‘Yes!’ shouted the little boy joyously.
The crunch of feet on the shingle made Cara turn round. Jake’s tall figure was wending his way towards them with a box in his hands. Cara’s heartbeat increased slightly. Since his apology to her after her first day at the practice, he had been courteous and friendly but definitely not over-friendly. It was as if he was keeping a distance between them, not wanting to get too close after he’d restored things between them. The subject of the meal out hadn’t been mentioned again.
He squatted down before Dan and smiled at him. ‘I believe it’s someone’s birthday round here,’ he remarked, placing the box on the ground. ‘This is for that birthday person.’
Dan jumped up and down excitedly, his big brown eyes sparkling, his arms up in the air. ‘That’s me! I’m the birthday person!’
‘Then you’d better open it!’ Jake’s eyes met Cara’s over the child’s head. ‘I hope it meets with your approval,’ he said.
Cara smiled. If Jake was trying to make amends, it was a kind way to do it. ‘How did you know it was Dan’s birthday?’ she asked, reflecting how relaxed Jake was with the child. His stern demeanour had melted into a happy, teasing expression, and she could tell from the way Dan reacted to him that children would adore him.
Jake laughed. ‘It wasn’t difficult. I was just leaving the surgery after the baby clinic, and I could hardly get out of the hallway for the amount of opened parcels strewn about!’
‘That’s because of my father,’ said Cara ruefully. ‘He rang up the local toy shop from the hospital and instructed them to send most of their toys here! We’re going later this afternoon to see him with Dan’s birthday cake for a quick little tea party.’
Dan was busy tearing the paper from the present Jake had brought. He peered into the package and then with a whoop of delight pulled out a fishing net. ‘That’s what I wanted! Now I can go fishing! Thanks!’
He ran off down to the water’s edge and trailed the net energetically around for a few seconds. Then he came running back. ‘There’s no fish there,’ he said sadly. ‘They won’t come to the net.’
‘Perhaps I could take you to the little harbour up the coast,’ said Jake. ‘There’s some rock pools there that probably have lots of creatures in them.’
Dan looked at Cara. ‘Yes, let’s do that!’ He shouted. Then he grabbed Jake by his hand and started pulling him back towards the house. ‘Let’s go now!’
‘That’s what I call enthusiasm.’ Jake smiled.
Cara regarded the two figures in front of her, so disparate in size, and a wistful ache started in her throat. This was what it should be like for Dan always—a father playing with him, taking an interest in him, enjoying his simple little pleasures, just like Jake was doing now. She saw Dan lift his face up to Jake and say something to him, and watched Jake throw back his head and laugh heartily. A flicker of surprise went through her. So he could let himself go! But it took a child to do it.
They went to the harbour, a few miles away by the mouth of the loch, and caught tiny little crabs and limpets from the rocks. Dan was in seventh heaven, wading round the pools in his little wellingtons and watching the fishing smacks set off for the sea beyond the harbour. Then Jake introduced them to a patient of his, an elderly fisherman with a huge beard, who took them for a short sail in a little dinghy so that Dan could say he’d been in a boat.
It was quite magical for the little boy. ‘Can we do this again?’ he said wistfully to Cara as they wended their way back to the car. ‘Jake says he’d like to—he says it’s the best day he’s ever had!’
Jake caught Cara’s eye over the child’s head. ‘That’s quite true,’ he said, ‘I think we ought to make a habit of it!’
Something in the way he looked made Cara blush and she looked quickly away. Today it had seemed that Dan had been part of a proper family—and it felt wonderful.
‘Thanks, Jake,’ she said. ‘You’ve made it a happy day for Dan.’ She paused for a second and added softly, ‘And for me as well.’
Her father looked better, thought Cara with relief a little later. He was propped up in his hospital bed in a small single room off the main ward. The blue tinge round his lips had gone and he was smiling delightedly at his grandson.
‘I thought you’d like that Lego,’ he said with satisfaction. ‘I used to love that sort of thing when I was little—used to make very complicated things out of bricks.’
The little boy leaned confidingly against the bed, his bright eyes looking up at his newly found grandfather. ‘When you come home, Grandpa,’ he said, ‘I’ll make you somefing very special—just for you.’
