Page 43 of Lucky Charm

“We’ve made the best decisions we could with what we have to work with. This isn’t a hospital, Doc. It’s the field. Let’s make it work and straighten it out later.”

“I get it. I was a paramedic in college.”

“He’s alive. That’s what we work with.” He checked their surroundings.

She glanced around. “We okay?”

“Looks quiet.”

Minutes after, Cait heard Carter acknowledge Hunt. He was on his way to them. A few minutes later, Carter talked to K-Rock. Even with all eight men accounted for, she couldn’t quell the jitters.

Oh, her shaky hands were from the cold and willing her body to perform when it didn’t want to. But her stomach was a churning mass of nausea, something she hadn’t dealt with in a long time. She powered through that stuff, staying focused on what she knew her job to be. It was worry for Hunt that had her edgy. Which was ridiculous. The man was renowned in the teams and could take care of himself. Her on the other hand, she was a lioness guarding her cubs in the emergency room and in surgery, but not in the wilds of Afghanistan.

“No worries, Doc. Hunt and Baxter will be here in a few. It’s good we put Quaid under because carrying him is going push that wound. We can’t wait for a better situation. We’ll need to move as soon as you’re finished.”

She lifted her eyes and blinked to clear her vision, then looked back at the wound. “Get the bandages ready.”

Carter lifted the med kit to do as she asked. The crunch of feet made her tense, but she kept sewing. “Hunt?” She whispered carefully to Carter, not wanting her voice to carry.

“Yeah,” he whispered back. “They’ll do a quick survey to make sure we’re still in the clear, then we’ll need to move.”

She pulled the last stitch through and snipped it. “Done.”

She sat back on her haunches and let Carter do the rest. Hunt came to a stop behind Carter, his eyes seeking hers. “How big a problem we got?”

“He’s stitched, but he’s knocked out. Blood loss is getting critical. He’s going to be dead weight. Sorry. Couldn’t do anything else. We’ll be ready to move again in a few minutes. Got the bullet out, though, and he’s sewed up.”

Baxter went past him after hearing the updates and began to climb the wicked terrain.

Hunt gripped her elbow, helping her to her feet. “How are you?” His quiet question ricocheted off tender feelings.

“I’d feel better if you share the turkey sandwich in your pocket.”

Hunt snorted in quiet laughter and searched through the pocket that handled Brazil. He passed off another power bar. “Water?”

“Got some. Would rather have coffee black, double shot.”

“I’ll have to owe you that one, Doc.”

“Deal. I need a restroom soon.”

“Understood. Let’s do that now while we wait for Carter.”

She thought it would be easier if she found her flippant, but it was so personal and intimate to pull down your pants in the cold, but this time he’dfound a spot for her to maneuver between two rocks for cover and she could handle her clothes on her own. Maybe. She still didn’t like it. She came out behind the rocks, out of energy and unable to refasten her clothes.

“Help?”

Hunt looked her over and shucked his gloves. The intimacy of having him this close stalled her senses.

She covered with humor. “I’m never going camping with you again.”

She loved his smile. No matter how quick it flashed.

“After this trip, Doc, I want a warm bed and a hot shower, too. Don’t think about it. It only makes you lose focus.”

“Is that your trick?”

“Yep, developed it way back when I was a boy, then reinforced it when I went through BUD/S. You’re doing great, by the way.”