She picked up a small roll of gaze and began rolling it around and over the pads until the area was well covered. “I want you to keep this dry and clean.”
“Are you sure you’re not a doctor, as well?” Dana had no trouble taking control.
“Nope, my calling is smokejumping but I do take my skills as an EMT seriously.”
He watched her face. “My guess would be that you take most things seriously.”
“What does that mean?”
Travis saw the slight tightening of her lips. “I just remember you were quick with a laugh and a smile. Now, not so much.” He watched her. “What happened, Dana?”
She met his gaze. “I don’t know what you mean.”
“I suspect you do.”
Dana made no comment as she finished applying tape to the end of the gauze. With efficacy, she repacked her bag. “I’m gonna clean up. It’s a treat to have a place to do so when I’m out in the field. Normally I don’t get a bath for a number of days.”
“Says the person who hasn’t stood under the water that melted from an iceberg.” Travis glanced at Mr. Gunter and moved to the stove.
She giggled.
There was that sound again. The one that gripped his middle. The one that seemed to slip out unguarded when he least expected it.
Gathering her personal gear bag and a flashlight, Dana started toward the back door.
“I left my extra T-shirt for you to use as a towel,” Travis called.
A few minutes later he smiled when a squeal reached his ears.
* * *
Dana stepped into the shower stall, enjoying the full moon which meant she didn’t need her flashlight. Travis’s T-shirt hung on a nail. She didn’t intend to use it. Something about the idea of having Travis’s underclothing against her body disturbed her. The warmth of it. His smell. The fact he still got to her.
At dinner she’d forgotten her hurt and found him a charming dinner partner yet sad when he’d spoken about his disappointment in how his life had gone. He’d seemed genuinely interested in what she had told him. Today they had worked together just as they had years ago. What really ate at her was she still liked him.
When he’d come into the cabin after his shower without a shirt on her eyes had soaked him in. Travis may not have been a smokejumper in the last few years but he had obviously kept in shape. She tried not to stare but hadn’t been successful. It had taken him clearing his throat to make her blink and refocus elsewhere. He had been aware of her interest. That disturbed her the most.
Getting involved with Travis wasn’t a path she needed to follow. They’d only be together until tomorrow. In less than twenty-four hours they’d be back to their own lives, just as it had been before she’d walked into Leo’s office.
Stepping under the water, she couldn’t help but squeal. Travis had been correct. It was freezing. With teeth chattering and body shivering, she soaped up. The smell of smoke lingered in her hair. One of many things her ex-boyfriend had gradually grown to hate. It took at least three hair washings for the smell to wear off. She kept her hair shoulder length or above just for that reason.
Taking a deep breath to fortify herself, she turned on the tap again and rinsed off. Unable to help herself with the need to ease the cold, she snatched Travis’s shirt off the nail and toweled off. It was soft and large enough to do the job. Her hands shook as she pulled on her panties and sports bra, then her T-shirt.
“Oh,” she yelped when she stubbed her little toe on the leg of the bench.
Seconds later the door to the cabin opened and Travis came around the corner of the shower. “Dana? Are you all right?”
Travis stopped short. Stood there. She stared back. Why, she had no idea. She was used to very little privacy, knew that her job and her respect depended on it. But this wasn’t one of the guys she worked with. This was Travis. A quiver went through her having nothing to do with the water temperature or the cool of the night. Even in the dim light Travis’s look said he saw something he liked.
“I’m sorry.” He turned his back to her. “Are you okay? Did you see a bear? You yelled.”
* * *
“I’m fine. I hit my toe on the bench.” He wasn’t moving to go inside. “You were staring again.”
“Men do that when they see a half-dressed woman.”
She huffed. “You never noticed before.”
“I noticed. I was in a relationship and we were on the same team. Time and place was wrong.” There was an edge to his voice.
“I know.”
“That doesn’t mean I wasn’t aware.”
Her heart hopped into her throat. Her mind might not have wanted to hear the words but her body sure reacted to them. She’d turned hot all over. “Do you mind leaving so I can finish dressing?”
“Don’t take too long or I’ll get worried.”
Taking a shower may not have been the best choice, especially since Travis’s look had steam forming on her body. She wasn’t inexperienced and knew enough to recognize when a man was attracted to her. Never had Travis given her such an intense look. She quickly pulled on her pants and slipped her feet into her boots.
When she returned inside, Travis was busy taking Mr. Gunter’s vitals as the man dozed.
She quietly put her belongings away. “We need to get some rest. We’ll have to be up early to meet the helicopter.”
“You go ahead. I’m gonna sit up with him tonight.” Travis had pulled the chair back over beside Mr. Gunter’s bed.
She took her sleeping bag out of her bag. “You’re going to need some sleep, as well.”
“I’ll say, it has been an unexpectedly busy day.”
Dana couldn’t remember another one like it. “Wake me at two and I’ll relieve you.” She rolled her sleeping bag out near the stove and crawled in. Seconds later she shimmied out of her pants and put them in a pile next to the bag. Using her arm as a pillow, she closed her eyes.
“Dana, it’s been nice to see you again.”