Gordon didn’t speak for a moment, just stroked Dan’s head.
‘You think you’ll have the bypass next week?’ Cara asked her father as she cut a small piece of birthday cake for him.
‘I’d like to get it over—fed up with lying in this hospital. Sooner I get back to work, the better!’
Cara frowned. ‘We’ve had this out before, Dad. Jake and I are managing very well together. You must have a long rest—most people your age have retired!’
Gordon growled. ‘I’m not hanging up my clogs yet, my girl!’ He looked questioningly at his daughter. ‘Think you and Jake can get along all right for the time being? I know he can be pretty outspoken sometimes, but if you don’t let it bother you he’s a good man.’
Cara smiled. ‘He certainly says what he thinks. In my estimation he’s been living in the hills too long. I assume he lives by himself—a crusty old bachelor!’
‘He lives with his sister—I know that much,’ said her father. ‘I’ve never seen her—they keep themselves very much to themselves. I get the impression she’s very reclusive.’ He sighed. ‘I’m fond of Jake. I don’t think his life has been all that easy, but he’s been a tower of strength when things have been bad.’
Cara looked quickly at her father. ‘You mean when Angela left?’ she said bluntly, taking a leaf out of Jake’s candid approach.
Gordon nodded. ‘I did feel low—but that was mostly, my darling, because I longed to see you. And when you did come, why, what a wonderful bonus! I found I had a little grandson. And I tell you what—he’s made me feel a whole lot younger!’
He looked lovingly at Dan, now building a road over the floor with his bricks.
‘Well, you’re not worry at all about the practice,’ said Cara firmly as she started gathering up Dan’s toys. ‘As I said, Jake and I have got things running smoothly.’
‘Aye, he’s a good doctor.’ Gordon nodded. He looked at his daughter under bushy brows. ‘And not bad-looking either!’
Cara turned her head away quickly. She didn’t want her father to see the tell-tale blush that showed she agreed with him.
It had been a long day for Dan, and as soon as his head hit the pillow his eyes closed. Cara went to the window and looked out at the black sky, pierced with twinkling stars and a pale moon that lit up the loch waters and showed the dark shape of the island. A wind had got up, blowing in from the sea and the waves on the loch were choppy. The trees were starting to sway as the weather worsened.
Cara started to draw the curtains, then stopped, peering more closely out into the night. Surely that was a light she could see flickering across from the island? Perhaps it was Robbie Tulloch, doing his rounds to see that all was well. She looked again, more intently. It didn’t look like the bobbing light of someone walking—it looked much more like a signal. Yes! There it was again—three short flashes, followed by three longer ones and then a further three short. Didn’t that stand for S.O.S.?
Quickly she ran downstairs and picked up the telephone, stabbing out Jake’s number. In a few seconds she heard his deep, familiar voice answering.
‘Jake, I’ve just been looking across to the island. I think Robbie Tulloch could be in trouble. There’s a light winking in what looks like the S.O.S. sequence. I can’t understand why he hasn’t phoned us. Shall I get in touch with the police?’
&n
bsp; A wry laugh came from the other end. ‘They’ve got to come from twenty miles away—the man could be dead before then! I’ll come straight over and use the boat to get to him and phone for emergency help on the way.’
‘I’ll meet you by the little jetty, then. I’ll pull the rowing boat from the boathouse so that it’s ready to use.’
Pulling on an old windcheater of her father’s, she called out to Annie that there was an emergency and she’d be back soon. Cara ran out to the loch, stumbling over the thick shingle. The weather was worsening rapidly, clouds starting to obscure the moon.
Annie stood in the doorway, watching her go. ‘Take care, Cara,’ she shouted out. ‘The waters on the loch are treacherous when it’s like this!’
Fumbling with the thick rope that secured the old rowing boat, Cara managed to unhook it and, pushing with the oars, steer it out of the boathouse. It was years since she’d done this, she reflected, puffing hard as she pulled against the water. She’d allowed herself to get flabby and out of shape. There had been a time when rowing this boat had been easy—now she was ashamed of how unfit she’d become.
