Friday...
CASUALTY WAS BUSY. Lindsey thanked her lucky stars it was. It gave her less time to begin thinking. Analysing. Had she come across to Dan as too organised about their relationship? Too calculating? Pushing too hard? She shook her head. She hadn’t meant to give that impression at all.
She wondered how he’d spent last night. Had he stayed home and thought about her? About them? Maybe he’d gone out on the town. Not that Hopeton had much of a night-life during the week but still...
‘The police just brought in two old chaps, drunk as.’ Vanessa came round the corner of the station and slapped her notes on the desk. ‘They politely or impolitely vomited all over the floor and now the waiting room smells like—well, you know.’
‘Get the cleaners in,’ Lindsey said patiently.
‘I tried.’ Vanessa’s mouth twisted comically. ‘They’re on a tea break.’
‘What’s wrong with your patients, besides needing something for their hangovers?’ Lindsey asked.
‘Cuts and bruises mostly. When the pub shut they spent the rest of the night in the park. A couple of low-lives rolled them this morning. Stole their wallets.’
‘What’s the place coming to?’ Lindsey frowned. ‘Are the police looking into it?’
‘Dunno. Dan spoke to them.’
‘I imagine their ID and social security details were in the wallets.’
‘Declan’s on it,’ Vanessa dismissed. ‘For the present, the old boys are resting in the side ward. I guess we’ll do what we always do. Patch them up, give them something to eat a bit later and send them off.’ She flopped into a chair. ‘You can’t help wondering how people’s lives disintegrate so drastically. I mean, they must have been young and hopeful once. I wonder where they’ll sleep tonight.’
Lindsey looked at her friend sharply. It was not like Van to be introspective. ‘Perhaps Declan will be able to arrange some sheltered accommodation for them. Are you OK? You still have some leave due. Maybe you should take it? Get away from the place for a bit.’
‘Maybe.’ Vanessa managed a jaded smile.
‘By the way, Annie finished last night. Her ob wants her to rest up. Our new man is starting on Monday on an early.’
‘Oh, joy.’ Vanessa brightened. ‘On our team, then?’
‘For the moment. Uh-oh.’ Lindsey sighed as she picked up a call from the ambulance base. She listened to the report and then shot off a few questions of her own. Putting the phone down, she turned to Vanessa. ‘Ten girls from St Faith’s College coming in from a school camp, suspected food poisoning. ETA twenty minutes.’
Quickly, Lindsey found Dan and relayed the details of the emergency.
‘Right, this is where the rubber hits the road, people. We’ll need everyone on deck,’ Dan said when the team had assembled at the station. ‘We’ll wait to ascertain the extent of the illness and go from there.’
‘And be ready with basins, please,’ Lindsey said. ‘Some of the students could still be vomiting.’
Within minutes two ambulances had arrived, followed by one of the teachers who had helpfully offered his Land Rover to transport several of the young patients to the hospital.
‘Let’s get some triage happening, shall we?’ Dan came in authoritatively. He half turned his head. ‘Lindsey?’
Lindsey ran her eyes over the assembled group. ‘This is going to need everyone’s co-operation. Some of the students appear quite ill so, Gail, where you can, would you begin taking names, please? And liaise with the accompanying teachers about letting the parents know.’
‘How do we work this patient-wise?’ Andrew cut in, throwing the question at Dan.
‘We’ll see the kids on stretchers first. You team with Jess. Michelle, you team with Vanessa. Anything you’re uncertain about, don’t dither. Give me a yell. Now let’s go.’
Accompanied by Dan, Lindsey went into the first cubicle. Their patient, a sixteen-year-old student, looked pale and clammy. Lindsey placed her hand on the youngster’s shoulder. ‘What’s your name, honey?’
‘Katherine Enders.’
‘And when did you start feeling ill?’ Lindsey smoothed the girl’s long fair hair away from her cheek.
‘Soon after breakfast.’ She bit her lips together and went on. ‘The other kids were sick too.’
‘Katherine,’ Dan said gently, ‘I just need to feel your tummy.’ His mouth compressed as he palpated. ‘Right.’ He stepped back and drew the sheet up. ‘That’s fine. Have you had any diarrhoea?’
‘Some. Oh...’
Lindsey noticed the girl’s sudden pallor. ‘Do you want to vomit, Katherine?’
The girl blocked a tear with the tips of her fingers and sniffed. ‘I feel so awful.’ She swallowed convulsively and tried to sit up. ‘My little sister, Alix, is really sick...’
‘Shh... It’s OK,’ Lindsey hushed gently. ‘She’ll be looked after. Let’s just try to get you settled.’
That wasn’t going to happen.
‘Oh, help!’ Katherine gulped and gave a little moan. ‘I want to be sick...’
Lindsey grabbed a basin. They were in for a morning and a half with this lot.
