Page 58 of Jake

“Why?”

“Former corpsman, man. Let me check her out and see if she needs the ER. I’ll take care of your lady.” Steele’s voice was gentle, yet commanding and matter of fact.

Jake laid her down on the tailgate if nothing else, he needed to get a better look at her and see how badly she was hurt.

“What happened?” Steele asked as he hopped out of the truck. He pulled a knife from his pocket and opened it with a flick of his wrist before handing it to Jake.

“They said she fell and hit her head. They just tied her up after that. Not sure if it’s true.”

“All right. You take care of the tape I’ll look at her head.”

Steele was usually pretty quiet, but this take-charge attitude was new. Jake didn’t know if he liked it, but was glad someone had an idea what to do and how to check her out.

Doing as he was told, he moved to her feet, carefully cutting the tape, he hated the way there was no resistance to her muscles, her legs moved and flopped as if she was asleep. He wanted more than anything for her to wake up.

“There she is.” Steele’s voice drew his attention as he peeled the tape from her wrists, trying not to take skin with it.

“She’s awake?” he asked.

“She’s getting there,” Steele said, still cradling her head in his hands as he felt the back of her skull. “She’s making faces and reacting to stimuli.”

“What does that mean? Do I need to take her into the emergency room?”

“No.” The word was slightly slurred as if she wasn’t entirely awake, but clear. “No doctor.” She grimaced.

Jake’s mouth went dry, and his knees almost gave out beneath him as he was able to take his first deep breath since he’d seen her in the floorboard, unmoving. He took her hand and squeezed to let her know he was there.

“Let’s see how you bounce back from this before I make any promises, okay?” he said.

“No bouncing, please.”

Her brow creased and she tried to turn her face, as if the sun shining down on her hurt her eyes. Jake held a hand up so there was shade across her eyes. The crease eased slightly, but not all the way. He couldn’t help but wonder how badly her head hurt.

Steele asked her several questions, looked at her eyes, and made her respond to several commands.

“She’s got a lump, but there doesn’t seem to be any major damage from what I can see,” Steele said. “I recommend you take her in for screening, but I can’t force it. However, if there’s any nausea, dizziness, or loss of consciousness, she needs to get to the emergency room immediately.” He turned and looked down at her again. “Are you sure I can’t convince you to in and get checked out?”

She squeezed Jake’s hand and shook her head. “No doctor.”

“I’ll keep an eye out for anything out of place, but especially the things you said. Thanks, man. I don’t know what I would have done without someone who knew how to help.” Jacke clapped Steele on the back.

“You’d be hauling ass into town for the emergency room, but you’re welcome.”

44

Thepainradiatedfromthe lump she’d felt his firm fingers feeling at the back of her head, but it was better now than before. Still, she hated laying here like an invalid staring up at the sky.

“Can I sit up?” She squinted as much from the bright light as from the pain.

“Slowly. Make sure you’re not dizzy or nauseated,” the man she thought was named Sterling or Silver, something metallic, no, those weren’t right, but it hurt too much to think about it right now, said.

A hand cradled her neck and helped her sit up, she sat for a moment, blinking. It was easier to open her eyes without the sun shining down into them.

“How are you feeling?” Aaron asked. It was his hand on her neck, and still holding one of hers.

“My head hurts, but I don’t feel sick.”

“Good, sit like that for a minute and give yourself a minute. If you’re still good then, we’ll let you move a little more,” the metal man said.