Abbey hardly spoke as he worked. All the energy seemed to have gone out of her, and Ryan found himself growing increasingly worried about just how hard she’d hit her head.

‘Thank you, Ryan,’ she whispered. She put her arms unselfconsciously around his neck to help him lift her, and the feel of her made Ryan feel distinctly strange.

‘My pleasure.’ Ryan winced as he heard himself say it. lnane. That was how he felt. Young and gauche. Looking down at this slip of a girl was like looking at his childhood all over again.

It made him remember with a vengeance the things he had once loved. Memories came flooding back. The things and the people his mother had torn him front

Abbey…

‘Come on,’ he said in a voice rougher than he’d intended. ‘Let’s get you to the hospital. I assume there’s a hospital in this place now. Do you have another doctor who can patch you up?’

‘We do have a hospital, but I’m afraid it’s a case of “Physician, heal thyself ‘,’ she quoted wryly.

Ryan didn’t respond. He steadied himself, made sure his grip was sure and the splint was supported by his arm and then lifted her into his arms and across to the car. She was a featherweight. She put her arms around his neck in a subconscious gesture of trust that made him feel even more odd.

‘It’s me, me or me,’ Abbey added shakily as he set her down. ‘Or-alternatively-me.’

Ryan gave himself a mental shake. What was it about this girl that was making emotions and memories he’d forgotten flood right back?

‘Well, you can’t put your own leg back into place,’ he said brusquely.

‘I probably can,’ Abbey said thoughtfully. ‘I don’t think anything’s broken. Let’s get me X-rayed and then we’ll see.’

‘You have to be joking.’

‘No.’ Abbey perched on the car’s back seat as Ryan lowered her. Then, as Ryan held her leg steady, she hauled herself backwards so that her leg was stretched out straight on the seat. Her voice still wobbled but there was a trace of defiance in the tone. Like-‘Don’t mess with me. I can handle myself!’