Page 10 of Natalie's Nighthawk

He peered over the edge and spotted the little girl standing near her brother. She looked none the worse for wear, tired and dirty, but alive and well. “We’re here, kids. We’re gonna get you out.”

“Miss Ghannon?” Lucy asked, her voice small and shaky.

“Yes, Lucy, it’s me. I’m here with my friend Graham. He’s gonna help me get you both out of there and home to your parents. Are you okay? Are either one of you hurt?”

Colin, who sat propped against the side of the hole, answered, “A few scrapes and bruises, but we’re okay. Just cold and hungry.”

“I bet,” Natalie called back.

“Tell her about your ankle,” she heard Lucy hiss to Colin.

“Shhh. It’s okay, Lucy. I’m okay,” Colin reassured his baby sister.

While Natalie comforted the kids, Graham studied the ground. If there was a mine shaft running under them, they could be susceptible to another cave-in at any moment. Placing a quick call to his team to give them his coordinates, he reached into his bag for his coil of climbing rope and harness. Donning his harness, he anchored the rope to the nearest sturdy tree. Then, grabbing his pack, he clipped into the rope and sent the loose end into the hole, his mind filled with calculations and safety procedures.

“Wait here for my team,” he said to Natalie. She was staring at him, worry etched on her expressive features. “Don’t worry,” he stroked her cheek softly, wishing he didn’t have his climbing gloves on so that he could feel the smoothness of her skin. “I’ll get them out.”

She nodded, and he slowly lowered himself down to the kids. It took seconds for him to reach them, and Lucy flung herself into his arms before he could detach from the rope. “You must be Lucy. I’m Graham.” He chuckled as her little arms squeezed him tightly. “I’ve heard a lot about you.”

“You have?”

“Yup.” He tweaked her nose before setting her on her feet. Colin, he noticed, hadn’t moved from his spot sitting against the side of the shaft. “Miss Ghannon has told me quite a few stories about her two best students.” He knelt down near Colin, his pack between his knees. Reaching in, he pulled out two water bottles handing them to the kids. Colin opened his and handed it to his sister, taking hers for himself. Ever the big brother, Graham noted. He knew that feeling well. He’d always done the same when it came to David.

After they drank their fill, Graham handed each of them a granola bar which they devoured quickly. “What are those?” Lucy asked him when he pulled out the silver emergency blankets.

“These are special blankets to keep you warm.” He shook one out of its packaging. “They are called space blankets. The astronauts use these in outer space.”

“Cool,” she chirped. He handed her a blanket, asking her to cover her brother with it, and wrapped her in the other. Then he studied the area the kids had stumbled into. The sun was going to set shortly, so he took out the small but powerful lantern he carried.

As far as mine shafts went, this one was not very impressive. Dug by hand a hundred or so years ago, the area they were currently in was just large enough to stand in, mostly due to the cave-in. The side that wasn’t covered in debris had a tunnel that looked just big enough for a man to crawl through. Not his idea of a good time.

“Okay,” he started as the kids ate a few more granola bars. “We’re going to wait here a few more minutes till the rest of my team catches up to us. Then we’re going to figure out a way to get you both safely out of here.”

“You’re not going to leave us, are you?” Colin tried to mask the note of panic in his voice. Obviously, the kid had been scared but had bravely kept it together for his sister. Graham noticed the open lunch boxes beside Colin that still had some food inside, little half-eaten bites. Looks like the boy had been smart enough to ration their food. Graham was impressed. And he bet Lucy got the majority of the food.

“Nope,” he answered Colin. “I’m staying right here with you two. We’re in this together now.”

“Oh. Okay. Good,” Colin sighed, relieved not to have to be the brave one alone anymore. Graham looked the kid over, his blonde hair mussed and full of dirt, and dark circles under his eyes. A sure sign he probably had been too busy protecting Lucy to sleep much. But underneath, deep lines of pain were etched into his young face. He recalled Lucy muttering something about his ankle. The blanket didn’t quite reach his feet, and Graham visually assessed the ankle in question. Definitely swollen. Possibly broken.

Tapping into his paramedic training, Graham reached into his pack for his first aid supplies. “Okay, Lucy,” he said to the little blonde girl. “Let’s get those cuts cleaned up.”

“Are you a doctor?” she asked.

“No. A Paramedic,” he answered as he cleaned the deepest cuts on her hands and arms.

“My daddy’s a fireman. He sometimes has to doctor people too.” Graham nodded to let the girl know he was listening as she prattled on about her father. After placing a bandage on a particularly nasty cut on the little girl’s cheek, he turned to Colin.

“You’re next.”

“I’m fine,” Colin balked, not wanting to look weak in front of his sister.

“Sorry. Nonnegotiable,” he replied. “Hey, Lucy. Why don’t you see if Miss Ghannon is still up there? Ask her if my team has arrived yet.”

“Kay.” She bounded over to a spot closer to the big hole to yell up to Natalie.

The look of relief on Colin’s face spoke volumes. “Let’s take a look at that ankle,” Graham said softly. As gently as he could, Graham tended the ankle. Unable to tell at this point if it was broken, he wrapped an ace bandage around it, shoe, and all.

Since Lucy was still distracted chatting with Natalie, Graham moved on to the boy’s hands. The fingers were scraped, bloody and raw. He had noted earlier that Colin kept his fists clenched while Lucy was around. The more he saw, the more his admiration for the brave boy grew.

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