by Dale Mayer
“Did you say goodbye to her?” Corey asked.
“We’ll be gone for days, so you might want to,” said Easton from the other side of Corey.
Ryder tilted his head and considered that. “Maybe it’s better if I don’t go back.”
It was Devlin who gave him the sagest advice. “Walk forward because it’s right for you. But don’t avoid going back and saying goodbye because you’re scared.”
Startled, Ryder looked at him. “I’m not scared.” What a concept. He figured Devlin might’ve been joshing him. But when he took that serious, hard look straight on, he realized Devlin could see a whole lot deeper than Ryder wanted him to. He shrugged, repeating, “I’m not scared.”
There was silence from all the others.
He protested. “Why would I be? It’s not like she’s in my life anymore.”
“Then go tell her that you’re leaving. We’ll wait here.”
The men literally stopped. He glared at them, shrugged and said, “Fine.”
He walked back the short distance to her quarters and stepped inside. He saw her face light up before she recognized who it was, and she sank back.
Pain punched him in the gut. “Not quite who you were expecting?” he said, trying to mask the bitterness in his tone. “The guys seem to think I should tell you that I’m heading back out in a couple hours, but, from the look on your face, they need not have worried as you don’t care.”
“That’s not fair,” she protested. “I’m happy to see you. But you didn’t look like you wanted to see me. So of course I stopped smiling.”
He snorted, not totally convinced.
She frowned. “How bad is it out there?” She swung her feet around and sat up.
“You’re not returning to work, so it doesn’t matter.” Seeing the lost look on her face, he sighed.
“I still want to know.”
“We’re reinforcing the allies’ numbers until their own men arrive. They took a major hit yesterday.”
“We took a hit at camp. So I’m sure they were hit much harder.” She touched her stitches. “Maybe I should go back out.”
In two steps he was at her side. He grabbed her by her shoulders firmly but gently. “Like hell,” he said, biting off his words. “Stay here and get better. Then go home.”
She stood, thrust her chin up and glared at him. “Like hell,” she repeated his wording. “I’m here to help. I’m not hiding away in my tent if my services are needed elsewhere.”
The two of them, nose to nose, gazes hard against hard, glared at each other until finally she sagged. “But at the moment, I don’t think I’d make it.”
He let his hands fall away.
She collapsed back against her bed, pulling the covers against her shoulders. “You guys go take off. I don’t need you anyway.”
He frowned, not liking the hurt tone in her voice. “You’ve done well without me. I highly doubt you’ll miss me now.”
She snorted. “Like you know anything.”
He’d already walked several steps away, but, at her words, he turned and looked at her. “Was there something I should know?”
“Would you believe me?”
“If you told me the truth, I would.” He shoved his hands on his hips and glared at her. “I know you were in my bed. We had the best weekend we could possibly have wanted. I told you how I loved you. How I’ve always loved you. Yet you walked away, and you kept on walking. Obviously you didn’t want any more of me or what I had to offer because you never once picked up the phone and called me.” He upped the wattage of his glare. “How’s that for the truth? Or do you have something to add?”
Devlin’s voice called from outside. “Ryder, we’re leaving now. Let’s go.”
Chapter 4
Several days later, back on her feet and feeling more like her old self, Caitlyn heard about the increase in fighting on the frontline. She’d spent the entire week trying to get an update on both Mac and Ryder only to find out Mac was doing fine, but there was no word on Ryder. No one told her more than that. That was so typical. She turned to Dr. Carter and asked, “Do they have a medic still stationed at the outpost?”
He nodded. “Same as when you were there.”
“Can I go back?”
He shot her a look and asked, “Why?”
She dropped her gaze and shrugged. She was busy restocking the cabinet supplies, something that always needed to be done. Their inventory changed fast as this was a busy clinic. “I like to be of help,” she said simply.
“How much does it have to do with one of the men who might be there?”
She glared at him. “Nothing.”
