Rescued by Dr. Rafe Read Free Page A

she would really rather have walked than it turn out to be Rafe.
    She relayed the factual part of the message as dispassionately as she could, trying not to look at Rafe. The thought that she might need him wasn’t particularly pleasant, but she was going to have to face facts. She’d get this over with as quickly and painlessly as possible.
    Her phone beeped again. Another long text. Mimi read it carefully.
    â€˜What does he say?’
    â€˜The stuff in his medical bag’s ruined. The water got to it.’ Mimi had been hoping against hope that at least some of the medical equipment that Jack had been carrying would have survived the drenching. ‘He’s staying with the patient until he finds a way to get her out, and there are some people coming down to try and get a second bag across. We’re to get it packed and ready, and wait for them to call.’
    â€˜Tell him okay.’
    â€˜Yeah.’ She’d just done that. Mimi surveyed the torrent of rushing water in front of them and hoped that the people who were coming to meet them had some idea how they were going to get the bag across the river, because she didn’t have a clue.
    Rafe turned in his seat. ‘I’ve got pretty much everything he might need.’ He surveyed the boxes and bags in the back of the SUV. ‘What’s the patient’s condition?’
    Trust Rafe to come prepared. He always came prepared, never thinking that someone else might have the situation under control.
    â€˜She’s pregnant.’
    Irritation tugged at his mouth. ‘I know that. ’
    â€˜Well, that’s all. She’s not in labour yet, but we were going to transport her to the hospital anyway, due to the weather conditions. No complications that I know of, but best...’ She was about to say that they’d best send whatever they could to deal with any eventuality, but Rafe had already got out of the car and was walking around to the tailgate. Opening it, he selected a sturdy holdall and began to stack it with boxes.
    Mimi puffed out a breath and pulled her boots back on. She had no doubt that Rafe would do the right thing, or that she would, but it seemed that they were both going to do the right thing in the most unpleasant way possible.
    The storm had done its worst and seemed to be easing off a little now. They didn’t have to wait long before four figures appeared on the other side of the river, carrying what looked like climbing gear.
    Her phone rang and she answered it.
    â€˜Hi, is that Mimi?’ A woman’s voice on the other end of the line, shouting over the roar of the water. ‘I’m Cass... Fire and Rescue...’
    At last, some good news. It was always good to have a firefighter around, even in the pouring rain.
    â€˜Hi Cass, Mimi here. How’s Jack?’
    â€˜He’s fine. We’ve taken him up to the village to dry off and we’re going to try to get a line over to you now.’
    â€˜What’s your plan?’
    â€˜Along the river to the east the land rises on this side. I’m thinking we may be able to throw a rope to you and winch the bag across.’
    â€˜Right you are; we’ll meet you there. We have two bags.’
    â€˜That’s great. Thanks.’ The line cut and Mimi shouldered one of the bags. Knowing that Rafe would follow with the other, she slid carefully down the slope at the side of the road and walked into the trees.
    Under the canopy of the leaves, the ground was wet but undisturbed and the clingy mud by the side of the road less in evidence. Rafe’s long strides quickly caught up with her.
    â€˜There’s some high ground on the other side of the river, about a quarter of a mile in this direction. They seem to think they can get a rope across.’
    He nodded. Apparently he’d run out of things to say, or perhaps he’d decided that keeping the peace was the better option right now. In the silence, broken only by