CA 46.5 Operation Second Honeymoon Read Online Free Page B
Author: Debra Webb
rush of adrenaline wired his muscles for action.
"There's bottled water and a first aid kit in the Jeep. I need them."
Lucas was relatively certain that a first aid kit wouldn't provide much support for birthing a child or patching up a bullet wound. The water would be good. But Victoria going after it was bad. Very bad. "It's a big risk."
"It is. But it's one I need to take. You can't leave your station. You can cover me."
He handed her the weapon. "You hold down the fort, I'll make the supply run."
Victoria pushed the weapon back at him. "You're the marksman. Between the two of us, these people's best hope for survival lies with you. I'll get the supplies."
If she thought arguing with him was going to do any good, she was wasting her time. He wasn't going to let her walk into the sights of an armed assailant. He took her hand and closed her fingers around the butt of the weapon. "Watch the wall. One already attempted to come over. And the gate."
"Lucas," she started to argue.
He hushed her debate with a kiss. As he reluctantly pulled away, he reminded her, "Cover me."
Lucas moved down the steps before she could toss out another reason he shouldn't go. In the main room he paused to check on Salvadore. "We're moving you to a hiding place shortly. You hanging in there?"
"Mr. Camp," Salvadore said, the hint of a smile on his lips contradicted by the faintness of his voice, "as I told your wife, please do not concern yourself with me. Take care of her and the others."
Lucas patted him on the shoulder. "Don't waste your breath, my friend."
No matter the graveness of the circumstances, Lucas had to smile. Victoria would never walk away from anyone in need. He flattened against the wall next to the massive doors that led from the courtyard to the main entry room of the monastery. This wasn't the only way out, but the back exit would leave him in the open far longer. The Jeep was maybe twelve yards from the front entrance, but anyone approaching the gate would have a clear shot. Lucas took another moment to weigh the risk then he moved.
Staying low and close to the wall, he ran quickly to the Jeep. The wind had settled. A quick pause to scan the courtyard, then the interior of the Jeep. Clear. The Jeep didn't have doors, which was handy. No worries about interior lights or creaks. He grabbed the first aid kit from the floorboard, then the two bottles of water they had purchased for the trip. They had been so enthralled with the landscape that neither of them had bothered with opening the water.
Tucking the goods under one arm, he moved away from the Jeep. Keeping an eye on the gate, he headed back to the front entrance of the monastery.
The distinct sound of compacting sand and dirt bristled his senses.
Lucas's fingers tightened around a bottle of water, the only available weapon, as he prepared to spin around.
A gunshot fragmented the night.
Chapter Six
The man crumpled to the ground.
Victoria fired two more shots at the second man as he blasted off rounds from the gate. The bastard ducked for cover.
Lucas fell to the ground. Victoria's heart stumbled as an instant passed with him not moving. He rolled then scrambled through the open doorway, escaping into the cover offered by the monastery.
Victoria's hands shook as she ordered her grip on the weapon to loosen. A ragged breath rushed past her lips. Lucas was inside. He was safe.. .unless he'd been hit by the man firing from the gate.
Fear twisted in her chest. She couldn't risk leaving her post. She couldn't call out to her husband.
Pounding footfalls on the narrow stairs leading up to the bell tower jerked her attention to the right.
"Are you all right?"
Lucas. Thank God. Victoria dropped the weapon. She hadn't meant to, but her fingers would no longer hold the cold steel. Her arms went around her husband. He held her tightly to his chest.
She roved her hands over his body, drew back slightly. "You're not hit?"
He shook his head. "You made sure of
"There's bottled water and a first aid kit in the Jeep. I need them."
Lucas was relatively certain that a first aid kit wouldn't provide much support for birthing a child or patching up a bullet wound. The water would be good. But Victoria going after it was bad. Very bad. "It's a big risk."
"It is. But it's one I need to take. You can't leave your station. You can cover me."
He handed her the weapon. "You hold down the fort, I'll make the supply run."
Victoria pushed the weapon back at him. "You're the marksman. Between the two of us, these people's best hope for survival lies with you. I'll get the supplies."
If she thought arguing with him was going to do any good, she was wasting her time. He wasn't going to let her walk into the sights of an armed assailant. He took her hand and closed her fingers around the butt of the weapon. "Watch the wall. One already attempted to come over. And the gate."
"Lucas," she started to argue.
He hushed her debate with a kiss. As he reluctantly pulled away, he reminded her, "Cover me."
Lucas moved down the steps before she could toss out another reason he shouldn't go. In the main room he paused to check on Salvadore. "We're moving you to a hiding place shortly. You hanging in there?"
"Mr. Camp," Salvadore said, the hint of a smile on his lips contradicted by the faintness of his voice, "as I told your wife, please do not concern yourself with me. Take care of her and the others."
Lucas patted him on the shoulder. "Don't waste your breath, my friend."
No matter the graveness of the circumstances, Lucas had to smile. Victoria would never walk away from anyone in need. He flattened against the wall next to the massive doors that led from the courtyard to the main entry room of the monastery. This wasn't the only way out, but the back exit would leave him in the open far longer. The Jeep was maybe twelve yards from the front entrance, but anyone approaching the gate would have a clear shot. Lucas took another moment to weigh the risk then he moved.
Staying low and close to the wall, he ran quickly to the Jeep. The wind had settled. A quick pause to scan the courtyard, then the interior of the Jeep. Clear. The Jeep didn't have doors, which was handy. No worries about interior lights or creaks. He grabbed the first aid kit from the floorboard, then the two bottles of water they had purchased for the trip. They had been so enthralled with the landscape that neither of them had bothered with opening the water.
Tucking the goods under one arm, he moved away from the Jeep. Keeping an eye on the gate, he headed back to the front entrance of the monastery.
The distinct sound of compacting sand and dirt bristled his senses.
Lucas's fingers tightened around a bottle of water, the only available weapon, as he prepared to spin around.
A gunshot fragmented the night.
Chapter Six
The man crumpled to the ground.
Victoria fired two more shots at the second man as he blasted off rounds from the gate. The bastard ducked for cover.
Lucas fell to the ground. Victoria's heart stumbled as an instant passed with him not moving. He rolled then scrambled through the open doorway, escaping into the cover offered by the monastery.
Victoria's hands shook as she ordered her grip on the weapon to loosen. A ragged breath rushed past her lips. Lucas was inside. He was safe.. .unless he'd been hit by the man firing from the gate.
Fear twisted in her chest. She couldn't risk leaving her post. She couldn't call out to her husband.
Pounding footfalls on the narrow stairs leading up to the bell tower jerked her attention to the right.
"Are you all right?"
Lucas. Thank God. Victoria dropped the weapon. She hadn't meant to, but her fingers would no longer hold the cold steel. Her arms went around her husband. He held her tightly to his chest.
She roved her hands over his body, drew back slightly. "You're not hit?"
He shook his head. "You made sure of
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