She wouldn’t let herself look at Travis yet it took her longer than normal to go to sleep.
What felt like seconds later, the floor creaked beside her. Her eyelids popped open to see two sock-covered feet. Her look traveled up long legs to a gently curved butt over narrow hips to a broad back and wide shoulders. “What time is it?”
“Three a.m.”
“I thought I told you I’d get up at two and relieve you.” She scrambled out of the sleeping bag then pulled it back up over her hips.
“You were snoring so sweetly I hated to wake you. I got some sleep sitting in the chair.”
“Turn around while I pull on my pants, would you? I can do it inside the sleeping bag but it’s quicker and easier out of it.”
“Sure, I’ll put some wood on the fire.” He turned away and picked up one of the split logs beside the stove.
“What do I need to watch for with Mr. Gunter?” She finished buttoning her pants.
“Wake me if he develops a fever or becomes agitated.”
Dana moved over to the bed as Travis turned. “Take my sleeping bag. There’s no point in pulling another out.”
* * *
Travis woke to the sounds of movement in the kitchen. Through the window the sky had yet to lighten. He’d slept much heavier than he intended. He pulled on his pants while still inside the bag which brought on a groan. Stiffness from yesterday’s activities and sleeping on the floor, none of which he was used to, had found a home in each of his joints.
He climbed out of the bag, then stretched his shoulders back and forth. He wasn’t used to that type of work he’d done over the last few hours. Apparently he’d become soft through the years.
Dana’s back remained to him so he had a moment to study her. There wasn’t a spare ounce of fat on her. She’d pulled her hair back at her neck leaving a small stub that
stuck out. Some hung around her face that she gave an impatient push every now and then with her hand.
She worked at cutting cheese. Her movements were efficient and minimal. There was nothing fussy about her. A pot boiled on one surface of the stove. She glanced over her shoulder as if she realized he watched her.
“Mornin’,” he said to her but looked at Mr. Gunter. “How did things go last night? I didn’t mean to sleep so long.” Travis rubbed the stubble along his jaw. It already itched. He needed to shave but that wouldn’t be happening until he returned to civilization.
“Good morning. Breakfast will be ready in a few minutes. I’m warming up something for Mr. Gunter.”
Travis took a second to check on his patient, grabbed his shirt then stepped out the back door. He returned with his face washed, shirt buttoned and tucked in. Sitting beside Mr. Gunter, who could hardly keep his eyes open, Travis checked his vital signs.
Dana joined him with a bowl in her hand. “Left over stew broth. He did pretty good last night. Slept through me checking on him.”
“Good. I’ll take care of feeding him.” Travis took the bowl from her. “You eat.”
For once she did as he suggested. Mr. Gunter ate hardly anything.
Dana finished her meal. “I’m going out to talk to base to confirm the rendezvous point.”
“If I’m not here when you come back in, I’m out back seeing about the ATV.” He could eat later.
Travis had the machine started when Dana came around the side of the house. He turned it off and checked the gas and oil. “I’ve been thinking if I can find a couple of boards to lay across the basket and strap them to it, then put the mattress of the bed on top of that, we could get him down the road easier. Maybe cover them with our sleeping bags because they’re warmer than his blankets.”
Dana came to stand across the four-wheeler from him. “Sounds like it would work.”
“This isn’t going to be a fun ride for him.” Travis added a sarcastic lift to the corner of his mouth. He looked around for boards but seeing none, he started toward the back of the shed.
“It’ll be better than walking.” Dana followed him.
“Can’t argue with that. Either way it has to be done. The fluid is building up in his body to a dangerous point. I doubled his meds.”
Behind the shed he found a stack on rough old lumber. “These’ll have to do.” Picking up two boards, Travis carried them to the four-wheeler and laid them across the wide but low metal basket behind the seat. “I’m worried we can secure them tight enough.”
“How about nailing cross boards and using them to hold it in place,” Dana suggested.
“That would work,” he looked around, “if we can come up with nails, hammer and a saw.”
“Surely he has those around here somewhere. Would have to have them to survive up here by himself.” Dana walked farther inside the shed.
Travis followed. By the time he came to stand beside her, Dana had found a handsaw. She pulled a rusty can toward him. “You find a hammer and I’ll meet you outside.”
“Okay.” He found a hammer lying on the bench and headed to the four-wheeler.
Dana passed him. “I’ll get another board. We need to be getting on the way. The helicopter can’t wait, especially if the wind picks up.”
“Is that supposed to happen?”
She called over her shoulder. “Yeah. And we need them to get all three of us on board.”
A minute later she returned with a board in hand. He took it from her and measured the width against the wood they already had. He quickly cut the two boards required. Positioning the cross boards so they sat the distance of the sides of the basket. He hammered the nails into place while Dana held the boards. After flipping the platform over, they put it in the correct spot.
“Now all we need is some rope or straps,” Dana announced with her hands on her hips.
“I saw rope in the shed. I’ll get it.” Travis headed into the shed, soon returning.
Together they wrapped the rope around the platform so it wouldn’t move backward or forward.
Pleased, Travis stood back. “Looks good.”
