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Jake couldn’t help it – he laughed and looked down the table at her, only to see her slide a glance toward him as her lip twitched, curling slightly upward in amusement. He gave her a slight salute, acknowledging that she had this round and saw her smile even wider.
The bowls were passed around the table, along with a basket of biscuits and then a platter of roast that was sliced perfectly. He carefully took one slice and felt someone kick his foot.
“Eat up,” Houghton nodded. “We’re going hunting tomorrow, and this isn’t the base. You can eat here so long as you help provide.”
Swallowing silently, he hesitated and took two more slices of roast along with another biscuit. Everything smelled so phenomenal, and to think that this was a normal everyday occurrence for them all – gathered here like some weird family – it made him truly appreciate this chance that he’d been given… and he said so.
“Thank you for this, for accepting me… and ladies? This is incredible,” he praised openly. “I never expected any of this – and I am just grateful and amazed,” he admitted, before laughing softly. “Who needs a lung, am I right? I’m just thankful that I have my whole stomach right now – ‘cause mercy me! I love snap peas and pot roast.”
And to his surprise, he saw several knowing smiles and heard a slight feminine chuckle, seeing Lena looking at him, shaking her head in disbelief – and confusion.
Obviously, she didn’t know what to make of him any more than he knew what to do with her. How did you win over a girl that you grated on every nerve and enjoyed doing it?
Picking up his fork, he eagerly began to dive in and talked with the other fellas in-between bites the entire time. It was so good to share news with the other team members and he stunned to learn that the medic that helped save his life, the little girl who argued with Morrison about getting him help? She was actually Gideon’s youngest sister.
“You’re kidding…”
“Nope,” Gideon grinned. “Why do you think I’m here? My know-it-all pulled some strings and contacted a few friends who reached out to Houghton.”
“Hey,” Houghton said gruffly. “I like that girl and she’s the only one that can rub two nickels together and get a dime. She and Gretchen, my replacement. After those two? The rest of y’all are screwed…”
Gideon and Jake shared a horrified look – before laughing.
“Which is why Collins might be here Friday.”
“What?” Jake uttered, nearly choking on his next bite. “Max Collins? He’s coming here?”
“Yeah, and I’m not sure it’s going to be good.”
“He broke his legs like Knucklehead over here,” Jake began and saw Gideon raise his biscuit in acknowledgment, taking a bite.
“He’s got an infection, and the bone didn’t set right – and he has been hiding it.”
“Oh no” Jake whispered, swallowing his bite that suddenly lost all flavor as he saw the truth in their eyes. “Did they take his leg?”
“He’s been fighting them, refusing treatment, and…”
Jake dropped his fork and looked away, feeling such avid pain for someone he really respected and considered a friend. His own injury was still so fresh in his mind, and he couldn’t imagine what Collins was feeling right now. Crossing his arms, he took several breaths, trying to compose himself, and felt Houghton touch his shoulder.
“I know. I’m hoping they either did it against his will, or we aren’t too late.”
“I’m done,” Jake whispered painfully, feeling his stomach churn as the tears threatened, knowing the panic that his buddy was probably dealing with. He would be devastated to lose his leg, but if it was so bad that it was threatening his life? He didn’t want to see him die firsthand – he already heard that Muldoon was killed not long after the blast from his head wound. “May I be excused? Do I clear my plate, put it on the counter? What do you want me to do? I gotta get out of here for a few minutes and,I need air…”
Jake could feel the hysteria welling up inside of him – and surprisingly enough, Lena spoke up, shocking him.
“I’ll get it. Go ahead.”
“Thank you.”
Jake shoved his chair back, racing out of the house and stepping out on the front porch of the house in the silence before the first sob escaped him. His side ached – almost as much as his heart.
Oh gosh, it hurt,he whimpered painfully, feeling such loss, such helplessness, and it just hit home with him so hard right now. Here he was in the middle of nowhere having probably the best meal of his life, and his friend was struggling to keep his leg.
It just didn’t seem right.
… And he vomited in the grass.
“Owww,” he uttered openly and spat a few times as he took several breaths, trying to slow his stomach down. Puking had not been fun and made his ribcage hurt something awful.
