach flicked his head toward Marty who’d backed himself against the classing table. “Marty shot him. An accident, apparently. It went through, but I can’t stop the bleeding.”

Spencer reached for more dressing packets and the mound of bloody gauze swabs grew. “Jesus Christ, what a mess.”

“You have to make it stop!” I grabbed Jules’ hand and squeezed tight. “He’s not going to make it if you don’t.”

“We’re trying.” Zach’s voice broke and he shot me a look of utter desolation.

“Oh Jesus, I’m sorry.” I cursed my stupidity. “I know you are. I just... I just... shit!”

Spencer lifted the dressing and took a quick look. “He’s nicked something. Not arterial by the look of it, thank God, but still—” He threw yet another blood-soaked dressing to the side. “Keep applying pressure while I bring my truck around. I need my medical kit. Is there a defibrillator in the shed?”

Zach nodded. “In the office.”

“Good. Liam, get it and slap some electrodes on him.”

A defibrillator?My brain started to spin. Jesus. This was really happening. I could lose Jules. I could really fucking lose him. I stared at Spencer’s back as he ran out of the woolshed, my body frozen.

“Liam, move!” Zach barked.

I blinked. “Shit, sorry.” I ran for the office, then followed Zach’s guidance to put the electrodes in place, my fingers brushing the cold skin of Jules’ body. Too cold. Too pale. And then it occurred to me. “Why isn’t he awake?”

Zach indicated the gash on Jules’ head. “He must’ve hit something when he fell.”

“Oh shit.” I gently touched the wound and then leaned down and pressed a kiss to Jules’ lips, whispering against them. “Hang on, baby. Please, please. Hang on.” Tears fell from my face to his. “I love you, Jules. Keep fighting.”

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