Read Recon Marines II: Marine's Heiress, The for Free Online

keeping an eye on Emma Jones. “I could move my
gear in before dark.”
    * * * *
    Emma tucked another pillow behind Russ’
back. Sweat coated his chest, and his muscles trembled. Jenny
exchanged a worried look with Emma but then busied herself tucking
blankets around her husband’s legs.
    Emma retrieved the tray she’d set on
the counter and brought it over to Russ. He’d been living on broths
and water but today she’d added some bread and stew. He needed to
rebuild all the blood he’d lost.
    Russ’ hands shook as he lifted the
spoon toward his mouth but he managed. “Thanks, Emma.”
    “ You don’t have to keep
saying it.” Emma busied herself laying out the fresh bandages she
would need to change the dressings on Russ’ legs. She would then
wash and reuse the old ones. Her supplies had dwindled to less than
nothing.
    “ I thought I was a dead
man or at best a crippled man.” Russ wiggled his toes, smiling and
wincing at the same time.
    Emma smiled her encouragement, thrilled
that he had any movement in his feet at all. She feared how much
permanent damage had been done to his nerves and muscles. “You
still have a long way to go.”
    “ I know, but at least I’ll
see my child born.”
    Jenny settled on the side of Russ’ bed.
“We’ll never forget what you’ve done for us, Emma, you and that
soldier.”
    Emma didn’t comment. Her thoughts
turned to the elusive soldier too often as it was. The men in the
café the previous night had talked on and one about Vin finding and
disabling another trap. Between helping save Russ and finding the
trap before someone stepped on it, Vin had won over Hovel Port in a
matter of days. Vannie had told her that Vin intended to move into
the empty repair shop that shared the wall with her surgery
opposite the café.
    The door swung open and as if Emma’s
thoughts had conjured him, Vin backed in through the door. He
pulled a metal chair behind him. The chair rolled along on rubber
wheels and a small motor had been welded beneath the seat. He
twisted it around after clearing the doorframe and then closed the
door.
    Vin’s gaze swept over the room and then
settled on Russ. “I thought you might be sitting up by now. When
you’re ready to get out of bed, you can use this seat until you’re
back on your feet.”
    “ Where did you get a
wheelchair?” Emma walked over to examine it closer. Though
obviously made from spare parts, it appeared fully functional.
She’d been worried it might be months before Russ could use
crutches or canes. “This is perfect.”
    Vin’s expression changed so slightly
Emma would have missed it if they hadn’t been standing side by
side. Did he wince?
    “ Thanks, Vin. Not sure I
can use it today.” Russ smiled, a genuine expression of pleasure
though lines of pain bracketed his mouth.
    Vin gave a short nod. “Might be better
to keep your legs elevated for most of the time, but you need to
move those muscles a little and keep the blood flowing.”
    “ He’s right, Russ,” Emma
said. “You could develop blood clots if you sit still too long or
pneumonia.”
    Jenny glared at Vin and Emma. “Can’t
you see it’s too painful for him to move at all? Even sitting up
taxes his strength.”
    Emma knew Jenny spoke from fear, but
her tone hurt. Perhaps Emma’s exhaustion made her more sensitive.
She pressed her lips together, vowing to say nothing more until she
could speak to Russ alone.
    Vin hadn’t her manners. “Pain is better
than dead. Pain means you’re alive. Pain means you can
move.”
    Tears welled in Jenny’s eyes, but Russ
nodded. “I know, Vin. I’ll be pushing myself as soon as Emma tells
me it’s time to move.”
    “ Tomorrow we’ll try to get
you in the chair for a short time. No weight on your legs until I
remove those stitches in a few days. We have to be careful of
swelling. Now, I have some work to do in the café. Jenny, I put
extra bread on the tray for you. You need to eat more than you’ve
been for the