Solemn Oath by Hannah Alexander Read Free Book Online Page A

compassion for others. Unfortunately for him, his leadership abilities had landed him the added responsibility of overseeing two eighteen-year-old members of an Explorer group throughout their training period. He’d grumbled about it to Lukas ever since the kids had arrived the week before.
    Lukas led the way into exam room six and instructed the young men to help Buck onto the bed. “Ease him down gently, guys. No telling what he’s gotten into this time.”
    â€œAn explosion, that’s what!” Skinny Kyle Alder, whose hair was as long and curly as Buck’s was short and straight, kept a death grip on Buck’s arm as he and his buddy eased their grubby, smoke-stained patient onto the clean sheet. “Saved a gal’s life and almost died. Threw himself on top of her!”
    â€œOh?” Lukas stepped out into the hallway and caught Lauren’s attention from her workstation at the central desk. He motioned for her to join him in the exam room, then returned to Buck’s side. “And where is the victim?”
    Buck fought off his overeager charges at last and started unbuttoning his shirt, still sitting up. “Roxie refused to come in, and believe me, I fought to get her in the ambulance. Should’ve just wrapped her in a straitjacket and shoved her in the back. You know how cantankerous she can be sometimes.”
    Lukas looked at Buck in alarm. “Wouldn’t she let you check her out?”
    â€œBarely. I listened to her chest and took her vitals. Shesounded okay. She said she’s fine except for the ribs I broke pouncing on her like that.”
    â€œWhat?”
    Buck shook his head and frowned. “I think she was kidding, although with her it’s hard to tell. After all I went through to get to her, she asked what took us so long, because she’d called ten minutes before I got there. That’s the thanks I get for risking my life to—” He winced and bent forward. “I wasn’t even on duty. I didn’t know about any call.”
    â€œI told you that you oughta have that looked at,” Kyle said.
    â€œI’m having it looked at now,” Buck snapped.
    â€œIt’s his chest, Dr. Bower,” Kyle explained. “It’s been hurting him since the explosion. He says it’s just a scrape, but…” His attention refocused with sudden interest as blond-haired, green-eyed Lauren walked into the room and began her assessment.
    â€œLet’s get a c-collar on him before you start that, Lauren.” Lukas reached out and felt the back of Buck’s neck for any step-off deformity. “Does this hurt, Buck?”
    The fireman did not move his head. “Nope.”
    â€œGood. We’ll go ahead and do a collar until we get the X-rays, just to be safe.”
    â€œOh, come on, Dr. Bower, I’ll be good. My neck doesn’t hurt.”
    â€œYou know it’s protocol.” Lukas leaned forward to take a look at Buck’s exposed back and felt hot air hitting his own neck. He glanced around to find Kyle and his partner, Alex, hovering over him, eyes wide, jaws slack.
    â€œWhy don’t you two go out into the waiting room,” Lukas suggested. “The police are around somewhere, and they might want to question you about the fire.”
    With a look of sudden eagerness, the young men left, and Buck exhaled with relief. “Thanks. You can lay thatcollar on me now. Those kids couldn’t find a fire hose with their—”
    â€œOkay, here you go.” Lauren positioned the stiff neck collar with Velcro, fastened it firmly and resumed her assessment.
    â€œThey chattered like monkeys all the way here,” Buck complained. “They went on and on about how I was a hero, and they would pay better attention next time I tried to teach them something.”
    â€œThey’re just kids,” Lauren said. “Give them a chance.”
    â€œI did the other day, and, boy, was I