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fighter,” he said. “I don’t
intend to, honey. But I have to stop and think. If I don’t play this right,
they will get away or we’ll die. Or both.”
    Despite
her distraction, she caught his casual endearment and liked it. “Can’t you call
the Marshal’s service for backup or something?”
    “I
could and will, eventually.” He hesitated and then told her what he hadn’t
shared with anyone else. “Thing is, I think there’s an informant in the
district office, someone who blabs too much to the wrong people. I don’t know
who and I lack any proof, but my gut says he exists. If I do and he talks, it
could make a bad situation much worse. Right now, I think it’s better to lay
low and think this through.” He became more agitated as he talked and she
watched, worried.
    Tina’s
nursing instincts took over. She checked his pulse and found it rapid. He
remained pale and despite the fire in the hearth, his skin seemed cool beneath
her touch. “I agree. Right now, you need to warm up and rest. I’m glad you
remember, Joshua, but it doesn’t change the fact that you need to heal.”
    Joshua
slumped and he covered his face with one hand. “Oh, I hear that.”
    “You
don’t look very well,” she said. “How do you feel?”
    “My
side’s likely to kill me. It’s the worst, although I’ve got a bitchin’ headache
now and I still hurt all over. I’m weaker than I should be. I feel like I’ll
keel over if I try to walk from here to the kitchen.”
    “You
might but it’s natural to be more sore the second day. You need something some
substantial to eat than a few cookies, and you need a lot more rest. I made
chicken and noodles, if you’re interested.”
    His
face lit up as he glanced at her. “That sounds pretty good.”
    Tina
stood and pointed to the recliner. “Get settled in the chair and I’ll bring you
a bowl to save you the trip.”
    When
he protested, she shook her head and offered him her hand. “Come on.”
    Once
she made him comfortable and tucked the blanket around his knees, she headed to
the kitchen. Tina returned with a bowl of noodles, bread and butter, and a
glass of iced tea. The tray fit over his legs and into the seat perfectly.
    “Where’s
yours?” he asked.
    “I’ll
go back and get it. Go ahead and eat if you want.”
    He
inhaled and sighed. “It smells awesome. Is it homemade?”
    “The
noodles and broth both are,” she said, pleased he noticed. “I cooked the
chicken but it came from the supermarket.”
    Joshua
dipped the spoon in the broth. “I haven’t had food like this in forever,” he
said. “Thank you.”
    They
ate together, Tina balancing her food on a pillow in her lap, Joshua in the
recliner. He ate two bowls and by the time he finished, his color had returned.
His relaxed posture indicated his pain had lessened, due in part to another dose of pain meds, but Tina thought the warm meal
might’ve helped too. “Feel better?”
    “Yeah,
I do, a little, thanks. What time is it?”
    “It’s
around four o’clock. Why?”
    A
yawn emerged from his mouth and he covered it with one hand. “I’m sleepy. I
thought it must be later.”
    “Get
some rest and go to bed.”
    “Huh-uh,”
he mumbled. Stubborn, she thought
with a smile. “I’ll shut my eyes and stay here. All I need is a nap.”
    Tina
pulled the blanket up over him. “Whatever you think, Joshua. As long as you’re
comfortable, it’s okay with me.”
    “I
am.”
    Within
minutes, his breathing shifted into a lower, slower sleep rhythm. Tina removed
the tray and returned to drink him in with her eyes. She admired his lean
physique, the light copper shade of his skin, and the way his close-cropped
dark hair fit against his skull. His black eyelashes rested against his cheek,
thick and lush. His nose bent a little to the left, something that added
character. High cheekbones accentuated his Native American appearance. Joshua’s
well-shaped, thin lips made Tina long to kiss them but she didn’t