‘Someone’s head should roll over this.’ Dan was grim-faced. ‘Let’s run ten milligrams of Maxolon stat, please, Lindsey. That should settle her nausea.’
Quickly Lindsey secured the drip and taped it down. ‘Lomotil for the diarrhoea?’
Dan nodded. ‘Start with two orally and cut back to one after each bowel movement. She’s dehydrating. I’d like her on four per cent glucose and one-fifth normal saline IV. Sips of water only. Could you take her blood sugar levels as well, please? Anything below three, I need to know.’
And so it went on for the next couple of hours.
* * *
‘I don’t know about you, but I’m starving.’ Dan followed Lindsey into the staffroom. They’d just done a round, rechecking all their young patients. And releasing most of them into the care of their parents.
‘I have sandwiches, if you’d like to share?’ Lindsey offered.
‘Hmm...’ Dan considered his options. ‘I think I’d like something hot. Let’s go to Leo’s.’
‘Oh.’ Lindsey hesitated. ‘OK. I’ll just make sure Vanessa’s around to mind the station.’
* * *
‘What about Alix Enders?’ Lindsey asked as they crossed the street to Leo’s. ‘How long will you keep her?’
‘I’d like to leave her drip in a bit longer. She was seriously dehydrated.’
‘Did you get any clue as to what may have caused the food poisoning?’
‘Probably something dodgy they ate for breakfast, seeing they were ill so soon after. The guys from Health and Safety will suss it out, send whatever they come up with for analysis.’ Dan pushed open the door to the café and they went inside.
‘I’m not usually out for lunch.’ Lindsey took the chair Dan held for her. ‘I shouldn’t be away from the hospital too long.’
‘You’re entitled to your break.’ Dan had no such qualms. ‘And we’re only five minutes away if we’re needed.’
‘I suppose.’ She ran her gaze over the short menu. ‘I think I’ll have the fish.’
‘I’ll have the beef stroganoff.’ Dan placed the menu beside his plate. ‘I had fish last night. An impromptu dinner with Nathan and Sami.’
So that’s where he’d been. Lindsey looked up as Leo arrived to leave water and take their orders. How pathetic, she berated herself, waiting for any crumb that would let her a little further into Dan’s world. While they waited for their food, Lindsey poured them each a glass of water. Suddenly she was aware the silence had extended for too long. ‘So... Nathan and Sami settling into their new place all right?’
‘New old place,’ Dan countered drily. ‘It’s Georgian in design, huge garden, built in the eighteen thirties, according to Sami. She’s already on a roll, talking in terms of topiary, stone walling and hedge laying.’
‘How’s Nathan feel about that?’
‘Terrified.’ Dan’s eyes glinted with soft amusement. ‘Sami’s been to the historical society to get details of the house as it used to be. She found the front hedge was originally clipped into a whimsical line of marching elephants.’
‘Are you serious?’ Lindsey spluttered a laugh. ‘That girl is totally priceless. But I don’t know why I should be surprised. Sami has always known what she wanted and gone after it. I guess that’s what Nathan loves about her.’
‘I’m sure...’ Dan paused. ‘Oh, while I think of it, I’ve been given time off on Monday to attend a refresher training day in search and rescue. If you’re pushed, Nathan’s back on Monday. He’ll come down. And Martin’s in at noon.’
Lindsey nodded. ‘Thanks for letting me know. Where do you have to go for your training?’
Dan lifted a shoulder. ‘Locally.’
And that seemed to be that. Within seconds they were facing another wall of uneasy silence.
It was Dan who broke it.
‘Would you like to go out for dinner tomorrow? Perhaps somewhere we could dance as well?’ He’d made himself aware of Lindsey’s roster, knew she was on an early tomorrow and then off on Sunday, and had decided he could work around that as well.
Slowly Lindsey raised her gaze. Her throat constricted. ‘That would have been...good. But I’m heading straight out to Lark Hill after my shift. Mum and Dad are due home next week. I want to make sure everything’s looking nice for them.’
It was on the tip of Dan’s tongue to ask if she’d like a hand—his for preference—but it was clear she wasn’t about to issue an invitation. It was also clear she was making a statement. She didn’t want him there. He took a mouthful of water and placed his glass back on its coaster. ‘Something’s obviously bugging you, Lindsey. Why don’t you just hit me with it?’
She didn’t pretend to misunderstand him. ‘I like clarity in my life. That’s how I am. I don’t seem to be getting it from you, Dan.’
They stared at each other.
‘Let’s be frank, then.’ Dan’s blue eyes glittered. ‘You’re still ticked off with me because I didn’t accept the key you left for me.’
Lindsey hated confrontation but there was no backing down. ‘I was hurt at your reaction,’ she admitted.
‘I acted like a jerk.’ His mouth straightened into a grim line. ‘Your leaving the key was spontaneous and sweet. I could have called you and sorted it, instead of leaving that pathetic note.’ He gave a mirthless laugh. ‘God, I can’t believe I did that!’
