Snowbound with Dr Delectable. Susan Carlisle
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at this,” Baylie said from where she stood just off to his left.
He couldn’t help but be pleased with her praise. It was something he’d never expected to receive, and it gave him a lighthearted feeling, as if he’d accomplished something outstanding.
“We could use you every weekend.” For once she didn’t have that I-have-to-get-along-with-you-because-I-need-you look. She seemed truly impressed.
“Thanks. Are you checking up on me again?” He turned back to his group. “Okay, Jimmy, your turn,” Kyle said to the last boy in his group as he started off.
“Just a little. So don’t get a big head. It’s part of my job,” Baylie replied, before she skied over toward another group of pupils with their teacher.
That figured. She gave him a compliment then cut the legs out from under it. He’d sent the last skier in his group downhill and was preparing to follow when a child of about eight came flying by from out of nowhere, barely missing him. The boy’s arms windmilled as he screamed, “Help!”
Without thought, Kyle pushed off, going after the boy. As the child grew closer to the advanced slope, Kyle leaned forward, moving faster. His adrenaline was already pumping when he saw the boy wobble one way then the other. If Kyle didn’t catch him soon, the boy could be seriously hurt. Kyle pushed hard, picking up even more speed. As he closed in on the child, Kyle stuck his arm out and wrapped it around the boy’s waist, jerking him to his chest. Cutting hard into the snow, Kyle slowed just before the slope turned steep. He took a deep breath of relief. He’d plucked the boy up just in time.
“Hey, buddy, you all right?” Kyle asked the boy suspended under his arm. The child’s skis waved back and forth, hitting Kyle’s shin. “Hang on a sec and I’ll put you down.” Kyle moved toward the side of the slope so that they’d be out of the way of the other skiers. He’d let the boy down but was still holding his arm to steady him when Baylie approached.
“You guys okay?” Her voice sounded calm but her eyes said something different.
She’d been as afraid as he that the boy was going to be hurt. Kyle looked at the child and gave him a reassuring smile then looked back at Baylie. “Yeah, I think we’re fine.” Kyle kicked off his skis and kneeled down to eye level with the child. “So how’re you doing?”
The boy’s eyes were wide and his face lacked color. He nodded he was okay.
“Good. Why don’t we go get on the lift and see if we can come down the slope a little slower the next time?”
“I don’t—” the boy started in a fearful voice.
“Hey,” he said to the boy. “Why don’t we ask Baylie…” he pointed toward her “…to watch us and see how we do?”
Kyle wasn’t sure that the boy was going to answer but he finally said, “Okay.”
“I don’t think—” Baylie started.
Kyle looked over the boy’s head to meet her gaze and shook his head.
For once Baylie accepted without argument. He took the boy’s hand and towed him to a spot where it was flat enough that he could stand without being afraid he would slide down the slope. Baylie followed.
“Will you stay with…?” Kyle looked at the boy. “What’s your name?”
“Levi.”
Kyle turned back to Baylie. “With Levi while I get my skis?”
“Sure.” She put a hand on the boy’s shoulder as if she was afraid he might get away.
Kyle walked back to his skis. His knee would be screaming in pain by morning. He retrieved his skis and climbed back to Baylie and Levi. Laying his equipment on the snow, he slipped his feet back into the bindings. “I’m ready. How about you?” he asked the boy in an encouraging tone.
Levi regarded at him for a moment before saying with little eagerness, “Yes.”
“Good, let’s go impress the girls.” He winked at Baylie. Her eyes went wide for a second before one corner of her mouth lifted slightly.
For once she looked less than in control. Good.
Kyle took Levi’s hand and they headed toward the lift. At the top of the slope the boy balked. His small hand squeezed Kyle’s through both their gloves.
He looked down at the child. “You can do this, Levi. I’m going to be with you all the way. I won’t let you get hurt. Trust me?”
Kyle barely made out Levi’s nod.
“Okay, here we go.” Slowly Kyle led him down the beginner slope, making a crisscrossing pattern in the wide-open area. Baylie had moved away from the steeper slope. As they passed, she cheered and whistled. She skied down to meet them when they stopped and give Levi a high five. A huge grin spread across the boy’s face.
“Can I go again?” He looked up at Kyle.
“Sure. Let’s wait here until your instructor comes by and you can join your friends. You remember how to slow down and stop?”
Levi nodded.
“Good. No more flying down the slope. You have to ski in control. You can save all the zooming for when you make the ski team.”
The boy beamed.
Minutes later Levi rejoined his group.
Baylie’s look met Kyle’s. “There’s more to you than meets the eye, Dr. Campbell. You were great with Levi. And your skiing ability is far better than you let on. Few people could have caught him like you did. You prevented what could have been a disastrous accident. I’m surprised that with your talent you’re satisfied working the beginner slope.”
“You made that call.” He’d never let on how happy her assumption had made him. “If the boy hadn’t tried to go down the hill again right away he might never have tried to ski again.” In a number of ways, the same thing had happened to him.
“I appreciate what you just did. And I appreciate your volunteering this weekend.”
“You’re welcome. Now I’ll get back to my job. It’s a pleasure to know you.” To his surprise, it was. Baylie caused his hackles to stand at attention, but something about that was invigorating. She was someone he wouldn’t soon forget.
Baylie had just been dismissed. She didn’t particularly like the feeling. She watched the irritating, self-important man ski off as if he owned the mountain instead of just being here for an overnight stay. She couldn’t remember spending so much time calling one person so many negative names and still managing to be impressed by them.
Just what was under That thick skin of his? Something about him fascinated her, and that wasn’t a good thing. Anyway, he was leaving today. That would be the end of him. Even if she had been looking for somebody in her life—which she definitely wasn’t—the cocky doctor would be her last choice.
The afternoon went by with a few banged knees and scrapes to attend to in the clinic. Minutes after her final sweep of the slopes she noticed Kyle storing his equipment into a late-model SUV in the parking lot next to the patrol building. He seemed eager to leave. That would be the last she’d see of him.
Why did that thought bring a touch of sadness?
“Hey, Baylie, do you know someone named Campbell? There’s a call for him. The guy said he really needed to talk to him,” one of the longtime volunteers asked over the radio.
“Yeah, he’s right out here in The parking a lot. I’ll get him.”
Taking a deep breath, she whistled. The shrill sound echoed in the clear air. Kyle looked toward her. She waved an arm, indicating he should come to her, then put her thumb and pinkie finger out to form an imitation phone. He nodded and closed the hatch on the vehicle before walking toward her.
When he got