Straight From the Hip(80)
“Don’t scream,” she said as she rushed to him. “Don’t scream.”
“I wasn’t planning on screaming,” he told her.
“I was talking to myself.”
“It’s all right,” he said calmly. “I’m going to move to this tree and lean against it. Send Ethan to get Aaron to drive the SUV as close as possible. Then bring back the first-aid kit.”
Her heart pounded so fast, she thought she was going to pass out. The bite marks were deep. Blood oozed out of them. “There’s antivenom serum in the first-aid kit?”
“No. A bandage. You’re going to wrap my arm, then we’ll drive to the hospital.”
As he spoke, he walked to the tree, then leaned.
“Should you sit down? You need to sit down. How can you be so calm. Is it the venom? Is it already in your brain?”
“I don’t want to move around. Lack of movement keeps the venom localized.” He stared into her eyes. “Izzy, you can do this.”
She wanted to run in a circle screaming. She wanted to wring her hands and beg the universe to fix him. She wanted to sit down and cry, then lose herself in panic. Instead she knew she had to take care of business.
“Okay,” she said and took off to find Ethan.
Five minutes later she was back with the first-aid kit Ethan had handed her. She brought it to Nick, who told her to open it.
Easier said than done, she thought as her hands shook. “What kind of bandage?”
“Gauze to put over the bite marks, then an Ace bandage to wrap my arm. See if there’s a sling.”
She didn’t bother reading the contents. Instead she dumped everything on the ground and rapidly searched through it until she found what she needed.
“I’m going to throw up,” she muttered as she grabbed everything and raced to his side.
“Just don’t get any on me.”
“Shut up. Tell me what to do.”
“I can’t do both.”
She looked at him. “I am hanging on by a thread, Nick. I swear, why couldn’t you catch the damn snake like they do in the movies?”
“So this is my fault?”
There was actual humor in his voice. As if he thought the situation was funny. As if he wasn’t going to die.
“Did I tell you not to piss me off?” she asked.
“I hate to disappoint you, Izzy, but we’re not having sex tonight.”
“Yeah, I got that. Tell me what to do.”
He walked her through covering the wound, then wrapping his arm. The work was difficult, what with her fingers shaking and the sense of impending doom sending waves of panic through her. Knowing his life depended on her, she kept going. Slowly, carefully, she secured the sling around his arm and helped him anchor his arm against his chest, his wrist and hand higher than his elbow.
“Go wait for the car,” he told her.
“I’m not leaving you.”
“You’re not leaving. You’re checking on the car. Go on, Izzy. I’ll be right here.”
She hesitated a second, then raced to the clearing. The corporate guys were gone. She hoped Ethan had bullied the hell out of them and thrown in a few threats for good measure. She planned to call the sheriff just as soon as she knew Nick wasn’t going to die, but right now she didn’t care about anything but getting him to the hospital.
“Hurry,” she said aloud. “Hurry.”
Seconds later Nick’s SUV raced down the road and slammed to a stop just beside her. Aaron jumped out.
“Where is he?” he yelled, his arms waving. “Oh, God. A snake? A rattlesnake? Is he dead? He’s dead, isn’t he?”
“Not yet. Come on.”
She grabbed Aaron’s arm and led him back to Nick. He was still leaning against the tree, looking calm. But she saw the sweat on his forehead and noticed the tension in his jaw.
“You all right?” she asked.
“Fine. We’re going to walk to the SUV. Aaron, I’ll lean on you.”
“Yes, yes.” Aaron sounded as shaky as Izzy felt.
He looped Nick’s free arm around his shoulder and they moved the few feet down the trail. Nick wanted to go slowly, stepping carefully. His breathing was steady. She told herself that was good. It had to be.
When they reached the SUV, she helped him slide into the backseat, then closed the door behind him.
“Are you driving?” she asked Aaron.
“Yes.”
“Do you know where the hospital is?”
“Yes. I’ve already called and told them we’re coming. They’re ready.”
“Good.”
She climbed into the passenger seat, buried her face in her hands and burst into tears.
NICK LAY in the hospital bed. Morning light filtered in through the blinds. His arm hurt like a sonofabitch, but he could deal with the pain.