Free Shortage (Best Laid Plans Book 2) by Nathan Jones Page A

rabbits. Neither one of them was carrying a weapon, though, so they shouldn't be a threat. The others I checked after the shooting stopped and none of them were moving.”
    Lewis jerked his head towards the .223 Trev still clutched to his chest. “Check again.”
    Trev nodded and rose, positioning his rifle on the stump to peer through the scope. In a way it was almost a relief to turn his attention to something besides the terrible sight of his injured cousin bleeding into the snow, although he knew he couldn't afford to waste any time. Still, he also had to be careful. So it was only after almost thirty seconds of checking that he ducked his head back down behind cover. “All clear.”
    Lewis suddenly hissed in a breath, hands around his leg clenching until the knuckles started to turn white. “Man that hurts,” he panted. “And the other two aren't trying to sneak back or get above us?”
    “I didn't see them but I seriously doubt it. Going by the last time I saw them they looked like they didn't plan to stop running until they reached Huntington.” Trev left the gun on the stump and fell to his knees next to his cousin, feeling sick as he stared at the wound. He could see it wasn't good. “How bad is it?”
    After sucking in another breath through gritted teeth Lewis answered with a grim smile. “Well I've got a thigh full of buckshot, but on the plus side I was beyond effective range so it didn't tear my leg to shreds.” He took his hands away from the wound for a second, frowning at it. “It doesn't look like anything's spurting either and I haven't bled out, so I don't think he hit any vital areas.”
    Trev couldn't stop the tears that filled his eyes. “This is all my fault. I shouldn't have-”
    “I'm the one who got cocky with my body armor and had my leg sticking out of cover like an idiot,” his cousin cut in. “Anyway we don't have time for that. We need to act fast, so do exactly what I say.” Trev nodded and blinked a few times to clear his eyes. “Okay. First, we bind my wounds tight to slow the bleeding as much as possible. That's as much as we can do until-” he suddenly swore, face twisting with a sudden jolt of pain, then with some effort continued. “Until we can get back to the hideout where I've got tools to dig the pellets out and treat the wounds.” He paused for another labored breath and to collect himself, then gave Trev a serious look. “Next you need to go collect all the bandits' weapons.”
    Trev nodded in realization. “In case their two friends come back while we're trying to get you to safety on your wounded leg.”
    “Or if the refugees turn out to be dangerous.” Lewis closed his eyes slowly and motioned to his leg, an invitation for Trev to begin.
    Trev quickly removed his coat long enough to strip off his shirt to tear into strips for bandages, then carefully cut away the left leg of his cousin's pants above the wound. It looked ugly, at least 3 pellets that he could see and the flesh already swelling and bruising, and he quickly folded up the bloody pant leg as a pad over the area then bound it tightly with the strips.
    By the time he was done treating his cousin as best he could Lewis was looking pale, and Trev knew he didn't have much time to waste. He got up and turned to head down the mountain, but before he'd taken his first step his cousin reached out and grabbed his ankle to stop him.
    “Watch out for any of them pretending to be dead so they can shoot you before you know you're in danger,” Lewis said soberly. “Keep your .45 handy just in case.”
    Trev paled slightly. He hadn't even considered that possibility. But he did as his cousin suggested and left his Mini-14 behind on the stump, taking out his Glock and holding it ready as he moved cautiously down the mountain. He constantly roved his eyes over the bandits as he hurried to the first and quickly patted him down, removing his weapons. The moment he was done he hurried to the next one and