“I-I really like you,” she whispered.
He had no reason to smile, but he did. “I really like you too.”
She managed a small smile.
“In fact, I love you, Captain Harper.” He leaned down and kissed her.
“You don’t—”
“Oh, but I do.” He kissed her softly.
Tears slipped out of her eyes.
“It’s okay.” He stroked her cheek. “I have you now.”
“We have a rescue stretcher, Luke! We’ll lower it now,” Fin called down.
It wasn’t going to be easy to get her on the stretcher and strapped in. The space was small.
“Help me stand,” Quinn said, her voice tight with pain.
“You can’t stand. We don’t know what your injuries are.”
“You c-can’t lay that down in here.”
“We don’t know what your injuries are,” he said again.
She moved her torso and shoulders before he could stop her. When she was done, she was panting and clearly in agony.
“You are one stubborn lady.”
“I-I can stand. My back is okay.”
She was growing weaker, her words slurred. He knew it was the only way to get her out but hated that he’d hurt her to do it.
“Let me do the work, okay?”
Luke braced the stretcher on the wall, then bent over her again.
“I’m sorry.”
“I know.”
He knew how to lift someone who was injured, but even being gentle made her moan.
“Help is up there, Quinn. Hang in there.” Luke kept talking to her as he placed her against the stretcher. He braced his hand on her belly to hold her there while he used his other hand to strap her in. She never moved, but he felt her pain. Her heart was racing, breath rushing in and out of her mouth.
“You’re doing great. My big strong fighter pilot. Not long now, baby. Okay, take it slow, she’s ready!” he called to those above him, then kissed her lips softly. “Nearly out of here, sweetheart. I’ll be with you the whole time.”
“’Kay,” she whispered.
“Put the harness on.” Joe’s voice came to him as they lowered another rope. “Then if you fall, we can hold you.”
Luke quickly did as they asked. “Ready.”
He braced the stretcher until they’d taken the weight, then climbed with her. It seemed to take forever, but finally they reached the top and she was pulled out first. Luke climbed out after.
“An ambulance is at the house. I’ve lowered the seats in my vehicle,” Joe said. “We’ll take her in that. Chief Blake found tracks and followed, hoping to catch the bastards who hurt Quinn.”