I’ll start a new training regime tomorrow, she vowed as she drove the boat onto the shingle and leapt out breathlessly, pulling the boat close to the shore.
Cara looked across to the island. The light still blinked on and off and there was no doubt in her mind that it was a cry for help. Gradually, as the weather closed in, the light became a feeble little pinprick. Cara looked worriedly back at the road in front of the house—she hoped Jake didn’t live too far up in the hills.
To her relief she saw the lights of a car turn into the drive and in a few minutes Jake appeared, a rucksack on his back and well geared up for the weather in boots and oilskins.
‘I’ll get across there as quickly as I can,’ he said. ‘Probably the lines are down, so I’ll signal back to you—three flashes will mean I need more help, two flashes I can manage OK.’
Cara looked at Jake pugnaciously, her hands on her hips. ‘Don’t be ridiculous—you can’t go on your own. Suppose Robbie’s collapsed? It’ll need two of us to carry him back to the boat, and one to support him and one to row. I’m coming with you!’
‘No way!’ growled Jake. ‘I’m not letting you put yourself at risk unnecessarily..’
For an answer, Cara leapt into the rowing boat. ‘Come on!’ she snapped. ‘We’re wasting valuable time here. I’ve rowed across here hundreds of times—I know the best route. You row, I’ll do the navigating!’
He gripped the side of the boat. ‘Don’t be a darned fool, Cara. You’ve got a little boy to think of.’
Cara’s eyes were flinty as she stood in the rocking boat. ‘Let me worry about that…For heaven’s sake, hurry up or I’ll go by myself!’
The waves were whipping up alarmingly, and the moon dodged in and out of the clouds, giving an adequate but unsustained light. Cara could still see the large tree which she’d always used as a landmark when rowing towards the island and gradually they made the small beach. Jake leapt out of the boat and hauled it up the shore until Cara could jump out on the sandy ground.
‘I see the light now,’ called Cara above the wind. ‘Let’s go!’
A few minutes later they found Robbie at the edge of a small copse. He was standing up, still signalling with his torch.
‘Robbie!’ gasped Cara. ‘What’s happened? Are you all right?’
‘Ah—at last!’ he grunted, turning towards them. ‘I was hoping you’d see my signal. There’s nothing wrong with me—it’s this young man we’ve got to worry about. He’s called Seth, and he’s got himself caught in the trees. Brought down the telephone lines, too.’
He pointed up into the largest tree of the group, swinging his torch so the beam spotlighted the figure of a man hanging almost upside down from a branch. Lines and straps of a harness were draped round him, and the flapping shape of multicoloured parachute fabric fluttered above his head.
Jake whistled. ‘What the hell happened?’
‘He’s a paraglider,’ said Cara. ‘I saw them flying above me this morning. He must have been there for some time.’
The man groaned, and Jake started to climb up a nearby tree. ‘I’ll just try and see what damage he’s done. Hang on there, Seth, we’re going to help you,’ he added, trying to shout above the noise of the wind.
There was a sudden scream of pain from the man as the wind gusted against the branches and swung his hapless body to and fro. ‘Be quick!’ he said in a feeble voice that they could only just hear. ‘I think I’ve done something to my back.’
Cara and Robbie craned their necks to watch as Jake leant dangerously across to the stricken man, casting the light of his torch over his body. Cara heard him talking to Seth, trying to calm him and reassure him that something would be done.
After a few minutes Jake swung himself down. ‘Not looking too good,’ he told the others. ‘He’s bleeding heavily from his leg—he’s probably lost quite a bit of blood, and his back’s at an awkward angle. Some branches have caught his head so I don’t think he’ll have whiplash but, like it or not, we’ve got to try and get him down and stop the bleeding. The good thing is that his leg’s at an angle so that’s reducing the blood flow slightly.’
‘What about his back? It’ll be very difficult to keep his head and spine still.’
‘Have you got any canes, Robbie?’ asked Jake. ‘We’ll make a support for his back from them, and if you’ve got anything like a board we could strap him to that when he’s on the ground—keep him rigid.’
