Page 63 of Elsie's Strong Shelter

“What’s wrong with her? Why isn’t she awake? Oh my God. She has to be all right.” Mr. Sweet crouched and pulled Boo close. He kept his gaze fixed on his daughter.

Dean didn’t have the energy to comfort Elsie’s father, not when anxiety squeezed his lungs so hard he couldn’t breathe. “Help’s on the way. For you and Mila. I need you to wake up. Mila needs you. She won’t be able to take care of Jimmy without you.”

Her eyelids flickered. A small groan sounded from the back of her throat.

Excitement tripled his pulse. “You know how excited he’ll be when he sees his mom,” he continued, knowing with his entire being it was her instinct to protect Jimmy that would make her fight the hardest. “Jimmy will need you to take him to school and assure him his mom needs a little rest before she can play. We can take him for ice cream again—five scoops this time if you just wake up. Please, babe. He needs you. I need you.”

“You just want more ice cream.” The wind almost swallowed her faint voice, but there was no mistaking the tiny smile that lifted the side of her mouth.

Relief washed over him like a cool, spring rain. “You know how much I love chocolate, but we can talk about that later. Can you open your eyes for me?”

Slowly, she blinked them open and winced. “Mila’s safe?”

“Tommy’s getting her now, and medics are on the way. Here, can you drink some water?” He unscrewed the cap from the plastic bottle and pressed it to her lips.

She took a small sip then turned her head. A dribble of water dripped down her dirty chin. “Everything hurts.”

He swiped the water off with the pad of his thumb. “I know, baby. I’m so sorry I let this happen. I should have been there with you. Should have stopped him from taking you. I never would have forgiven myself if I hadn’t found you in time. I love you, Elsie. I love you so damn much it hurts. I couldn’t face another day without you.”

Tears swam in Elsie’s eyes. “Do you mean it? Do you really love me?”

“With every fiber of my being.”

“I knew you’d find me.” She rested her head against his chest. “I want to go home now. I’m cold.”

Mr. Sweet stripped off his jacket and laid it across her before placing a kiss on Elsie’s forehead. “We’ll get you home soon, honey.”

She smiled. “Thanks, Dad,” she whispered, her voice cracking.

Boo crawled over to lay at Dean’s feet and placed his head on Elsie’s arm.

The sound of hurried footsteps and mumbled voices carried to Dean on the cool wind. A beam of light bounced around the ground.

“Emergency responders, here.”

Two twenty-something men and a middled-aged woman jogged forward, their arms loaded with medical equipment.

Mr. Sweet stood and gestured them over. “She needs fluids and oxygen as soon as possible.”

The woman dropped to the ground beside Elsie and opened her medical bag just as Tommy climbed up the shaft with Mila.

“Wait,” Elsie said, straining to sit up. “Mila! Is she okay?”

“She’s breathing but is in pretty bad shape,” Tommy said and carried her to the two men quickly pouring through their equipment.

“Help her first,” Elsie said, her words swallowed by a fit of coughing.

Dean took an oxygen mask from the medic and fit it over Elsie’s mouth. “Give them a second. Take deep breaths. You both can get what you need at the same time, okay?”

Her eyes widened and she nodded, placing her hand over his to keep the mask in place.

“I’m Macy,” the woman said. “I’m going to look at your leg and see what I can do before transporting you back to the ambulance.”

Again, Elsie nodded.

Dean glanced at the flurry of movement as Mila was worked on.

Mr. Sweet paced between the two women, then stopped to stare down at Mila. A soft cry came from him, and his strong shoulders shook. He crouched low. “Hello there, sweetheart. You have no idea how happy we all are to see you.”

---