* * *
The shriek came from a woman ahead of Olivia and Adam, who had tumbled over on her ankle. Logan always carried a first-aid kit in his backpack. He knelt down beside her, trying his best to calm her down. Her name was Sara and she looked like she had a nasty sprain — no wonder, given that she wasn’t wearing supportive walking shoes. She had a pair of flimsy plimsolls on. If she hadn’t hurt herself at this stage of the climb, he was certain she would have done it further up, when it would have been harder to get her to safety.
‘Sara, I think you’ve had a shock,’ said Kitty, who had squatted down next to her and was speaking in a soothing voice. She reached into her backpack, pulling out a flask of tea. ‘Here,’ she said. ‘Take a sip of this and have something to eat. It will help.’
Logan watched in admiration as Kitty effortlessly unwrapped a flapjack and handed it to Sara, who did as she was told. Kitty spoke to the woman in a calming voice, rubbing her back gently, and soon her sobs started to subside. No wonder she was good with kids, he thought. She was so patient and reassuring.
‘What do you think?’ asked Adam. ‘What should we do?’
‘Well, you’re not going to be able to go any further today, Sara,’ explained Logan. ‘So I’ll strap you up, and I suggest you head back down if you can and get it seen to properly in the village.’ He opened a bandage, took the woman’s foot in his hands and started binding it around her ankle. ‘Now,’ he said when he’d finished, ‘do you think you can stand?’
‘I don’t know,’ she said. ‘I’ll give it a try.’ She stood up gingerly and tested her ankle, wincing in pain. ‘Ouch!’ she cried.
‘Did you come out here on your own?’ asked Olivia in concern.
‘No,’ she said, clearly biting back the tears. ‘My boyfriend is here, but he said I was walking too slow, so he went on ahead. He said he’d see me at the top.’
‘Nice,’ said Logan through gritted teeth.
‘Aw love,’ said Kitty sympathetically. ‘You can’t possibly try and head back down on your own. Come on, don’t worry, we’ll help you.’
The woman threw her a grateful look. ‘I’m so sorry for ruining your day,’ she said with a hiccup. ‘I feel so stupid.’
‘Don’t you worry about that. It’s yourboyfriendwho should be apologising for abandoning you,’ said Olivia crossly. ‘I can’t believe he would just leave you on your own. What acharmer.’
More tears pooled in Sara’s eyes, and Kitty gave her a pat on the shoulder.
Logan couldn’t fail to detect the venom in Olivia’s voice and quickly realised there was definitely more to it. He wondered if she either knew Sara’s boyfriend or was speaking from personal experience. Maybe that was why she’d ended up in Scotland. He pushed the thought aside and looked to Kitty, who frowned at him as though she sensed the same thing.
‘Look, why don’t you two go ahead?’ said Kitty, looking to Adam and then him, smoothly pointing up to the summit. ‘Adamhas come all this way and it would be a shame for him to miss out.’
‘I don’t mind,’ said Adam reluctantly.
‘It’s fine. Olivia and I can do this another time. You’re here from Australia, you must make the most of your trip. Aside from that, I don’t think your wife will thank you if you reappear early and ruin her spa time.’ Her words were met with a peel of laughter.
‘True,’ he said. ‘You know her well.’
‘Let Olivia and I focus on helping Sara back down the hill.’ Turning her attention to Sara, Kitty said encouragingly, ‘Now, if you lean on us both, do you think you can manage?’
Sara bit her lip and took a small step forward. ‘Yes,’ she said through gritted teeth. ‘If we take it slow, with your help I’m sure I’ll make it down.’
‘And if you’re really lucky, I might even treat you to a song or two,’ said Kitty.
Olivia groaned. ‘Oh, great.’
‘Okay, guys,’ said Kitty brightly. ‘You two get going. On you go. Take care and don’t fall over, unless you want Olivia and I to come to the rescue. I guess we’ll see you at the pub later for a drink.’
Logan held her gaze. ‘That’s a promise. Take your time getting down. Be careful.’
‘You too,’ said Kitty.
He was so impressed at how calm and focused she was in a crisis. Her kindness and compassion towards Sara also made him want to reach out and hug her. But his thoughts were interrupted by Olivia.
‘And if you see her boyfriend up there, then be sure to shove him over,’ she said. ‘Hard.’
Logan was relieved Kitty was taking Olivia in the opposite direction to Sara’s boyfriend. The thought of trying to diffuse that situation did not appeal. Olivia could be terrifying.
‘Come on, Sara,’ said Kitty, who was clearly trying to distract her from Olivia’s rant. ‘Let’s get going. See you guys.’
