The Light of His Sword by Alaina Stanford Read Free Book Online

little nurse.”
    Gabe chuckled and pulled off his jacket.
“How can I say no to two such determined ladies?”
    Alyssa’s eyes opened wide in shock at the
sight of a chunk of glass about the size of a silver dollar
sticking out of his shoulder. “You need a doctor.”
    “No time.” He said casually.
    “Then take off your shirt.” Alyssa
instructed, leaning back to give him space.
    He grinned at her innocent expression and
unbuttoned his shirt. She helped him slip his arm out of the shirt
and examined the wound. She touched the skin around the glass
surprised at how soft and smooth it was. Alyssa couldn’t help but
notice his large muscular chest and arms. Her heart began to pound
as she forced herself to concentrate on the shard of glass. “I’m
not sure I can get the glass out without making it worse. You must
be in a lot of pain; this is a serious wound.”
    “I’ve had worse.” Gabe answered reaching up
he dug his fingers into the wound and pulled the glass free with a
grunt of pain.
    Alyssa gasped in surprise. Samantha shoved a
large bandage into her mother’s hand and said, “Push on it
mommy!”
    “Pressure on the wound.” Gabe nodded his
approval and smiled through the pain. “You are a good nurse,
Samantha.”
    Alyssa held the bandage against the flow of
blood. “You need stitches and there could be more glass in the
wound.”
    “The pain is subsiding.” Gabe offered, “If
there was more glass it would hurt worse when you push on it.”
    Alyssa looked at Samantha and said, “Grab
the sheet off the bed and hand it to me, baby.”
    Samantha rushed to grab the sheet and handed
it quickly to her mother. Alyssa could see the concern in
Samantha’s face. “It’s okay, baby.” Alyssa said in a calm soothing
voice, “I need you to keep the pressure on Gabe’s wound while I
tear the sheet into a bigger bandage.”
    Alyssa tore the sheet into strips and
wrapped them around Gabe’s shoulder. She leaned closer and closer
as she wrapped his shoulder. He smelled like sweat, but the scent
of soap still lingered in his hair. She reached around his back
then draped the dressing around his shoulder and across his chest.
Her nose brushed his cheek as she worked. Gabe turned toward her
and gazed into her eyes. Alyssa froze as their eyes met. Their lips
were so close; she couldn’t breathe; she couldn’t move.
    She didn’t want to move. She wanted to get
lost in his deep blue eyes. She wanted to forget about the rest of
the world at that moment and lean closer. Gabe held her gaze as he
reached slowly up to take the bandage from her hand. She was so
beautiful with her large blue eyes, perfect skin and golden hair.
Her innocence was astounding given her life experiences. Gabe felt
an overwhelming urge to protect her.
    He took a slow, deep breath and whispered,
“That’s good.”
    Alyssa’s head snapped back instantly. She
snatched the bandage from his hand and tied it in a knot over the
wound. Then scrambled awkwardly back into her seat. Gabe couldn’t
help but smile as her cheeks filled with color.
    Samantha frowned at her mother’s strange
behavior and shook her head in confusion. She turned and sat back
on the bed just as a wolf-like howl came from outside the truck.
Gabe sat up straight. He gazed intently out the windshield.
    “That sounds really close.” Alyssa said, as
another deeper howl pierced the night. “That was even closer.”
    Something large and dark dashed across the
road in front of them. “Was that a wolf?” Alyssa gasped; a second
figure dashed in front of the truck but stopped and stared at them.
It’s eyes flashed with a blood red gleam. Alyssa heart jumped into
her throat as the red eyes seemed to focus on her. Gabe reached for
the headlights, but it was gone when the lights burst to life.
    Alyssa whispered breathlessly, “That wasn’t
a wolf, it stood upright. Was it a bear?”
    “Bears don’t howl.” Gabe said, as he turned
to meet her gaze.
    Alyssa’s face lost all