After taking a drink from the canteen someone had set next to her pallet, she got up and stretched, then walked over to where the men sat. As she knelt next to them, Peña looked at her. “Do you drive?”

“Yes.”

“A standard? You know, a stick shift?”

She raised her eyebrows. “Yes.”

Peña looked at Rick. “Problem solved.”

Rick’s mouth hardened. “I’m not leaving her defenseless.”

Sanders smiled. His black beard framed his white teeth. “Well, now you’re just trying to hurt my feelings,” he drawled. “I’ve been called lots of things but never defenseless.”

“You were pretty defenseless when that bullet lodged itself in your heart,” Rick said. “Two days ago.”

“Alabama boys heal like magic,” he said, wiggling his eyebrows. Then his face grew serious. “I’m not kidding, Daddy. I got this.”

Rick opened his mouth, but Peña cut him off. “He’s right, Cap. We’re short a body to do this right. Either put her in a tree on overwatch with a sniper rifle or put her behind the wheel.”

Cynthia sat back as if pushed, landing on her rear. “Excuse me?”

“It’s a good plan,” Peña said, as if she knew the plan. “Nothing to worry about.”

With glaring eyes, Rick pointed at Peña. “She isn’t trained in tactical driving.”

“She isn’t trained with sniper fire either. But I think she can fake one better than the other.”

Cynthia cleared her throat. “Can we please quit talking about me like I’m not sitting here? Exactly what plan are you referencing?”

Before Rick could answer, Sanders said, “You drive Ozzy and me to the pickup location so we can meet the helicopter. If the rest of the team makes it on time, great. If not, they catch the next bird, not having to move with our hindrance.”

She needed to drive them? Why couldn’t one of the others do it? “By myself?”

Peña shook his head. “Nah, Drumstick and Doc Oz will be with you.”

She closed her eyes and shook her head. Maybe she hadn’t awakened on her pallet. Maybe through a sleep haze, she could hear them making a plan and had inserted herself into it. She’d pinch herself if it wouldn’t make her look like an idiot. “Stop. Please.” She chewed on her lower lip. “You’re going to trust me to take the wounded soldiers to a helicopter landing site?”

Sanders tapped the map. “I’ll be with you. I’ll navigate, guide, and protect.”

With lips pressed tightly together, she nodded slowly. “And if you lose consciousness?”

Rick pointed at Sanders. “Exactly. Thanks, Doc. What if you fall out?”