Total pages in book: 60
Estimated words: 57237 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 286(@200wpm)___ 229(@250wpm)___ 191(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 57237 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 286(@200wpm)___ 229(@250wpm)___ 191(@300wpm)
Okay, Christ, pity party for one. Time to stop.
Being the twins’ guide was plenty. Now I’d lead the way for Danny too. I’d do everything in my power to prepare them for a life in the field.
I heard a muted clank coming from inside, followed by a low curse.
I tilted my head, half glancing over my shoulder, ready just in case. Danny wasn’t the type of person who would ask for help if something went wrong.
“Everything all right?” I asked.
“Yes, sir!” His voice was pitched a tad higher than usual.
We might need to have the conversation I’d already had with River and Reese.
I got out of the chair and aimed for the door, and I found some damning evidence before I even entered the cabin. Knife, cutting board, a chunk of slab bacon he’d been in the middle of slicing, and a few drops of blood.
“I’m fine. Go sit down again.” He had his back to me and was bending down over his backpack, digging through it for…for his first aid kit.
Yup, this was the conversation I’d had with the twins. “We’ll need to discuss honesty for even the smallest injuries, Danny. You, of all people, should know that a paper cut can turn into a disaster in the field.” He’d been trained in this.
“We’re not in the field now.” He was dismissive about it. He returned to the kitchen counter with his kit, and that was when I noticed he’d cut himself pretty deeply.
Soldiers could be fucking untrustworthy. Including the twins. Reese had twisted his knee during one of their earlier training assignments, and he hadn’t said a word about it until shit had gotten worse.
I shook my head to myself and took over. I poured fresh water into a smaller bowl—because the water in the basin needed to be changed—and I grabbed the kit from him right as he pulled out gauze.
“It’s about building up trust too,” I told him. “You don’t have to call 9-1-1. Just let me know you cut yourself.” I found antiseptic cream in his kit and held his hand over the basin. “Are we clear?”
He huffed. “Fine. I just got distracted.”
I side-eyed him quickly, then refocused on cleaning his wound. I poured water over the inch-long cut below his thumbnail before I grabbed a couple compresses and pressed them tightly to the laceration.
“By what?” I wanted to know.
While I held his thumb, waiting for the blood flow to slow down, I started preparing the next few steps. His first aid kit had only good shit, at least.
“I don’t know.” He shrugged and looked at the cutting board. “I was happy, I guess. I’ve wanted this for two years, you know? But then I remembered that I know how to fuck things up, and it’s only a matter of time before you kick me out.”
Christ.
He knew how to put a dent in my jaded heart. The little prick.
“The only thing that would end our training is if you actively work against me, Danny.” I lifted the compresses, satisfied. “You’re gonna make mistakes. You’re gonna take a couple steps backward during your progress. Kicking old habits ain’t easy. That’s part of it.” I applied the antiseptic cream, then folded a new compress to the wound. “Hold here.”
He obeyed, and I snatched up the roll of tape. The fabric kind that didn’t fall off in a minute.
“We’ll call this a lesson,” I said. “This isn’t the Army. Even though communication is vital there too, you’ll wanna go further with me. Without established units to fall back on, it’s important to touch base frequently. The more I know, the better. I’d rather you tell me too much than too little.”
He chewed on his lip as I fastened the tape around his thumb.
There, good as new.
“Looks like you’ll live.” I handed the tape back to him.
He quirked a quick, hesitant smile. “Thanks. So, um…I don’t need to tell you every time I go to the bathroom, but I should let you know if the wound gets infected.”
I smiled back. “There’s your first gold star.”
He snorted a laugh and stowed away his portable hospital again.
Not ready to end the moment, I took a few steps back and leaned against the doorframe. The sun hit my shoulders, and I could watch Danny finish up breakfast.
He concentrated as he sliced the rest of the bacon and dumped the strips into a skillet.
The cabin was already beginning to smell of coffee. My stomach tightened with hunger.
“Will you train me with the twins or separately?” he wondered.
“Little bit of both.” I scratched my jaw. Danny joining us would change everything, because River and Reese would get to see a Special Forces soldier in action. I wanted him to be his own brand of role model for the twins. Just like I hoped Danny would pick up a thing or two from them.