Lindsey raised an eyebrow. ‘But you did. And I was left wondering whether every move I make in the future is going to be the right one. If you want out of this relationship, then tell me. Let’s end it cleanly.’
End it? Dan felt a cramp in his chest. Was that what she wanted? He let his breath go in a stream. He’d been the luckiest man alive, finding Lindsey. Lindsey with the generous spirit, the forgiving heart. But everything had its limits and her patience with him must be running low. ‘Are you saying there’s no hope for us?’
Lindsey drew back sharply. ‘I’m not saying that at all.’ She spread her hands in appeal. ‘But I can’t be myself around you any more.’
Dan felt his heart beating hard against his ribs. ‘OK. I hear what you’re saying. I don’t want to lose you, Lindsey. Lose us.’
Lindsey could see the sudden tight set of his shoulders. She didn’t want to put pressure on him. Push him to do things he wasn’t ready to do. But they couldn’t have gone on the way they had been, neither knowing what the other was thinking half the time. ‘I don’t want to give up on us either, Dan.’
‘OK, we won’t, then.’ His blue eyes held an appeal. ‘So this is the new, improved me, communicating. If I wouldn’t be intruding, I’d like to come out to Lark Hill on Sunday. We could spend the day together.’
‘That would be good,’ Lindsey said guardedly. ‘And definitely a step in the right direction.’
‘More like thirty Ks in the right direction.’ There was the slightest waver in his eyes. ‘So we’re back on track, then.’
‘Come early on Sunday.’ Lindsey tilted her head and reached out a hand across the table. ‘I’ll put you to work.’
Dan took her hand, shackling her wrist. ‘I want to kiss you,’ he said softly.
‘No chance.’ She ran her tongue along her lips. ‘Here’s Leo with our food.’
‘Sunday, then?’ Dan leaned back in his chair.
She nodded.
And so it was settled.
They ate quickly and went back to the hospital. As they approached the station Vanessa called out, ‘There you are! We’ve an MVA coming in. Collision between a car and one of those double-cab utilities. Woman reversing out of her gateway into the main road. Guy in the ute didn’t have time to swerve.’
‘What kind of injuries do we have?’ Dan asked calmly.
‘Terry Ryan said the woman’s pregnant, ten weeks or so. She’s a bit shaken but nothing broken. Ute driver’s an older man, shocky, possible ribs and seat-belt injury. It happened just out of town a bit so they’ll be here directly.’
‘Right.’ Dan said, ‘Anything else happening?’
‘No.’ Vanessa shook her head. ‘We’ve been quiet.’
‘OK.’ He glanced at his watch. ‘It’s nothing Michelle and Andrew can’t handle between them. I have a meeting with the board. Lindsey, will you deal?’
‘Go.’ Lindsey shooed him off. ‘Do we have names, Van?’
Vanessa checked her notes. ‘Rebecca Brannon and Graeme Ley. Did you have a nice lunch?’ she sidetracked deftly.
‘Yes, thanks.’ Lindsey busied herself at the computer. ‘Can’t remember the last time I was at Leo’s. OK.’ She whirled off her chair. ‘Van, would you grab Jess and make sure the resus room is ready, please? And check the radiographer’s on hand. At some stage there’ll need to be an ultrasound done on the pregnant woman.’
‘Got all that.’ Vanessa took off.
The ambulance siren could be heard outside as Lindsey briefed the junior doctors. She addressed Andrew. ‘Which patient do you want?’
‘I’ll take the ribs,’ he said emphatically. ‘I’ve a bit to learn yet about pregnant women.’
‘Better smarten up, then, if you’re aiming to be a family practitioner,’ Lindsey suggested, her tone dry. ‘Jess will assist you. Michelle, I’ll be with you.’
‘Perhaps we should get the ob down?’ Michelle looked a question at Lindsey as they made their way to Resus.
‘You’re the doctor,’ Lindsey said. ‘It’s your call.’
‘On the other hand, he’ll be grumpy if we call him down for nothing untoward. We’ll play it by ear and see how we go, I think.’
Lindsey shot her a discerning look. ‘You’re OK about treating this patient?’
‘Mmm. Yes, of course.’ Michelle gave an awkward little laugh. ‘I know I’ve not been the easiest to work with but I’m finally getting the hang of working in Casualty. It’s like running a marathon every day.’
‘Maybe. But you’ll learn a lot here.’ Lindsey pulled back the curtain and they went into the resus cubicle. ‘Hi, Rebecca, I’m Lindsey. This is Michelle. She’ll be your treating doctor. How are you feeling?’
‘A bit scared...’ Rebecca was shivering, her eyes wide in trepidation.
‘Have you felt any bleeding?’ Michelle asked.
‘No. Don’t think so.’
‘Well, we’ll make sure anyway. Lindsey, would you check Rebecca, please?’
