‘It’s a toy of some kind.’ Matt managed a grin. ‘It’s not a patient-thank Heaven.’ He put a hand down to haul it out but she stopped him.

‘No. If it really is a toy, leave it there and see if you can clean it up when you get home. If you leave it here it’ll get lost in this mess, and it just may be important. These kids have lost everything, and I suspect I’m not looking at long-term physical problems here, but psychological ones.’

He thought that through and it made sense. ‘Okay.’ The toy could stay, soggy or not.

‘Can you dress that burn yourself? It’s not too bad.’ She was flustered, worrying about Erin and the kids and wanting to move on. ‘Good. Okay, you don’t need hospital, but I do want you supervised tonight. No going home to that farm alone. What about going to Charlotte’s? Shall I have someone ring her?’

‘No!’ For some reason that was the last thing he wanted. ‘I’m fine.’

‘You hear what I’m saying?’ she said fiercely. ‘Home with someone with you-or hospital. Choose.’

‘I…’

‘I don’t have time to waste,’ she said firmly. ‘Think about it while I check the rest. Though, thanks to you, I gather I hardly have a patient to contend with.’ She turned to the ambulance officers.

‘Hold him down, boys, and don’t let him go until he can give me a plan for this evening that doesn’t involve going home by himself, forgetting the antiseptic, having three stiff whiskies and passing out without anyone there to watch.’

She meant it.

Matt knew Emily well enough to accept that she was quite capable of trussing him to a stretcher, and he had enough wit-and he was feeling bad enough-to acknowledge that she was talking sense.

So what were his alternatives?

She’d suggested Charlotte’s, but the idea was distinctly unappealing. Sure, she’d put him up for the night, but she’d fuss.