Free The Italian's New-Year Marriage Wish by Sarah Morgan Page A

conscious?’
    â€˜No.’ Marco was checking the child’s scalp, nose and ears, searching for injury. And then the child gave a little moan and his eyes drifted open. ‘All right. Well, that’s good. He’s drowsy. Obviously knocked out, from the boys’ description.’ His fingers probed gently. ‘He’s got a nasty haematoma on the back of his skull. I can’t be sure that he doesn’t have neck injuries.’
    â€˜Is he going to die?’ Alfie’s voice shook and Marco lifted his head and looked at him.
    â€˜No. He’s not going to die.’ His voice was firm and confident. ‘You did the right thing to send Sam up to the pub. Good boy. Well done.’
    Alfie looked at him, clearly doubtful that he’d done anything worthy of praise, and Amy noticed fresh blood oozing from the cut on his scalp.
    â€˜I’ll ring the coast guard and then look at Alfie.’ Amy started to dig for her phone but Marco shook his head.
    â€˜There’s no signal on this beach. We can’t carry him back up that path without possibly making things worse. Sam.’ Marco’s gaze slid to the other boy who was huddled next to Alfie, a look of terror in his eyes. ‘I want you to go back up to the pub and tell Tony that we need a helicopter. Do you understand me?’
    Sam shot to his feet and nodded, his face white and terrified. ‘Helicopter. I can do that. I can do that, Dr Avanti.’
    â€˜Good boy. Go. And be careful on the rocks. We’ve had enough casualties here for one day.’ Marco turned back to the child. ‘Eddie? Can you hear me? He’s cold, Amy. Wet from the sea and freezing in this weather. If we’re not careful it’s going to be hypothermia that is our biggest problem.’ He cursed softly. ‘I have no equipment. Nothing.’
    Next to them, Alfie started to sob again, the tears mingling with the blood that already stained his cheeks. ‘He’s going to die. I know he’s going to die. He chose me a really great Christmas present. I don’t want him to die. This is all my fault. We’re not supposed to be down on this beach anyway.’
    Concerned about the amount of blood on Alfie’s head, Amy made a soothing noise and examined his scalp. As she balanced on the slippery rocks, searching for the source of the bleeding, she suddenly developed a new admiration for paramedics. Then she saw blood blossom under her fingers and pulled off her gloves and took the scarf from her neck.‘I’m going to press on this for a minute, Alfie, and that should stop the bleeding. They can have a better look at it at the hospital.’
    â€˜I don’t want to go to hospital. I want my mum— Ow! ’ Alfie winced. ‘That really hurts.’
    â€˜You’ve cut yourself,’ Amy murmured. ‘I’m just going to put some pressure on it.’
    â€˜I don’t care about me.’ Alfie’s eyes were fixed on his brother. ‘If we’d stayed in the house it never would have happened. I wish we’d done that. I’m never playing on the beach again. I’m just going to stick to computers.’ He sobbed and sobbed and Amy tightened the scarf and then slid her arms round him, cuddling him against her.
    â€˜It was just an accident, sweet heart,’ she said softly. ‘Accidents happen. Eddie’s going to be all right, I know he is.’
    Having examined Eddie as best he could, Marco removed his coat and pulled his jumper over his head. Then he wrapped the boy in the layers, giving him as much protection from the elements as possible. Then he glanced at Alfie and winked at him. ‘Do you know how many accidents can happen sitting indoors, playing on the computer?’
    Alfie sniffed, still clinging to Amy. ‘Now you’re kidding me.’
    â€˜You can have an accident without ever moving from your chair at home. The ceiling can drop onto your head.