A few moments later Lindsey was able to report, ‘So far, so good. But we’ll pop a pad on you, Rebecca, so we’ll be able to monitor any change.’
Rebecca took a shaky breath. ‘I don’t want to lose this baby.’
‘We’ll do everything we can to stop that happening,’ Michelle interposed gently. ‘Now, I want to check your tummy for any injury from your seat belt.’
Michelle’s hands worked their way methodically across her patient’s abdomen, palpating, checking and rechecking. Finally, she lifted her head and smiled. ‘You seemed to have escaped any spleen damage. Now, let’s see what the rest of you is doing.’ She turned to Lindsey, her brows raised in silent query.
‘BP and pulse within normal range.’
‘Thanks.’ Michelle shone a torch into Rebecca’s eyes to check her pupils were normal and reacting. ‘OK, that’s fine,’ she said. ‘Now, I want you to squeeze my hand as hard as you can and then I’ll check your legs and feet. Excellent.’ She smiled. ‘You’re doing great.’
‘Are you ready for the Doppler now?’ Lindsey asked from behind Michelle’s shoulder.
‘We certainly are.’ Michelle ran the special obstetric stethoscope over Rebecca’s slight bump. For several seconds she concentrated, listening. Shifting the stethoscope slightly, she listened again.
‘Is s-something wrong?’ Rebecca’s eyes flew wide in concern.
‘Nothing at all.’ Michelle gave a reassuring pat to her patient’s arm. ‘Your little one’s heartbeat is ticking away very nicely.’
‘Oh, thank God.’ Tears spilled from Rebecca’s eyes and down her cheeks.
‘Thank you so much, Doctor.’
‘I don’t think you’ve anything to worry about,’ Michelle said. ‘But to make absolutely sure, we’ll do an ultrasound as well.’
‘Are you booked here to have your baby?’ Lindsey spread a blanket over the young woman.
‘No...’ Rebecca bit her lip. ‘I’m from Sydney, here visiting my nanna. It was her car I was driving. It’s a bit different from mine. I had trouble adjusting the seat belt and then I think I may have put on too much speed as I reversed. Is the driver of the ute all right?’
‘We’ll find out for you,’ Lindsey said. ‘In the meantime, could we contact someone for you—your husband perhaps?’
Rebecca shook her head. ‘Dean’s away on business. I’ll call him later.’
‘What about your nanna?’ Michelle plonked herself on the corner of the bed.
‘She’s not been too well. I was actually on my way to get a scrip filled for her.’ The young woman gave a funny little grimace. ‘She’s probably thinking I’ve gone shopping or something. I...suppose I should let her know...’
‘That might be a good idea. I’ll speak to her as well, if you like,’ Michelle offered. ‘Just to reassure her.’
‘Thanks...both of you.’ Rebecca’s eyes flicked between the doctor and nurse. ‘For being so kind to me and everything...’
‘That’s what we do.’ Michelle scribbled quickly on her patient’s chart. ‘Now, if you give me the name of your doctor in Sydney, I’ll make sure he or she gets your notes. And I’d like to keep you here for a couple of hours, just to make sure you and your bub are fine. We’ll pop you on a saline drip and a little later we’ll take some blood. That’ll tell us whether your haemoglobin levels are where they should be.’
‘OK...’ Rebecca pulled herself higher on the pillow. ‘Could I have my bag, please? I’ll dig out my phone and call Nanna.’
‘How’s the side ward looking?’ Michelle turned to Lindsey. ‘Perhaps Rebecca would be more comfortable out there.’
‘Should be fine,’ Lindsey said. ‘Most of our youngsters have been discharged.’ She smiled at their patient. ‘Now, what about a cup of tea?’
Rebecca gave a little tearful nod of appreciation. ‘That sounds like heaven.’
Sunday at Lark Hill...
Hands resting across the railing, Dan and Lindsey were on the back deck, looking down at the patch of newly mown lawn. ‘Thanks for doing this, Dan.’
‘It’s fine.’ He sent her a wry smile. ‘Anything else you’d like me to do?’
‘Well...if you wouldn’t mind, I’d like the wood brought in for the fireplace. Even though we’re eventually heading into summer, the nights can still get quite cool. Jeff would have seen to all these jobs but he’s a bit off-colour at the moment.’
Dan hooked a questioning brow. ‘Should I look in on him?’
‘Do you have your bag with you?’
‘Of course. I’ll get it.’
‘Dan—stop!’ Lindsey smothered an embarrassed laugh. ‘I’m kidding. Fiona will have everything in hand.’
‘Ah. I see.’
He lifted a hand, stroking the back of his index finger gently over the curve of her cheek and across her chin. ‘You’re playing the joker again. Is this something you do only at Lark Hill, Ms Stewart?’
‘Must be...’ She tried to laugh again but the laughter caught in her throat. His body was very close, his mouth closer still. ‘Got you in, though.’
