Chapter 21
Sweat, Blood, and Fear
Heather slept on, so Jim moved her quickly and gently as he could to the chair at the table while Ryan settled Bill back onto the bed.
“Give me your belt,” Ryan said, pulling out a blade from his pocket knife.
Jim removed his belt while Ryan cut what remained of the leg of Bill’s jeans away from the bleeding stump. He looped the belt and slid it over the stump. Ryan grabbed the loose end of the belt from his hand and cinched it tight.
Bill awoke from his faint, sitting up with a jerk, screaming.
“Hold still,” Ryan said, “we have to stop the bleeding.”
Bill looked uncertain for a moment, then his eyes strayed down to the source of his pain. He nodded, face set into a grimace, and lay back. He was sweating, biting his lips, his face bright red.
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