Chapter 2
Groaning, Myles slowly opened his eyes feeling water hit his face from the rain splashing through the shattered glass. He tried to sit forward, but the branches coming through the window prevented him from moving. Turning his head, he saw Tara move slightly in her seat.
"Tara, are you okay?" Myles cried over the raging storm outside.
"I'm okay." She sounded out of breath. Lightning flashed and Myles saw the pain etched in her delicate features revealing she was lying to him. Before he could question her further, he saw a flash of light from outside the car, hearing voices calling to them.
"We're pinned in here," Myles shouted out. "Can you get help?"
The wind blew away any response, but it wasn't long before he heard a chainsaw start up. Myles felt the branches give in front of him and pushed them out of his way. Myles leaned over and released Tara's seatbelt, seeing her wince when he jostled the seat to pull the belt from around her.
"Tara," he whispered, cupping her cheek in his hand to get her to look at him. Worry washed over him as he saw the tears in her eyes as she fought the pain. Her breaths were coming in quick gasps causing her more pain.
"Help me get her out," Myles called to their rescuers when they finally got her door opened. "Careful, she's hurt," he insisted as the two men gingerly assisted her from the car. Sliding across the seat, Myles climbed out after them running his hand along the back of his neck, he looked at the blood mixing with the rain dripping off his fingers.
No time to worry about that now, he told himself, rubbing his hands on his pants following the men as they lead Tara to the waiting van. Sliding in beside her on the back seat, Myles accepted the blanket the man offered, gently wrapping it around Tara to ward off her chills.
"You need it too," Tara whispered, her voice barely audible.
"Shhh, I'll be fine," Myles insisted. "Where do you hurt?" he asked, searching her face as he tried to control his own shivering.
"My ribs…" she moaned. "Hurts to breath…" The van had started moving, its motion causing her to wince in pain.
"Careful with the driving," Myles demanded, glaring at the driver.
"Sorry, it's the wind, shaking everything around," the driver apologized. "Either of you hurt," he asked, not taking his eyes off the road.
"I'm fine, but we need to get her to a hospital," Myles requested, placing his arm around Tara only to feel her flinch when he touched her shoulder. "What?" he asked her, jerking his hand away quickly.
"Shoulder hurts," she groaned, squeezing her eyes shut against the tears that threatened.
"Sorry, buddy, that tree just wiped out our only way down until this storm is over," the passenger called from the front seat.
"What! But she needs a doctor," Myles insisted, concerned about the Tara's injuries.
"We're not far from my sister's," the passenger explained, turning slightly in his seat to view the couple in the back. "She'll know what to do," he told them. "My name's Craig Wilson by the way, and that's Hank James."
"Myles Leland and Tara Williams," he replied instinctively. Seeing her cringe again, Myles persisted, "Look we really need to get to a hospital."
"We're here," Hank called, pulling the van to a stop in front of a rambling farmhouse. The porch lights came on, revealing a dark haired woman peering through the screen door at them. "There's the 'Frogster' now," Hank announced, climbing out.
"If anyone can help her until we get to the doctor, it will be my sister," Craig smiled reassuringly before climbing out to help them out of the back.
Giving Tara a wry grin, Myles assisted her out of the van. Keeping his hand on her back, he eyed their new surroundings disdainfully.
Great! Myles thought to himself as they approached the house through the rain. We need a doctor and we get stuck with a Florence Nightingale wannabe!