‘Payback, then,’ he murmured as his mouth came down and closed over her tiny sigh.
* * *
While Dan brought in the wood, Lindsey prepared lunch. ‘I’ve made burgers,’ she said, when he came through to the kitchen. ‘But not your usual kind.’ She gave him a quick, hopeful look. ‘They’re sweet potato and quinoa. And don’t look like that.’ She flicked him playfully with the tea towel. ‘I promise they won’t be bland. I’ve made a chilli yoghurt dressing to go with them.’
Dan washed his hands at the sink. ‘So we’re on a vegetarian kick today, are we?’
Lindsey put her health professional’s hat on. ‘It’s good to have a change from an all-meat diet.’
‘Hey.’ He held up his hands in mock surrender. ‘Did I say anything to the contrary?’
‘No, you didn’t.’ The dimple in Lindsey’s cheek came into sharp relief as she smiled. She loved him like this. Light-hearted. Fun to be with. And the look in those glinting blue eyes sent her insides melting.
They assembled the lunch tray together. ‘There’s some feta to crumble over the burgers,’ Lindsey said. ‘Interested?’
Dan’s mouth pursed as he considered. ‘Think I’ll pass. But I’ll have some of those black olives, please.’
‘And there’s rocket from our own veg patch.’ Lindsey separated the delicate green leaves from their stems.
‘Mmm. Fantastic.’ Dan hefted the tray. ‘Are we eating on the deck as usual?’
‘Why not?’ She gathered glasses and a jug of water. ‘It’s kind of our special place.’
‘And I love being here.’
And I love you, he could have added, and wondered why he couldn’t voice it.
Because saying it would cause repercussions as wide and deep as the ocean. Was he ready to leave the safety of the shore, take Lindsey with him and set sail to an unfamiliar destination? He deliberately steadied his breathing, tightening his fingers on the edges of the tray and pulling himself back to sanity.
As they neared the end of their informal meal he asked, ‘Would you mind if I ran a work-related matter past you?’
‘Fire away.’ Lindsey refilled their glasses and waited.
‘Michelle’s evaluation is due. She’s about to move on to her next rotation.’ He paused. ‘Professionally, I wondered how you’ve found her.’
Lindsey considered her answer. ‘Is that a reasonable request, Dan? Michelle’s evaluation is surely down to you and Martin.’
‘I know all that. But the fact of the matter is the nurses work day in and day out with the junior doctors. And I trust your judgement entirely.’
‘Well, in that case...’ Lindsey met his gaze, seeing the crease in his cheek as he smiled, the action activating the persuasive gleam in his eyes. ‘Michelle’s attitude towards the junior nurses has been off-putting for them. They need to gain confidence just as much as the junior doctors do. But things have improved markedly.’
Dan’s lips twitched. ‘Since you had a quiet word.’
Lindsey gave a shrug. ‘She seems to have finally got the message that she’s in Casualty as a member of a team. And, believe me, from the nurses’ point of view, that’s a whole heap of progress.’
‘Clinically, she appears very sound. Would you agree?’
‘Yes. I’ve made it my business to work with her a bit more lately. She seems confident in her diagnoses and treatment. And I should charge you for this consult, Dr Rossi,’ she added drily.
‘Oh, I’ll see to it you’re well compensated.’ His voice was low, deeper than deep, whispering over her skin and right into her heart.
She looked at him mistily. Making love in the afternoon had a lot going for it.
‘So, what are you thinking?’ Dan’s eyes were tender.
‘That we have such a lot going for us.’
‘We do. I think you’re wonderful. And beautiful. And perfect. And damn,’ he deadpanned, ‘there’s my mobile...’
Lindsey sent him an eye-roll, packed up their lunch tray and left him to his call. A few minutes later Dan joined her in the kitchen. He looked serious. ‘Everything OK?’
‘Hope so. That was the SES.’
Lindsey stopped what she doing and waited for him to explain.
‘There’s an emergency situation at Mt Rowan. It’s near here, I believe.’
‘A few Ks up the road. What’s happened?’
‘Apparently, it’s an abseiling group from one of the churches—seven young lads, one leader and one parent.’
‘And?’ Instinctively, Lindsey moved closer.
‘The last of the boys to descend pushed out too far. He came back in at an angle instead of front-on to the cliff and appears to have slammed against some kind of projecting rock. And knocked himself out. Fortunately, his locking device has activated and that’s saved him from further injury.’
‘Oh, poor kid.’ Lindsey looked uncertain. ‘But why are the SES calling you?’
‘Because I’ve made myself available this weekend. With my training in search and rescue, volunteering for the SES seems a natural fit. And as I’m relatively close to the accident scene, I said I’d attend. It might be some while before the base can muster a team.’
‘Then I’ll come with you,’ Lindsey said. ‘Just give me a minute to change.’
