Summer Kisses

by Sarah Morgan

  Instantly Ryan’s voice crackled over the radio. ‘Get Jenna down here, Nick. It’s an easy abseil—’

  Easy? Torn between relief and raw terror, Jenna switched off her brain. To think was to panic, and she couldn’t afford to panic. Her daughter had climbed down there, she reminded herself as she leaned backwards and did as Nick instructed. All the same, there was a moment when her courage failed her and she thought she was going to freeze on the black forbidding rock.

  ‘Just take it steady, Jen.’ Ryan’s voice came from below her, solid and secure. ‘You’re nearly there.’

  To stop would be to disappoint him as well as risk lives, so Jenna kept going, thinking to herself that if he genuinely thought this was easy she wouldn’t want to do a difficult abseil. The cliff fell away sharply and she went down slowly, listening to Ryan’s voice from below her, thinking of Lexi and not of the drop, or of the man who had died when his rope was severed. As her feet finally touched the rocks strong hands caught her. Ryan’s hands.

  He unclipped the rope and the sea immediately swamped her feet. If he hadn’t clamped an arm around her waist she would have stumbled under the sudden pressure of the water. As it was, the cold made her gasp. Above her the cliff face towered, blocking out the last of the sunshine, revealing only ominous clouds in the chink of sky above. Here, in the slit of the rock, it was freezing.

  She guessed that if the helicopter didn’t manage to get to them soon, then it would be too late. The weather would close in and make flying impossible.

  And then what?

  ‘The tide is coming in—Ryan, I can’t hold his head any longer—’ Lexi’s voice came from behind them and Jenna turned, her stomach lurching as she saw the blood on her daughter’s tee shirt.

  ‘It’s not mine.’ Lexi read her mind and gave a quick shake of her head. ‘It’s Matt’s. His legs—both of them, I think. He jumped in and hit rock under the surface. I didn’t know what to do—he’s too heavy. Mummy, do something!’

  Mummy. She hadn’t heard ‘Mummy’ since Lexi was about six, and it sent strength pouring back through her rubbery legs.

  ‘Just hold on, Lexi.’ Her voice was firm and confident, and Ryan gave her a brief smile and released her, checking that she was steady on her feet before crossing the rocks to the two teenagers.

  ‘You’re a total star, Lexi. I just need you to hold on for another minute. Can you do that?’ He ripped equipment out of the rucksack as he spoke, and Jenna saw Lexi swallow as she stared up at him.

  ‘Yes.’

  ‘Good. We’re going to get him out of the water now, and you’re going to help.’ Ryan had a rope in his hand. ‘Just do everything I say.’

  Jenna saw the fierce light of determination in her daughter’s eyes—saw the faith and trust in her expression as she looked at Ryan.

  Gone was the child who moaned when she couldn’t get a mobile phone signal.

  Jenna’s flash of pride lasted only seconds as she saw another huge wave bearing down on them.

  She saw Ryan glance at Lexi and then back towards her, trying to make a decision.

  Jenna made the decision for him. ‘Hold onto the children!’ She slithered towards the rock face and managed to get a grip just as the wave rose in height and started to break. With a ferocious roar it crashed onto the rocks with an explosion of white froth, as if determined to claim its prize. Jenna clung, feeling the water pull at her and then retreat.

  Wiping salt water from her face, she looked over her shoulder and saw that Ryan had his hands on Lexi’s shoulders, holding her. As soon as the wave receded he turned his attention to Matt. The boy was moaning softly, his body half in and half out of the water.

  ‘My legs—I can’t put any weight—’

  ‘Yeah—we’re going to help you with that.’ Ryan glanced around him, judging, coming up with a plan. ‘If we can get him clear of the water and onto that rock higher up, that should give us at least another ten minutes before the tide hits us again. Enough time to check the damage and give him some pain relief.’ He spoke into the radio, telling Nick what he was doing and listing the equipment he needed. ‘While they’re sorting that out, I’m going to get a rope on you, Matt.’

  ‘Just leave me.’ His face white with pain, the boy choked the words out. ‘I don’t want anyone to drown because of me.’

  ‘No one is drowning today.’ Ryan looped the rope under the boy’s shoulders and secured it to a shaft of rock that jutted out of the cliff. Then he did the same to Lexi. ‘The rope is going to hold both of you if another wave comes before we’re done. We’re going to get you out of the water, Matt. Then I’m going to give you something for the pain.’ He questioned the boy about the way he’d landed, about his neck, about the movement in his limbs.

