‘She’s awake, thank God!’ That was Jack’s voice, unusually strained. ‘OK, let’s get her off this mountain.’
‘We’re not moving her until I’ve checked her thoroughly.’
This time Ally’s eyes flew open and clashed with Sean’s.
‘Tell me your name.’ His voice was like a pistol crack and she blinked slowly.
‘Minnie Mouse.’ Her poor attempt at a joke fell on stony ground and he muttered under his breath.
‘Ally, don’t do this to me!’
Her smiled faltered as she saw the anguish in his dark eyes. He seemed to be hanging onto control by a thread.
‘Sean, I’m OK. Really.’ She saw the stubborn look on his face and sighed. ‘OK, my name’s Ally McGuire, I’m twenty-eight, I have a little girl called Charlie and—’
He frowned as he checked her pupillary reaction. ‘And what?’
She swallowed. ‘And I’m pregnant. Oh, Sean, what if I lose the baby?’
His jaw tensed. ‘You won’t lose it.’
‘What’s she worried about?’ Jack came closer and frowned at them.
Sean opened his mouth but Ally shook her head. ‘No! Nothing, Jack. How’s Geoff?’
‘Fine, thanks to you.’ Jack waited for Sean to finish examining her and then secured her to the stretcher. ‘Broken ankle and severe depression, but both those should heal with time. Lucy’s with him. Do you want to supervise what they do with him, Sean?’
‘No.’ Sean shook his head, his eyes on Ally. ‘I’m staying here.’
‘But I’ll…’ Jack glanced at the lines of tension on his face and nodded slowly. ‘On second thoughts, don’t worry about it. I’ll sort Geoff out. No problem.’
Ally watched Sean as he gave instructions to the rest of the mountain rescue team, tears suddenly clogging in her throat. She loved him so much. He was so strong and dependable and yet such a large part of him was locked away. And she didn’t have the key.
‘Are you in pain?’ In seconds Sean was crouched down beside her, his eyes searching hers.
‘No.’ She closed her eyes but tears carried on seeping out from under her lashes. ‘No, I’m fine.’
‘Ally, for God’s sake, talk to me!’ Sean cupped her face with his hands and forced her to look at him. ‘Why are you crying? Are you hurt?’
Yes. But not from her fall. She stared up at him. ‘I’m sorry.’
‘Sorry?’ He frowned. ‘Sorry for what?’
‘For getting pregnant. I wasn’t trying to trap you.’
His jaw clenched and he brushed away her tears with his thumb, a strange look in his eyes. ‘Don’t think about that now. We’ll talk later.’
She had to let him know that it wasn’t his responsibility. ‘I don’t want to marry you, Sean. You can relax.’
He didn’t look relaxed. Far from it. In fact, if anything he seemed tenser than ever, his gaze a mixture of anger and frustration as he scowled at Jack. ‘Are we ready? We need to get her down.’
Nobody spoke much as they made their way down the mountain. They were all too busy concentrating on the path in the darkness and foul weather, and all the way Ally was conscious of Sean right next to her. And he stayed right next to her until she was wheeled into a cubicle in the A and E department.
The consultant, Malcolm Roberts, strode in, and Sean gave him a brief nod, reporting Ally’s condition succinctly and watching like a hawk while she was examined.
The consultant questioned her carefully and frowned at the cut on her head. ‘I’ll get someone to stitch that for you.’
Sean tensed. ‘I’ll do it.’
The consultant took one look at Sean’s face and nodded. ‘Fine. I’ll get a nurse to help you.’
‘I want to take her home tonight.’
Malcolm glanced up from the notes he was writing. ‘Will someone be with her?’
Sean was looking at Ally, his expression unreadable. ‘I’ll be with her.’
‘In that case, I don’t see why not.’ The consultant carried on writing and then slipped the pen back into his breast pocket. ‘You know what to look for. Any worries, just bring her back.’
‘One other thing.’ Sean cleared his throat, his eyes still on Ally. ‘She’s pregnant. She’s had no lower abdominal pain but I’d like her scanned.’
Malcolm paused and then nodded. ‘No problem. I’ll ring the labour ward and arrange it for you.’
* * *
Ally lay still during the scan, not daring to look at Sean. She’d expected him to make his excuses when it had come to the undeniable evidence of their child, but he’d stayed firmly by her side while she’d been wheeled into a side ward on her own, and was standing out of her line of vision. Was he watching?