Free Remote Rescue by George Ivanoff Page A

…’ he said, momentarily lost for words. ‘I … I like you too. Both of you.’
    â€˜Time to go,’ said a voice from behind them.
    The two sisters turned and followed the pilot to the little twin engine Cessna.
    â€˜Cool!’ said Em when she saw the plane.

    When Aunt Marg showed up with Sam and Em at the hospital, hugs and tears were exchanged. They were still in the midstof hugging when the surgeon came out to see them.
    Dad was going to be okay. The fasciotomy was a success. He wasn’t completely out of the woods yet – his bones would need time to heal, and there would be a follow-up operation – but his leg was saved.
    Even more hugs and tears were exchanged.

    Dad’s leg was wrapped in bandages and enclosed in a metal cage. And it was raised up with wires, kind of like a puppet.
    Dad looked tired. But he smiled from the hospital bed when they all came in.
    â€˜My heroes,’ he said, grinning at Dawson, Sam and Em. ‘Thanks.’
    Em hugged his arm.
    â€˜Glad you’re okay,’ said Sam, her eyes glistening. ‘Real glad.’
    Dawson stood awkwardly to the side, not saying anything as everyone fussed over Dad. Now that the worst had passed, he couldn’t overcome the feeling of how close disaster had been.
    â€˜So, what’s happened to the car?’ asked Dad.
    â€˜That old guy drove it to Leigh Creek,’ said Mum.
    â€˜Burt,’ said Sam. ‘His name’s Burt. And he’s not that old.’ She fumbled around in her pocket and pulled out the note Gwen had given her. ‘Gwen said you should let them know how Dad is.’
    â€˜The tyre exploded,’ announced Em.
    â€˜What?’ Dad’s eyes widened.
    â€˜It didn’t explode ,’ said Sam. ‘It was just a flat. Burt changed it. And got us to the airport.’
    â€˜The keys are with the manager of the Leigh Creek Aerodrome,’ said Mum. ‘I’ll arrange for someone to collect it and drive it back home.’
    Suddenly Aunt Marg bustled in with a huge bunch of flowers in one hand and a vase in the other. ‘Glad you’re okay, brother dear,’ she said, glancing at Dad. ‘Now, can I get some help with this?’
    Sam and Em assisted Aunt Marg as she arranged the flowers on the table in the corner of the room.
    Dad looked at Dawson, who still stoodoff to the side. ‘I’m okay, son,’ he said. ‘You did well, Dawson. Real well.’
    â€˜I’m sorry, Dad,’ said Dawson, trying hard to hold back the tears. ‘We should have listened to you. We shouldn’t have been running around in the building. If we had –’
    â€˜Stop it!’ Dad cut him off. ‘It was no one’s fault. Accidents happen, you know.’
    â€˜But if we hadn’t been –’
    â€˜And if I hadn’t gone into the building,’ interrupted Dad, ‘and if Mum had come along, and if I hadn’t taken us to Farina. And if … and if …’ He patted the bed and Dawson sat down on the edge of it.
    â€˜If, if, if,’ continued Dad. ‘You can’t dwell on the ifs. What matters is that I’m okay – that we’re all okay. What matters is that youand Sam and Emmie handled yourselves extraordinarily well. And if you really do want some ifs to think about – If you hadn’t thought and acted quickly and responsibly, things may have been very different; If the RFDS wasn’t there to help, I may not have made it. Those are the ifs that matter.’
    Dawson hugged Dad.
    When he finally let go, Sam rushed forward, tears in her eyes, and joined in.
    â€˜Thanks,’ she said in a hoarse whisper.
    â€˜Thanks,’ said Dawson, nodding. ‘We should thank them, the flying doctors.’
    â€˜And nurses,’ Em piped up.
    â€˜And nurses,’ agreed Dawson.
    â€˜Yeah,’ said Dad. ‘I think we should.’
    Mum walked around to the other side of