Page 89 of Surprises on the Scottish Isle

‘It’s not for me, it’s for you. We’d better get you checked out.’

‘I’m fine.’

‘Let the experts be the judge of that. You could be suffering from hypothermia.’

‘I’m OK,’ she insisted, then promptly burst into noisy tears again. ‘I’m sorry, I could have got us all killed.’

‘But you didn’t. We’re fine.’

‘Your poor boat.’

‘My boat is also fine. Mack is towing her back as we speak.’

The knowledge didn’t make Tara feel any better. Aside from her physical discomfort, her heart was breaking. Her stupidity had put the man she loved in danger. Mack, also. She would never forgive herself.

Still shivering, as much from shock as the cold, it took her a while to realise that Cal was shaking too. He was racked by deep shudders as he clung to her, and she abruptly realised he was crying.

‘I thought I’d lost you,’ he muttered, over and over again. And Tara wept with him because, despite his presence,shehad already losthim.

‘I don’t want to go to hospital.’ Tara was adamant. She was sittingin the back of the ambulance that had been waiting for her when Mack’sboat had returned to its mooring, and feeling mortified at the mayhemshe’d caused – the coast guard, the ambulance, Mack having to take hisboat out in such dreadful weather…

She was reminded just how awful the weather was when a gust of wind buffeted the side of the vehicle, making it rock.

‘Can’t you make her go?’ Cal asked one of the paramedics. He was in the ambulance with her, looking on anxiously.

‘Not really, and in Tara’s instance I don’t think she needs further medical attention. She’s cold, but she isn’t hypothermic.’

‘Does that mean I can go home?’ she asked. Although exactly where ‘home’ was, wasn’t clear.

The boathouse would have to do for today. She would see how she felt tomorrow. Despite being keen to get away from Duncoorie, if she didn’t feel up to the journey she’d wait another day until she left for the Isle of Wight. Even though she’d spent the last twenty minutes convincing everyone she was fine, she wasn’t. The cold had seeped so deeply into her bones she didn’t think she’d ever be warm again. She felt so weak that the thought of walking from here to Cal’s car was daunting, and she was so tired that if she slept for a week it wouldn’t be long enough. And her heart was still in shreds, the pain more acute and much longer lasting than anything today had caused.

Eventually, the paramedics were happy to relinquish her into Cal’s care, and he led her to his car and sat her in it with the engine running and the heater on, while he went to speak with Mack. He was back before long, and as he slid behind the wheel she saw how drawn he looked. This afternoon had taken a toll on him, too.

‘OK?’ he asked, his expression wary.

She nodded, too weary to speak, and they drove back to Coorie Castle in silence.

When the car pulled up outside the boathouse, Tara took a deep breath. ‘Thank you,’ she said simply.

He blew out his cheeks. ‘You’re welcome.’

It was an effort to get out of the car. She may have stopped shivering, but every muscle ached and her hands throbbed. The main reason for her distress, though, was that she was acutely aware this would be the last time she would see him.

Cal, however, appeared to have other ideas. He had exited the driver’s side, walked around the bonnet and was waiting to escort her to her door.

‘I’m coming in with you,’ he said, his tone brooking no argument.

Tara was too tired to object. She unlocked the door to the boathouse and stepped inside, her movements stiff and sluggish.

Cal took the keys out of her hand. ‘Go have a hot shower. I’ll make you some food.’

‘I’m not hungry.’ The shower sounded good, though.

‘I’ll make you something anyway.’

Tara shuffled into the bathroom and turned on the shower before peeling off her wet clothes. Her skin was prickling with goosebumps, and while she waited for the water to heat up, she examined herself in the mirror.

It wasn’t a pleasant sight. Her hair hung in damp rats’ tails, her face was white, and the skin around her eyes looked bruised, the eyes themselves haunted. She looked exactly how she felt.

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