Page 11 of A Forgotten Heart
She shifted beneath Nick’s weight and stepped up to the boardwalk.
Nick moaned, then crumpled against her. His body weight pinned her to the wall, keeping her upright. Elsie struggled to inhale, the pressure against her chest heavy. They couldn’t stop now.
She tapped his back. “Nick.”
But he didn’t move. Instead, he turned his head, only half conscious, until his breath brushed the hair at the nape of her neck.
“Elsie,” he said, his voice low. He mumbled something else she couldn’t understand.
Gooseflesh rose on her arms. She clenched her frozen fingers and pounded against the wall.
No answer. She pounded harder, not caring how the impact bruised her frozen hand.
Oh, please be there.
Strength started to fade from her quivering legs as Nick’s body became limp.
Slick blood seeped into her coat. How much longer could he continue if she didn’t find help?
Their argument didn’t matter. He’d flung friendship back in her face, but she didn’t care. He needed to survive.
He’d put himself between her and the gun.
Gritting her teeth so tight it hurt, she kicked her heel into the wall. “Hello? Someone help! Please!”
The door flung open. “What on earth?—”
Tears blurred Elsie’s vision as the doctor lifted Nick’s body away from hers. Elsie dragged in a long breath, her weak knees shuddering. “Please. Help him.”
“What happened?” The doctor’s eyes scanned Nick, already assessing.
Her heart was breaking all over again. “He’s been shot.”
Chapter 3
“Quick. Grab his feet and help me carry him inside.”
The doctor’s voice pierced something inside Elsie and gave her fresh stamina. As she followed instructions, she couldn’t stop her gaze from straying to Nick’s pale face. There was so much blood pooling beneath him.
Please, God, don’t let it be too late.
Together, they carried Nick through the clinic door.
Inside, warmth wrapped around her like an embrace.
The small entryway held two ladder-back chairs. There were two doors, one on each side of the hallway. The walls displayed various certificates and diplomas.
She barely held on to her composure as the doctor led them to an exam room. “You’re lucky I heard you. I was just heading out the back to help deliver a baby.”
A chill passed down Elsie’s spine at how close she’d come to missing the doctor completely.
The rugless room echoed as they hoisted Nick’s limp form onto the exam table. She dropped his satchel by the door.
“Put pressure on his shoulder.”
She leaned into the rag the doctor had provided to cover the wound and stared at Nick’s chest, watching for the rise and fall of his lungs. She found herself breathing with him.
The doctor’s mouth pulled tight as he cleaned the wound at Nick’s hairline. “How did this happen?”
