arms.
“I had some extras behind the seat,” Ash said, jutting her head toward the helicopter. “But they won’t fit her well.”
“Is the child okay?”
Rick glanced over to where Graham had taken charge, ordering everyone to stay back and give Daniel and his mother room. A natural leader, he might not have been sworn in yet as mayor—that was supposed to happen after the holidays—but Graham was exactly the person to keep everyone calm in a crisis.
He’d been the perfect choice to take care of the town.
The sound of sirens in the distance answered Lana’s question, which was good, because Rick wasn’t leaving her to go find out more information. “The ambulance is almost here. I don’t know how long Daniel was in the water, but I can see that he’s crying, which is a good sign. You saved his life.”
“Ash saved him.” Lana’s words were hard to understand, she was shaking so badly. “She’s the one who saw him.”
When it was clear her hands weren’t working well enough to manage her shoelaces, Rick helped her. Peeling half-frozen slacks off her mile-long legs was not nearly as sexy as his daydreams, but she gave him a tight, appreciative smile when he helped her pull on a pair of Ash’s snow pants.
“What about you?” Lana asked.
“I wasn’t in the water as long,” he told her as he shrugged out of his own wet clothes, taking whatever was pushed at him.
Lana was an ice cube by the time the ambulance got there. Kelly was sobbing in relief, cradling Daniel close in the warmth of her own car.
“Don’t fall asleep,” he warned as Lana leaned her head against the window.
She didn’t answer him, and she wouldn’t look at him, but at least her eyes were open.
“Lana, the ambulance is here. You need to go with them.” When he reached for her to help her from the car, Lana pulled out of Rick’s hands.
“I’m fine.” She tried for her trademark breezy tone, but it fell flat between her chattering teeth. “No hospitals. Can you take me to the resort?”
“Bullshit,” Ash said, returning to the car. She watched as Lana scooted across the seat toward the door. “You need to go get checked.”
Yes, that was exactly what Lana needed to do. But instead of agreeing, she shook her head in a tight jerking motion, once more refusing Rick’s help as she decided to get out of the car instead. He didn’t know how she was still standing, but her back was straight and her chin high, every inch the woman who made boardrooms sit up and take notice.
“Jonah was helping Fish and Game with a problem moose near Girdwood, but he’s on his way. Garcia and his partner are headed here to help.” Ash turned to Lana. “Jonah’s pretty upset, but he radioed Easton and told him to tell you he’s grateful to you for saving his little boy.”
She didn’t say anything, instead just standing there, shivering. The paramedics were still focused on Daniel, but Graham was pointing to the car Lana and Rick were next to. Ash frowned.
“She might be able to ignore them, but Jonah isn’t going to take no for an answer. He’ll make her go to the hospital.”
“Lana, let us help you,” Rick said softly. When she opened her mouth to protest through blue-tinged lips, he added, “I get it, okay? If you show one ounce of weakness, the town jumps on you. But after today, no one is going to treat you that way.”
She watched Kelly press Daniel into the paramedic’s arms. “Thank you for jumping in with me.” Lana finally added in a whisper, “I’ve never been that cold in my life.”
His instincts told him she needed a place to hide before she’d consent to a checkup, so Rick slipped his arm around her waist. Kelly shot Lana a quick, desperately grateful look before climbing into the front seat of the ambulance. Rick didn’t know if Lana saw it.
More and more people gathered in as those on the lake came to see what they could do to help.
“Hey,” Ash told Rick, watching Lana shift away from the growing crowd. “Are you good to drive?”
“Yeah.”
“Then get her out of here. She looks ready to bolt.”
“She can barely stand.” Rick growled in frustration. Ash wasn’t wrong. Far from wanting to celebrate her bravery, Lana looked like a cornered animal.
“Come on,” Rick said in her ear. “You at least need a hot bath to warm you up.”
Lana allowed him to herd her back