‘I suggest we try and push it out, ma’am,’ Kane concluded after an initial assessment, before locking his gaze with hers. ‘If that doesn’t work, we can radio for backup.’
With anyone else she probably would have doubted their ability to succeed but, then, anyone else wasn’t Kane. Brown eyes held hers as something lurched in Mattie’s chest. She ruthlessly quashed it.
‘You look the strongest, Mr Wheeler, perhaps you should take the rear.’ Her voice was miraculously even and controlled. She’d never been more grateful for all her years of training. ‘Corporal, you open the driver door and take that side, and I’ll take this side.’
‘Yes, ma’am.’ The co
rporal scurried back around to the driver’s door, opening it wide and holding the main body of the vehicle across from Mattie, as she did the same.
‘Mr Wheeler, if you’d like to count us in when you’re ready.’
‘All right. One, two, three...’
The three of them pushed. The four-by-four rocked promisingly but didn’t move.
‘Perhaps you’d like to release the handbrake, Corporal,’ Kane remarked dryly.
‘Yes, sir. Sorry, sir.’ The young lad went a fiery red and leaned into the cab. ‘All done, sir.’
‘Again, on three,’ Kane said.
On his count, Mattie threw her full force into pushing the heavy vehicle but there was no doubt in her mind that it was Kane’s input that ultimately, miraculously had the four-by-four moving. Not far, but enough to get the fourth wheel onto solid ground, although Mattie couldn’t imagine them being able to push it much further given the rough terrain.
‘Corporal, do you want to jump in and start the engine.’ It was less of a request from Kane and more of a command. ‘Move to the outbuilding over there, as we know that’s safe ground. I suggest we follow on foot, Major.’
‘I concur.’ Mattie dipped her head, wishing she didn’t feel such a thrill at the idea of even a few moments alone with Kane.
Especially after that...moment when she’d been flung into his arms.
The young lad obeyed and within moments he was driving the four-by-four carefully over the terrain, leaving Mattie and Kane to follow on foot.
‘You can call it in from the shelter,’ she muttered quietly, in some kind of half-hearted attempt to keep things professional.
As though it could keep her head in the right place. Kane didn’t seem to have read the unspoken memo.
‘You okay, Mattie?’
‘Fine,’ she replied quickly. Too quickly. Too tightly.
‘You got thrown around quite badly back there.’
‘I said I’m fine.’ She could see his head swivel towards her in her peripheral vision, but she ignored it.
She was fine...if she didn’t count the way Kane seemed to constantly get under her skin.
‘Have it your own way.’ He sounded more amused than irritated.
‘There’s a bit of a grinding noise, ma’am,’ the corporal suddenly called, as he stopped the vehicle. ‘I just want to have a check.’
And then things happened so fast that Mattie barely had time to notice.
The lad jumped out of the four-by-four, slipping slightly as he landed. Spinning his body around, he reached out to grab the bonnet and the vehicle—its handbrake evidently not having been applied—began to roll back slightly.
As the corporal struggled to get traction on the wet grass and pull himself out of the way of the wheel, he twisted again, this time awkwardly, and then there was a loud cracking sound and a scream.
‘He’s broken his leg,’ Mattie ground out, straightening up and beginning to run down the hill, Kane’s boots pounding the ground next to her.
‘Don’t go in there until I’ve secured the vehicle,’ he commanded.