“I’ll put the tools away. You get Mr. Gunter.” Dana gathered the tools.
Travis headed inside the cabin. “Mr. Gunter, we need to go.”
The man opened his eyes.
“I need you to sit in the rocker for a few minutes. Can you do that?”
“Sure I can. Can even walk there.” The older man moved to sit up.
Travis helped him. In reality the man didn’t even have the strength he thought he did. While helping Mr. Gunter, Travis heard the engine of the ATV roar as Dana moved it around to the front of the house. Travis settled Mr. Gunter, then picked up the mattress and carried it outside. Laying it over the boards, Travis returned for Mr. Gunter.
Dana gathered their bags and carried a load out ahead of him. She waited beside the four-wheeler. “I’ll help you get Mr. Gunter on.”
Together they half lifted, half pushed Mr. Gunter up on the mattress.
Dana had already laid out one of the sleeping bags. She returned to the cabin while Travis covered Mr. Gunter with the other sleeping bag. Dana came out with the last of their bags in hand. Dana gave him his packs, then she fixed hers across her chest.
Travis placed one large bag in front of the steering wheel. The other would ride between the driver’s legs. They tied the sheet off the bed to the back side of the basket and to the front, making Mr. Gunter as secure as possible. Done, Dana picked up the chain saw.
“Put that between Mr. Gunter’s feet. You drive. Your legs are shorter and you can sit farther up. I can hold the saw with one hand.” He climbed on. “This is gonna be a tight fit.”
Dana pursed her lips, her eyes holding a determined look. She took her seat, her hips fitting tightly against his and her back pressed along his chest. Her hair brushed his chin, a few strands getting caught in his stubble.
“Ready?” Dana asked.
“Ready.” Travis placed an arm around her waist to support himself when she took off.
On a deep exhale, she turned the key and started the four-wheeler.
Travis couldn’t deny being aware of Dana pressed so close yet it wasn’t something he planned to act on. He’d hurt her once and he wouldn’t do it again. He wasn’t that guy she’d once thought he was. Life had hardened him.
* * *
Despite the bumpy ride, Dana tried to keep the four-wheeler out of the ruts with little success. Her concentration remained on the road, hoping to lessen the difficult ride for Mr. Gunter. It made the trip slow going. She glanced at her watch. It would be daylight soon. They couldn’t miss the helicopter.
They were traveling through a tunnel of large timber, tall enough to block out most of the morning light. She glanced up to see the wind blowing the tops of the trees. The motor drowned out the sounds of birds or animals making their morning movements. What she did know about was the heat of Travis’s body pressed against hers.
The whole scenario of the day before, and this morning, was something she wouldn’t have imagined in her wildest dreams. She tried not to think about Travis and focused on her job. She’d promised herself never to let another man get into her head like her ex-boyfriend had, or before him, Travis. She couldn’t let another person hurt her. It was too scary, too difficult, too much work to function again. She’d hold her emotions close and concentrate on her job and the satisfaction she received from doing it well. So far that had worked. Travis showing up again wouldn’t change anything.
They came to a spot where they needed to ford a creek. “Hold on to Mr. Gunter. There’s no good way to cross the rocks.”
Travis removed his hand from around her. Apparently he now had both behind him, one holding Mr. Gunter.
“How much farther?” Travis asked, his hand returning t
o her waist. His mouth lay close enough his lips brushed her ear.
Just a few more miles, then a ride home and Travis would be gone.
“Not too much.”
Dana kept them moving at a slow, steady pace. Wind having nothing to do with the movement of the ATV buffeted them. She raised her head. The slightest hint of smoke filled her nose. Was the fire moving faster?
“Smoke.”
Travis had smelled it too.
Thankfully the narrow strip of road smoothed out and she increased her speed. Soon they left the woods riding into a meadow. The space would be large enough for the rescue helicopter to lower a basket to get Mr. Gunter but not great enough to land. Being in a dense area of the forest with no other roads made rescues problematic.
Dana blinked, adjusting her sight as they came out of the dimness of the trees into the bright sunlight. She pulled into the center of the field and turned off the engine.
The whop-whop of blades announced the helicopter flew nearby. Good timing.
Climbing off the four-wheeler, she made sure she didn’t rub against Travis any more than necessary. She radioed the helicopter pilot, letting him know they were in place. As she did so she watched Travis remove the sheet securing Mr. Gunter.
The man’s skin had gone ashen again but his eyes were open.
“They’re sending a basket first,” she called out to Travis.
He nodded and returned to checking his patient’s vitals.
Moments later the helicopter came down to treetop level and hovered over the center of the field. A human-size metal basket was lowered. It swung wildly in the wind. Dana reached out to catch the basket just as it swayed away. Seconds later it rocketed toward her. Strong arms grabbed her and jerked her out of the way.
“Are you trying to kill yourself? I don’t need two patients!” Travis’s words shot like bullets as they stumbled backward. He finally brought them to a standstill well out of range of the basket.
He released her as the basket bounced against the ground. “Let’s get Mr. Gunter on this thing before the weather turns worse.”
Reunited with Her Daredevil Doc Page 5