His face neutral, he didn’t say anything further, but he didn’t drop his gaze.
Her shoulders sagged. “Okay, so maybe a little. I’d like to make sure that, if anybody on the frontline needs assistance, I can help.”
“I’ll see. As far as I’m aware, nobody else is needed.”
“Good enough.” Caitlyn finished the restocking and glanced down at her watch. “I’ll grab lunch.”
It seemed as if she had to force herself to eat since being injured. She hadn’t told anybody about that curious symptom, and she was dropping weight, which wasn’t good. The minute any sign of weakness, fatigue or dizziness set in, she would be sent home, and that was not what she wanted. Not while Ryder was here.
She only had a few weeks left on her tour, and maybe, if she was lucky, it was enough time to fix things between her and Ryder.
She walked along the food line trying to find something that would appeal to her touchy stomach. She had food on her tray, but only because she needed to eat, not because it looked appealing. At the far end of the counters were packages of granola and yogurt, prewrapped muffins and sandwiches to go. She grabbed several and headed for the coffee. With a couple bottles of water, enough liquid to last her to dinner, she found a table off on the far end where she could be alone.
Again, since the injury, she was alone a lot. That was not something she’d expected. She’d always had friends, shared space with others well. But, at the moment, maybe she was sending out this big barrier to tell everyone to stay away. And how much of that was due to Ryder’s unexpected return to her world?
However, it wasn’t long before several other nurses walked in and saw her. Rose and Teresa came over to her table, Rose saying, “So tell us, Caitlyn, have you picked up a new partner yet?”
Caitlyn’s eyebrows shot up. “What do you mean, a new partner? I didn’t have an old partner.”
“You and Macklin were pretty tight.” Teresa chuckled. “We haven’t seen much of you lately.”
“Old friends,” she said dismissively. “I’ve not been feeling great, that’s all.”
“How about Ryder? He looks like he’s a hot number.”
Caitlyn shook her head. “There’s nothing between Ryder and me.”
Teresa leaned forward with a big grin and asked, “Can I have him then?”
Caitlyn glared, then rolled her eyes.
Rose chuckled. “I’d watch what you say, Teresa. Caitlyn might take your head off. She’s got Ryder and Mac wrapped around her little finger. Although Mac is crazy good looking,” Rose admitted. “I wouldn’t mind a go at him myself.”
“Mac’s a big boy. If he wants, he can go out with you one night and Teresa the next,” Caitlyn said with a grin. “Neither of you want long-term relationships. Mac doesn’t either.”
Teresa studied her. “You’re serious, right?”
Caitlyn nodded. “Mac and I are just friends.”
“Of course you say that now because he’s not here.”
She laughed. “That could be my reasoning. But not likely.”
The two women grinned, their eyes twinkling. They’d made friends soon after Caitlyn had arrived. All of them had a similar mind-set in that they were here to help out. But, unlike Caitlyn, these women were enjoying the singles’ life. Something Caitlyn hadn’t enjoyed in a long time.
; When she finished eating, she saw Dr. Carter looking around for a space to eat. She lifted her hand in greeting. He walked over with his tray. As the two nurses excused themselves and joined somebody else, Dr. Carter sat down with a smile.
“Is it something I said?” he joked as he watched the two women leave.
She chuckled. “No, but you’re married, so you’re not exactly on their radar.”
He rolled his eyes. “Those two are deadly.”
Caitlyn had to admit they had a bit of a reputation they might not like to know they had. But they were happy, and who was she to spoil their fun?
The doctor looked at the tray in front of her. “That’s a lot of food. Glad to see your appetite is back.”
“It is a lot of food. I’d hoped to find something that tasted right.” She shrugged. “Food just doesn’t sit well since the explosion.” She picked up a muffin, taking a little bite. “I’m doing better with small meals.”
