Lone Pine Bride (The Brides of Lone Pine #1)(10)

“We heard something faintly,” Hannah said. “But she’s not saying anything now. Can she hear alright?”

“She is a bit deaf.”

Rex turned away. “I could send someone else, ma’am, and you could go to the church house. God must have been looking after them because it’s still intact.”

“I’m alright,” she replied, lifting the spade and pushing it under some rubble. “But thank you.”

“I’ll see you both just now. It’s a shame this happened just at this time.”

Rex walked away and Seth started to dig next to Hannah though it was more lifting bricks than actual digging. They worked silently for a while and Seth could see down the road the other ladies getting out of the Reverend’s wagon and walking towards a couple of houses further down the village. They all held spades and were obviously going to help in the rescue operation.

Probably encouraged by Hannah helping out but he was sure Rachel would do something like that. She had probably suggested it because she was the bravest lady he knew and the most resilient. He looked briefly at Hannah and she was smiling.

“What’s so funny?” he asked.

“You. Now they’re all going to help with the digging do you think I’m more respectable?”

“I never for one minute....” He paused. “Thought you weren’t respectable,” he finished a bit lamely.

“I wonder what poor soul will get you,” she said. She smiled again as he looked at her sharply. “That was a joke. What is the lady like?”

“I haven’t seen her yet but she’s all a lady should be. We’re both really in love with each other.”

“That’s nice. What is my Seth like?”

What indeed, and how can I describe him without letting him down? Do you mind men with very little hair? Will it bother you that he is probably shorter than you are? Do looks worry you? I’m sure they must because you are so beautiful yourself which is something you must realise.

“He’s a very nice man,” he said.

“Is he tall? Is he short? Does he have a nice personality?”

“He....”

Seth was spared having to answer as Hannah lay her head on the ground to listen carefully. She looked up at him, her face a bit grubby, which did nothing at all to detract from her beauty.

“I can hear a sound,” she said. “Put your head down here and listen.”

He turned his face sideways and was within inches of hers. Her eyes were a nice colour, he thought irrelevantly, and below he heard a faint cry.

He shouted down. “Mrs. Long, we’re nearly with you. Just lie quiet and we’ll have you out in no time.”

There was no reply and they had to speed up, he felt. He leaned down, put his hands round a large piece of adobe and heaved at it. It moved but not enough. Hannah leaned down next to him.

“Let’s do it together,” she said and they pulled with all their might. The adobe moved, they rolled it away and there was movement of the earth.

An aftershock, Seth thought, and he had heard of those. Would it cause anymore damage? Hannah flew to the side as the earth humped and he grabbed her.

He held her tightly round her waist to steady her and felt a bit embarrassed as she looked at him. Letting her go he started to spade out bits of brick which had loosened. A hole appeared below them and they gently pushed debris aside.

“I think I’ve broken my leg.” A voice spoke below them. “Can you pull me out, Seth?”

“Yes, ma’am. Of course I can.” He leant down, pulled her gently and stood with her in his arms. A broken leg and what a relief that she had no other obvious injuries. But she was old and she needed attention so he mustn’t delay.

“I’ll take her to the Reverend’s wagon,” he said to Hannah. “I’ll be back in a minute.”

“I’ll move to the next house,” Hannah replied, lifting the two spades and walking towards it.

Seth strode down the road towards the wagon, his eyes on the houses which he passed. Not houses anymore because there was hardly one left standing. He looked to the side where a couple of ladies he did not know were digging. The brides to be and was one of them Rachel?

Maybe he could ask on his return to Hannah but maybe he wouldn’t. Meeting in these circumstances was not very romantic and, anyway, there wasn’t time.

But Esmé, when he went to put her in the wagon, clutched onto him and didn’t want to let him go. A family climbed in and Esmé’s arms round Seth’s neck was like a vice.

“Go with her,” Hannah called after him.

Which he had to do, he found. He sat in the wagon with Esmé on his lap and the wagon pulled away. He looked briefly at the carriage he had hired which was lying on its side. He would have to get some kind of work to pay for its repair but what in view of the earthquake? If this area was affected so badly other areas would be too and nobody worth their salt would charge to rebuild.

He all but ran up the drive of the Reverend’s house when they reached it and Linda Barnsley opened the door.

“I’ve broken my leg,” Esmé said. “This brave young man and his lady rescued me.”

“There have been quite a few injuries,” Linda replied. “Dr. Cranford is here so you’re in good hands. Thank you, Seth.”