Lyle chuckled. “Help is on the way. Has there been any movement out of the girl?”
“No. But let me take her temp.”
He waited impatiently for her report.
“It’s ninety-one Fahrenheit—a little under thirty-three Celsius.”
“That’s progress.” He would take that. “How’re you doing?”
“I’d rather be cuddled up next to you.”
Lyle’s heart melted. He wished that too. He was in love with Cass, he realized. “Honey, I promise you I’ll make that happen just as soon as I can.”
“Promise?”
“You have my word on it.” When he got his arms around Cass again he might never let her go.
The sounds of people hurrying up behind him drew his attention. “Over here.” A group of six people headed his way. “They’re down here. In this hole.”
“They?” one of the rescue men asked.
“Yes. A friend of mine, a woman who works in search and rescue. I lowered her down.” Guilt pricked him. He should have gone. “We’ll need a rope. I’ll go down.”
“You’re staying put. We’ll need your skills up here when we get them up.” Les McArthur, the leader of the group and a man Lyle had known all his life, said, and pointed to a spot near the dog. “You stand there out of the way. What’s the name of the woman in the hole?”
Lyle didn’t like the idea of not being the one in charge but he did as he was told, knowing his friend was right. Still, that didn’t calm his nerves. “Cass.”
One of the men dropped a bag on the ground and unzipped it. He pulled a rope ladder out. Securing it to a large slab of stone, once part of the keep, he dropped it into the hole.
Les walked to the edge. “Cass, it’s Les McArthur. We’re coming down. Rope ladder first.”
“Okay.”
Lyle watched as Les went over the side. Behind him was a man with a foldup stretcher strapped to his back. Soon a bright light shone from the hole. Apparently Les had a portable light in the pack on his back.
“We’re going to need ropes down here,” someone called from inside the hole.
Another man pulled ropes out of a bag.
Lyle shifted from side to side, not just to keep warm but in his need to do something active. “Can I help?”
“No, this will go a lot faster if you let us do our part. Then you can do yours,” one of the men said. “They’re going to be fine.”
Cass had better be. The girl as well.
The men threw the ropes in. A few minutes later Les called up, “Ready.”
Everything in Lyle wanted to go down into that hole to Cass. Instead he stood watching all that was happening with his hands fisted at his sides and shoulders braced against the sleet-filled wind that was blowing harder by the minute.
Slowly the men started hauling the rope up. Soon the stretcher with the girl on it was being laid on the ground. At her feet was his medical bag. Cass had made sure he would have what he needed. She impressed him more every day.
“Let me check her pulse. I need to tell the hospital what to prepare for.” Lyle went down on his knees beside the stretcher. He wasn’t going to stand on the sidelines any longer.
The child was wrapped up in the thermal blanket. On her head was Cass’s hat and around her neck was her scarf. Lyle pulled a section of the blanket back. And there was her coat. Cass had nothing to protect her from the elements.
With two fingers, he checked the child’s pulse. He found it, but it wasn’t easy to locate. The girl needed to leave for the hospital now. As much as he hated it, he had to trust that Les would take care of Cass. His next call after the ambulance would be to Charles and Flora. They’d also see to Cass. But he wouldn’t be satisfied until he had her in his arms again.
He quickly stood, putting his bag under his arm. Giving the hole that Cass hadn’t emerged from a longing look he said, “Let’s get her down the hill. There’s no time to waste.”
* * *
Cass’s body shook violently. She was so cold. Where was she? In a damp, dark, freezing hole.
No, that wasn’t right. She had been cold, down to her bones. Now she was in a soft place, huddled in warmth. Her eyes flickered open. It was dark outside and a fire burned in the fireplace. She could see the flames reflecting off the wall. That was the only light in the room. Her room at the castle.
She turned her head to find Lyle asleep in a chair too small for him next to her bed. He was close enough to reach out and touch. His hair was tousled, as if he had run his fingers through it more than once. He snored softly. He must be exhausted.
The last thing she had a clear memory of at the ruins was the men securing the girl to the stretcher. She’d been so cold that all she’d been able to think about was sleeping. One of the men had given her a blanket but that hadn’t stopped the cold from seeping deeper. She vaguely remembered her teeth chattering as she’d stumbled down the hill with the help of one of the rescuers.
Lyle hadn’t been there when she’d come out of the hole. She’d known he wouldn’t be. He would be with the girl, as he should have been. Still, that didn’t mean she hadn’t missed having his arms around her or his heat. It would have been preferable to those of a stranger, no matter how nice they were.
At the bottom of the hill a police car had been waiting. She’d climbed into the rear seat and the officer had turned the heat up high. Despite that, she had been bitterly cold and in a daze when she’d arrived at the castle. Charles and Flora had been waiting for her in the foyer.
“Lyle called us. Gave us strict orders to give you a full examination,” Charles had said, pushing a wheelchair over to her.
Cass had been glad to see it, despite saying, “I don’t think all that’s necessary.”
“Lyle does. And based on what he told us, you earned our attention. Thanks for what you did,” Flora had added.
“Hero?” Cass had mumbled as Charles had pushed her and Flora had walked beside her.
“Esme is seeing to him. One of the police officers took him to the center. I understand he’s going to get an extra helping of food. Esme said she could use a person with your skills at the center.”
Cass had gone in and out of awareness while Charles had been examining her. When he’d finished, Flora had taken her turn, flexing and contracting her arm and leg. “We need to increase your therapy a bit for a few days, but I don’t see why you can’t be discharged on time.”
Cass looked at Lyle. Discharged. At one time, all she’d wanted to do was to get home. That day would be here soon. Flora hadn’t given her a specific date yet, but it was coming. Her leg and arm were much better. Despite all her efforts not to become involved, it had happened. It would be hard to leave Lyle. But she must.
She’d arrived with her emotions in a jumbl
e and they weren’t in any better shape now. In fact, her feelings for Lyle had only added to the issues. He deserved better than a woman who was so messed up. How did she even know the feelings she had for him were real? Maybe she was just reacting to her need to have someone care about her in a weak moment. That wasn’t fair to him.
It didn’t matter. After all, they had agreed only to a good time while she was here. Lyle hadn’t said anything about wanting more. She’d made it clear she didn’t. So what was she worrying about? She would leave as planned. He understood that. She would be home for Christmas.
But what if Lyle asked her to stay? Would she?
She couldn’t. Heavens, she didn’t know what she wanted. Taking a chance on them being together would be like jumping off a ledge. They didn’t really know each other. What if it was just sexual attraction? It was best for Lyle to think of what they’d had as a nice friendship and let him move on.
It would be better for her as well. She’d learned last night that doing search and rescue was too emotionally hard for her. If that little girl had died, she would have as well. So what would she do now to make a living? Where would she end up living? There were too many unknowns.
Cass shifted. That was enough to wake Lyle. “Hey.”
He sat straighter in the chair. Wrinkles filled his forehead as he studied her. “How’re you feeling?”
“Better.” She looked toward the window. “It’s not morning?”
“No, it’s still early. Do you need anything?” He leaned toward her, studying her.
“A hot bath.”
“That I can handle.” Lyle got to his feet.
Cass was confident he could handle almost anything.
“Let’s get you into the bath. While you’re there I’ll go down and brew you some tea.”
She grinned. “There it is again. The cure-all, but it does sound wonderful.”
He started toward the bathroom. “I can tell your smart mouth isn’t frozen any longer.”