“You’re tough,” she said.
He tried to smile. “Sorry I scared you. I’ll be fine. I promise.”
“You better be, you macho idiot,” she retorted as she opened the first aid kit. “Would it have killed you to tell me you got shot?”
“You would’ve tried to drag me to a hospital. Nagle’s men would have tracked us there, and I wouldn’t have been able to protect—”
Ellie swabbed antiseptic over Hal’s wounds. He broke off, gritting his teeth against the pain. “What about a private hospital? They’re much more discreet.”
“I don’t need any hospital.”
“Yes, you do,” Ellie repeated, with emphasis. She applied pressure bandages to the wounds, stopping the bleeding. “Unless you’ve got IV fluids and oxygen and an X-Ray machine and maybe an anesthesiologist and a surgeon stashed in the trunk?”
Hal gave her a frustrated glance. “I told you, I’ll be fine. I just need a little rest. But we need to get out of here—” As she opened her mouth, he quickly said, “Not to a hospital! To my cabin. You drive. I’ll direct you.”
Ellie closed her mouth. This argument could obviously go on forever, and there was no time to waste. Once she was in the driver’s seat, she could take him wherever she liked. “Fine.”
“Let’s switch seats.”
That was easier said than done. Though Hal’s car was big and roomy, he was a huge guy and too badly hurt to move easily. Ellie worried that he wouldn’t be able to sit up at all, but once she got her arms under his shoulders, she was able to help him up. Once he was sitting up, he leaned against her, breathing hard.
“Sorry,” he said. “Just give me a second.”
“Take as much time as you need,” Ellie replied, squeezing his broad shoul
ders. “You’ve been shot. Give yourself a break.”
He didn’t reply. His silky hair mingled with hers, their heads pressed together. She could feel his chest rise and fall as he breathed. His muscles were hard as steel, tensed with pain.
Ellie rubbed his back in slow circles, hoping that would ease his pain. Since she intended to deliver him to a hospital, like it or not, she didn’t want to offer him any painkillers. They’d assess him again there, and a doctor could decide what sort of medication he needed. Besides, he’d undoubtedly refuse any drug that might knock him out.
Hal’s deep voice rumbled in her ear. “Okay. Let’s switch.”
She supported him as he moved from the driver’s seat to the passenger seat, then helped him lie back down in it. Then she took off his shoes, to make him more comfortable.
But when she reached to unbuckle his belt, he raised a hand to stop her. “My gun.”
The holster was attached to his belt.
“Okay. I’ll leave it.” She covered him with the blankets she’d gotten from the trunk, thinking that he wouldn’t even be able to draw his gun, let alone fire it. But if it made him feel better to keep wearing it, he could wear it.
Hal reached up with one big hand and cupped her cheek. As always, it was startling how gentle his touch could be. She started to lean into his warm caress, but he lowered his arm to his side as if it was too heavy to hold up for so long.
“I should’ve...” he mumbled. His voice trailed off.
She caught his hand between hers. “Rest, Hal.”
“Ellie... I should’ve...” His lips parted as if he meant to say more. Then he closed his eyes.
Uncertain whether he’d passed out or was simply resting, she pressed a kiss onto his forehead. He didn’t so much as smile. Passed out, for sure.
She slid into the driver’s seat, hit the button to raise the back, and turned the key in the ignition. The engine raced as she pressed down on the gas, but the car didn’t move. The wheels were stuck fast in the mud.
“Goddammit!” Ellie exclaimed.
She stepped on the gas again, but though she could feel the wheels spinning and see mud and snow flying, the car didn’t budge.
She checked her cell phone, then Hal’s. No service. They were too far out in the country. And they were stuck there unless she could flag down someone to call them a tow truck.