Page 9

When he woke, the first thing he saw was Peter, sitting beside him.

His leg was heavily bandaged, he had several days’ worth of stubble on his chin, and his face was etched with weary lines. Hattie was sitting patiently at his side.

“How long…?” Josiah rasped.

“Have you been napping? Three days.” Peter held a glass of water to his parched lips.

“Where…?”

“Army hospital in Salisbury. We’re back in England. They airlifted us here when they realised how badly we were both wounded.”

“Convoy?”

“Gone.” Peter shook his head. “First one I ever lost.”

“Sorry.” Josiah knew he had to be devastated by that. He moved his arm, gingerly, and rested his hand over Peter’s. “What about the rest of the unit. Little Jen?”

“She’s dead. Most of them are.”

The news wasn’t unexpected, but it hurt all the same.

“We’ve lost control of the whole region; that’s why backup took so long. They’ve dismantled the peacekeeping missions with immediate effect. We’re being transferred back into the regular army,” Peter said despondently.

“What?” Josiah tried to sit up, but a wave of nausea forced him back down.

“Yeah, you shouldn’t do that. You have a broken fibula, several cracked ribs, a bullet in your shoulder, another in your ankle, and concussion,” Peter said.

“Nothing serious, then.” Josiah managed a ghostly grin.

“The bullets are flesh wounds, luckily. The rest are nastier, but you’ll live.”

“Feel half-dead,” Josiah said hoarsely.

“That’s twice you’ve saved my life,” Peter said, almost accusingly.

Josiah gave a wry grin. “And there’s you always telling me how easily you managed to stay alive before we met. I’m not seeing it, to be honest.”

“I was an idiot.”

“Yeah, but you’re my idiot, and keeping you alive is my job.”

“Then you’re the idiot. Your life is important, too.” Peter squeezed his hand.

“Can’t live without you. No point,” Josiah muttered. “Better to keep you alive.”

“Oh, you’d be fine. You’d find some other worthless fool to save, I’m sure. I just hope they deserve you.”

“Don’t.” Josiah reached out, wincing, and put his finger over Peter’s lips. “Don’t even joke about it.”

Peter nodded while gently stroking his hair. “I’m sorry. It’s okay,” he said quietly. “I wouldn’t want to live without you, either. I won’t joke about it again.”

“You look like crap.” Josiah studied his fiancé’s drawn face. “Couldn’t they find you a bed? ”

“I wouldn’t leave in case you woke up. We’ve been here the whole time.” Peter rested his hand on Hattie’s head.

“How did you get her out?” Josiah asked, smiling as Hattie licked his fingers.

“Big Jen turned up with her. No idea how. She’s fine – thank God.

A bit smelly but none the worse for wear – Hattie, I mean, not Big Jen, although actually, she didn’t smell too savoury either.

Oh – I’ve got something that’ll make you smile!

” He reached into his pocket and pulled out a small ceramic jug covered in light cream swirls. “From Liz.”

“She’s improved. It does actually look like a jug.” Josiah grinned. Then a thought occurred to him. “What about me? Am I being transferred back into the regular army, too?”

“Yeah. I told them all about us. This.” Peter pointed to his ring. “They weren’t exactly delighted, but they don’t have enough good officers to throw any away. As long as we don’t work together again, it’s fine. So, maybe now’s the time for you to join the MPs like you wanted?”

“I’d like that,” Josiah said, nodding slowly. “What about your business with Elsie?” he asked quietly.

“I don’t know.” Peter gave a washed-out smile. “It’s all on hold for now.”

“I’m sorry. I know how long you spent building it all up.”

“Yeah.” Peter gazed down at the ground for a moment, then looked up again and grinned. “Fuck it,” he said. “Let’s get married.”

They didn’t want a fuss, so they didn’t tell anyone.

Six weeks later, Josiah hobbled into the registry office on crutches to find Peter waiting inside looking…

completely unlike Peter. He’d ironed his uniform, polished his shoes, put gel in his usually messy hair, and pinned his medals to his chest for the occasion.

Hattie was beside him, proudly wearing a white bandana around her collar.

When they got back, they found they hadn’t done such a good job of keeping it a secret as they’d thought; Big Jen and the other survivors from the unit were waiting for them with a crate of booze and a pile of wedding gifts, including…

“It’s beautiful.” Josiah held up the smooth emerald-green vase and read the inscription on the side. Then he glanced at the note that accompanied it.

So happy that my two favourite men are getting hitched. I wish I could be there, but I’m sending this instead. I think it’s my best to date – it doesn’t even wobble. Congratulations! Liz

They partied until dawn. After everyone had gone, they sat outside on the grass to watch the sun come up.

“I’m not giving up on the Kathleen Line,” Peter told him. “I’m just taking a break until I work out what to do next.”

“I never thought for a second that you’d ever give it up.” Josiah shrugged. “I don’t want you to change. I kinda love you the way you are, even though you’re a complete idiot most of the time.”

Peter grinned. “That’s good, because I’ll still ignore the rules, and do stupid stuff, and probably get us both into trouble.”

“Don’t you know that I’m a Quarterlands kid?” Josiah snorted. “I can handle trouble. Now, shut up and kiss me.”

Even after all these years, the memory was still vivid, making his heart ache with loss.

Josiah took the next corner too fast, and the AV screeched in protest. Alexander reached out and gently touched his hand.

Josiah steadied himself. He had to stop thinking about the past and focus on the here and now.

He was going to meet George Tyler; he needed his wits about him.