“Thank fuck,” Joe said.
Luke had first aid training—had to for his job. He worked his hands over her head and found a lump on the side above the ear. He then moved down her body. Wrist was at a funny angle. When he touched her thigh, he felt the stickiness of blood. Pulling out his car keys, he opened the Swiss army knife and carefully slit her jeans. The hole was small and round and blood was sluggishly coming out of it.
“Son of a bitch!”
“What?” Joe called down.
“Someone put a bullet in her thigh.”
Joe swore. “Fin is calling the others and an ambulance.”
“We need ropes to get her out, Joe. She has a broken wrist, concussion likely, and fuck knows what else. She has to be strapped to something.”
“On it!”
“It’s okay now, baby.” He touched her cheek. “I’m sorry, Quinn, but this is going to hurt.” She didn’t respond.
Luke took off his belt and tied it above the bullet hole. He then tightened it to stop the bleed.
She moaned, and her eyes opened.
“Quinn, it’s me, Luke. Stay still now. You’re safe.”
“First aid supplies are coming down now!” Joe said.
He straightened when it reached him and took the small case. Opening it, he took out the sling.
“How?” she rasped.
“I rang you, you answered and told me you were in trouble.”
“You heard.” Her words were a whisper, and he could only imagine the pain she was in.
“Just let me get you ready to transport out of here, Quinn. Stay still.”
She tried to ease upright as he went to fit the sling. He held her down.
“Trust me, sweetheart. Let me get you out of here. Let me do my job.” His training kicked in. The adrenaline and panic eased.
“How bad?” she whispered.
“Bullet hole in your thigh, broken wrist, and egg on the side of your head, for starters.” She needed to hear only the truth from him now.
“Hurts,” she whispered.
He eased off the belt, as the blood had stopped flowing from the bullet hole, then bent at the waist, his face now inches from hers.
“I know it does, and it’s likely going to get worse. But I have nothing strong to give you until we reach the ambulance, which will be at the house when we get there.”
“Luke?”
Her eyes were filled with pain. Dirt smeared her cheeks, and just looking at her in this condition made his chest burn.
“Right here.”
“I need to tell you something.”
“It hurts you to talk, so later, okay?”