Free Daisies Are Forever by Liz Tolsma Page A

throng, which parted for him like the Red Sea parted for Moses. He chose a spotclose to the door. With one sweeping motion of his hand, those huddled there made room for their party.
    Kurt flashed her a crooked grin, a triumphant light in his cold blue eyes.
    She shivered. Together with the rest of their bunch, she made her way to the place Kurt had cleared.
    “I told you I would be able to make room. For a hero, these people will do anything.” He cast a glance at Mitch. Mitch glared back at him.
    She settled on the hard floor and Mitch handed Renate to her. The child stirred, then nestled her warm body into Gisela’s. How blissful to be so innocent, to have someone looking out for you so you never had to worry.
    Kurt positioned himself on Gisela’s right, a little too close for her liking. Trying not to appear obvious, she slid over a few centimeters. Mitch lowered himself to the floor on her left. A man sandwich. Stellar.
    Mitch leaned over. “How about that foot?”
    “What about it?”
    “You have been limping since we got off of the truck. Those boots are much too small for you. My guess would be that you have a nasty blister.”
    “I’m fine.”
    “Let me see.”
    “That’s not necessary.”
    “Let me determine whether it is necessary or not.”
    More to make him stop pestering her, she handed Renate to Audra, who sat across from her.
    When she tried to pull off her shoe, Gisela sucked in her breath with the fierce pain.
    Mitch ripped off her boot and her blood-soaked sock.

NINE

    M itch tightened his grip on Gisela’s ankle when he saw her heel. Her small, thin foot was caked in blood. He examined the blister. White puss oozed from the raw wound. She tried to pull it back, but he held her fast.
    “We need to get some medication for that.”
    “I’ll wash it out with soap and water and it will be fine. Now please, hand me my sock.”
    He clung to it. “I’ll rinse this when I get ointment.”
    “You have some in your pack?”
    “No, but I’ll get some.”
    “How?”
    “You ask too many questions.” Best not to let her know he planned to rifle through the sack of a woman he saw applying ointment to her own blisters earlier.
    Gisela lowered her voice. “You’re not going to steal it, are you?”
    Kurt leaned over, attempting to catch their conversation, Mitch assumed. He kept his mouth shut.
    She reached out and grabbed the filthy sock from him. “You can’t do that.”
    “Why not?”
    “You’ll get caught and be in a world of trouble.”
    “What is wrong with your foot?” Kurt couldn’t keep his nose out of their business.
    “Nothing.”
    “I will take care of her.” Mitch swiped the sock back. His burst of possessiveness surprised him.
    With an abruptness that startled Mitch, Kurt rose and walked away, fisting his hand. More than likely, he was off in search of medicine for Gisela’s foot. Watching the German clear a spot for them in the crowded school gave Mitch confidence. He pointed to the stylized SS on the tab of his shirt collar. “They’ll hand the medicine over to a soldier.”
    “And you’ll explain what you need in your terrible German?”
    He flashed her a rakish smile. “Nein. I won’t have to explain. Kurt cleared this area with one gesture. That is all it takes.” At least he hoped it was.
    “I won’t let you put it on my foot.”
    “Unless you want to limp all the way to Berlin and risk gangrene, I suggest you let me treat you.”
    He’d had enough of arguing. Mitch turned and stomped over the mass of refugees, much as Kurt had moments before.
    A pleasant surprise awaited him in the washroom. Running water. Not hot, but a trickle of water from a faucet all the same. He rinsed out Gisela’s sock. He’d love to rinse the lice from his hair.
    His reflection in the mirror startled him. Two weeks’ worth of beard covered his face and lines rimmed his eyes. Over the years in the camp, he had lost a good deal of weight. And some muscle. His mum would never