  Jenna wondered why he didn’t give the boy painkillers first, but then she saw another wave rushing down on them and realised that the boy was only minutes from drowning. Rope or no rope, if Ryan couldn’t lift him clear of the water the boy was dead.

  As the wave swamped all four of them Jenna held her breath and gripped the rock tightly. The tide was coming in. They didn’t have much time.

  ‘What can I do?’

  ‘Do you see that narrow ledge just under the waterline? Stand on it. I need you to hold his body steady so that we move him as little as possible.’ As a precaution, Ryan put a supportive collar around Matt’s neck.

  Jenna stepped into the water, gritting her teeth as the ice-cold sea turned her legs numb. If she felt this cold, how must the children be feeling? She steadied Matt’s body, her hands firm. ‘I’m ready.’

  ‘I’m going to lift—try not to let his legs drag against the rocks.’

  Using nothing but brute strength and hard muscle, Ryan hauled the boy out of the water. Matt’s screams echoed around the narrow chasm, bouncing off the rocks and adding to the deadly feel of the place.

  Her heart breaking for him, Jenna gritted her teeth, wanting to stop but knowing they couldn’t. They had to get him clear of the water. He’d already been in there too long. Even as Ryan lifted him she saw the terrible gashes on the boy’s legs and knew they were dealing with serious injuries. Blood mixed with the water, and as they laid him flat on the rock Matt was white-faced, his lips bloodless.

  ‘Shaft of femur—both legs.’ Now that he could see the damage, Ryan worked swiftly, checking for other injuries and then examining the wound. ‘Jenna, we need to control the bleeding on his left leg and cover that wound. Get me pads and a broad bandage out of the rucksack. I’m going to give him some Ketamine. Matt, this will help with the pain.’

  Matt groaned. ‘I’m going to die. I know I am—’

  ‘You’re not going to die.’ Seeing Lexi’s horrified look, Jenna spoke firmly, and Ryan gave the boy’s shoulder a quick squeeze.

  ‘No one is dying on my shift,’ he said easily, and Matt made a sound that was halfway between a sob and a moan.

  ‘If the pain doesn’t kill me, my mum will.’

  Jenna closed her hand over his, checking that Lexi was safely out of the water. ‘Your mum won’t kill you,’ she said huskily. ‘She’s just going to be relieved you’re OK.’

  Ryan’s gaze flickered to hers and she read his mind.

  Matt was far from OK. He had two fractured femurs and he was still losing blood. Knowing that she had to help, Jenna let go of the boy’s hand and dug into the rucksack, finding what she needed. Thinking clearly now, she ripped open the sterile dressings and talked to her daughter. ‘Lexi? Do you have your digital camera with you?’

  ‘What?’ Soaked through and shivering, Lexi stared at her mother as though she were mad. ‘Matt’s bleeding half to death here and you want me to take a photo of the view?’

  ‘He’s not bleeding to death.’ Taking her cue from Ryan, Jenna kept her voice calm. ‘I don’t want you to take the view. I want you to take a picture of Matt’s legs. It will help the ER staff.’

  ‘Good thinking.’ Ryan injected the Ketamine. ‘Do you have your camera,
Lex?’

  ‘Yes—yes. But…’ Baffled, Lexi cast a glance at Matt and rose to her feet, holding the rocks so that she didn’t slip. She was wearing jeans, and the denim was dark with seawater. ‘In my jacket pocket. What do you want me to do?’

  ‘Take several pictures of the wounds. I’ll do it, if you like.’ Jenna was worried about her daughter seeing the extent of the injuries, but Lexi just gritted her teeth and pointed her digital camera. She took several photos and checked them quickly.

  ‘OK. It’s done.’

  ‘Good.’ Now that the pictures were taken, Jenna covered the wounds. ‘It saves the receiving team in the hospital from removing the dressings from his legs to see what’s going on.’

  ‘Oh. I get it.’ Several shades paler than she’d been a moment earlier, Lexi nodded. ‘What else can I do?’

  ‘Stay out of reach of the waves,’ Ryan said immediately, his hands on Jenna’s as they packed the wound, using a bandage to hold it in place. ‘Any change—tell me. Jen, I’m going to splint both legs together.’