“That’s good. Got word the outpost could use a nurse. A team of one doctor and one nurse—same as before—is coming in, but we’re short one nurse to go back. It would be for four days. There’s a permanent replacement coming at that point. Interested?”
She brightened. “Can I go?”
He nodded. “As long as you’re back to full health.”
She grinned. “Somehow this tray looks very appetizing now.”
“It has been pretty quiet apparently. The rebels moved farther off into the distance. And the casualties have been minor.”
“Even better.” With a fork she dug into the plate of pasta and salad. “Leaving later today?”
“Tomorrow morning, early.”
She grinned. “Thanks. I appreciate this.”
“I’ve never seen anybody as hell-bent on getting to where the action is.”
“I feel like I’m doing something useful there,” she protested.
“Let’s hope you still feel that way when you get there.” He grinned.
It was only for a few days. How bad could it be?
*
Ryder pulled up behind the rest of his team, dust settling heavy in the still air. “The place is quiet. It’s too damn quiet.”
Easton nodded. “I hear you there.”
“It’s been that way since we came back,” Corey said. “I can’t help but feel like they’re getting ready for another attack.”
“My thoughts exactly,” Devlin said. “They are watching us. Planning …”
Off in the distance he studied the rebel camp below. He wanted to go in and attack, take them all out to show how the game was played. But, as long as they were peaceful, Ryder and his team would be peaceful. This was a reconnaissance mission for the moment.
They had to keep an eye on the enemy at all times.
They slipped around the hills for a closer look. There was nothing to see. There were buildings but no people, no animals. In a low voice Ryder muttered, “Have they abandoned camp?”
“Do we have any intel on an alternate one?” Devlin asked.
“No, but it doesn’t mean they don’t have one.”
As he studied the place, Ryder realized there was no smoke. There was nothing. “It’s deserted,” he announced.
“It looks deserted, but that doesn’t mean it is.” Devlin swept his heat signature reader to the left, checking the first four buildings. He shook his head and whispered, “No sign of anyone yet.”
With Easton giving cover, Ryder and Devlin moved to the closest building. Ryder knew in his gut the place was empty. And, if it was empty, that was bad news. If the occupants had moved out, where the hell did they move to?
Corey slipped to his side. “A heavily traveled trail runs on the far side, going between the hills. A unit could circle back around, coming up on our flank.”
Silently the men shifted to a better vantage point to study the trail. At least eighty men had been below. Ryder would like to think they’d withdrawn, but … They also hadn’t made any attempt to hide their tracks. That in itself was unusual.
Since the bomb maker had been collected, the group had scattered, disorganized. Ryder knew his two teams had taken out several leaders. Somebody was obviously back at the helm, pulling the scattered soldiers together again. That would always be an issue. Not only was an eager rebel soldier always ready to step forward to fill an empty spot but even more rebel soldiers were eager to create an empty spot.
An hour later Ryder’s team finally reached a fork in the trail. The men studied them, faces grim. “One leads back around.”
“And one with a lot less people is heading north. Possibly to get reinforcements?”
“Or taking away their wounded.”
Ryder’s team needed to know, but they were short on men, so intel-gathering would have to wait. The priority was to stop another attack. That meant following the tracks of those circling back.
With Easton running communications to the outpost, the four men moved, keeping to the shadows of the trees. The rebels would have sentries on duty, but, in this half-light, it was hard to see everything. Another SEAL team from the outpost was en route.
Plus, the outpost was on alert. The countryside was hilly, sporting lots of hiding places, and the dark depths were deceptive. The dust was strong, making it difficult to keep the cloud down as they traveled on foot. When gunfire erupted about a mile out from their position, they picked up the pace. Unfortunately that made things difficult. The gunfire stopped. Swearing under his breath, Ryder approached the top of a hill cautiously. He peered over the edge to see a larger group than they anticipated milling below, holding guns on prisoners. One of the teams from the outpost had been taken. His eyes quickly scanned below, his mind sorting through options.
With perfect timing, their backup team arrived.
