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He finally noticed the trembling hands and gentled his voice. “Sar, please?”
She sighed, then slowly got off the bike and stood, looking dazed. He gently guided her to the Jeep. Ella opened the back door, and Sarah climbed in and sat, the vacant expression the same one he’d seen months ago.
He touched her arm and winced. “Sar, you’re icy cold. Here, put my sweater on.”
She didn’t move.
He handed the broken bag of groceries to Ella, then reached past Sarah to grab an old sweatshirt, zipping her into it, flinching each time he felt her cold skin. After placing the bike in the back, he drove back to the house, eyes peeled in case the bear made a sudden reappearance. He’d need to report this encounter to the local authorities. He glanced in the rear vision mirror. Sarah’s expression hadn’t changed. “Hey, Sarah.”
No reaction.
“I swear, she told me her name was Lou,” Ella muttered from the front seat.
He tried again. “Sar.”
Still nothing. He frowned and swung past his driveway to John and Ange’s little cottage. He pulled up. “Here we are, Princess.”
“Princess?”
He ignored Ella, collected the bag, and opened the door. “Come on, let’s get you inside.”
He gently grasped Sarah’s arm and led her round to the back. Two steps up, then onto the back deck. “Got your key?”
She nodded, slowly fished it from her back pocket, and handed it to him. He unlocked the door, slid it open, then led her inside to the lounge. “Sit while I make you a cup of tea.”
Sarah obeyed.
He put the water on to boil and turned as the floor creaked behind him. Ella.
“Dan? Is there anything I can do?”
“Can you find her a blanket? I think she’s in shock.”
A short time later she was back, holding out a plaid woolen throw. “Anything else?”
He shook his head. “If you want to head back, I’ll be there soon. I just want to make sure Sarah is okay.”
She frowned, then nodded and disappeared.
Dan poured in the boiling water, steeping the tea bag until it was the muddy brown color Sarah always insisted on. He took it in to the lounge, where Sarah sat huddled under the throw. “Here you go, caffeinated just the way you like it.”
Her eyes briefly met his as she accepted the steaming cup. “Thanks.”
“You’re welcome.” He squatted before her and tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear.
She flinched and pulled back. “Please don’t.”
“Sar, what’s wrong?”
“Don’t touch me, Dan.”
Huh? He leaned back on his heels. “Okay, well, I’ll be back later.”
“No, don’t.” She shook her head. “I can’t…I don’t want to see you anymore.”
What? Dan slowly stood. She wasn’t thinking straight. “I just need to check on Ella, but I’ll be back soon. Sit tight, okay?”
She didn’t answer. He cast her a final glance, then carefully closed the door and headed back to his house.
