Ashes of the Red Heifer by Shannon Baker Read Free Book Online

the only sound was the rumble of the engine approaching.
    And Hassan’s terrible wheezing.
    Finally, Long Hair, huddled on the ground, made some sort of plea. The leader turned his head toward Hassan as if considering his options.
    David spoke low in Hebrew, his voice a growl. He shifted his aim slightly.
    The vehicle sped around the last bend in the road, red lights flaring against the hills. The leader dropped his gun and spun, taking off on a dead run toward the far hills.
    “Get him!” Annie shouted, but no one moved.
    The other guards took off in different directions. Annie wanted to give chase. She wanted to tackle the leader, pummel his face as he’d done to Hassan. But she needed to help Hassan even more.
    She ran to him and knelt in the sand. “Hassan?”
    David joined her. “Is he alive?”
    She nodded, tears running down her face. She pulled the inhaler from her pocket. “Hassan? It’s okay. We’re going to take care of you. Hang on.”
    She looked up and saw the red lights flashing off the rocks in the valley diffused by light from the burning bus. The people were in clusters, most talking excitedly. When she looked down at Hassan she saw a line of blood dribble from the corner of his mouth. “Get an ambulance!”
     

FIVE
     
     
           Annie perched on the hard hospital chair and leaned onto the bed, her hand clutching Hassan’s. The ambulance had brought him to this Jerusalem hospital and had him patched up and in his room before Annie and David could get there. He’d been sleeping for several hours while Annie waited for him to awaken. Her only concession to fatigue was removing her boots.
    One tear dribbled onto Hassan’s hand. Why couldn’t she ever protect those she loved?
    David leaned his head back and stretched his neck. He looked stiff sitting in the vinyl chair with the faux wood armrests. “Annie, you need to relax.”
    Wiping her face, she stood next to the bed and looked down on Hassan. “He looks so bad. How can there be such a small amount of real damage? I want to look at those x-rays again. I think there must be something besides a few broken ribs and busted nose.”
    David stood up and walked to her. She felt the heat of his body next to hers and had the strongest urge to put her head on his chest. What would it feel like to have his arms around her, holding her for just a moment or two? She pulled her shoulders back. Taking care of herself and getting things done was what she did; she didn’t need anyone else.
    “He’ll have a hell of a headache when he wakes up. But we both saw the x-rays. He’s going to be okay,” David said.
    He sounded so convincing. But Annie remembered the hard kicks to Hassan’s belly, the fists smashed into his face. She turned to David. “He took such a beating.”
    “The sun’s starting to rise. Why don’t we find a hotel and get some rest.”
    David’s whisper sent blood rushing through her ears. He was so damned good looking and his voice carried a bushel-full of caring. She seemed incapable of moving and could only stare into his blue eyes. She swallowed, blood rushing through her ears and blocking out sound. She could almost feel his lips on hers. “David, I…”
    His hand came up to her face and he gently ran his thumb down her jaw, his eyes never leaving hers. He bent closer.
    “Uh.” Hassan’s voice cracked with a quiet moan.
    Annie spun toward him. “Hassan?”
    Hassan’s eyes focused on her, deep brown amid the swollen and purpled flesh of his face. “Annie. You okay?”
    She reached for his hand. “I’m always okay. Got a shiner but I’ve had those before.” More than she’d admit to anyone.
    He nodded and closed his eyes, sending his tongue out to inspect his split lips.
    “You’ve got three broken ribs and your nose will have another hump but all your innards are intact. If I’d known you were this tough I’d have had you working on bulls, not measly old cows.”
    He opened his eyes. “Not tough. Just