“You think he’s lonely?”
“He’s … alone and scared. He misses ... his pack. He’s not used … to being by himself.” She spoke to the wolf in Lakota.
As if it understood, it whined and crept a few inches closer, still sitting.
She had such skill with animals—and more than her share of courage. Jason had never been this close to an apex predator, and he couldn’t say he felt comfortable with two hundred pounds of hungry carnivore sitting ten feet away.
The minutes ticked by with agonizing slowness. Though it was mid-afternoon, the sun had moved far enough to the west to leave them in shadow, and the temperatures were dropping. The IV of fluids he’d set up had run, the bag empty.
It had been an hour since Jason had applied the tourniquet. In another hour, it would be too late to save Winona’s leg. By his estimation, help was still a good two hours away.
Goddamn it.
Winona moaned, her eyes flying open. “Jason?”
“I’m right here.” He took her hand, held it tight. “I’m not going anywhere.”
Winona drifted in and out, sometimes lucid, other times seeming unaware of her surroundings, speaking in Lakota. Was it dissociation from the drug? Shock? Blood loss?
God, he wished he knew. He’d never felt so helpless.
He found himself humming an O’odham basket song, the music played for his grandmother and other women at basket dances. The sound seemed to comfort Winona, who, for fifteen short minutes, fell asleep.
Moving slowly so as not to alarm the wolf, he checked her leg to make sure there wasn’t any bleeding that he’d missed.
The wolf crept closer.
Jason tossed it more meat, but he was running low. He didn’t want to run out before it was time to dart the animal. “That’s all for now, boy.”
The wolf ate, licked its paws, stared at Winona.
“My leg.” Winona’s eyes opened. “I’m going to lose it… I know. But I don’t … want to die here.”
Jason hoped it was the drug talking, her words cutting through him. He squeezed her hand. “I’m not going to let you die, angel.”
“I’m … so cold.”
He dug in her pack, drew out a couple of hand warmers, got the exothermic reaction going, and tucked them inside her parka close to her heart, wrapping the emergency blanket around her once again. “Is that better?”
She nodded. “Thanks.”
Hurry the fuck up, Henriksen!
“Jason, I want … to tell you … to thank you. I’ve never … felt so close to … or cared about a man more ... than you.” A tear slid from the corner of her eye. “You … You’re the best.”
“I care about you, too, Win.” He kissed her forehead. “You’re the most amazing woman I’ve ever known.”
Then the truth hit him with the force of a body blow.
He didn’t just care about her.
Helovedher.
A part of him tried to object. He’d known Win for only a week and a day. He couldn’t love her. He was just on the rebound and strung out on great sex.
That’s bullshit, and you know it.
Truth was truth.