When Hope Went South by Patricia Snelling

Author:Patricia Snelling
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Patricia Snelling
Published: 2022-01-29T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Twelve

Cole brought back the blanket and another jacket for Joel. ‘The local doctor can’t come as he’s attending a birth. He’s organised the rescue helicopter and said to turn her onto her side and keep her warm.’

‘Thanks—I’ve already rolled her over. Here ... give me the blanket.’ He wrapped the blanket around her and used a corner of it to place under her head on top of the blood-stained grass.

Another thirty minutes of waiting seemed like hours. It was torturous for Joel who kept checking her breathing and pulse obsessively. Suddenly he heard the deafening drone of the helicopter’s rotors above and almost cried with relief.

Two doctors and a nurse had to land further down the valley where it was flat. They strenuously clambered up the incline to where the patient lay, dragging the stretcher and medical gear with them. Hurriedly the doctors assessed her vital signs.

‘We have to move quickly! She’s in shock and her blood pressure is very low.’ One of the doctors quickly introduced himself as an Intensive Care Registrar. ‘Dave’s my name and this is John, another Registrar. Quickly— John, get that intravenous line in. We need to get her blood pressure back up. She’s a bad gash in the scalp here and will need stapling when we get to the hospital. I’ll apply a pressure dressing for now. We need to get her out of here before she deteriorates.’ Dave appeared agitated and kept taking her pulse.

They laid her on the stretcher and asked Joel if he wanted to accompany them in the chopper.

‘You might like to come along in case she regains consciousness on the way. You can stay at the hospital until you decide what to do.’

‘Yes—yes, of course. I ... sure, I’ll come.’ He turned to Cole who appeared like a dog that had been scolded, even though he wasn’t to blame.

‘Cole, I’m sorry, mate. You’re going to have to walk Misty and my horse-back to the ranch and get the vet to check Misty. Are any of the boys still down below?’

‘Yep. Two of them are still waiting down there in case you need them.’

‘They can take our horses back. Tell them I’ll sort their hours out later. You can go back to keep an eye on the ranch. But don’t forget to phone the vet.’

‘I already radioed them. They know what’s happened. They’re waiting for instructions.’ Cole replied before gathered up the other two horses.

‘Come on— you need to get into the chopper.’ The doctor directed Joel safely onto the aircraft after Hope had been fastened into the receiver for the stretcher. The nurse covered her with more blankets and fiddled with the intravenous tubing.

Joel started blowing on his hands and rubbing them together as if he was feeling the cold.

‘Please strap yourself in sir. Here is a blanket for you as well.’ The middle-aged nurse in black trousers and a thick jacket with fluorescent stripes put her hand into a deep pocket and pulled out a small bar of chocolate.

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