Dan clocked her quick response. ‘You’re not thinking of abseiling?’
‘Of course.’ She made a motion of brushing him aside. ‘I’ve done heaps. What about you?’
‘As you say. I’ve done heaps.’
‘We’re a team, then?’
‘We seem to be.’ Dan shrugged his acceptance, meeting her hand in a high-five salute. ‘Now, get a wriggle on.’ He tapped her backside. ‘I’ll close up the house.’
‘Do you have your own ropes and things?’ Lindsey asked.
‘Yep. Luckily, as I’ve this training day tomorrow I put together what I thought I’d need for any emergency. See you outside.’
* * *
Toby Marshall, the team leader, was waiting for them at the cliff-top. ‘Boy, am I glad to see you, Doc,’ he said grimly as Dan shook hands and skimmed over the introductions.
‘So, do we have a name and how far down is the lad?’ Dan asked, already beginning some warm-up arm and shoulder exercises for the physical task ahead.
‘Riley Dukes, aged sixteen. By my estimation, he’s about twenty metres down.’ Toby looked keenly at Dan. ‘Obviously he’s going to need medical attention, so it’s you for the drop, is it, Doc?’
‘We’ll both go,’ Lindsey said firmly. ‘I’m a nurse. I’m Dan’s back-up.’
‘And you’ve abseiled before?’ Toby queried.
‘Lots of times.’
‘OK, then. The sooner we get this under way, the better for young Riley. And, Doc, I realise you have your own gear, but I’ll need to check what you’re wearing. We don’t need any more mishaps.’
‘Sure.’ Dan was compliant. ‘No worries.’
‘And I’ll be your anchor at the top,’ Toby said.
Dan showed Toby the special sit-in retrieval harness he’d be wearing, pointing out the sturdy shoulder straps and leg loops.
‘You realise you’re going to have to attach Riley’s harness to yours to get him down?’
‘These are the clip gates I’ll use for that.’ Dan’s hands closed around the metal locking devices. ‘This type is the best and easiest to operate in case I have only one hand free. And I have a sheathed knife to cut Riley’s line away once I have him secured to my harness.’
‘Right, you seem well equipped,’ Toby said approvingly. ‘Don’t forget you’ll have Riley’s extra weight on your line so be aware of the sudden impact when you cut the line away. But I’ll have you firmly anchored and it should be fairly smooth sailing down to the base. And hopefully by then the SES team and ambulance will be there. Meanwhile, take this radio. It’ll connect you with me. Any problems, yell.’
Meanwhile, Lindsey had climbed into her own harness, tightening the waist belt above her hips.
‘You set?’ Dan touched her shoulder.
‘Yes.’ She swallowed the dryness in her throat, checking the trauma kit’s bulk, which she’d anchored at the rear just below her bottom. ‘Let’s do it.’ Her eyes met Dan’s and clung. She hadn’t done this for quite a while, but she wasn’t about to tell Dan that. What they had to do would be tricky, to say the least. He would, of necessity, have to keep focused. She didn’t want him distracted and worrying about her safety.
* * *
Bouncing down the granite face of the cliff, Dan felt the familiar adrenaline kick in. The hard slog of his training in Florida had been well worth this feeling of achievement. Cautiously, he cast a look downwards, just able to glimpse their quarry in his bright yellow sweatshirt. ‘We’re nearly there,’ he called to Lindsey, who was slightly above him and to his left. ‘Slacken off.’
‘I hear you.’ Little by little, Lindsey began paying out her rope, moving on down the rock face until she was alongside him.
‘Right—this’ll do us.’ Dan signalled and together they swung in as closely as they could to the boy. ‘And Eureka...’ His voice held relief as they landed on a ledge of rock and he began testing its viability. Finally, he managed to position his feet so that he was more or less evenly balanced. ‘This should hold both of us, Lindsey. Close up now.’
‘I’m with you...’ She edged in beside him.
Dan’s gaze swung to her. She looked a bit pale. A surge of protectiveness shot into his gut. ‘You OK?’
‘Piece of cake.’ Her brittle laugh jagged eerily into the stillness.
Riley was hanging in space, quite still. But the top part of his inert body had drooped so far forward he was almost bent double into a U-shape.
Dan swore under his breath. Another couple of centimetres and the kid would have turned upside down. They had no time to lose. ‘OK, Lindsey, let’s reel him in.’
Lindsey looked doubtful. ‘Can you reach him from there?’
‘Just about, I think. I’ll give it a good shot.’
She felt her stomach knot, fearing for Dan’s safety as he edged perilously along the ledge, making the most of his long reach to grip the boy’s waist harness and guide him in close to the cliff face. Riley’s colour was glassily blue. Her nerves pulled even tighter. Were they already too late?
‘Lindsey, listen,’ Dan instructed firmly. ‘I want you to position yourself to receive Riley’s torso and support his head, OK?’
