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“Kit.”The soft bark came from inside the car. “What have I told you about saying things like that?”
She just gave me a wink and instantly the breath I was holding released as she muttered. “Always tell the truth?”
I liked her…
No, I more than liked her.
I needed her.
Her faith. Her smile. Her warm, brown eyes as the stranger straightened from the back seat. “We need to get him inside.”
“Caleb.” Nick raced around to the other side of the car.
“Come on.” She jerked her head toward the cabin. “You can help me open up.”
She heaved the massive black tactical bag filled with medical equipment from their vehicle. I stepped closer. “Can I help with that?”
One look at the desperation in my eyes, and she nodded. I grabbed the handles and pulled it closer, almost crumbling with the weight. But she never gave me an option, just hurried up the steps to the wide veranda and disappeared into the gloom. I followed, listening to the grunts of my stepbrothers behind me as they carried Tobias to the cabin.
Theclunkof a lock sounded before light spilled out of the open front door, illuminating the way.
“Second door on the left down the hall, that way.” She pointed deeper into the cabin.
I raced forward, hurrying through the space as Tobias unleashed a roar that made my stomach clench and my heart hammer. I flung open the door and reached around, flicked on the light, and stepped inside.
It was some kind of surgical room, fitted with monitors, equipment, and cupboards of instruments.
“Get him on the table,” the doctor barked over Tobias’ scream.
I heaved the bag onto the long counter that stretched along the wall, and turned, rushing to his side. “I’m here.” I grabbed my stepbrother’s hand. “I’m right here.”
He gripped the side of the stainless steel table with his other hand and fixed a wide, terrified stare on me. His panting breaths blew my hair as the doctor directed, “We need to get these jeans off.”
“Ryth,” Tobias gasped.
“I’m not going anywhere.” I fixed my gaze on his. “Look at me.”
He did, clinging to my hand as Nick unbuttoned his jeans and pulled down his zipper. The stranger moved the bag I'd hauled in, opened it and rifled through, pulling out a plastic case full of vials. He grabbed one, then a syringe, and filled it with the contents. “Kit.”
“It’s ready,” she answered, drawing my focus.
I hadn’t even seen her in the room, but she was pushing an IV stand closer to the table.
“We’re going to need that hoodie off, as well.” The doctor nodded to Tobias.
“Help me?” she asked.
I dropped Tobias’s hold only long enough to yank the sleeve and pull his hoodie over one shoulder and his head. Then his clammy grasp was mine again.
“I need to hook this up,” the doctor said as he worked, tearing open an alcohol swab and cleaning the crook of Tobias's arm. “Small sting,” he muttered, sliding the needle in deep.
Kit moved fast, crossing the room to yank open a drawer and come back.
“Here.” She tore a strip of tape and placed it over the IV line as the doctor injected the drugs into the port.
“It’ll ease the pain,” he said, staring at Tobias. “Hold on now.”
Tobias bucked with the agony, gripping the table tight as they pulled his jeans down. But not once did his hold on my hand tighten. No, he made sure of that. Even in agony, his first instinct was to protect me.
