Page 82 of One Kind Soul

Without a word, Rada sprinted for the farmhouse.

Nicole pushed Christian’s hair back from his forehead, the black strands soaked with sweat. “It’s going to be okay, Chrissy. You’re going to be fine.” Because she wouldn’t accept any other outcome.

Tweezers appeared in front of her face a few minutes later and she swiped them from Rada’s grip. Squinting, Nicole searched the back of Christian’s neck. Among the pink welts, she found the black stinger below his hair line. Using the tweezers, she plucked the nasty thing from Christian’s flesh then nudged him to his back again.

He appeared to be getting more oxygen now, his chest rising and falling with less visible effort. His face was still swollen in spots and hives dotted his skin, but as long as he was breathing things had to be heading in the right direction.

She hoped.

“What else should I do?” she asked, desperately wanting to make him comfortable.

He shook his head. “Dith it.”

“I did it?”

He nodded.

She took his hand, further encouraged when he squeezed it.

“Dithy,” he croaked.

“Dizzy?” Rada asked.

Another nod.

“I’ll get a cold compress.” Rada sprang to her feet again and headed for the store.

“We’re ethen now,” he said, his voice hoarse. “Van.” He pointed to her then pointed to himself. “Bee.”

“Yes, we are even now. We don’t know how to stay out of danger, do we?” She brought his hand up to her lips and finding a hive-free patch, she pressed a kiss to the back of it.

Rada reappeared with a small folded towel. She pressed it to the back of Christian’s neck and he gripped her knee with his free hand.

“Thanths.” He cleared his throat and made a move to sit up.

Nicole stilled him with a hand to his shoulder. “Stay put. The ambulance should be here in a few minutes.” For the second time today, an approaching siren sounded through the neighborhood.

Christian listened to her, the wheezing gradually dissipating from his breathing. He put his hand on his forehead, swallowing loudly, and Nicole figured nausea was getting to him.

“Is he okay?”

Nicole’s head snapped up. Donovan stood over them, a fierce look in his eyes.

“Thanks to Nicole, he’ll be fine,” Rada said.

“He doesn’t look fine,” Donovan said. “He looks as if he went a few rounds in a boxing ring.”

“Doesth ith look asth if I won?” Christian asked, making Nicole snort.

“Only Christian would joke after anaphylactic shock,” she said.

Donovan gave her a half smile. “That’s how we know he’s going to be fine.” He looked up as the sound of the utility vehicle mixed with the ambulance sirens. “I’m going to talk to my guys.”

“Go,” Nicole said. “I’ve got him handled.”

“And he couldn’t be in better hands.” Donovan gave her shoulder a squeeze as he walked toward the two officers coming back from the field.

The ambulance pulled into the driveway and EMTs spilled out.