‘Then we’ve got to get him off this island somehow once he’s down from the tree. I don’t fancy taking him across in that boat.’ said Cara, filled with dismay at the thought of doing more damage to Seth.
Jake was already punching out numbers on his mobile. ‘We need urgent help,’ Cara heard him say in his calm clear voice. ‘We’re on the island on Ballranoch Loch. A man’s fallen into the trees whilst paragliding. Get the air ambulance here pronto—his injuries make a boat rescue inappropriate.’ He looked at Robbie. ‘Where can they land?’
‘There’s a good spot by the cottage—quite an open area. I’ll go and light a small beacon by it after I’ve got the canes for you.’
Jake relayed this information down the phone and put it back in his inner pocket. ‘Come on,’ he said grimly to Cara. ‘Let’s get Seth out of this mess. Robbie, get back here as soon as you can—and bring a rope as well as the canes and board. The helicopter’s coming from another rescue in the hills, so it could be a while.’
Cara scouted round the area of the tree and found some small branches, and from Jake’s bag they found scissors to cut some of the parachute lines hanging from the tree. She started to make a sort of brace for Seth by weaving the branches together and fixing them firmly with the cord.
Cautiously Jake began to climb the tree Seth was imprisoned in until he was nearly touching him.
‘Give me a bit of information, Seth,’ he said clearly. ‘Can you move your hands and feet? Have you any specific pain?’
The man’s voice was muffled and faint, but he managed to whisper, ‘I think I can move them, but it’s hard to breathe and I’ve got a pain in my side.’
‘Can you feel me touch your legs?’
‘Yes…Oh, hell, my chest…Every time the wind blows me it hurts my chest.’
‘Hang on there, mate, Robbie’s come back with some equipment. We’ll get you down. Be strong.’
And now for the hard part, thought Cara grimly, watching as Jake contorted himself in the branches to fix the home-made brace she’d made to Seth’s neck. She could hear Jake panting with the effort of keeping his balance and moving his arms at the same time, and felt a flash of admiration at the way he was risking his life for this unknown man. There had been no question of holding back, waiting for the air ambulance.
‘Robbie,’ he shouted, ‘can you come up on the other side of me? I need your help to take Seth’s weight when I cut the harness that
’s holding him. I’ll then try and make a cradle with that parachute fabric and we’ll lower him to the ground.’
He makes it sound relatively easy, thought Cara wryly. She wondered what she could do, apart from try and break the fall of three heavy men if they crashed down! She looked behind her. Robbie had wrenched an old door from a broken-down shed near his cottage and dragged it near. It would be a good thing to bind Seth’s body to and keep his spine still while they waited for the air ambulance.
There was a spattering of rain through the trees and in the distance a rumble of thunder.
‘That’s all we need,’ grunted Jake as he helped to haul Robbie up with him in the fork of a big branch by Seth’s hanging body. ‘We’ll have to get him down somehow. On balance I think the priority is to stop the bleeding rather than worry about the possibility of spinal damage—anyway, this wind is swinging him alarmingly.’
The two men worked feverishly round the man, cutting some of the lines and cords and gradually weaving a kind of hammock with the parachute. Carefully they placed it round Seth’s body and drew one end up towards them. At last Seth’s body was almost parallel to the ground instead of nearly upside down.
‘I’m cutting the rope that’s holding him now,’ called Jake. ‘Robbie and I will lower him as gently as we can towards you, Cara. Get ready to steady him and slow his landing.’
It was a painfully slow business. Jake and Robbie strained every muscle to keep the man’s passage as smooth as possible, but every so often his body would catch the trunk or a branch of the tree and he would groan.
‘Nearly there!’ shouted Cara encouragingly. She put her arms up to balance Seth’s body and take some of the weight the men were supporting. Eventually he landed on the door she’d positioned under him.
‘You’re down now, Seth,’ she said calmly. ‘I want to look at this gash on your leg and the men can secure you in a fixed position to this door Robbie found. We’ve got to keep you as still as possible.’
Seth didn’t reply. His eyes were closed and by the light of the lamp Cara could see he was deathly pale. She looked up as Jake and Robbie clambered down, both breathing heavily.
The Bachelor Doctor Page 6
