The goggles were barely in place when he caught sight of a movement in the distance high on the far bank. A quick adjustment zoomed in on the area. From this distance, he couldn't get a fix on what they were doing, but he sensed it wasn't good. A spark and a trail of smoke widened his eyes.
"Incoming,” he yelled, causing Lou to counter the attack with an evasive maneuver. The grenade landed several hundred feet short, sending a wave of water hustling after them. The wave hit with a solid force. Lou's skill had them riding it with the ease of a surfboarder.
"The border's in sight,” Dean called out, pointing at the lighted compound.
Twin guard towers stood on either side of the waterway entrance. The sudden flash of strong beams of light on the river lit up their position as if it were daylight. Damn, might as well draw a bull's-eye on their backs. They just had to cross under the fence and they'd be safe. A shrill whistling in the air snapped his head around to see another missile-fired grenade headed their way. This had more stamina and seemed like it wouldn't miss. Must've been shot from an RPG-7, he mused right before it hit the water within ten feet of them.
"Brace yourselves,” Mitch screamed as he turned, dove, and wrapped himself around Allie.
A solid wall of water lifted the boat six feet into the air, tossing it end over end like a toy. As the boat flipped, so did the well-prepared Marines. Lou, Eric, and Dean entered at angles, landing them closer to the safety zone. Mitch and Allie hit the water curled in a ball of bodies. Seconds passed with no sight of them. Mitch hit bottom, twisted, loosening his legs from around Allie, then shoved off propelling them upward. He guided them to the surface. The sound of her gasp when they broke the top sent relief crashing through his system. They hit the water and went under so fast, he hadn't gotten the chance to tell her to take a deep breath and hold it. But she was smarter than that, he laughed at himself. Common sense made a person hold their breath before going under. It was a natural reflex to prevent drowning.
"You okay,” he gasped over the roar of the river as he held her in the rescue swimmer position. Her back pressed to his chest, his arm under hers around her chest while he maintained buoyancy for them both.
"Yeah.” She tilted her chin trying to see his face. “You okay?"
Mitch wrapped around her equaled ecstasy in her book. The cold water gave her a momentary shock when they first hit, but she managed to capture enough air in her lungs to survive. Sinking deeper and deeper, her heart raced, but she refused to succumb to fear. He had a hold on her and she believed he wouldn't let her drown, although it seemed like forever before he brought them to the surface. They'd been fired upon and nearly killed, but he'd saved her again. Cradled in those strong arms gave her the confidence to relax in the water even though she didn't know how to swim.
In her position, she spotted the others frantically searching the powerful currents for them before Mitch did. Unable to do anything else for fear of causing an issue in their progress, she gave a loud sharp whistle, hoping to catch their attention. Lou spotted them and motioned to the others. Once they regrouped, they swam for the border. Allie kicked her legs in an effort to help speed the motion.
Cold seeped into her bones and she prayed she'd never be this wet again. Powerful strokes brought them closer and closer. Bright lights shone on them. Voices called out in foreign tongues. It surprised her when Mitch replied. He spoke Korean. Lou, Eric, and Dean crossed through the fenced gate that the border patrol opened. They lifted from the water and stood on the dock while she and Mitch brought up the rear. They were a few feet away from crossing the line when water exploded behind them.
Mitch curled in a ball gloving around her as if forming another layer of skin for her protection. He tucked her head under his as they tumbled over and over through the giant wave. They bounced from one object to another like a ball in a pinball game. The mound of muscle that was Mitch softened the repercussion of the blows. Several feet inside the safety zone, they washed up on shore just past the docks.
Lou reached them first. The sound of his voice called to her from somewhere far off, tugging her back to consciousness.
"Miss Summers, Mitch can you hear me?"
Seconds ticked away before she pried her eyes open. On a hefty bout of coughing, she cleared the water from her lungs and grappled for air. Mitch didn't move. His eyes were closed.
"Mitch,” she gasped.
He didn't respond.
"Mitch, man can you hear me?” Lou tried to pry him from around her.
Even unconscious he still protected her. His breathing seemed almost nonexistent. Tears streamed down her cheeks. Over and over, she called his name to no avail. Eric, Dean, and several medics for the Marine Corps ran to their aid. It took three men to unwrap Mitch's arms and legs from around her.
On hands and knees she crawled to his outstretched body. Please, God. Please let him live.
"His vitals are weak,” one of the medics stated.
"Let's get him inside,” the other replied.
Allie struggled to her feet as they placed him on a stretcher. Lou grasped her elbow and wrapped an arm around her waist right before her knees buckled. Lifting her gaze to his, she commanded on a graveled breath, “He's got to live."
"Mitch is strong. He'll make it."
"He has to."
Exhaustion controlled her system as her legs weakened and her eyes closed. Nothing mattered to her but Mitch.
Chapter Four
Six weeks later Stateside
Sergeant Lou Randle entered the hospital room. As she'd done every day for the past six weeks, Allie sat at Mitch's side. She shot a weak smile across her shoulder at Lou and stood. He nodded in acknowledgement.
"Any progress?” Lou asked.
"No, but I'm sure he'll come around any day now."
She leaned over the man in the bed, kissed his brow and then whispered in his ear. Turning on her heels, she gathered her things and headed for the door.
"You do that every time.” Lou smiled. “What do you tell him?"
"My Christmas wish,” Allie said. “I won't be here tomorrow, Sergeant Randle. It's Christmas Eve and I promised to share the time with my father. But, I will return to spend Christmas Day with Mitch."
Lou touched her elbow. “He's a lucky man to have a woman like you."
Allie looked over her shoulder at her wounded soldier. Medical tests showed no definitive answer to why he lay unconscious. The doctor claimed his body had taken such an extreme beating it seemed his system had gone into some sort of dormant state to recuperate. Broken ribs and a bruised lung would heal in time. Would the rest of him? She swallowed hard, hoping for the best. Sadness filled her soul. She'd met the perfect man and didn't know what she'd do if she lost him before they got the chance to explore the feelings ignited between them.
"It doesn't look like he's got anyone else. No one has come to visit him except us and the other Marines in your group. Doesn't he have family?"
"No, ma'am.” Lou shook his head. “Mitch grew up an orphan. He entered the Marines right out of high school. We're the closest to family he's ever known."
Tears threatened to fall, but she blinked them back. Mitch was alone. She glanced at him and smiled. Not anymore. No matter what happened, he had her.
"Watch over him for me.” Allie stared at Lou. “Merry Christmas, Sergeant Randle."