Page 109 of Counter Attack

Nathan answered for her. “Not today. She’s got to get her wrist checked out.”

What time was it? Alex checked her watch, but she didn’t have it on. Oh yeah ... she’d taken it off to take a shower last night. At least some of her memory was coming back. “What time is it?”

“A little after noon.” Nathan pointed at the litter. “You want us to carry you, or do you want to walk?”

“You’re not carrying me.” She took a few steps toward the path. “I may have to go slow.”

“That’ll be a first,” Nathan said with a crooked smile. “Can I at least offer my arm?”

It was on the tip of her tongue to tell him she could manage. What was wrong with her? It wouldn’t kill her to accept a little help. “Thank you.”

The closer they got to the road, the more she leaned on Nathan. Her legs were like noodles, and by the time they reached the ambulance, her wrist was throbbing again. Maybe lettingthe ER doctor check her over wasn’t a bad idea. Might even save time if her wrist was broken, and they could set it.

When the paramedic suggested she let them transport her to the hospital, she declined. “I’d rather Nathan take me.” She laughed at the shock on his face. “That is, if you will.”

“Uh...” For once he looked like he was at a loss for words. “Sure,” he finally got out.

The paramedic slammed the bay door closed. “I’ll call and let them know you’re coming so you won’t have to wait.”

“Thank you.” There were perks to being the chief deputy of Russell County.

“My truck is over here,” Nathan said and helped her walk to it. After she was safely buckled in, he tilted his head at her. “You surprised me. I figured I’d have to hogtie and drag you to a doctor to get that wrist seen. But why not go in the ambulance?”

“First of all, riding in an ambulance is worse than riding a log wagon with no springs. And...”—she wasn’t sure how to say this—“after being in the cave, I didn’t want to be alone.”

57

Nathan paced the small ER patient room. Alexis had taken at least five years off his life today. He stopped and looked out the door. She’d been gone over thirty minutes. It shouldn’t take that long to x-ray her wrist.

Phame immediately popped into his mind, and he marched to the nurses’ station. “Where’s X-ray?”

The nurse who had taken Alexis’s blood pressure glanced up from her computer. “What do you mean?”

He repeated his question. “I want to check on the patient.”

“Chief Landry, the chief deputy is fine. There was probably a backlog and they had to wait for an available X-ray machine.”

He crossed his arms. “I still want to check on her.”

She peered at him over her half glasses and pointed. “Go down that hallway, take a left at the end. You should find her there.”

He’d made it to the end of the hallway when the orderly rounded the corner with Alexis.

She did a double take. “What are you doing here?”

“Just checking on you.” He eyed the orderly. “Why don’t I push her back to the room?”

The kid looked as though he would refuse, and Nathansaid, “Please. I’ll make it okay with your supervisor if you get in trouble.”

“Well, okay.” He relinquished the handles to the wheelchair. “She’s all yours.”

Nathan caught her gaze and held it. If nothing else, today had made him realize how badly he wanted to make those words true. Alexis looked away, shifting her gaze to her hand that twisted the thin cotton gown the nurse had given her. The kid’s words must have flustered her. He wasn’t losing this opportunity, not after today.

“Thank you.” Nathan bowed but didn’t move until Alexis looked up. “Is m’lady ready to go?” he asked, winking at her. Color flooded her face, and she ducked her head.

He didn’t say anything until they got back to the small room, and he helped her onto the bed. “Alexis—”

“Don’t say anything.” She pressed the closed fist of her good hand to her lips. After a minute, she moved it and looked up at him. “I need time to process what happened today.”

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