Chapter 19
The stretcher was nothing more than a bed sheet tied taut between two long poles, and as Herbert laid it out on the ground, Andy could see where the material was beginning to fray around the knots tying it in place. Andy wrapped his arms around Sam’s chest and lifted him up carefully while Eli and Herbert each took one of his legs.
Together the three of them managed to get Sam onto the stretcher without jostling him too much—Sam only cried out once, when Herbert let his leg slip from his grasp. “Sorry,” he muttered as Sam winced in pain. He shrugged at Andy, a hapless look in his dark eyes. “I didn’t mean it. I’m sorry.”
“Jesus,” Sam hissed, lying back. Before Andy could move away, Sam reached up and eased his hands around his lover’s neck. “Don’t leave me.”
“Sam, I have
