Page 11 of Winter Princess

I wish I had my phone with me to call the guys. Where are my Guardians when I need them?

In the distance, I can see a car approach. They'll surely stop and call the police when they see the accident. I decide to disappear; they might ask questions that I don't have an answer to. On my left, bushes cover a low ditch. Perfect. I crouch behind the undergrowth, watching as the car comes to a stop in front of me. An older man gets out, looks around, then takes out his phone. I assume he's dialling 999. While he listens to the operator's instructions and checks on the two men, I'm crawling along the ditch, further away from the scene of the accident.

How am I going to get away from here? We're in the middle of nowhere; all that surrounds us are green pastures with woolly white sheep. They're cute, but not much help in this situation. What I need is a phone. But then, I don't even have the guys' numbers.

When I'm a few hundred yards away from the crash, I stop, giving my aching body a chance to rest. I curse the flat landscape, making it impossible for me to get up and walk. The good samaritan would likely see me, and so would any police cars or ambulances coming this way. My only option is to wait until they've come, dealt with the accident and left. I try to find the least muddy bit of earth around me, and make myself comfortable. This is going to be a long wait, and I'm still in my pyjamas and slippers. I make a mental wish list: a jacket, warm shoes and a book. Oh, and a large thermos flask of tea, please. A portable heater wouldn't be bad, either.

I grin at my own joke. Yes, I've come far enough to laugh at my own pitiable humour. Oh well.

Fifteen minutes later, the ambulance arrives. A few minutes later, two police cars join it.

I stay in my ditch, shivering and miserable. I look down the road and see another car approach. I'm just about to duck so I stay hidden, but then I notice the four passengers crammed into the small car. Four big, beautiful, male passengers. I jump up and wave at them like a madwoman.

My guys have arrived.

To be continued…