Free Once Upon a Christmas by Sarah Morgan Page B

calculation to Jack.
    ‘Right.’ He gave a nod. ‘So she needs that in twenty-four hours, but we need to give her half in the first eight hours and monitor her urine output. I want her to have a combination of crystalloid and colloid.’
    ‘Catheter is in,’ Nicky said quickly, ‘and I’ve started a chart.’
    ‘Great. Can you test her urine? And, Bryony, we need to take some bloods before she’s transferred. Cross-matching, FBC, COHb, U and Es, glucose and coagulation.’
    Bryony reached for the appropriate bottles. ‘You’re sending her to the burns unit?’
    Jack nodded. ‘The helicopter is waiting to take her assoon as we give the word. I’ve spoken to the consultant, he’s waiting for her.’
    Bryony took the samples and then went to talk to Annie. The little girl was drifting in and out of sleep, hardly aware of what was going on around her.
    ‘I gave her some sedation,’ Jack said softly, covering the last of the burns and then giving Nicky a nod. ‘OK. Let’s go.’
    ‘Are you going with her?’
    He nodded. ‘Take Lizzie home in my car. I’ll see you later.’
    ‘How will you get home?’
    ‘I’ll get the paramedics to drop me at your place, or I’ll grab a taxi.’ He shrugged, totally unconcerned, and she nodded.
    ‘Fine. I’ll see you later. Do you want me to talk to Annie’s parents?’
    ‘I’ll do it,’ Sean said immediately. ‘That way you can get home with your little girl and Jack can get loaded into the helicopter.’
    Bryony was tucking Lizzie into bed when she heard the doorbell. ‘That will be Jack.’
    She dropped a kiss on Lizzie’s forehead and went to answer the door, praying that Annie’s condition hadn’t worsened during the transfer.
    ‘How is she?’
    Jack strolled into her house and gave a shiver, and it was only then that she remembered that he’d used his jacket to put out the flames and that he’d been working only in a jumper. He must be freezing.
    ‘Come and sit by the fire,’ she urged, and he did as she’d suggested, stretching out his hands towards the flames.
    ‘It’s nice and warm in here.’ He looked at her. ‘Is my girl asleep?’
    Bryony shook her head, her expression troubled. ‘No. She’s very upset by it all.’
    ‘Of course she is.’ His jaw tightened. ‘I’ll talk to her.’
    They both walked towards Lizzie’s bedroom and Jack strolled in and settled himself on the edge of the bed.
    ‘Hi, there.’ His voice was soft and Lizzie stared up at him, her eyes huge in her pretty face.
    ‘Hi, Jack.’ Her smile was shaky. ‘Annie is very badly hurt, isn’t she?’
    Jack hesitated. ‘She is pretty badly hurt,’ he agreed, and Bryony mentally thanked him for not lying. She knew that Annie’s condition was serious and if anything happened to the little girl, she didn’t want Lizzie to feel that they’d been dishonest.
    ‘Is she going to die?’ Lizzie’s voice trembled and Jack shook his head.
    ‘No, sweetheart. I’m sure she isn’t going to die. I’ve just taken her to a special hospital where they know all about burns.’
    ‘Can I go and see her there?’
    ‘Sure,’ Jack said immediately. ‘We’ll go together.’
    Tears suddenly welled up in Lizzie’s eyes and Jack immediately leaned forward and lifted the little girl onto his lap.
    ‘Don’t cry, baby,’ he said roughly, stroking her hair with his strong hand and exchanging an agonised look withBryony. ‘You were brilliant. My little star. All those grown-ups were panicking and you were cool as ice cream.’
    Lizzie gave a sniff and pulled away from him, but her little hands still clutched at his jumper. ‘I told the paramedics everything you wanted, just like you said.’
    ‘I know you did.’ Jack smiled down at her, pride in his eyes. ‘You were unbelievable. And I was so proud of you. You really helped save Annie.’
    ‘I helped?’ Lizzie’s face brightened slightly. ‘Really?’
    ‘Really.’ Jack nodded, his handsome face serious. ‘You see, you