  They worked as a team, Jenna following his instructions to the letter. It didn’t matter that she’d never done anything like this before because his commands were clear and precise. Do this. Do that. Put your hands here—

  Later, she’d look back on it and wonder how he could have been so sure about everything, but for now she just did as she was told.

  Checking the pulse in both Matt’s feet, she nodded to Ryan. ‘His circulation is good in both legs.’

  ‘Right. Lex, take this for me.’ Ryan passed his radio to Lexi, freeing up his hands. Then he turned back to the boy. ‘Matt, you’ve broken both your legs. I’m going to put a splint on them because that will reduce the bleeding and it will help the pain.’ He looked towards Lexi. ‘Logan should be up there by now. Make contact and tell Nick I need a towel.’

  A towel? Glancing at the water around them, Jenna wondered if he’d gone mad, and then reminded himself that everything he’d done so far had been spot-on.

  Worried that all this was too much for Lexi, Jenna was about to repeat the instructions but Lexi was already working the radio. Doing everything she’d been asked to do, she talked to Nick and relayed messages back and forth, copying the radio style she’d heard Ryan use.

  ‘Dr McNeil is there. He wants to know what you need.’

  ‘I’ll have a Sager splint, if he has one, otherwise any traction splint. And oxygen. And ask Nick if we have an ETA on the helicopter.’

  ‘Sager?’ Jenna handed him a Venflon and Ryan slid the cannula into the vein in Matt’s arm as smoothly as if he was working in a state-of-the-art emergency unit, not a chasm in the rocks.

  ‘It’s an American splint. I prefer it.’

  ‘They’re lowering it down now. I’ll get it.’ One eye on the waves, Lexi picked her way across the slippery rocks like a tightrope walker and reached for the rucksack that had been lowered on the end of a rope.

  Watching the boiling cauldron of water lapping angrily at her daughter’s ankles, Jenna prayed that she wouldn’t slip. Pride swelled inside her and she blinked rapidly, forcing herself to concentrate on her part of the rescue. ‘Is it possible to apply a splint in these conditions with just the two of us?’

  ‘I can do it in two and a half minutes, and it will make it easier to evacuate him by helicopter.’ Ryan took the rucksack Lexi handed him and opened it. Using the towel, he dried Matt’s legs and then opened the bag containing the splint. In a few swift movements he’d removed, unfolded and assembled the splint. ‘OK, that’s ready.’ He positioned it between Matt’s legs, explaining what he was doing.

  Hearing the sound of a helicopter overhead, Jenna looked up, relief providing a much-needed flood of warmth through her body. ‘Oh, thank goodness—they’re here.’

  Ryan didn’t look up. ‘They can take Jamie off first. By the time they have him in the helicopter Matt will be ready.’ He wrapped the harness around the boy’s ankles. ‘Lexi, tell Nick.’ He was treating the girl like an adult, showing no doubt in her ability to perform the tasks he set.

  Without faltering Lexi spoke into the radio again, obviously proud to have something useful to do.

  Jenna helped Ryan with the splint. ‘How much traction do you apply?’

  ‘Generally ten per cent of the patient’s body weight per fractured femur.’ Eyeing Matt’s frame, Ryan checked the amount of traction on the scale. ‘I’m making an educated guess.’

  The noise of the helicopter increased, and Jenna watched in awe as the winchman was lowered into the narrow gap between the cliffs. In no time he had a harness on Jamie and was lifting him towards the helicopter.

  ‘At least there’s no wind.’ Ryan secured straps around Matt’s thighs until both legs were well supported.

  Staggered by the speed with which he’d applied the splint, Jenna took Matt’s hand. ‘How are you doing?’

  ‘It feels a bit better,’ Matt muttered, ‘but I’m not looking forward to going up in that helicopter.’

  ‘You’re going to be fine. They’re experts.’ Ryan watched as the winchman was lowered again, this time with a stretcher. ‘We’re going to get you on board, Matt, and then I’ll give you oxygen and fluid on our way to hospital. Once we’re on dry land, we can make you comfortable.’

  Jenna looked at him, his words sinking home.

  Ryan was leaving them.

