LITMIR.BIZ

      Come morning, he assigned Ellen to work with Michael as usual. If he’d assigned her to assist him after all this time the others would notice, especially Michael. He wasn’t ready to answer questions about his feelings for Ellen.

      Throughout the day he would meet Ellen’s gaze and she would smile. Once they grabbed for a bandage at the same time. Their hands touched. By his body’s reaction he was reverting back to his youth. When they stopped for lunch he sat under a banana tree to eat and watched as Ellen and Karen walked to the truck that doubled as their bedroom. Even Ellen’s walk had him turned on.

      Michael squatted on his heels beside him. He looked off toward the two women as well. With humor hanging on each word, he said, “I never thought I would have seen it. The untouchable Chance Freeman has fallen hard.”

      Chance cut his eyes to him. “What does that mean?”

      “You have it bad for Ellen.”

      “You’re crazy.” Chance picked up a tiny stick and threw it.

      “So it’s okay if I go after her?”

      “You already said she wasn’t interested.”

      “I haven’t given her the full court press,” Michael said with a smile.

      “Leave it alone, Michael,” Chance growled.

      “Then I suggest you do something about it.” Michael looked at the women again.

      “You know, it’s none of your damn business.” Chance didn’t need pushing toward something he had every intention of taking care of himself.

      Michael chuckled. “No, I guess it isn’t but it’s nice to see the cool, calm and collected Dr. Freeman squirm.” His grin grew larger. “I’ll see that the clinic is ready for this afternoon around two.”

      Michael had been a friend for a number of years and had often listened into the early morning hours to Chance’s sad story of his poor choices where women were concerned. More than once they had handled issues having to do with the clinic together. If Michael wasn’t such a friend, he would’ve never gotten away with those remarks about Ellen.

      The afternoon work went every bit as well as the morning had. It was dusk when a couple of gunshots rang out in the distance.

      “What’s that?” Karen asked in alarm.

      Michael, appearing unconcerned, continued to store equipment. “Drug dealers most likely. We’ve been lucky we haven’t heard more shots.”

      Fifteen minutes later Chance stepped out of the clinic to see a boy of about twelve run into the clearing and stop. He gave the area a wide-eyed look as if searching for something. Ellen slowly approached him from the direction of the truck. She spoke to him.

      Chance hurried toward them. As usual she wasn’t considering the danger. The boy could be luring her into the jungle. Kidnappings happened often for ransom in this area. She didn’t have to step beyond the clearing but a few paces before she wouldn’t be seen. Not wanting to spook the boy, Chance slowed as he joined them.

      As he came closer the boy said something about his father being shot and asking for her to come help. Chance’s heart rate jumped. That had to have been the shots they’d heard. The boy’s father must be working with the drug traffickers or had crossed their path.

      “Must come,” the boy cried. He stepped forward with his hand out as if he were going to take Ellen’s.

      Chance stepped closer to Ellen and told the child, “You’ll need to bring him here.”

      “Can’t. He no walk,” the boy said as he looked back toward the opening in the foliage he’d just come out of. “Hurry. Lots blood.”

      “Then have someone carry him here.” Chance made it a firm statement.

      The boy looked around as if expecting someone to pop out of the jungle. “No one help. Afraid.”

      Chance shook his head. “Then I’m sorry.”

      Ellen gave him a pleading look. “Chance, we have to help.”

      “My first concern is the staff of this clinic, their safety. Leaving this area would not be safe. The drug traffickers have free rein. We don’t even know the boy is telling the truth.”

      “He die. Please.” The boy looked from Ellen to Chance and back again, tears forming in his eyes. “It not far. Promise.”

      “We have to help him,” Ellen begged.

      Chance was torn. If it was true he wanted to give the help. But what if it was a trap?

      Ellen grabbed his arm and squeezed as she looked at him.

      “How far?” Chance asked the boy.

      He said a village name Chance wasn’t familiar with.

      By this time Marco had joined them. Chance looked at him, “How far?”

      “Ten-minute walk,” Marco said.

      “Okay, I’ll get supplies and you get my to-go bag.” Ellen left before he could say more.

      “Should be safe. I send Ricco with you.” Marco waved Ricco over.

      “Tell me what happened to your father and what part of his body has been hurt,” Chance said in rapid Spanish to the boy. Heaven help them if they ran into trouble. He’d let his better judgment be overshadowed by Ellen’s beautiful eyes. That unrestricted, forge-forward determination might get them all into trouble. Yet he felt the pull to go as well. There was a patient who needed his help regardless of the danger.