A Daddy Sent By Santa. Susan Carlisle

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      The lights of the ambulance had been a happy sight. Rick was helping the other man out of the truck when he left to meet the EMTs. He feared Lewis was going to end up having just as many issues from the prolonged exposure to the elements as he did from the actual accident.

      When the first EMT approached, he introduced himself and gave a quick report of his examination of the man in the truck, then went into detail about Lewis’s care. The second EMT hurried to them with the gurney. Paxton went around to Lewis’s feet and crawled across the seat as the other two men worked Lewis’s shoulders onto the gurney. Minutes later they had him strapped down. Rick joined them, helping the EMTs get Lewis into the ambulance. As soon as the EMTs had Lewis secured inside, they immediately started working on him. Paxton was told he couldn’t ride in the ambulance. He responded, “Then I’ll see you at the hospital.”

      He watched the ambulance leave and returned to the cruiser to check on his other patient. Lauren and Rick had sat him in the back seat. “I’m going to follow the ambulance in my car,” he told her.

      “No, you’re not,” Lauren said in a firm voice that reminded him of his mother refusing him a cookie before dinner when he’d been a child. “I’m going to see about your hands after I get through with Mr. Thompson here. We’ve got to take him to the hospital as well, so Rick is driving.”

      “I’ll call someone to come get your car. Are the keys in it?” Rick asked.

      “Yes.” Paxton just experienced another element of culture shock. He’d never have left his keys in his car in Boston, even if he’d been the first medical person on the scene of a bad accident.

      “Now get in the back seat,” Lauren ordered. “I need to have a look at your hands. You probably have the beginnings of frostbite. Are they numb?”

      He had no choice but to admit, “Yeah, they are.”

      “Let me see.” She grabbed a flashlight and shone it on his hands. “Ooh, the tips are already turning white. You should’ve been wearing gloves.”

      “I have some in my suitcase but didn’t take the time to find them.”

      “Next time you need to.” She pulled off her gloves and stuffed them in a pocket of her coat before reaching for his hands. “Bend them for me.”

      He started to argue but with the way he felt and her tone of voice he thought better of it. Doing as she instructed, he was disappointed to find his fingers wouldn’t move. She was right, he had all the signs of frostbite.

      To be ordered around by someone other than his parents was a new experience. Now that the adrenaline rush was over he was starting to register intense pain. He’d overextended his body in addition to his exposure to the increasingly frigid temperature.

      He watched as she turned his hands one way then the other. Her fingers were strong and sure, yet tender. She’d pushed back her coat hood. Snowflakes hung like stars in the night sky in her thick dark hair. Even in the shadowy light he could tell she was pretty in a natural, wholesome way.

      “You might as well do as she says because you won’t win,” the injured man leaned out to say.

      “He’s right. Get in. We need to get going. I’ll work on your hands in the car,” Lauren said.

      Paxton climbed in next to the man, welcoming the warmth inside despite the still-open door. He attempted to kick off his shoes, but pain shot up his leg. His toes hurt but with the car heat on they would recover soon.

      “Let’s go, Rick,” Lauren called to the policeman, who was doing something near the tractor. She closed the door and headed to the other side of the car.

      Somehow the sound of her soft, slow drawl and unusual tone that could only be native to the region took his mind off his pain. Who was this young woman who lived out in the middle of nowhere? And why did she? After Gabriella’s mistreatment of him, he was surprised that he’d even wonder about a woman, but curiosity about Lauren did keep his mind off his discomfort.

      Lauren got into the front passenger seat and closed the door. She swiveled in her seat and said, “Give me your hands.”

      “Again?”

      “Yeah. I need to start warming them. You are familiar with frostbite care?” she asked, a little irritated note in her voice.

      “Of course I am.”

      “Then you know I need to bring the feeling back slowly. I don’t have any more heat packs so I’ll need to hold them between mine. Body heat is the best.”

      He glanced at the man next to him to see his reaction, but he had his head back and his eyes closed. In a few minutes Paxton would rouse him to make sure he wasn’t unconscious from a concussion, but first...

      Paxton extended his hands.

      Lauren took them between her smaller ones and held them but instead of rubbing movements she blew on them. Her gaze met his, held. Her eyes were as black as the sky he’d so often lain under in Africa. Unspoiled, huge and comforting. There was look of caring he’d not seen in a woman’s eyes in a long time. Was he destined to judge every woman by Gabriella? He hoped not. Lauren blinked and the moment was gone.

      “You were good out there,” he said with true admiration.

      “Thanks.” She looked pleased with the compliment. Did she not get many of them?

      “You know, I’m used to being the one who gives the orders.” He watched a slow smile light up her face.

      “I know. I heard a few of them tonight.”

      “I think you’re pretty good at them as well.” He knew his grin was more grimace than smile.

      Rick climbed into the driver’s seat. “Everyone ready?”

      “Where’re we headed?” Paxton asked when they were riding down the road.

      “Lippscomb, Oklahoma. Closest hospital. By the way, I’m Lauren Wilson.” She nodded to the driver. “This is Rick Moore. That’s Art Thompson beside you.”

      “And I’m Dr. Paxton Samuels. Feel free to call me Paxton.”

      “You’re our new temporary doctor. Tough way to start your month,” she said, giving him a reassuring smile.

      “I won’t argue with that.” But everything about the last few weeks had been tough as well.

      She continued to blow and after a few minutes she looked at him. “I forgot to mention that I’m your nurse. So this probably won’t be our last adventure together.”

      He wasn’t sure if that sounded ominous or inviting, but it was definitely intriguing.

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