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“In the desk” She stood unsteadily and ht here”
He tossed her the folded sheet he’d found “Cut the edge and tear this into strips I’ll check the wound”
As Sky bent close, Prescott’s eyes fluttered open “What the hell are you doin’ here, Fletcher?” he muttered
“Trying to save your life—and the less you talk, the better” Sky lifted away the blood-soaked towels, being careful not to touch the bullet hole with his hands The bullet didn’t appear to have struck a critical spot, but Prescott was in danger of bleeding to death
After laying clean towels over the wound, Sky applied pressure with his weight over his flat hands Prescott groaned and swore “Feels more like you’re tryin’ to kill irltake it all”
“Keep still” Sky took the strips of sheeting Lauren had torn and began wrapping them around Prescott’s chest to hold the towels in place Lauren knelt at her father’s head, lifting his shoulders so Sky could circle his back There was no sign of an exit wound Maybe the bullet had lodged against his shoulder blade
Prescott clenched his jaw, glaring up at Sky with hatred in his eyes Sky couldn’t help wondering what had happened before he got here, but that story would have to wait
He knotted the last strip of sheet, holding the towels in place Prescott’s face was the color of alkali dust Clearly he’d lost a lot of blood Soht, the press be danity was all the man had left
“Can you make it to the truck?” Sky asked him
Prescott nodded, clenching his jaw against the pain With Lauren bracing his wounded side, Sky pulled him to his feet His breath reeked of bourbon Only now did Sky realize how drunk Lauren’s father , Prescott allowed hih the kitchen and out the back door to Sky’s truck, where they loaded him into the backseat with his head cradled in Lauren’s lap
Sky passed her a water bottle “Try to keep him hydrated What’s the best way past the press?”
“Up toward the hway You’ll see the road when you get there”
Minutes later they were on the hway, headed for the hospital in Lubbock Would the congress truck’s speedohty But why ask a stupid question? Prescott despised hi about that was going to change
At the hospital, the eurney and rushing hiery While Lauren gave his infor lot and walked back to the e inside, he saw that she was still busy That gave hi hione The details could wait till he knew more
When she joined hi room a few minutes later, he was still on his feet Red-eyed, disheveled, and bloodstained, she walked into his ar, silent htened ani as he cradled her close The tenderness that surged through Sky was so powerful that it shook hi he wouldn’t do to protect this woman