She ran towards him in a combination of relief and urgency. He had a hand on the knob of the front door but paused upon seeing her.
“What’s the matter?” he asked, inspecting her face. “Are you feeling unwell?” Instant concern tightened his voice.
“Not me…not me…” She took his hand and tugged at it. “You must come.”
“Who’s injured?” He shed his mackintosh coat, tossing it on the floor.
She inhaled deeply, running back towards Keith. “It’s my fault. I took your sledge?—”
“My sledge?”
“I went to Windy Ridge to try it.”
“Violante.” He stopped and searched her face with his clinical look.
She held up a hand. “I’m fine, but a boy named Keith is injured. He’s here.”
“How did he get injured?”
“Can we discuss the details later? He needs your help. I think he’s dying.” Her voice cracked.
They ran towards the rear entrance. Keith staggered to his feet and shuffled back closer to the door with wary steps, surely ready to bolt away if her papa raised his voice.
“Keith,” she said. “No need to worry.”
He reminded her of those wild animals she met in the forest and who didn’t trust her.
“Sir.” His dark eyes widened either with fear or pain. Or both.
“Please, Papa, help him,” she said.
Her father’s physician attitude snapped into place. She could tell by the way he straightened and his gaze focused on Keith. “Keith, I’m Mr. Sharpe. May I examine you?”
Keith gave a brusque nod, keeping his gaze on the floor.
Papa took Keith’s face gently and stared into his eyes. “You feel dizzy.”
“I do,” Keith whispered.
“Can you walk?”
Keith shook his head. A faint blush crept over his cheeks.
“I’ll carry you to my examination room.”
“That’s not necessary, sir,” Keith said so low she barely heard it.
“I must insist. I don’t want you to faint in the hallway. You might hit your head hard.” He pointed a finger at her. “We’ll talk later, young lady.”
“I know.” She gave Keith an encouraging nod he didn’t return.
With a swift move, her papa gathered Keith in his arms, seemingly without effort. Keith shot her a final glare from above her father’s shoulder.
Yet, she could bet he would thank her later.
