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down this road. When we get there we’ll find you something to wear.” He looked at her bare feet. “I’ll carry you.”
    And he could. Years of training carved out a man’s abilities and accented his short-comings. For Brody, that had always been his impulsiveness, never his physical strength or his ability to get out of tight situations.
    “I’d rather crawl, if you don’t mind.”
    He didn’t blame her. He’d say the same thing. No man wanted to be indebted to someone he didn’t like. She had no way of knowing he would cut his own throat to keep her safe.
    “I do.”
    “I refuse to be carried by you or any man.”
    “Sit down,” he said. “Let me see how bad your feet are.”
    She plopped in the middle of the dusty road and waited. He took the bottle of water she’d grabbed on her way out of the plane, unscrewed the cap, and slowly poured a small portion over her feet. Then, while the skin was wet, he gently rubbed his palm along her soles. She pulled back. He looked at her and grinned. “Ticklish?”
    Blue e yes flashed fire. “Absolutely not.”
    “I won’t think less of you. I’m ticklish myself. Just in other places,” he teased.
    Her glare conveyed her lack of appreciation for his sense of humor.
    With his hand around her ankle, he pulled her foot closer. No glass or deep cuts. Thank God. Using his night-goggles and fingers, he was able to determine her left foot was fine. He repeated the process on her other foot with the same results.
    W hen he finished, she was fighting back a giggle. Then it popped, and she laughed aloud. For some reason her silliness made her more appealing than an ice cold Coors.
    “It might be hard to walk, but if we take it easy, I think you can make it.”
    She clamped her jaw and winced as she shoved her butt off the road. “I can walk.”
    He admired her sheer determination. “Good.” He handed her the half-empty bottle of water. “Finish this, and stay close.”
    She could walk, but slowly . Brody had to meet his contact at 1230 hours and it was 1215 hours now. With her only inches behind him, he kept a pace she could match. Occasionally he checked their rear. He didn’t want anyone coming up behind them.
    His dry throat made it hard to swallow or cough. He continued to search the perimeter and saw a few shrubs, dead trees , and cacti. They walked a road that was nothing more than a dry creek bed. The heat drained his body dry as the landscape around them, but he would survive.
    Ten minutes later a village rose from the desert. The sweltering heat had his body drenched with sweat. He pulled his soaked shirt away from his chest and let out a hot breath.
    The wat er he’d given Stone earlier would taste good right now, but he didn’t regret his action. She came first. No doubt they’d find water at the village. As soon as he quenched his thirst, he’d leave to find his friend.
    From behind him he heard, “I need a rest.”
    Brody halted and looked to find her standing with her head down, arms limp at her sides. Sweat soaked her clothing.
    Brody put his arm around her . They moved to the side of the road. He searched the ground for snakes and scorpions before he sat down, taking her with him.
    She dropped into his lap and rested her head on his shoulder. “Catch your breath. We have a few minutes.” He wiped the sweat from her face and wished for a cool cloth. If she had a heatstroke , they’d be screwed.
    “Are you meeting someone?”
    “Yes, and don’t deliberately make me late. That wouldn’t end well for anyone.”
    “I’m not, I’m just tired,” she said breathlessly.
    “ Keep leaning on me.”
    “I’d rather shave my head.”
    She stayed put, and he chuckled at her determination.
    Brody didn’t like being this close to a woman he planned to use shamelessly, but with the way things were, he had little choice. Had he left her alone , she’d be home sleeping safely in her bed. Hopefully that would still happen tomorrow night.
    Brody scanned