Page 40 of Lucky Charm
“Yep, rescue inbound from Bagram.”
He kept his tone positive.
Except for the mostly downhill, rocky terrain covered in slushy snow, falling temperatures, weather inbound, and fifty men determined to make rendezvous hell.
But what could happen, right?
∞∞∞∞∞
Cait did one more quick check on Quaid before rising carefully. He was losing too much blood. He needed a transfusion and surgery to get the dang bullet out, and neither could happen here. They hadn’t moved far before stopping again became a necessity.
Hunt was on his radio listening carefully to a conversation with his men.
Carter was packing all the supplies they’d removed to treat Quaid once again. “You okay, Doc?”
“Yes, adrenaline will do that to you. Are we moving soon?” She looked around through the gloom. The snow seemed to now be stuck somewhere between not thawing but not frozen. They’d trampled the area trying to take care ofQuaid. No way they could hide that people had been here and stayed for a while.
Carter paused to check the trail. “We’re fine for the moment. The guys chased them farther east of our position. They have no way to know we aren’t together.”
Hunt turned to the two of them. “Can we move him?”
“We have to, right? He’s as stabilized as he’s going to get,” Cait answered.
“Doc, you’re with Carter again. We aren’t going to mess around. Up, over, and double-time to the rendezvous. Once we meet, we’re going to be sitting ducks if they catch on and follow. We’re going to move like lightning. I want to get to the LZ and on that medevac before they realize they’ve lost us. Any questions?”
Instead of answering him, Cait zipped her coat and tightened her head scarf. They were on the last leg, and she was shaky as a willow in a thunderstorm, but Quaid needed her to be all in.
Hunt leaned in, his face close. “Hold on and hold out, Cait.”
“I’m good. I’ll make it.” If she said it enough, she’d believe it. She was tired, cold, and scared. Watching Hunt and his men use the sheer force of their skills against the environment and the threat, and knowing they were doing it all for her, humbled her.
“We’ve got this, Doc,” he continued, his eyes shifted from her face to check the surroundings. Carter and Baxter were doing the same. Quaidgroaned, and she dropped her gaze to the man. He thrashed, and she bent to him to grip his hand. Her knee slid in the slush of the snow melting around the warmth of the man’s body. She balanced against Hunt and pulled off her glove to check his brow for fever. Relieved to find none yet, she murmured some quiet words to him. He settled back.
She rose and kept her eyes on Hunt. Deep pools of green stared back at her, his expression buttoned up. She understood. Emotion got in the way when tough stuff decisions had to be made. Doing the only thing she could to help him, she pushed away how lousy she felt and figuratively squared her shoulders. “Let’s do this, Hunt. He needs shelter and an operating room.”
“Get to Carter. I’ll get Quaid. Baxter’s got the pack.” Hunt adjusted his own gear and bent to lift Quaid. She stayed in place until she was sure the injured man was secure over Hunt’s shoulder, then she carefully walked to Carter, who was doing the same adjustments with his equipment. He bent so she could climb on his back, and she accomplished the action without any slips.
“I wish I could walk.”
Carter lifted her to settle her against him.
“Nah, Doc. Settle in. It’ll be faster this way. Once during BUD/S training I had to carry a friend’s ass. You’re light by comparison.”
Hunt looked their way. “Baxter in front, Carter you’re next. I’ll bring up the rear with Quaid.”
Cait wanted to argue the obvious protection of her arrangement. Quaid was hurt and more in need. The doctor in her rose. She opened her mouth.
“Don’t, Doc,” Carter whispered for her ears only. “He’s right. You’re the mission – keeping you safe and getting you back. If the shooting is going to happen, both Hunt and Quaid would want it to be them.”
A shiver passed over her – not from cold, but emotion. She couldn’t imagine a world without Hunt. Suppressed anxiety slammed her stomach, and it was a few seconds before she whipped it into submission.
Baxter moved up the trail. Cait felt Hunt behind her. “Problem?”
She shook her head. “No, getting settled in the best spot for Carter. I’m ready.” She swallowed every bit of need to argue and silently reminded herself to thank Carter. It would have appeared she was questioning Hunt’s authority. That was the last thing she wanted to do.
Carter started climbing. If she turned her head, she could see Hunt out of the corner of her eye. She lied to herself that it was about checking on Quaid. It was about Hunt’s safety, not Quaid’s welfare.
She might have once been disgusted with herself if she’d put personal above professional, but not this time. Hunt had gobsmacked her the first time she’d met him. After spending part of a night in a sleeping space with the man, she cared. Such a bland word for what surged like a raging river. Theemotion felt deeper than her swimming abilities allowed.
