Cate cringed as she looked at his abdomen. She touched her fingers to the edge of his incision line, worried that so many of the stitches had come loose. She knew how quickly infection could set in, and the worst-case scenario was that he’d need surgery again. That would mean certain death for him.

“I could use part of my dress,” she suggested. “I don’t want you being any more exposed than you need to be. I have to keep you warm.”

Jack grunted. “You need your clothes. You can’t go looking for somewhere safer for us without them.”

She pressed her hand over his stomach as blood started to seep out again, the warm moistness against her skin so overwhelming she didn’t know what to do. She needed a hospital and proper medical supplies! Cate’s breath came shuddering out of her just as Jack’s head dropped. He was leaning back against the side of the ditch now, but he bent and touched his wet forehead to hers.

“What are you scared of?”

“Losing you.” She blurted it out, wishing she could take it back the moment the words left her lips. I can’t lose someone else, Jack, I just can’t.

“Dying here with you sounds a lot better than taking a German bullet, so don’t sweat it.” She knew he was trying to sound jovial, but he couldn’t disguise the painful grunt that accompanied his words.

“Don’t sweat it?” Cate laughed, trying not to cry. She punched his arm. “Trust you to crack a joke at the most inappropriate time!”

They sat quietly for a moment longer, as Cate ran through a hundred different scenarios in her head. She had to be strong; she was their only hope now, and Jack was leading her to an area he thought was friendly, so it was up to her.

“Let’s take your trousers off,” she said brusquely, hoping he had underpants on.

“Aren’t you going to at least take me out to dinner first?”

Her hand covered her mouth as she gulped back a laugh. “How are you joking at a time like this!” she scolded. The poor man must have been in a world of pain, but still he managed to make her smile.

“In all seriousness, I don’t think that’s the best idea.”

She blushed but refused to acknowledge it, even as he chuckled. Clearly there were no underpants.

“Your shirt then,” she said. “Let’s take it off and I’ll use it to tie around your stomach to stop the bleeding.”