Page 19 of Stranded with the Surgeon

‘I couldn’t.’ The pain was still too great. A raw wound that was unbearable.

Maybe she couldn’t either.

‘She didn’t even know him.’

She tried to save his life. She said he reminded her of her father. You knew she’d been crying when you went back. She cared.

Guy refused to respond to that one. She had no right to care and he didn’t want anyone claiming even a tiny share of his pain. Especially a total stranger.

Where the hell was this voice coming from? Was he already hypothermic and dehydrated and exhausted enough that his brain function was impaired? He couldn’t afford to doubt himself right now. He needed to concentrate on what he was doing and ignore any negative thoughts.

The voice wasn’t about to give up so easily.

What would Digger think of what you’re trying to do? it whispered.

‘He’d do exactly what I’m doing. Take a risk and go for help.’

He wouldn’t have left someone behind. Someone who had tried to save the life of someone he loved. Someone who cared.

‘Damm it!’ Guy snarled. ‘Dammit it to hell!’ He had reached the rocky outcrop. Two sections of his zigzag descent completed safely. And now he had to wait. To wait until Jennifer bloody Allen caught up with him. And then he’d have to drag her along and try to keep them both alive until they reached help because otherwise his conscience, or whatever was creating that persistent voice, would probably plague him for the rest of his life.

‘I would have waited anyway,’ he growled aloud. ‘I just wanted to get to the rocks so I could sit down for a minute.’

It took more like twenty minutes for Jennifer to catch up.

‘Just what thehelldo you think you’redoing?’ Guy might have been planning to wait all along, but there was no way he was going to applaud her rash decision.

‘I’m coming with you.’

‘You’re out of your mind. Go back and stay with the plane.’

‘No way. I’ve come this far. I’m not turning back now.’

‘And just how far do you think you’re going to get?’

‘As far as I need to,’ Jennifer flashed back. ‘Just like you.’

‘You’ll never make it.’ She had already made an effort though, hadn’t she? Guy shook his head to stop that voice speaking on her behalf.

His gaze raked her from head to foot and a breath escaped in a huff that was verging on laughter. She looked ridiculous. They must be Shirley’s trousers she was wearing. Or even Bill’s. They looked several sizes too big and she still had her skirt on top of them. Wearing two anoraks made her look like a small child who’d been layered up in hand-me-down protective clothing to go out and build a snowman, and the lace-up suede shoes she had swapped her high heels for were already soaked.

She would have frostbite in no time flat if they stayed above the snow line.

‘I’m sorry,’ he said with even more emphasis. ‘But you can’t manage this.’

‘You don’t know that.’

‘I know that you have no idea what you’re trying to get into. I’ll bet the biggest physical challenge you’ve faced recently is a Pilates class.’

‘Don’t judge me when you don’t even know me.’

Jennifer had her hands tucked inside her jacket, hugging her body for warmth.

‘I know your type,’ Guy told her mercilessly. ‘For God’s sake, go back. I’ll be a lot quicker without you. I’ll send help.’

‘No. I’m not going back.’

‘I can’t carry you out of here. It’s simply not possible.’

---