Page 16 of The Risk
She was startingto lag behind him. Gene didn’t know much about how long someone could go without insulin, especially walking like this. He stopped walking.
Looked at her. “You keep going, Chantal Fields. We’re going to get home. I promise.”
Blue eyes looked at him. Blue eyes filled with fear. “I don’t know how much longer I can do this, Gene. I just... don’t. I’ve never come this close... except the day I passed out and Genny took me to the hospital and I found out I was diabetic in the first place.”
He pulled her close. “Put your arms around my neck.”
“What are you doing?”
“If you can’t walk, honey, I’m going to carry you. I’m not stopping until I get you home.”
“You can’t carry me. You’re hurt.”
“Please, I’ve gotten hurt more wrestling with Guthrie, and he’s just a pansy nerd.” Gene ignored the bruises. He scooped her closer. She felt so... insubstantial in his arms. “Put your legs around my waist.”
“Gene, you’ll hurt yourself even more.”
“I don’t care. I’m not letting you go. I’m going to get you home. No matter what. And then... I’ll be there. And we’ll know we’re both okay. I’m not leaving you behind, no matter what. Hold on to me, baby girl. Hold on to me. I’m not going to lose you now. I’m not.”
He didn’t know if she’d heard him or not. Her head had fallen to his shoulder. Her eyes were closed.
And she didn’t say another word.
13
Gene just kept walking.She was awake most of the time, but so damned listless, he was terrified. He knew they hadn’t left the area around the ranch. That left him several possibilities. They were near the northern part of the county. If he just kept going north, they’d hit one of the main roads—and help.
If someone drove by soon enough, anyway.
He was just glad she was a smaller woman. She barely weighed one hundred and twenty pounds. But his arms ached anyway. He was bruised and hurting and tired and so damned scared for her, he didn’t know what to do.
So he just kept going. She stirred, almost bucked out of his hold. He stopped walking, just long enough to steady her.
“Put your arms back around my neck, Chantal. Do it, baby.” She obeyed, but she was so sluggish it terrified him. He tightened his hold on her. “I’ve got you, honey. I promise, I’ll never let you go. I promise. Close your eyes, rest if you need to. I’ll get you home. I promise.”
“Gene? I can’t seem to open my eyes right now... I’m just so tired. I’ve never been this tired before...”
Terror threatened to choke him at the whispered words. “You just keep them closed, baby. I’ll get us back to Genesis?—”
“She’s not Genesis. She’sGenny. She doesn’t like Genesis. Not since Mandy... bullied her so badly... when we were kids. She calls herself Genny, but you guys just won’t listen...”
“I’ll do better. As soon as we get back to her. I’ll get you back toGenny. I promise.”
She didn’t answer.
Gene just kept walking.
He kept going until he saw the highway in the distance.
Chantal never said another word.
When he saw the red half-ton truck coming right toward them, Gene almost cried.
When a man and woman he recognized jumped out and ran toward them, Gene fell to his knees.
He kept his hold on the woman in his arms, though. He’d promised her he wasn’t going to ever let her go. He’d keep that promise if it was the last thing he ever did.
“Hiller, hand her over. We’ll get you to the hospital. Come on, hand her over. I have your back, man. We’ll get her help right now. Let Lacy have a look at her.”