And the balance of power shifted. It took less than ten minutes to organize a plan, and less than half that to implement it. Ryder slipped down the hill and took out the first rebel. Like dominos falling, the other sentries were taken down the same way. That was all it took. Within minutes things changed hands. The guards were now prisoners themselves. Not wasting any time, Ryder’s unit gathered all the prisoners and headed back to the camp.
As a day went, this was a much better outcome than they could’ve anticipated as they’d survived remarkably unscathed.
He stood outside the medical tent and waited until the numbers within reduced. Hearing a kerfuffle, he stepped in to watch one of the guards run into a prisoner, slamming him onto a chair. The man didn’t speak English. One of the nurses was trying to ask him some questions. Ryder’s gaze locked on the nurse, and he swore heavily. The guard turned to look at him. Ryder shook his head. “Jesus Christ, Caitlyn. What are you doing here?”
She shot him a hard look. “I’m doing my job.”
And that was all she said for the next few hours as she and Dr. Robertson cleaned, swabbed, stitched and bandaged those in need. When done, she walked toward Ryder. He couldn’t help note the fatigue in her slumped shoulders and in her gaze. Then he caught sight of her stitches. Damn. She shouldn’t even be here.
“You should be with Mac,” he said abruptly.
She thrust her jaw out at him. “What’s your problem with Mac? You keep bringing him up as if he’s my lover. I told you that he’s not.”
He glared at her, wanting desperately to believe it, but, at the same time, he wasn’t sure. At least if Mac and Caitlyn were together, she’d be safe right now. “I don’t want you here,” he snapped. “It’s dangerous.”
“Got it. Just over a few weeks, I’ll be home.”
“Please stay safe in the meantime.” He turned and strode from the tent.
“You could keep an eye on me,” she whispered under her breath.
But he heard. He turned. “I will always try to do that. But I can’t have my focus split. When I’m here, I have a job to do. I can’t be worried about you too.”
“I was joking,” she said with a bright smile. “You don’t need to worry about
me. I’m fine.”
He snorted and stormed off.
Chapter 5
Caitlyn sank slowly to the bench on the side where she could still see. The first day back here at the smaller outpost, at the edge of the action again, had been on the rough side. She had a mess to clean up here at the clinic. Plus, she needed to find water. Not just for her but for the patients too. She sent one of the men to grab a medical case and told him to bring food as well. She had four men she was keeping overnight. The doctor was currently talking to two of them.
Dr. Robertson walked back over and said, “Good thing we brought plenty of medical supplies with us.”
“Yes,” she added. “I thought it had been calm lately, but obviously I was wrong, given the lack of supplies.”
“Some of the medical supplies were stolen,” Dr. Robertson said. “It’s happened a couple times. Some young boys were caught.”
“That explains it.”
It sucked, but she felt almost sympathetic to anybody who needed medicine. She wished to God there was a way to call a peace treaty. But it never seemed to make any difference what she wanted. The fighting continued regardless.
She was still confused after seeing Ryder. She didn’t have the time or the energy to argue with him, but that didn’t stop her from constantly turning to see if he was entering her clinic. The problem was, she expected to see him. Twenty years of friendship was hard to give up. Even though they had missed out on the last two years, he was here now. She needed to do what she could to get them back on their natural footing.
That she wanted so much more was another story.
One of the men returned with crates of water. She grabbed a bottle, opened it and took a long drink.
Dr. Robertson turned and said, “You haven’t even had a chance to drop your things on a bed. Take an hour and get settled in. Come back for your shift at eight p.m.”
With that order, Caitlyn grabbed another bottle of water and headed out to make sure she had a place to lay her head tonight.
After dropping her bags on the floor beside a bed, she carried on to the mess tent for food. The meals would be a lot simpler here, but it would still be plentiful. She walked inside, headed for the coffee first, and then some hot food. With a tray full and an appetite to go with it for once, she sat down.