She helped him pull his shirt over his head then she cleaned the wound with a saline solution. “You’re not gonna lick it this time?” He shot her a twisted smile.
She shook her head and pushed the memory from her mind. “I think this is more sanitary.” She smiled slightly and continued to wipe away the crusted blood then reached for the alcohol. She paused and gave him a sideways look. “Alcohol or peroxide?”
He shrugged. “They’ll both hurt.”
She nodded and twisted the lid off the peroxide. “This won’t hurt as bad.” She poured it over the open wound and he hissed, fighting the urge to swing his arm away.
The wound foamed and a reddish yellow tint boiled to the surface. “It’s getting infected.”
He nodded, already suspecting the worst. He looked away as she poured another stream of peroxide. “At this rate, my fighters will all bail on me.”
“Some already have.” She glanced up at him, half expecting him to rant. He remained calm, his mind working around the problem.
“Who’s left?”
“Most of the old folks. A couple of the hunters, but they’re starting to remember, too.” She wiped the excess away and placed a pad of gauze over the wound. “I doubt any will be left after tomorrow.”
Simon looked down at her and even with her head nearly bald and her skin still pale, she had remarkable features. Her eyes seemed almost exotic to him as she focused on dressing his arm.
“Why are you still here?”
She fought a small smile. “I believe you said that I was yours now.” She glanced up at him, raising a brow. “Or have you changed your mind?”
Simon watched her wrap more gauze around his arm then tape it. He fought back a grin as he lifted her chin. “I think I’ll keep you around a while longer.”
She returned the grin then reached for an ACE bandage. “This will keep the gauze in place and keep dirt out.” She began to wrap and he winced at the pressure.
“Do you know what you’re doing?”
She shrugged slightly. “I remember doing this, but…” She shook her head. “I don’t remember everything yet.” She stepped back and gave him an approving look. “I think you’ll live.”
“If I don’t get gangrene.” He tried to work his arm and froze. “I think the bone is shattered.”
Her eyes widened and she reached out and gently took his arm. “I can’t know for sure without an…” She paused, her mind searching. “A…picture…of the inside.”
He nodded. “X-ray.”
“Right.” She slowly bent his arm, twisting slightly as she did. He winced but allowed her to continue. “How bad does that hurt?”
“If you were a man, I’d punch your lights out,” he spoke through clenched teeth. “It hurts like hell.”
She nodded and let his arm go. “I don’t think it’s broken, but there may be chips of bone. It just depends on where the bullet went.”
He stepped back and reached for his shirt. She took it from him and helped him pull it back over his head. He glanced down at the rags she wore, her breasts mostly exposed. He looked over his shoulder and suddenly wasn’t cool with the idea that the hunters could see his woman in this state.
“I need to get you clothes.”
She pulled the tattered remains over her front and tied some loose ends together. “In time.” She stepped back and gave him a composed stare. “First we have to figure out how to finish your mission.”
He raised a brow at her. “My mission?”
She nodded as she gathered the things from the first aid kit. “Killing the…cagers?”
He nodded. “I was a biker. People who drive cars are cagers. They’re cagers.”
She nodded. “Your band of merry men are quickly disappearing.”
Simon sighed again and leaned against the checkout counter. “What do you suggest?”
She glanced out the window and rapidly fading sunlight. “Use them now. While you have them.”
Simon glanced at the wounded and weary Quee. He slowly shook his head. “No.” He turned back to her and gave her a lopsided smile. “I have a better idea.”
“What’s that?” She tucked the first aid kit under her arm and turned to face him.
“Wait until we have our wits back. Completely. Then figure out a way to burn them to the ground without killing off the rest of my…” He stopped and shook his head. “I was going to say my army. They aren’t my army any longer.”
“Use them while they still are.”
He shook his head again. “I’d be sending them to their deaths.” He inhaled deeply and released it slowly, the gears in his head turning. “No. The handful that are left couldn’t do any real damage. The only hope we had before was the sheer numbers.”
“How does one man with a bad arm take out that many people?”
Simon smiled. “With this.” He tapped the side of his head. “I’m smarter than them now. Once I’m back to my old self, I’ll be unstoppable.”
She gave him a crooked smile. “At least you’re humble.” She turned to put the first aid kit away.
“Don’t forget sexy.”
10
Hatcher laid the hammer at his feet and bent upward, stretching his lower back. “I’m no carpenter.”
Buck scoffed. “You can say that again. Now I know why you carried a gun for a living.”
“Man, you are just full of jabs today, aren’t you?” Hatcher gathered the tools and dropped them into the satchel. “I thought you were all smiles because Leslie was glad to see you.”
“Oh, that made me happy.” Buck stifled a yawn. “But I didn’t get any sleep and here it is, already dark.” He stretched and gave Hatcher his own satchel. “I have to hit the hay. Get me in the morning when you’re ready to hunt Simon.”
“Go on.” Hatcher swatted at him as he walked past. “I’ll get you bright and early.” He hefted the two satchels full of tools and carried them out to the courtyard.
“Mr. Hatcher.” Will Stanton appeared
