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“Stay there,” he ordered. “I’ll get him.”
Her head whipped around when he spoke, but he didn’t have time to wait for her assent as the log broke free, picking up speed as it headed towards the creek. The child looked up at him, his eyes wide with terror.
“Just hold on a little longer.”
The boy nodded frantically, but his grip on the log was weakening. Temel dropped down from the carriage roof and raced back to the edge of the creek. Grasping an overhead branch, he lowered himself into the fast-moving water. Althoughthe water only reached his neck, the force of the current threatened to drag him from his feet and he fought to maintain his position, concentrating on the approaching log.
As it rushed towards him, he stretched out his arm, reaching for the boy. The boy let go of the log with one hand, his eyes locked on Temel’s face as he desperately tried to grab Temel’s outstretched arm. The current swirled the log around and the child’s other hand slid off the bark. His scream was echoed by a cry from the female.
“No!”
Temel let go of the branch and threw himself towards the boy. He managed to wrap a hand around the boy’s arm and heaved him towards the bank. The child let out a desperate gasp as he swung in the air and then scrambled wildly for purchase. One of his flailing feet managed to find the edge of the bank and he steadied himself.
As soon as he was sure the boy was secure, Temel pulled himself out of the water, then grabbed the child’s shirt and pulled him away from the bank and into his arms.
The boy gave a muffled cry, then threw his arms around Temel’s neck and buried his head against his shoulder, his whole body shaking.
“It’s all right, little one. You’re safe now.”
“Oh, God, thank you. Is he all right?” the female called, and he looked up to meet her relieved gaze.
She was a beautiful female, he noted automatically, even in her present soaked condition, her face pale and her eyes huge and scared. She took a half-step towards him, then grabbed hold ofthe boulder with both hands as the force of the water threatened to knock her off her feet.
“Stay there,” he ordered. “I will come for you.”
She bit her lip, a plump pink lip, but nodded as he gently pulled the boy’s arms away from his neck.
“What’s your name, little one?”
“T… T… Tommy.”
“You’ve been very brave, Tommy. Can you be brave just a little bit longer while I go and get the rest of your family?”
The boy’s face was so pale that his skin looked transparent, but he nodded.
“G… get Mama and Dora.”
“I will. You just wait here. And don’t move,” he added with a stern look, although he thought the boy was too frightened to stir.
“Yes, sir.”
“Good boy.”
The praise brought a hint of a smile to the pale face, and Temel nodded approvingly before wading back into the water. The water swirled around his thighs, still powerful even though he was out of the direct current. If the female had let go of the rock, she could easily have been swept away. Shuddering at the possibility, he worked his way to her side and she looked up at him with a frantic expression.
“Is Tommy all right?”
“He’s fine.”
Her relief was so visible it was almost painful.
“Oh, thank God. When I saw the log tip, I thought…” She shook her head, the brown strands of her hair straggling damply around her face. “Thank you for rescuing him.”
He automatically gave her a quick once-over to reassure himself that she was unharmed. Her wet clothes clung to a lush, curvy body and he couldn’t help noticing the stiff peaks of her nipples straining against the wet cloth.
“If I help you, can you walk to dry land?” he asked, ignoring the strange flare of heat in his body as she gazed up at him.
“I don’t know,” she admitted. “My leg feels a little funny.”
