Thankfully, the boy nodded and ran in the direction of the shops.
As the rain pounded on her back, Juliette leaned forward nervously. She spotted the tan-coloured, shaggy head of Chewie disappearing and reappearing in the waves, pain-filled howls bursting forth in between each ascent and subsequent descent. Without further thought, she jumped into the ice-cold water, grappling for the dog and fighting against the increasing power of the tide as it rushed and crashed into the wall. The wind had picked up and the dog’s panic was increasing too, his paws desperately clawing and clambering for purchase but finding none.
The cold from the water seeped into Juliette’s bones and her heart raced as she began to wonder what on earth she’d been thinking. But knowing she couldn’t let the poor dog die, she managed to grab his collar and yank the flailing creature towards her. ‘It’s okay, boy, shhh, it’s okay, Chewie. I’ve got you, I’ve got you,’ she whispered into the dog’s ear as he gave little high-pitched yelps. His tongue lapped gratefully at her wet face as he tried to climb into her arms and simultaneously keep his head above the water. It became evident where Evin’s scratches had come from as the dog clawed at her and she felt the grazes on her skin through her wet clothing. She silently prayed that Archie or Kenneth would arrive soon. She was rapidly losing strength and the glacial water was taking the breath from her lungs. Her arms ached as she trod water to keep herself and the terrified dog afloat.
Chewie seemed to be weakening now, and it felt like she had been in the water so much longer than a mere matter of minutes. With one arm round the ailing dog, Juliette scooped at the water with her other, attempting to draw herself and the soaked animal towards the ladder, beside which a boat was usually moored; she was grateful for its absence today. The weight of her clothes was slowly dragging her downwards and the effort from staying afloat was sapping the energy from her muscles, but with dogged determination, she continued her strokes against the freezing deluge.Keep going, Jules, you can do this, keep going.
She had to get to the steps. She justhadto.
‘Hang on, Jules! We’ll get you out!’ Archie shouted from above. ‘Reid was on his way to pick Evin up when I rang, so he’ll be here any time. Hold on! I’m coming in!’
Although she was relieved, she feared that it may be too late for the poor dog; he’d exhausted himself. The last thing she wanted was to let Evin down, but the cold was too much. Her arms and legs were almost numb now and a wave of exhaustion washed over her as she struggled to keep hold of the dog.
A huge splash occurred beside her and, seconds later, Archie grabbed her. ‘You’re okay now. I’m here,’ he told her, and she nodded, but all she could think about was Evin’s face when he saw poor Chewie.
‘Oh my God! What’s going on?’ yelled a worried male voice from above. She squinted through the saltwater and could just make out Reid MacKinnon dragging the coat from his body and launching himself into the water. ‘Are you okay?’ he gasped as he grabbed for Juliette and the dog.
She nodded, relieved and grateful for his help as he made pulling Chewie to the ladder a much easier task.
Archie made a grab for Chewie. ‘You get Jules, I’ve got the dog,’ he shouted over the noise of more thunder.
The dog was limp, and she could hear Evin screaming from above.
Juliette closed her eyes.He’s gone…The poor boy has lost his best friend… I couldn’t save him… She could hear sobbing but wasn’t sure who was making the agonising noise. Her chest burned and her breathing was coming in gasps and she realised the sobbing was coming from her.
‘Hey, it’s okay… it’s okay… I’ve got you,’ a voice reassured her. Other voices joined in and she felt herself being pulled skyward as if being sucked up by a tornado.
Feeling terra firma beneath her, Juliette was enveloped in a warm blanket, her arms rubbed up and down harshly by someone. ‘Oh, my word, Jules. Oh, my word, dearie.’ Morag’s voice shook with alarm.
Other concerned voices, some of which she recognised, asked myriad questions from all angles: Was she okay? Had someone called an ambulance? Could she breathe okay? By this time, however, her eyes had drifted closed as the shock of what had just occurred began to set in.
‘Thank you! Thank you so much, you saved him, you saved Chewie,’ Evin sobbed as his small arms clung to her.
The poor lad doesn’t know the truth, she thought as she felt rainwater trickling down her cheeks. Perhaps it was tears…
She had no energy to reciprocate the hug and only managed a small pat to his arm that she hoped conveyed what she couldn’t say – that she was so very, very sorry.
Her heart rate was still elevated, and her limbs were numb. Her body juddered and her teeth clattered against each other; her natural, involuntary responses fighting to protect her from the cold by raising her low temperature.
‘I’ll take her home, get her warmed up. If someone can call Doc MacT and send him to mine, I’d appreciate it.’ Juliette thought this voice sounded familiar, but she felt herself losing consciousness as she was scooped up, her body leaving the floor.
She absently reached for her locket, fearing it was lost to the deluge. But finding it was still round her neck, relief washed over her, and she let go, giving in to the darkness that was intent on sucking her under.
8
Juliette’s eyes fluttered open onto unfamiliar surroundings and, as she turned her head, she was greeted by the worried, red-rimmed eyes of a dark-haired boy.
‘Dad! She’s awake!’ he yelled, which caused a pounding to thump at her skull, and she winced. Evin cringed. ‘Whoops, I’m sorry,’ he whispered. ‘How are you feeling?’
Juliette cleared her throat and blinked a few times, assessing her thoughts about the question in hand. She could move her limbs, she could see, her heart no longer felt like it was trying to exit through her chest. So, all in all, she was okay. ‘Erm… I think I’m fine now. Where am I?’
‘Oh, it’s fine, don’t worry. You’re in our spare room. Dad thought it would be best. He didn’t want you to be on your own. Doctor MacT has been and said you needed to rest. That you’d been through a horrible experience and that your body had just shut down for a wee while to repair itself.’
‘What time is it?’ she asked because the room was illuminated by lamplight and the curtains were closed.
‘It’s around nine o’clock, I think. You’ve been asleep for quite a few hours.’
Confusion niggled at Juliette’s mind until recent events came flooding back to assault her memory, and she shivered. She grasped at her neck but, thankfully, found her locket was where it should be. She opened it, desperate to make sure the photo was still intact. By some miracle, it was. Her thoughts immediately returned to the poor terrified dog and how he had apparently lost his battlejustas he was rescued.