Lindsey was put on her mettle. She reached out her arms. ‘Right, I’ve got him!’ Immediately, she began to equalise the position of Riley’s head and neck, which would automatically clear his airway. ‘How’s his pulse?’
Dan’s mouth screwed tight. ‘It’s there but it’s faint. And no breath sounds. Damn.’ He dragged in a huge breath and in one swift movement bent to deliver five quick mouth-to-mouth breaths into their patient.
The silence was deafening; seconds felt like hours as they waited. And then they heard Riley’s roughened cough. ‘OK, he’s breathing but still well out of it. Grab me the torch, Lindsey.’ Automatically, he took their patient’s weight so Lindsey could access the torch from the trauma kit.
Dan’s face was set in concentration as he flicked the light into the boy’s eyes. ‘Equal and reacting,’ he relayed, feeling the tightness in his temples ease fractionally.
So, no bleed to the brain, Lindsey interpreted silently. ‘His knee seems at an odd angle.’
‘I had noticed.’ Dan began feeling around for the clip gates attached to the runner looped over his shoulder. Riley’s injured knee was an added complication. The sooner they got the kid down and treated, the better. His gaze lowered to where Riley’s injury was just visible below the coloured band of his shorts. The matter of the scraped skin was of little concern but Dan’s instincts were telling him that the puffy state of the boy’s knee plus the blood seeping from the wound from the rock were a worry. ‘He’s obviously hit the rock with some force.’
‘Do you think he’s banged his head and lost control?’ Lindsey voiced her own concerns tentatively.
‘Quite possibly. Whatever, I can’t do much from here. We’ll need to get him down so I can look at him properly. Right, I’m about to try to anchor Riley to my harness.’
Lindsey felt unease crawl up her backbone as she realised the logistics. It seemed a very big ask. Dan was going to try to align Riley’s body to his, chest to chest. ‘In practical terms, how do you want to work it, then?’
‘Slowly and carefully. We’ll endeavour to manoeuvre Riley upright now. I’ll help as much as I can but I’ll have to concentrate on getting him adjacent to my own body so I can link our harnesses together. OK, let’s do it.’
It was useless. Lindsey shook her head in despair. It was like trying to steady a ton weight balloon with a piece of string. Riley was a well-built young man, his unconscious state only adding to their difficulties. And in their precarious position, it was nearly impossible to co-ordinate the lift so the two harness belts were close enough to link.
‘This isn’t going to work,’ Dan said concisely. His shoulders slumped and he shook his head. ‘This was a hare-brained idea.’
Lindsey sensed his anguish but they couldn’t give up now. Riley’s young life could well depend on their teamwork. She pushed down her fears. ‘Give me the clip gates, Dan.’
‘That’s ridiculous!’ His brows shot up. ‘Riley’s way too heavy and you’re not wearing the right kind of harness.’
‘I didn’t mean I’d try to take Riley’s weight,’ Lindsey pointed out. ‘But we have to find a resolution here. What we’re doing is not working—when you’re steady, Riley’s either too high or too low.’
Dan swore under his breath and slumped into his harness. ‘We’ll just have to wait until the SES guys get here. They can drop someone. Between us, we’ll be able to attach Riley and get him down.’ He reached inside his vest for the radio transmitter.
All that could take precious time. Lindsey thought swiftly. It was time they didn’t have. Her confidence in her own capabilities kicked in. ‘Wait a minute. Could you try linking your hands under Riley’s behind and lifting him to your waist level? Then I could make a grab for his harness and snap you together.’
Dan’s jaw tightened so hard it felt like snapping. He hated not being in control. Hated and loathed it. Nevertheless, he did what Lindsey had suggested, gripping Riley and lifting him as high as he could, his muscles straining with the effort.
Lindsey’s nerves were stretched like the strings on a bass fiddle. She had only the barest window of opportunity to hitch the two harnesses together before Dan’s strength gave out and he’d have no choice but to abort his hold on the injured boy. She steadied her breathing, conscious of almost choreographing her movements.
‘Do it now, Lindsey...’ Dan gasped, pulling his torso back so Lindsey could use what little space there was between him and the boy. ‘Now!’ he yelled.
‘Do it—or I’ve lost him!’
In a flash, remembering everything she’d been taught, Lindsey used her feet in a technique called smearing, where most of the climber’s weight was positioned over one foot to reduce the overall load on the arms. Twisting slightly, she turned her upper body so that her arm closest to the rock face could counter-balance her movement and give her other arm maximum extension. It took barely seconds to execute.
But to Dan those same seconds felt like hours. The muscles of his throat and around his mouth were locked and sweat pooled wetly in his lower back. His mind was so focused he hardly felt the nudge of Lindsey’s fingers as she secured one then two more clip gates to link Dan to his patient.
‘Done...’ Her voice was barely above a whisper.
