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 across 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.
“Her heart rate is steady but not very strong,” Cass reported.
“Okay. So far I can’t find any additional injuries.” He continued to examine the woman.
A minibus pulled out of the castle gate and drew up alongside them.
“We need to get them both up to the clinic where I can give them a thorough evaluation.” Lyle continued searching for problems.
Cass looked at the top of his head as he worked. “Shouldn’t we wait on an ambulance?”
“That’ll take too long. It has to come from Fort William. We’re the emergency care for this area.”
“Really?”
Now he met her look. “Rural area. That’s how it is.”
That made sense.
He was an impressive man to assume the responsibility for so many lives.
The staff member who had been driving the minibus joined them.
“Ron,” Lyle said, “we need to get these people to the clinic ASAP. The man should be able to sit up front. We’ll need the stretcher for the woman.”
Ron nodded and headed back to the minibus.
Lyle backed out of the car. “Cass, would you please continue to monitor her while I have a look at the man?”
“Okay.” Cass picked up the woman’s wrist and placed two fingers on the inside. It took a second but she located a pulse. Still shallow but steady.
“I’m going to get this man into the minibus,” Lyle called. “You good there?”
“Yes.” Cass remained focused on the woman, trying not to think about her own recovering leg and arm as she began
