Read Online The Alaskan Rescue by Dominique Burton - Free Book Online
Authors: Dominique Burton
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he needed.
* * *
S ASHI HEARD HIM SAY HE WAS grateful she was talking. He began to rattle on about how reviving patients in
the bush was a bit trickier. She could tell he was now looking her over like a
patient, which made her sad, yet she was still glad he was close. If she wasn’t
going to die, she knew this man would take care of her.
Cole’s voice made her feel more human, more alive, not one of
the dead. She was so grateful for him. He seemed to know exactly what to say and
do.
While still holding her hand, he grabbed his stethoscope out of
his bag with the other. He listened to her heart and lungs, then finally took
her pulse. “It’s weak but stable.” He flashed her a smile that warmed her from
the inside.
“It’s a miracle you survived the night, Sashi. When you told me
you were a ballerina who worked in the packing plant, I knew you had grit. But
you have a mental ability many people don’t have. It’s hard not to give up in
the cold Alaskan night and let fear drive you mad.” He caressed her cheek. “But
you fought the fear and won.”
“Thank you.” She tried to give him a smile. He examined the
injury on the side of her head without hurting her. Reaching for the penlight on
his utility belt, he said, “I have to make sure each pupil is the same size.
Those green eyes are perfect, just like I remember.”
“What?”
“I’m saying you’re in better shape than I expected. My friend
Joe Running Bear—”
“There was a giant bear, Cole, and he...” She shuddered in
remembered terror.
“I know,” he said, “but the bear’s gone. You’re safe now,
Sashi.”
“Thank God,” she thought she heard him mutter. “Sashi,” he
said, “I need you to keep hanging on and we’ll get you out of here soon.”
“Do you know what happened to Kendra? She ran...I tried to stop
her...” Sashi was genuinely worried.
Cole held her hand, looked into her eyes and said calmly, “My
friends, all dedicated civil servants, are taking care of the search for Kendra.
Right now we need to take care of you.” The way he talked and cared for her was
so warm and gentle.
Sashi had to tell him about Kendra. “Cole...Kendra’s pregnant.
They need to find her.”
Just then she saw Joe quietly entering the cave. “Joe,” she
said, “any news of Kendra yet?”
Sashi found she could only talk as long as Cole held her hand.
He seemed to give her strength, she didn’t know why or how.
Joe said, “Sashi, my lone wolf, you are safe and I feel
blessed. Believe me when I say Kendra has been found and everything will be
okay. You listen to Dr. Cole. He will take care of you.”
* * *
O NCE J OE HAD CALMED Sashi with his words, Cole whispered to her,
“I need to talk to a paramedic just outside the cave.” He still hadn’t let go of
her hand. “I’ll be back in two minutes tops and then we’ll devise a plan to get
you out of here. Joe will be by your side the whole time.”
“Promise me you’ll be right back?” she begged.
He looked down at the woman he thought had disappeared from his
life and squeezed her hand. “I promise. I just need to get the right equipment
to move you, okay?”
“Okay,” she murmured.
The look of trust on her face brought back feelings he’d tried
to hide, and as he began to slip out of the cave, he struggled against his
personal demons. He knew firsthand the trauma she was living through. He’d lived
it many nights in his own nightmares. Hard to believe it was twenty years ago
that he’d held his dead brother on the mountain after the avalanche, begging him
to come back to life. But it wasn’t to be. At least today he didn’t have to beg
God to bring Sashi back.
He had to focus. Right now the only thing important was to get
her stable before transporting her. The truth about Kendra could send her into
shock. He didn’t want anything upsetting her. That was when he changed his mind
about leaving her.
He turned back. “Joe?” he said.
“Yeah?”
“Will
* * *
S ASHI HEARD HIM SAY HE WAS grateful she was talking. He began to rattle on about how reviving patients in
the bush was a bit trickier. She could tell he was now looking her over like a
patient, which made her sad, yet she was still glad he was close. If she wasn’t
going to die, she knew this man would take care of her.
Cole’s voice made her feel more human, more alive, not one of
the dead. She was so grateful for him. He seemed to know exactly what to say and
do.
While still holding her hand, he grabbed his stethoscope out of
his bag with the other. He listened to her heart and lungs, then finally took
her pulse. “It’s weak but stable.” He flashed her a smile that warmed her from
the inside.
“It’s a miracle you survived the night, Sashi. When you told me
you were a ballerina who worked in the packing plant, I knew you had grit. But
you have a mental ability many people don’t have. It’s hard not to give up in
the cold Alaskan night and let fear drive you mad.” He caressed her cheek. “But
you fought the fear and won.”
“Thank you.” She tried to give him a smile. He examined the
injury on the side of her head without hurting her. Reaching for the penlight on
his utility belt, he said, “I have to make sure each pupil is the same size.
Those green eyes are perfect, just like I remember.”
“What?”
“I’m saying you’re in better shape than I expected. My friend
Joe Running Bear—”
“There was a giant bear, Cole, and he...” She shuddered in
remembered terror.
“I know,” he said, “but the bear’s gone. You’re safe now,
Sashi.”
“Thank God,” she thought she heard him mutter. “Sashi,” he
said, “I need you to keep hanging on and we’ll get you out of here soon.”
“Do you know what happened to Kendra? She ran...I tried to stop
her...” Sashi was genuinely worried.
Cole held her hand, looked into her eyes and said calmly, “My
friends, all dedicated civil servants, are taking care of the search for Kendra.
Right now we need to take care of you.” The way he talked and cared for her was
so warm and gentle.
Sashi had to tell him about Kendra. “Cole...Kendra’s pregnant.
They need to find her.”
Just then she saw Joe quietly entering the cave. “Joe,” she
said, “any news of Kendra yet?”
Sashi found she could only talk as long as Cole held her hand.
He seemed to give her strength, she didn’t know why or how.
Joe said, “Sashi, my lone wolf, you are safe and I feel
blessed. Believe me when I say Kendra has been found and everything will be
okay. You listen to Dr. Cole. He will take care of you.”
* * *
O NCE J OE HAD CALMED Sashi with his words, Cole whispered to her,
“I need to talk to a paramedic just outside the cave.” He still hadn’t let go of
her hand. “I’ll be back in two minutes tops and then we’ll devise a plan to get
you out of here. Joe will be by your side the whole time.”
“Promise me you’ll be right back?” she begged.
He looked down at the woman he thought had disappeared from his
life and squeezed her hand. “I promise. I just need to get the right equipment
to move you, okay?”
“Okay,” she murmured.
The look of trust on her face brought back feelings he’d tried
to hide, and as he began to slip out of the cave, he struggled against his
personal demons. He knew firsthand the trauma she was living through. He’d lived
it many nights in his own nightmares. Hard to believe it was twenty years ago
that he’d held his dead brother on the mountain after the avalanche, begging him
to come back to life. But it wasn’t to be. At least today he didn’t have to beg
God to bring Sashi back.
He had to focus. Right now the only thing important was to get
her stable before transporting her. The truth about Kendra could send her into
shock. He didn’t want anything upsetting her. That was when he changed his mind
about leaving her.
He turned back. “Joe?” he said.
“Yeah?”
“Will
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