Drake, who had been leading, stopped at a clearing. Everyone sat down to rest.
Darius helped Clint to lay Lydia onto her side on a silver survival blanket. She didn’t even stir.
“Go ask Mason how much time we’re going to be here. I want to stitch up her left wrist, and start on her back.” Darius was already opening up his medical gear.
Clint took one last look at Lydia and then walked towards his Lieutenant. He gave a quick chin tilt so he would walk away from the younger sister.
“I told the family they need to let us take care of Lydia,” Mason said. “They want to spend time with her, and I understand. But I explained they all need to conserve their energy and our medic was the best in the Navy.”
“I’m surprised they agreed.”
“They’re dead on their feet. They would have argued, but I think making their way across camp is too much for them.” Mason looked over to where Beth was sitting against a tree. “I’ve been trying to get Beth to talk, but she’s keeping quiet. Something bad happened. Did Lydia talk to you?”
“She said the men tried to rape her sister, but she did something to make them mad, and that’s why they whipped her.” Clint gritted his teeth. His T-Shirt had been soaked through with blood.
“Whatever happened to Beth wasn’t good. I’m glad to hear she wasn’t raped, but she’s definitely been abused. She’s really scared of me. Lydia’s bravery is amazing, but that whipping she took is horrific.”
“I wonder what the parents were doing.” Mason and Clint looked over to where the older Hidalgos were huddled together. “Look, Dare wants to give Lydia some intensive first aid, can we stop for the night?”
“Yep. We’ll camp here until dawn.”
Clint went back to Darius and hunkered down beside him and Lydia. He was getting ready to stitch up Lydia’s wrist.
“These aren’t ideal circumstances.”
“I didn’t hear you bitching this much when you had to sew up Finn,” Clint joked wanly.
“Finn couldn’t give a shit about scars.” Unfortunately Clint knew the drill. He held Lydia’s forearm, and waited for Darius to numb the area. Lydia didn’t flinch. They waited, then Darius did a thorough cleaning of the wound before beginning to sew. He was almost done when she began to wake up.
“Please, no more,” she moaned in Spanish. Clint spoke to her in a soft voice, and he felt like shit as he continued to hold her down.
“How much longer, Dare?”
“Almost done.”
“Shhhh, Lydia, it’s me Clint. I promise you’re safe. Darius is putting stitches into your wrist so you don’t get an infection. Please Lydia, listen to my voice. Can you hear me? You’re safe.” Clint repeated those words over and over.
Finally she heard him. “Clint?” She stopped struggling.
“Yes Baby, it’s me.”
“Done.”
Clint let go of Lydia. “There you go. Try to keep your wrist immobile for a while, okay? We don’t want you undoing all of Darius’ hard work.”
Lydia tried to sit up and Clint helped her. She looked at her swollen and stitched up flesh and winced.
“Why doesn’t it hurt?”
“I anesthetized the area. Even with the shot I’m going to give you, when the numbness wears off, it’s going to hurt.” Darius carefully measured the amount of liquid that went into the syringe and administered it.
“Will this knock her out?”
“If I give her more it will,” Darius admitted.
“I don’t want anymore. I refuse to weigh down Clint as he has to carry me. It’s easier when I’m awake. I won’t hold still for any more shots.” The small woman in her baggy black shirt was staring down the two of them. She sounded like a hissing kitten. It would be comical except for the lines of pain on her face.
“Lydia, we’re making camp now. I can see how much pain you’re in just from your back. Let’s get you something that will help you sleep through the night, okay?”
“She giving you trouble?” Finn asked as he came over with two large tarps. Lydia looked frightened and pushed closer to Clint. Finn immediately realized his mistake and crouched down in front of her.
“I’m sorry, Ma’am. I was just teasing. I love seeing you giving Darius and Clint a little bit of what for. It’s good for them.”
She pushed away from Clint, and he missed her warmth. She sat up straight and gave Finn a brave smile.
“It’s okay. I’m just jumpy.”
“I’m here to help you set up camp. Guys, hit the high ground close to the tree, it’s definitely going to rain.”