Highland Doc's Christmas Rescue

“I could have, but I’m more interested in finding out why you’re so resistant to the idea of canine therapy. Especially since I know your job entailed working closely with a dog. I assume you at least like animals a bit. I noticed you were slow to help with the dog we found and left the center as quickly as you could. I read in your file that you lost your partner.” He didn’t miss the stricken look that flickered in her eyes. “Is that what the problem is? I’d like to help. The staff here would like to help.”

Cass shot to her feet. “I don’t want your help or anyone else’s. If you want me to go to canine therapy, fine. I’ll be there tomorrow.”

“There you are.” Charles walking toward them stopped anything further Cass might have said.

Lyle came to his feet. “Hi, Charles. I’d like you to meet Cassandra Bellow. She’s one of our newest residents. Cass, this is Dr. Charles Ross-Wylde. Also the Laird of Heatherglen and Esme’s brother.”

Charles smiled at Cass. “It’s nice to meet you. Please call me Charles.”

“Hello. You have a lovely home...castle.” Cass’s words were tight and formal. She glanced toward the door.

Charles chuckled. “Thank you. You’re American, aren’t you?”

“I am.”

“You must be the woman who works in search and rescue?” He gave her an earnest look. “Interesting job.”

“It can be.” Cass looked toward the door again. “Why don’t I let you two talk?” She slipped away.

Lyle watched her go. He had no doubt Cass would keep her word about going to therapy. How much she would get out of it was another question. He’d just have to trust that the dog she was paired with would do what was needed to help her heal.

“Lyle.”

He looked at Charles, who was grinning at him with twinkling eyes. “What?”

“You like her, don’t you?”

“Why would you say that?” Lyle didn’t want to discuss his confused reactions to Cass Bellow. Not even with his best friend Charles.

He laughed. “Because I called your name three times before you answered!”

Lyle wanted to groan. Now Charles would ask questions every time he saw him. “Did you have something important you wanted to talk to me about?”

Charles looked at him with a knowing smile on his lips. “It isn’t as interesting as Ms. Bellow but we need to talk about Andy and his progress.”

“Ah. Why don’t we go to my office to do that?”

* * *

Cass was still stomping and swinging her arms in exasperation when she reached the main road after the long walk down the castle drive. How dared Lyle treat her as if she were a disobedient child? She was doing her physical therapy. Aware of what she needed, it wasn’t canine therapy. But he wasn’t going to give up.

She’d gone to dinner like he wanted, wasn’t that enough? She would go to the canine therapy center tomorrow all right, but her participation in the therapy would be minimal and uncooperative. That should keep him off her case.

“Be strong,” she said to the trees, and shoved her hands into her jacket pockets. When her brother had been lost, her mother and father had hugged her too tightly and had constantly reminded her they all had to remain strong. Afterwards Cass had used the mantra “Be strong” whenever she’d felt helpless. Even now, years later, she was using it to defy that feeling.

“Be strong!” she yelled to the sky.

She’d been strong when Jim had broken her heart, then soon after that when she’d learned that Rufus was gone. She’d been strong when the doctors had warned her she might never regain full use of her crushed arm and leg. She had been strong during the grueling hospital stay. During her agonizing physical therapy sessions here. Only it didn’t matter how strong she was. Nothing changed. She was alone with no one to lean on.

The sound of a vehicle coming up the road drew her attention. The driver was going too fast for the icy conditions. As it came around the curve the back end went one way and then the other. The skid landed the front end of the car in the stone wall between Cass and the road.

She hurried out the castle gate and over to the car with her heart pounding, ignoring the ache in her leg. The engine was still running even though the hood was crumpled. The hot air of the radiator hitting the cold air created stream, making it difficult to see.

Cass reached out to touch the side of the car with a shaking hand. She’d not done any rescue work or even given anyone medical attention since her last assignment. Now here she was faced with an accident without the support of her partner. Could she do it? Would she break down and cry? She inhaled deeply, bracing herself. “Stay strong.”

She ran her hand down the side of the car to keep her bearings as she worked her way to the driver’s door. Cass pulled it open. She could, would, get through this.

The driver groaned, his palm pressed to his forehead.

“Are you okay?” Her instinct and training kicked in. “Don’t move. You could have more injuries.”

“I’m fine.” His words were slurred.

She placed a hand on the man’s shoulder. “I’m an EMT. I know what I’m talking about. More help will be here soon.”

The man pulled his hand away from his head. Blood covered it.

“Don’t move,” she said firmly. “Keep your head back. I’m going to reach in and turn the engine off.” She found the ignition key and turned it. The steam dissipated.

There was a moan from the back seat. She had someone else to check on. If she only had a cellphone to call for help. Hers had been damaged in her accident and she hadn’t had time to replace it yet. Surely the driver had one. “Sir, do you have a phone? Tell me where it is, don’t try to find it yourself.”

The man gave her a weak yes and told her it was in his jacket pocket. Cass carefully reached inside his pocket and retrieved it.

Cass quickly dialed 999. When a person answered, Cass gave the call handler all the necessary information. She then stepped to the rear passenger door. Pulling it open, she found crumpled in the footwell a lady of around sixty. “You’re going to be fine. I know you’re in an uncomfortable position but try not to move.”

The woman groaned, but Cass knew from the sound she was barely conscious. Using her fingers, Cass searched for a pulse in the woman’s neck. She located one but it wasn’t strong.

A voice she recognized as Lyle’s said from behind her, “Don’t move her. She may have concussion.”

Cass said over her shoulder, “I’ve already told her that. And I’ve already called for help.”

“I know. I must have called right after you.”

She needed to get the man’s bleeding under control. “Do you have any supplies?”

“No. I was on my way home when I heard the crash.”

Cass stood. “You see about this woman and I’ll look for a first-aid kit.”

She worked her way to the front passenger door. Opening it, she searched the glove compartment for anything they could use. All she found was a stack of napkins. Those would have to do.

“Cass, we need to lay this lady down on the seat so I can examine her properly,” Lyle said.

“Okay, take these napkins and have the man hold them to his head. I’ll crawl in the back and help lift the woman up.”

Lyle accepted the napkins and applied them to the man’s head. “I need to get him to the clinic to stitch him up, but first we need to take care of this woman. She’s lost consciousness.”

Cass had been busy climbing into the backseat on her knees while he talked. Her leg rebelled at the position but she continued. She reached under the woman’s arms and locked her hands across her chest. To Lyle she said, “Ready?”

“On three. One, two, three.”

Cass pulled the woman against her chest. As the woman’s back came up on the seat, Lyle grabbed her ankles and lifted. Soon they had her lying acr

oss the seat. She moaned and her eyelids flickered.

“Will you check her pulse and heart rate while I see if she has any internal injuries?” Lyle asked, as he started pressing on the woman’s midsection.