Oath of Honor

met—a spinoff party from one of the bigger lesbian circuit events—and

where they’d ended up. In bed in Louise’s apartment, urgent and sweaty

and desperate for fulfillment. The night had morphed into three days,

and then Evyn was back on rotation and life went on. And she’d never

called, never even looked back. Until now. Feeling a bit like a jerk, she

said, “I was wondering—I know it’s short notice—but about tonight.

Maybe we could—”

“Tonight?” She heard soft laughter. “Have you looked out the

window? This is supposed to keep up all night. My super-exciting plans

for the evening are to make some hot cider, sit in front of the television

with Netflix and a bowl of popcorn, and turn in early.”

• 89 •

RADCLYfFE

“I guess I can’t persuade you to change those exciting plans?”

“You might, if the evening included dinner, but the weath—”

“I’m already out. Dinner sounds like a good place to start.” Evyn

winced at her really bad come-on line. When had she gotten so shallow?

She turned her wipers on and watched the thin blades bend and scrape

while pushing against the half inch of heavy new snow. The snow was

coming down harder now and the sidewalks were empty. Cars crawled

by, their headlights dull cataracts behind a curtain of snow. In an hour,

the city would be gridlocked. She ought to sack out in the down room

in the OEOB instead of going anywhere. At least she’d get to work in

the morning. “How about I pick you up in forty-five minutes. You pick

the place.”

“I’ve got an even better idea—if you’re really going to come over

here, then let’s stay in. I’ll cook.”

“Oh, that’s no fair. I don’t want you to have to work.” Hell, Louise

was too nice and she was a jerk.

“I don’t mind, if you don’t mind something simple.”

“Well, sure, but—” Evyn didn’t want to drive home—not because

of the storm, but because she didn’t want to face brainless TV and an

uninspired frozen dinner or the warmed-up pizza she’d had three days

before. So she opted for company—nothing wrong with that on the

surface, or there wouldn’t have been if an evening with Louise wasn’t

just a way to keep her from sitting around thinking about Wes. And that

was enough to push her to say, “Yes. Okay, great. I’d like that. I’ll grab

some wine—is that all right?”

“Perfect. I’ll see you soon, and be careful out there.”

“Always,” Evyn said, knowing even as the words left her mouth

she was bluffing. Careful wasn’t really part of her modus operandi. She

was a risk taker, the first to volunteer, the first to rise to a challenge.

She wasn’t being careful around Wes Masters, and she wasn’t thinking

about where she was headed. Not smart at all. Good thing she knew

better than to let her private affairs bleed over into work. None of that

had changed, and she didn’t intend it to. Wes Masters was off-limits

and staying that way.

v

• 90 •

Oath Of hOnOr

A thirty-something brunette in a crisp white shirt and sharply

creased navy blue trousers walked out of the AOD’s office with a

stethoscope slung around her neck and stopped when she saw Wes.

Saluting, she said, “Captain, I’m First Lieutenant Jennifer Pattee, a

nurse with the WHMU.”

“Lieutenant,” Wes said, returning the salute. She was in uniform,

the lieutenant wasn’t, suggesting the WHMU was geared toward

medicine and not military customs. She had no problem with that.

“Captain Wes Masters.”

“Yes, ma’am.” The dark-haired woman smiled tentatively.

“Welcome aboard, ma’am.”

“Thank you. Are you the AOD?”

“Yes, ma’am. There’s also a nurse, Major Mark Beecher, on duty.

He just went to grab us some dinner.”

“Just the two of you?”

“No, ma’am. Colonel Dunbar is the MD on call—he’s backup and

in the on-call suite right now.”

“Quiet down here.”

The lieutenant smiled, more widely this time. “Activity varies,

ma’am. During the day, when the House is filled with visitors, staff,

and legislators coming and going from the Hill, we get quite a lot of

activity. In addition, there are several hundred full-time House staffers

rotating around the clock, and we render medical care to all of them. Of

course, during a State visit—” She broke off abruptly. “Sorry, I’m sure

you know all this.”

Wes made a decision on the spot. She’d learned early in life to

take lessons from everyone, anywhere she could. On the front line, rank

often lost its significance. She was in command of the WHMU, but that

didn’t mean she couldn’t utilize every resource possible. “Actually, no.

I haven’t been read in on routine around here.”

“Well then, I’m sure Peter—Commander Chang—or Colonel

Dunbar will brief you. Commander Chang is off rotation right now. He

had duty at the wedding.”

“Yes, I met the commander briefly. If I’m not on-site,” Wes said,

“you and the others can reach me by voice or text anytime. I just wanted

to get the lay of the land tonight. I won’t be taking call for a few days

yet.”

• 91 •

RADCLYfFE

“Care for a tour, then, Captain?”

“I would.”

“This is the clinic area, obviously.” Jennifer pivoted and swept her