Stone Army by J. D. Weston

Author:J. D. Weston [Weston, J. D.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Weston Media
Published: 2019-02-09T16:00:00+00:00

10

When the Levee Breaks

“Take off your pants. You are no use to anyone with your leg like that,” said Gabriella.

“I’ll be fine,” said Harvey. “I’ve had worse.”

“Harvey Stone, do not take me for some kind of feeble, little girl. Tonight we will face Kane’s Army and you are losing blood faster than your body can create it. Take your pants off and lie down on the ground.”

Harvey didn’t reply.

“That’s an order, Monsieur Stone.”

“I don’t do so good with orders.”

“So I gather,” said Gabriella. “I don’t do so good with partners who are bleeding to death. If you want to know how to find Kane, lie down and let me look at your leg.”

Harvey dropped to the ground and peeled his cargo pants away from his thigh. The dried blood had stuck to his skin and the movement opened the wound further as he pulled the material free.

“There’s water in the panniers,” said Harvey, gesturing at the two boxes either side of the bike’s rear wheel.

Gabriella fetched the bottles of water then slapped Harvey’s hand away from his leg.

“Lie back,” she said. “This will sting a little.”

She ran her fingers around the five-inch wound on Harvey’s thigh, nodding when she saw that the mouth-shaped ends had begun to heal. Her practiced eye confirmed no sign of infection. So, using her slender fingers to hold the wound open, she washed the cut with the cool water. Beneath her hands, Harvey’s body tensed when the water splashed onto his pink flesh then eased as his body grew accustomed to the pain.

“How you doing up there?” she asked, as she gave the wound another careful check.

Harvey didn’t reply.

“Give me your knife,” said Gabriella.

Harvey’s head raised from the ground, a questioning look on his face.

But Gabriella didn’t respond to his lack of trust. She held out her hand.

“Knife.”

With reluctance, Harvey pulled his knife from the sheave on his belt. He caught her eye, communicating some kind of warning, then spun the blade and offered her the weapon handle first.

Quick as a flash, and before Harvey could complain, Gabriella grabbed a handful of his t-shirt and cut a long strip from the hem. She was halfway through the cut when she met Harvey’s eyes once more. This time, he offered the nearest she would get to an apology for not trusting her.

“You need to raise your leg,” said Gabriella. “On three, you’re going to rest your leg on mine. Don't bend it. I don't want the bleeding to start. Are you ready?”

Harvey blinked but didn’t respond.

“One,” said Gabriella. Then she lifted his leg onto hers before he had the chance to tense his muscle.

“Where did you learn to count?” asked Harvey.

“At military school.”

“You were in the military?”

“I was a medic,” said Gabriella, remembering the times she had used the count to three trick on other patients.

“Why did you leave?” asked Harvey.

“Would you fight for your country, Harvey Stone?”

“I’m different.”

“How are you different? You’re British?”

“Yes. But I…” Harvey paused before he said too much.

“You’re what?”

“I’m just different. That’s all you need to know.

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