The Promise Read Online Free PDF

you have a light?"
    "No such luck, I'm afraid."
    "There's a lantern back there somewhere." His voice
filled the darkness, warm and alive, but she could hear the
underlying pain.
    "I saw it. But it's beyond being useful. The glass is
broken."
    A sharp curse rang out through the darkness. Concern
laced through her. "Are you all right?" She leaned against the
wall, all her senses focused on listening.
    "I've been better." A tiny thread of laughter
lightened his voice.
    "Can you move?"
    There was another groan. "Not without help."
    "Hang on, then. I'm coming." She inched forward
slowly, keeping one hand out in front of her and the other pressed
firmly to the wall.
    "Stop." The word was a command. Even in a weakened
state, in the dark, this man had presence. "I'm right in front of
you."
    "How in the world could you possibly know that?" she
grumbled, dropping to her knees, both hands stretched in front of
her.
    "You haven't exactly been quiet." There was the
laughter again.
    "It wasn't my primary concern." Her hands met solid
muscle, and he groaned. "Oh God, I'm so sorry." She felt something
sticky under her fingers and recoiled. "You're bleeding."
    "I know."
    "Well, there isn't much I can do for you if I can't
see you." She strove to keep her voice, calm, businesslike. "We'll
just have to get you into the light."
    A resigned sigh echoed through the tunnel. "All
right."
    "You can lean on me. I'll help you up." She wrapped
her arm around his chest and felt his arm drape heavily across her
shoulders. "You ready?" He groaned in answer and she felt him nod.
"All right then, on three. One…two…" She shifted her weight to her
inside leg and pushed up with the other one. "Three."
    He was heavy and the smell of him enveloped her—raw
male mixed with the sick, sweet smell of blood. He groaned again,
but managed to pull himself to his feet. They stood for a minute,
getting their balance, then slowly began to move forward.
    Cara kept her hand against the wall, following it as
the path wound its way upward. Finally, turning the bend, they
stepped into the weak light of the entrance tunnel. The man
stopped, eyeing the opening with concern. "This is far enough."
    "But we need to get you to a doctor."
    "No doctors." It was too dark to see his face, but
she could sense his stubbornness.
    Exasperation flooded through her. "Fine." She glared
at him. "But we still need to get you out of here." They could
argue about doctors later. "Look, my house is just down the creek a
bit. It's an easy walk." Without a wounded man. But she had to stay
positive. "Do you think you can make it?"
    "I can try. But first you'll have to help me stop the
bleeding." He motioned to the rapidly spreading stain on his
shirt.
    "Here?" She tried to keep the panic out of her voice.
First aid wasn't a strong point.
    He smiled weakly, the white of his teeth gleaming in
the dark. "Don't think I have a choice."
    "All right." She nodded, accepting the inevitable.
Carefully, she lowered him to a sitting position, the strain making
her muscles ache. He stretched out his long legs and leaned back
against the rock wall. She gingerly pulled his shirt open, exposing
a broad expanse of male chest covered with a light dusting of dark
hair. The wound lay just to the right of his shoulder. His shirt
had fused itself to the skin.
    "This is going to hurt." She looked up, trying to see
his eyes, but the shadows were too deep.
    "Just do it." His voice was taut, and she could feel
his muscles bunching in preparation.
    Gritting her teeth, she pulled the blood soaked cloth
away with a quick tug. She felt him flinch. "Sorry." His skin was
raw and covered with blood, some of it dried and crusty. This
wasn't a new wound. "How long have you been here?"
    "Don't know, really." He closed his eyes, his voice
fading.
    "Come on. Stay with me."
    He nodded, rallying a bit. "You can use my shirt for
a bandage."
    She eyed the dirty remnants, shaking her head. "I'll
use mine. It's cleaner."
    "You'll