Page 56 of Suddenly Tempted
“Thank you,” she said, walking up the steps and sitting down on one of the seats. Devlin followed her, then one of the rangers strapped them both in before taking a seat opposite.
“We’ll be back at base camp in twenty minutes,” the woman said. “But I want to check you both over on the way, if that’s okay?”
Darcy nodded, sitting back. She felt a sudden rush of nerves as the helicopter wobbled up from the landing pad, but soon they were high above the slopes and riding smoothly back down the mountain. It felt like a lifetime ago that she and Devlin had taken off from the resort and headed into the storm, and in many ways it was a lifetime, because so much had changed. She felt like a new person, and for the first time in a long time the future looked bright.
She turned to share a smile with Devlin, to reach out and hold his hand. But the day had already been too much for him. His eyes were closed, his chest gently rising and falling as he gave in to sleep.
Despite the terror of flying in a helicopter again, Darcy was almost asleep, too, by the time they dropped into the ranger station at the base of the mountain. When the helicopter rocked still, and the mind-numbing throb of the rotors began to fade, Darcy took a deep breath of relief.
Thank you, she thought.
“That was some adventure,” said the male ranger, his eyes twinkling. “We’ll have you back to normal in no time. How are you feeling?”
Darcy glanced at Devlin, who was still fast asleep.
“I’m good,” she said. “Thanks to him. Is he okay?”
“The arm is broken,” replied the female ranger, who was sitting beside him. “Badly, I think. He’s also got some severe contusions, and he’s suffering the effects of hypothermia. I gave him a sedative to help him relax and heal, but it’ll take time.”
“He had it worse than me,” admitted Darcy, thinking about the crash, and the crevasse. “He gave me his coat.”
“Devlin Storm gave up his coat?” the woman said. “Now that’s a headline for you.”
Darcy opened her mouth to argue, but she was too tired, and the rangers had risked a lot coming to rescue them. Anyway, if Darcy had heard the same thing four days ago, she would have been surprised too. Most people would have expected Devlin to put himself before anyone else. She really couldn’t wait until he was awake and they got to share their story. The world would see how much he had changed, and actually what a good man he really was.
“I’ll take you down to the infirmary while we wait for Mr Storm’s stretcher,” said the man.
“That’s okay, I can wait,” Darcy argued, looking again at Devlin. “We can go together.”
“That’s impossible,” said the woman.
“What?” asked Darcy. “Why?”
“We’ve been given our orders,” she explained. “Devlin’s insurance policy states that he is to be taken to a private clinic for treatment.”
“But . . .” Darcy started, shaking her head. “Orders from who? That’s not right, we should stay together. I’ll go with him. I can walk, so I don’t need a stretcher.”
“If you’ve got a spare 5,000 euro a night in the pocket of your coat, I’ll gladly take you,” said the woman. “It’s not right, but it’s the way it is. We have the papers, and somebody has already signed for his care.”
“What do you mean? Who has signed for his care?” Darcy asked, but nobody was listening to her anymore, they were too busy fussing over Devlin.
She wondered if she should wake him. He would surely stick up for her, ask them to bring her as well. Wouldn’t he? But she didn’t have the heart to disturb him. He looked so peaceful, and so tranquil, and besides, she’d be fighting against the results of a sedative and didn’t fancy her chances.
“Come on, miss,” said the male ranger, offering her his hand. “Are you sure you don’t need a stretcher?”
“No,” Darcy said. “I can walk. What’s the name of the clinic? Can you at least tell me that?”
The female ranger shook her head.
“Sorry,” she muttered.
The male ranger was steering her towards the open door of the helicopter and she followed him, numb with uncertainty. After everything she’d been through in the last few days, this felt like the most painful experience to date.
“Watch your head,” said the man, even though the spinning rotors were far above her. She ducked, walking swiftly off the landing pad. It wasn’t exactly tropical down here, but it was so much warmer than the mountain face. The ranger led her towards a large, two-floor building that was surprisingly busy. A group of people who could only be journalists stood outside the main door, a security guard holding them back. Even from here Darcy could hear them clamouring at her, looking for a story. She ignored them, turning back to the helicopter.
“Will they tell Devlin where I am?” she said. “When he wakes up?”
The ranger shrugged.