  She gave herself a mental shake. Of course he had to go with the casualty. What else? But she couldn’t stop the shiver, and her palms dug a little harder into the grey slippery rock as she kept hold.

  Ryan helped the winchman transfer Matt onto the stretcher. They had a conversation about the injury, the loss of blood—Jenna knew they were deciding whether it was best to have a doctor on board. The winchman was a paramedic, but still—

  She watched as Matt was lifted slowly out of the narrow gap between the rocks, the winchman steadying the stretcher.

  Once he was safely inside the helicopter, Ryan turned to Jenna.

  Seeing the indecision on his face, she didn’t hesitate.

  ‘You should go! He might need you. You have to leave us here while you get him to hospital.’

  Ryan’s face was damp with seawater, his hair soaked, his jaw tense. ‘I can’t see any other way.’ Already the winchman was being lowered for the final time.

  Jenna lifted her chin. ‘You’re wasting time. We’ll be fine, Ryan. We’ll climb a little higher and the helicopter will be back for us soon. They’re ready for you.’ She watched, drymouthed, as the winchman landed on the rocks. ‘Go.’ To make it easier for both of them, she turned away and picked her way over the rocks to Lexi.

  The girl was shivering, although whether it was from the cold or shock, Jenna didn’t know.

  She was shivering, too.

  ‘They’ll be back for us ever so quickly. You did so well, Lexi. I was so proud of you.’ She wrapped her arms around her daughter and rubbed the girl’s back, trying to stop the shivering. ‘Oh, you’re soaked through, you poor thing. How long have you been in that water? You must be freezing.’

  ‘Is Matt going to die, Mum?’ Lexi’s teeth were chattering and her long hair fell in wet ropes around her shoulders. ‘There was so much blood—’

  ‘That’s because the seawater made it seem like more.’ Jenna’s protective instincts flooded to the surface as she heard the fear in Lexi’s voice and decided this was one of those times when it was best to be economical with the truth. ‘He isn’t going to die. He is seriously injured, and he’s going to be spending quite a bit of time in hospital, but he’ll be all right, I’m sure. Largely thanks to you. How did you do it, Lexi? How did you climb down here?’ Her stomach tightened at the thought.

  ‘He was just lying there, Mum. I had to do something.’

  Jenna hugged her tightly. ‘You saved his life.’

  ‘Not me. Ryan.’ Lexi hugged her back. ‘Did you see him come down that cliff face, Mum? It was like watching one of those special forces movies. Comm
andos or something.’

  ‘Yes, I saw.’ Jenna closed her eyes, trying to wipe out the image of her daughter negotiating those deadly, slippery rocks without a rope.

  ‘And he knew exactly what to do—’

  ‘Yes.’

  Lexi gave a sniff and adjusted her position on the rock. ‘He’s so cool. And you were good, too, Mum. I’ve never seen you work before. I didn’t know you were so—I dunno—so great.’

  Jenna smiled weakly. ‘It’s amazing what you can do when the tide is coming in.’

  ‘You and Ryan get on well together. You look like—a team.’

  Jenna stilled. Had Lexi guessed that her relationship with Ryan had deepened into something more? ‘We are a team. A professional team,’ she said firmly, and Lexi lifted her head.

  ‘Do you like him, Mum?’

  Oh, no, not now. ‘Of course I like him. I think he’s an excellent doctor and—’

  ‘That wasn’t what I was asking!’ Lexi’s teeth were chattering. ‘He was really worried about you. You should have seen the look on his face when he had to decide whether to hang onto me or you. He never took his eyes off you. If you’d been swept into the water he’d have been in there after you. What’s going on?’

  This was the perfect time to say something.

  Jenna licked her lips. ‘Do you like Ryan, sweetheart?’

  ‘Oh, yes. And I like Evanna and the kids, and Fraser. Loads of people, actually. I never thought this place would be so cool.’ Lexi clung tighter. ‘I’ve got used to it here, Mum. I like Glenmore. And do you know the best thing?’

  Ryan, Jenna thought. He was the best thing. ‘Tell me the best thing for you.’

  ‘The fact that it’s just the two of us. I love that.’

  Just the two of us.

  Jenna swallowed down the words she’d been about to speak.

  How could she say them now?

  Lexi buried her face in Jenna’s shoulder. ‘Dad was awful to you. I see that now. He didn’t even tell you stuff face to face. He just let you find out.’