Theres no need, Angela said with her fingers curling around the handle. Im not coming back.
The hell you arent, Buck said.
Im not here to argue. I have to check on my nurse. She shoved the sliding door open and dropped to the ground. Without waiting, she took off toward the camp at a slow jog.
Buck shot a glance at Big Jake. I cant let her go it alone.
Big Jake jerked his head toward Angelas departing figure. Then go. Well wait here as long as were not discovered. He tapped the earbud headset. Stay in touch. Ill send a couple men out to keep watch for bad guys.
Ill keep you informed. Buck jumped out of the van and ran to catch up with Angela.
She didnt slow for him but kept jogging toward her destination. You didnt have to follow me, she said. I know what Im doing.
Humor me. He raised a hand to the makeshift bandage on his arm. Besides, I need you to patch me up better.
How do you know I didnt do a good job?
Im the corpsman, the medic for the team. Its my professional opinion that you need to clean the wound and apply a fresh bandage to keep it from becoming infected.
Her eyes narrowed. Right. Youre a medic. Do it yourself.
I cant perform surgery on myself, now can I?
She sighed and kept moving. Fine. It wouldnt hurt to clean the wound and apply sterile bandages.
Buck suppressed the smile threatening to spread across his face. Hed scored a very minor victory, but one that would give him a little more time to convince her to leave an extremely volatile area.
As they approached the sprawling camp, they circled around a large white tent to the entry at the front where a canvas sign was tied over the door. The red, white and black lettering stated Médecins Sans Frontières, which translated to Doctors Without Borders.
Buck knew all about this international nongovernmental organization known for humanitarian relief in war-torn or developing countries with little or no medical services available to the general population. Hed hoped one day to be one of the doctors to volunteer his time to help others less fortunate. Hed had lots of dreams when hed started medical school.
A woman with graying blond hair stepped out of the tent and frowned when she saw Angela and Buck. I heard an explosion in town. That wasnt anywhere close to your demonstration, was it?
Angelas lips pressed together. Brenda, we need to prep for stitches. Ill fill you in on what happened while were sewing up this man.
Brenda smiled at Buck. Hi, Im Brenda Sites. And you are?
Graham Buckner, but you can call me Buck. He nodded toward the tent. We dont have time for stitches, Buck said. A clean pressure bandage will do for now.
Angela shook her head. No, we need to close the wound to keep it from getting infected. I can do it in less than five minutes, if youll shut up and let me get busy.
All right, sweetheart. You dont have to be so bossy. Bucks lips twitched as he followed Angela into the tent, his gaze taking in the neat little hospital complete with a few beds and a separate room for more advanced procedures.
His curiosity always piqued when he was around medical equipment and medicine. More than anything, he wished hed been able to finish his degree and residency. Alas, his past had caught up with him, and hed had to leave school or risk exposing the people he cared most about to the murdering, scum-of-the-earth gang members hed grown up with in Chicago.
Hed left school, Angela and his dreams behind to get away from his past and to get his past away from Angela. He couldnt regret that. Shed deserved to finish her schooling without being stalked, harassed and potentially harmed by Bucks old gang members.
The only way Buck had gotten the gang to leave him and Angela alone was to give up his dreams and leave Chicago all together.
Have a seat. Angela indicated a folding chair in front of a small field desk.
Really, we could just clean the wound, bandage it and be done in a lot less time, Buck said. If youll give me whatever you use to clean with, I can try to do it myself.
Didnt you say you couldnt perform surgery on yourself? Angela washed her hands, dried them and pulled on a pair of latex gloves, while her nurse spread out sterile drop cloths across the table, then laid out scissors, gauze, Betadine and tweezers. She used the scissors to remove the makeshift bandage from his arm. Blood oozed from the wound.
Angela inspected it. See? You need stitches. She took over after the nurse completed removing the bandage and irrigated the wound with a syringe.
The nurse patted it dry with gauze and applied Betadine to the skin around the wound.
Angela threaded the needle with suture line, her movements quick and efficient. Were short on local anesthetics. Hell, were out of most medications. Angela met his gaze with a steady one of her own. Youll have to hold very still and grin and bear it.
If he wasnt mistaken, she almost looked like she was enjoying taunting him with the threat of pain. He nodded. Just do it quickly. We dont know when or if Kokus men will show up and cause more trouble.
Before the last word left his mouth, she stuck the needle into the edge of one side of the wound and looped it through the other. She talked softly as she worked, informing her nurse of what had occurred in Bentiu.
Buck stared at the top of Angelas head while bracing his jaw to keep from cursing. It hurt like hell, but he wouldnt jerk his hand away or let loose any of the choice words he wanted to say at that moment. Instead, he focused on Angela, taking advantage of her concentration on his arm to study her.
She hadnt changed much in their years apart. If anything, shed become even more beautiful. Her dark hair framed her face, her olive-toned skin was a little darker and the confidence she exuded was palpable. The woman had matured into a self-assured, capable doctor with a steady hand.
Bucks heart swelled with pride for her. I always knew youd make it, he said softly.
Her hand stilled for a fraction of a second before she tied off the first stitch. Thats what happens when you stay focused.
Her comment hurt. He shouldnt have let it, but it did. Angela hadnt known how much he wanted to stay at school and be with her. He hadnt told her, figuring a clean break would be better than leaving her holding out hope for his return. I had my reasons for leaving.
Yeah. And it doesnt matter, does it? You left. I stayed. We lived our own lives. She slipped the needle into another section of the wound. Separately.
Buck winced and bit down on his tongue. He figured Angela was right. Why bother rehashing the past? It was over. What he needed to do was concentrate on getting her out of the camp before Kokus men came looking for another place to shake up.
Angela and Brenda worked on his arm with quiet efficiency.
By the time Angela tied off the last stitch, Buck could swear hed ground at least a quarter of an inch off his back teeth. He released the breath hed held and stood.
Now, lets get you out of here. Buck reached for her wrist.
Angela stepped backward, avoiding his hand. I told you, Im not going. I cant leave these people.
You saw what happened in Bentiu. Those guys could come here next.