Read Online Raphaela's Gift by Sydney Allan - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Sydney Allan
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program is a sham, that's why. I don't believe in it, I don't want to be here, and I don't expect you to help Ella a bit."
"So leave! Make good on your threat and take your daughter home," She yelled back. Her eyes flashed with anger. "What makes you think it's a sham, anyway? You don't have any real reason for believing that, do you? I mean, her miraculous progress speaks for itself, if you'd let it!"
"Look, Faith, I don't expect you to understand this. But, I'm a doctor. I know about places like this. Places that promise miracles but deliver empty deception. Charlatans have been doing it for years; 'drink this snake oil and blind men will see, cripples will walk, and all your ills will miraculously disappear!' Well, Miss LeFeuvre, no miracle is going to help my daughter."
"How do you know that? Why can't you give us a chance?"
"Because if there were anything," he confessed softly, "anything at all that would help me communicate with my little girl, I would have found it already."
"So everything you said earlier, your apology, your promise to cooperate. It was all an act? A lie?"
His eyes met hers. "No. It wasn't. I meant what I said when I apologized. I'm not crazy about this place, but I'm staying. No matter how I feel, I won't do anything that might halt Ella's progress because if I did, I'd never be able to live with myself." He dropped his regard back to the gorge. As he watched, the raft flipped over, sending its riders into the angry river. "That raft turned over. Hope no one gets hurt." He stood to get a better view.
Faith stood and then slid to the ground. "Oh, my gosh! That's a rough rapid right there. At this time of year, it's full of hydraulics, holes in the water that can trap a body underwater." She took several steps before he caught her arm.
"Where are you going?" he asked.
She tugged her arm free. "Down to make sure everyone's okay. Are you coming with me?"
He checked his cell phone clipped to his belt. The light was green. He started to dial.
Faith laid her hand on his, and he looked up. Their gazes met. "Is that all you're willing to do? Make a phone call?"
His ego bruised, he shot back, "They can have a rescue helicopter here in a few minutes..."
"Maybe we should make sure that someone is hurt before we call for help. Those rafts capsize all the time. Usually, everyone is okay, but sometimes they get hurt."
He nodded.
She motioned toward a slight opening in the brush. "Here's a path, but it looks steep."
Glancing down at his loafers, he wished he'd thought to wear hiking boots, or at least tennis shoes. Descending a treacherous gorge in leather soles was going to be more excitement than he'd prepared for. But when he glimpsed down and spied a rafter clinging to a rock in the river's center, screaming at the top of her lungs, he knew he had to take the chance. "Now we call," he said, first hitting the power button on his phone. After the operator told him a search and rescue helicopter had been sent, he said, "Let's go."
They plunged into the thick forest and ran down the narrow path that was no more than beaten down ivy at the cliff's edge. Faith wasn't any more prepared for rock climbing than he was. She wore a dress and flat, but slick-soled shoes, and he had to catch her when she slipped, holding her by the arm until she found secure footing. As they scrambled down the steep trail, he silently prayed his assistance would not be needed at the river. It had been years since he'd been a med student, working in emergency medicine. A mistake could be fatal if the injury was bad enough. Experience had taught him that painful lesson years ago.
The path curved, snaking down a shallower side of the gorge, but was still slick and muddy. Several times, Garret slid, his soles losing grip in the muck, and once he skidded down fifteen feet before he found a foothold. After he reached the bottom, he released a sigh of relief. Faith gave him a knowing grin, having several times used his body as a
"So leave! Make good on your threat and take your daughter home," She yelled back. Her eyes flashed with anger. "What makes you think it's a sham, anyway? You don't have any real reason for believing that, do you? I mean, her miraculous progress speaks for itself, if you'd let it!"
"Look, Faith, I don't expect you to understand this. But, I'm a doctor. I know about places like this. Places that promise miracles but deliver empty deception. Charlatans have been doing it for years; 'drink this snake oil and blind men will see, cripples will walk, and all your ills will miraculously disappear!' Well, Miss LeFeuvre, no miracle is going to help my daughter."
"How do you know that? Why can't you give us a chance?"
"Because if there were anything," he confessed softly, "anything at all that would help me communicate with my little girl, I would have found it already."
"So everything you said earlier, your apology, your promise to cooperate. It was all an act? A lie?"
His eyes met hers. "No. It wasn't. I meant what I said when I apologized. I'm not crazy about this place, but I'm staying. No matter how I feel, I won't do anything that might halt Ella's progress because if I did, I'd never be able to live with myself." He dropped his regard back to the gorge. As he watched, the raft flipped over, sending its riders into the angry river. "That raft turned over. Hope no one gets hurt." He stood to get a better view.
Faith stood and then slid to the ground. "Oh, my gosh! That's a rough rapid right there. At this time of year, it's full of hydraulics, holes in the water that can trap a body underwater." She took several steps before he caught her arm.
"Where are you going?" he asked.
She tugged her arm free. "Down to make sure everyone's okay. Are you coming with me?"
He checked his cell phone clipped to his belt. The light was green. He started to dial.
Faith laid her hand on his, and he looked up. Their gazes met. "Is that all you're willing to do? Make a phone call?"
His ego bruised, he shot back, "They can have a rescue helicopter here in a few minutes..."
"Maybe we should make sure that someone is hurt before we call for help. Those rafts capsize all the time. Usually, everyone is okay, but sometimes they get hurt."
He nodded.
She motioned toward a slight opening in the brush. "Here's a path, but it looks steep."
Glancing down at his loafers, he wished he'd thought to wear hiking boots, or at least tennis shoes. Descending a treacherous gorge in leather soles was going to be more excitement than he'd prepared for. But when he glimpsed down and spied a rafter clinging to a rock in the river's center, screaming at the top of her lungs, he knew he had to take the chance. "Now we call," he said, first hitting the power button on his phone. After the operator told him a search and rescue helicopter had been sent, he said, "Let's go."
They plunged into the thick forest and ran down the narrow path that was no more than beaten down ivy at the cliff's edge. Faith wasn't any more prepared for rock climbing than he was. She wore a dress and flat, but slick-soled shoes, and he had to catch her when she slipped, holding her by the arm until she found secure footing. As they scrambled down the steep trail, he silently prayed his assistance would not be needed at the river. It had been years since he'd been a med student, working in emergency medicine. A mistake could be fatal if the injury was bad enough. Experience had taught him that painful lesson years ago.
The path curved, snaking down a shallower side of the gorge, but was still slick and muddy. Several times, Garret slid, his soles losing grip in the muck, and once he skidded down fifteen feet before he found a foothold. After he reached the bottom, he released a sigh of relief. Faith gave him a knowing grin, having several times used his body as a
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