She looked around for Hiyoki, but the man had disappeared. She followed his trail for fifty yards and lost it at the river where the man crossed to the Mexico side.
Lincoln struggled to sit up as Hunter returned. He said, “Did you get him?”
“No.” She checked Ashton’s body for a phone but didn’t find one. She said, “My ride’s totaled.”
Lincoln said, “He took my phone when he left, Hiyoki did.”
“It’s gonna be a long walk.”
“My Navigator is still out there.”
Hunter said, “If I help you up, can you get us to it?”
“I will.”
She assisted him to his feet and the effort almost made her wounded leg give out from the extra weight, but she pulled his body closer so that he leaned tightly against her. She said, “You ready?”
“Oorah, Let’s go.”
It took them forty-five minutes to cover the distance to the Navigator, even though it wasn’t far. Both gasped when they reached it.
“You drive,” Lincoln said.
Hunter helped him into the passenger’s seat and limped to the driver’s side, using the fender and the hood as a crutch to make it around the front. When she seated herself, she sighed and looked at Lincoln, who was smiling. “What?”
“Keys are in the ignition.”
Hunter looked at them and said to Lincoln, “We were due a little luck.”
She started the SUV and drove them to the pavement. It was smoother going on the road so her leg throbbed less, and she glanced at Lincoln because he’d been silent since leaving the river.
Lincoln Jones was silently crying. She turned her attention to the road to give him a semblance of privacy.
Lincoln said, “I have no one. They’re all gone. All the ones I’ve cared about.”
Hunter didn’t speak, and Lincoln began again, “It’s all my fault. I drove people away, hurt them for no real reason. And now I’m alone
.”
“I’m sure there are some of your friends–”
“I have people I pay, who work for me, that’s who I have. I was very poor growing up and had to fight for every nickel because we lived in a bad neighborhood, couldn’t afford to live anywhere else. I went into the Marines as soon as I could to get away.”
Hunter was too tired for this. It was all she could do to drive them to safety.
Lincoln said, “I’m lonely, Hunter.” He sighed, “And it’s all my fault.”
Hunter said, “You’re still alive. Make some friends. Buck’s a former Marine and you know him. Talk to him, maybe contact some of your Marine buddies. If you’re breathing, you have a chance to change things in your life. Don’t be a wuss about it. Now be quiet until we get some help.”
“Nobody’s ever talked to me that way.”
“Well, they should have.”
They travelled in the dark for several more minutes, both silent. Lincoln reached across the space between them and placed his hand on Hunter’s forearm, saying, “Thank you” so softly that Hunter almost didn’t hear him.
~*~
Three days later, while Hunter waited impatiently to be released from the hospital, Raymond showed up carrying her cell phone and handie talkie. “I went down to the river and looked around. Found these under some cactus. I guess I just saved you a Dear Chief letter for lost equipment.”