Blame It On The Mistletoe by Terri Brisbin

Author:Terri Brisbin
Language: eng
Format: mobi
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Six

The child fell to the ice, and Iain knew he must act or lose them. Realising that his legs simply would not support him on the ice, he quickly staggered to the edge of the lake and slid along as much as he could without losing his balance.

‘Julia! Hold on, Julia!’ he called as he moved awkwardly out onto the ice in their direction. He did not see Julia, but the child heard him and called her name again.

He could not delay, and trying to remain on his feet was doing just that. Possibly the only good thing to come from his injuries was the strength he’d built in the muscles of his back and chest and arms, so he tossed his walking stick aside and threw himself forward on the ice. After the initial shock of his hard landing, he pulled himself along the slippery surface, using any roughness he could grab onto.

Although it seemed as if time had slowed, and his progress was even slower, he could see he was closer with each second, and soon he could see the frightened child sitting on the ice, calling out to Julia, who must be in the water. Once he neared the edge of the break in the ice, he pulled himself up on his knees—knees now numb from the cold and wet—so he could see over it. Sheer terror filled him at the sight of Julia in the icy waters.

‘Are you hurt?’ he asked the boy. ‘Did you fall in as well?’ Moving carefully closer, he inspected the boy for any sign of injury.

‘No, sir. But the lady…’ The child shook—probably from both icy wetness and fear.

Iain grabbed the boy and slid him over to the edge of the lake. ‘Go. Run and get the Earl, and bring him quickly! Tell him to bring rope.’ He prayed that the Earl had kept to his usual schedule of visiting the stables each day at about this time.

‘Aye, sir!’ the child called, and he scampered off the ice towards the stables.

‘Hurry!’ Iain yelled, though it was not necessary, for the child covered the distance quickly.

Turning back to the water, he saw that Julia’s eyes were closed. Not certain if he was too late, he pulled himself as close to the edge as he dared and called her name.

‘Julia! Open your eyes, lass!’

Her eyes opened slowly, and he saw the shivers that shook her. ‘Iain,’ she sighed.

‘Julia, open your eyes and look at me, lass!’ He reached out and waved his hand in front of her. ‘Give me your hand now!’

He thought he’d lost her in that moment, for she sank a little lower in the water. Then, as he shouted her name once more, Julia opened her eyes and lifted her hand. It was blue, as were her lips and most of her face. She was freezing to death in front of him. He could not wait for help to arrive.

‘Give me your hand,’ he said again, and as he reached out to grab it.

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