Page 58 of Is Anyone Listening?
As he finished speaking, sirens wailed. "You called 911?"
"Actually, I didn't. I should have." He shook his head. "When I saw your car, I just scrambled down the hill to make sure whoever was inside was all right. Someone else must have called it in."
I lifted my head as the lights from the approaching fire engine lit up the area, and I heard another voice yelling my name from the top of the road.
"Tyler," I muttered. He must have heard the crash, then came to find me. He'd probably called 911, too.
A moment later, two firefighters rappelled down the hillside, secured by ropes, their headlamps cutting through the darkness. Only then did I realize just how steep the slope was, how treacherous the loose rocks were, how easily Finn could have fallen trying to reach me.
He'd risked his life to save mine. How could I have thought he'd tried to kill me?
Finn helped me to my feet, keeping one arm around me so I wouldn't fall, which was a good thing, because my legs were shaky, threatening to give out. And I leaned into him more than I wanted to admit.
The firefighters reached us, immediately assessing my condition with practiced efficiency.
"Ma'am, are you injured? Can you tell me where it hurts?"
"I'm okay," I managed. "Just shaken up."
"We're going to get you up to the road," one of them said, already securing a harness around me. "Nice and slow."
The climb back up was painstaking as the firefighters guided me and Finn up over the loose rocks. When we reached the top, the paramedics immediately took me to the back of the ambulance to check me for injuries.
Tyler was right behind them, his gaze scanning my face. "Are you all right, Cassidy?"
"I think so," I said, although I was becoming aware of sharp, painful stinging sensations on my face and hands. I looked down to see some bloody scratches on my left hand, which must have come from the broken window.
"When I heard you scream…" He shook his head, his jaw tight. "I jumped into the car, but I didn't know what I was going to find when I got here. You were very lucky."
"I know. Finn wasn't too far behind me, I guess." My gaze moved beyond Tyler to Finn. He was talking to Sheriff Holloway, who had apparently just arrived.
"These cuts aren't deep," the paramedic said, drawing my attention back to her. "I've cleaned them, but you might want to go to the hospital and get checked out."
"I'm fine. I don't need to go to the hospital."
"Your call," she said.
As I stood up and surveyed the scene, I was reminded of just how lucky I was to be standing here on the side of the road, just a short distance from the end of my life.
"Are you really okay?" Tyler asked, his sharp gaze demanding the truth.
"I think so. Thank you for coming, for calling 911."
"It wouldn't have mattered if Finn hadn't gotten here first and pulled you from the car. I would have been too late."
"I know." As my gaze moved to Finn, I saw him turn, and then he and Sheriff Holloway made their way to me.
Sheriff Holloway gave me a nod, his expression serious. "It's Cassidy Bennett, right?"
"Yes."
"Can you tell me what happened?"
"Someone ran me off the road."
"Did you see who was driving?"
"I was blinded by the lights. I couldn't tell you what kind of car it was or who was behind the wheel."
