“I thought so. The psychiatrist explained that was why this was all so hard on me and Johnson. We thought we were protecting the innocents, not murdering them.” His mouth drew into a thin line.
“You could claim that those innocents could grow up to be terrorists.”
“You could.” His dark eyes were full of misery. “Would you believe that if you pulled that trigger?”
“Probably not.” Maryn felt her strength leaving her. She wanted to reassure Tuck and help him, but she had nothing left.
“I didn’t either.”
“Only the Lord can help you forgive yourself.”
Tuck’s eyebrows arched. “I didn’t figure you for a believer.”
“Of course I’m a believer. If I wasn’t I’d be hamburger in that bear’s paws.”
“You kind of were hamburger.”
She pushed a hand at him, but it tugged at her stitches and she cried out.
“You need to get back into bed.” Tucker pushed away from the table.
“We can’t leave all this food. Mama Porter would feel so bad.”
“I’ll come back for it. Could you eat some more if I get you upstairs and settled in the bed?”
“Maybe.”
Tucker lifted Maryn into his arms and scaled the stairs. Warm tingles spread through her as she lay against his chest. He waited for her while she used the bathroom, brushed her teeth, and washed her face. Then he helped her take another pain pill and get settled comfortably in the bed.
“Where are you going to sleep?” Maryn asked groggily.
“Maybe I’ll climb in there with you.” His smile said he wouldn’t.
“There’s plenty of room.” She shouldn’t have said that.
Tuck sat down in the chair he’d pulled close to the bedside and leaned forward. His face was close to hers. “Don’t worry about me. I can sleep anywhere.”
“Good talent to have.” She stared into his brown eyes, finding herself lost in them. It wasn’t even dark outside and yet she was sure she could sleep for hours. “Thank you for taking such good care of me.”
“You’re easy to take care of.”
She laughed weakly and her eyes drifted closed of their own volition. “I know that’s a lie.”
“It’s not.” She heard the leather of the recliner squeak as he leaned forward and then she felt his lips brush over hers.
Maryn’s eyes popped back open. The contact had been brief, but she could still feel the impression of his lips on hers and wished she could sit up and kiss him again. “I liked that,” she murmured. “A good night kiss is part of your taking care of the guest package?”
“If you weren’t in pain and on drugs I’d give you a real goodnight kiss.”
Maryn wished she could concentrate, but that OxyContin was hitting her hard. “I have something exhilarating to look forward to tomorrow night then.”
Tucker’s slow grin was the last thing she remembered as she dozed off.
ChapterNine
Tucker hid in a cave. Sweat dripped down his face despite the fact it was much cooler in the darkened interior than outside with over a hundred degree temperatures and that blasted sun that would never stop. He was alone, but it made no sense to him. He was never alone. Johnson or one of their other troop members was always by his side.
Johnson walked into the entrance of the cave, barely enough light to see his dimples. He grinned at Tucker. “Hiding out like a wussy boy, eh?”