* * *
Lindsey hardly remembered how they got down. She only remembered the relief she’d felt when Dan had cut Riley’s rope and they’d been able to begin their descent.
And there were plenty of hands to help them once they were safely on the ground. A subdued cheer even went up. Riley was released from his harness and placed on the stretcher.
Lindsey divested herself of her own harness, vaguely aware her legs felt as unsteady as a puppet’s. She swallowed back the taste of bile. Surely she wasn’t about to disgrace herself and throw up here in front of all these macho men. Someone from the SES handed her a bottle of water. ‘Nice work, Lindsey. You’re a beauty.’
She managed a weak smile before swallowing several big mouthfuls of water. Her equilibrium steadied and she pulled her thoughts together. Removing her safety hat, she shook out her hair and began making her way across to where Riley’s stretcher had been placed in the shade and Dan was bending over him.
Dan looked at her briefly. ‘He’s come round. You’ll be fine, mate,’ he reassured his young patient. ‘Take it easy now. We’ll get you on some oxygen.’
The portable oxygen unit appeared as if by magic. And a space blanket.
‘How is he, Doc?’ Toby Marshall hovered uneasily. He’d have some explaining to do to the kid’s parents over this.
Dan folded his stethoscope away. Riley’s breathing was a bit raspy but this wasn’t the place to be passing that information along. It would right itself as the oxygen kicked in. ‘Riley has a fractured kneecap and possible lower rib injury. We need to get him to hospital.’ He turned to the paramedic and took him aside. ‘I’ll leave Riley in your capable hands, Terry. Cane it in, mate. His parents are probably wearing out the floor in the ED.’
‘No worries, Doc. Scratch us a few notes to take and we’ll be out of here.’
* * *
Late afternoon and the vivid sunset was rapidly being overtaken by the sweep of pearly grey evening sky and the wind that had risen had the sharpness of a whip crack. One of the SES crew had given Dan and Lindsey a lift back to the cliff-top and Dan was rapidly sorting his climbing gear and stowing it safely in his Land Rover.
Arms wrapped around her middle, Lindsey stood watching him. It had been the oddest kind of day.
Dan closed the tailgate on his SUV and turned, his gaze narrowing. He frowned a bit. She looked shattered. ‘Why didn’t you go and sit in the car?’
‘I wanted to wait for you.’
‘Aw...’ He gave a goofy grin. ‘Need a hug, then?’ He opened his arms and she ran to him. She cuddled into his embrace and he held her. And held her. ‘You were amazing.’ He looped back a strand of hair from her cheek. ‘I couldn’t have done it without you. You had no fear at all, did you?’
Lindsey bit back a snort. If only he knew. But a girl was entitled to warm herself in his male look of admiration for just a little while. ‘Climbing is practically a religion around here. We did lots of it when we were growing up and we were taught properly from the beginning. Today was the first time I’ve had to assist in an emergency situation, though.’
Dan frowned and then said slowly, ‘Then I hope you never have to do it again, Lindsey.’
She pushed her hands up under his T-shirt, feeling the clean sweep of his skin. And loving it. ‘I didn’t enjoy it much,’ she admitted. ‘But I was impressed by your skills.’
‘You were?’ His eyes glinted with dry humour. ‘You’re just saying that.’
Lindsey bugged her eyes at him. ‘Stop fishing for compliments, Dante, and take me home.’
‘I’m going to have to head straight back to Hopeton, I’m afraid,’ Dan said as they neared Lark Hill. ‘The training day starts at six a.m. tomorrow.’
‘And you need all the sleep you can get. I’m heading back myself. I’m on an early tomorrow and we’ve a new member of staff joining us. I’d better look at least as though I’m awake and functioning.’
Dan picked up her hand and raised it to his lips. ‘I would much rather have lain with you and held you all night.’
‘That sounds really poetic...’ Lindsey rested her head against his shoulder and smiled. ‘Perhaps you do take after your namesake.’
He spluttered a laugh. ‘And perhaps not.’
* * *
‘And here we are,’ Lindsey said as they pulled into the Lark Hill driveway and Dan coasted to a stop. Almost simultaneously, they released their seat belts and reached for each other. They kissed long and slowly, savouring every last stroke of the tongue, each lingering taste of each other.
‘I won’t come in.’ Dan pressed his forehead against hers. ‘Will you be OK?’
‘Mmm. I just have to throw my stuff together and take off.’ She moved to open the door. ‘Just one other thing, Dan.’ She bit her lip. ‘I don’t know what kind of crazy stuff you’ll be expected to do tomorrow. But...please...be safe. For me?’
Dan felt his insides twist, the sudden swell of emotion hitting him like the force of a king tide. His heart was overflowing with love for this woman. He reached out, slowly drawing her gaze up so it was level with his. ‘I promise I won’t do anything reckless. And I’ll come back to you safely, Lindsey. For no other reason than I need to.’