‘Climbing. Ben and I are going together. Ellie has given him time off for good behaviour.’
Oliver grinned. ‘Don’t fall. I don’t want to have to come out and rescue you.’
‘Don’t push your luck, bro.’ Tom nodded to Helen in a friendly way and walked towards the door. ‘By the way…’ He turned back to Oliver, his eyes gleaming slightly. ‘Isn’t that roof of yours finished by now?’
Oliver smiled. ‘It’s coming along well,’ he said softly. ‘Very well indeed.’
‘Glad to hear it because I’m sure I don’t need to remind you that Bryony and Jack are back next Saturday.’ His eyes flicked to Helen and she smiled.
‘I know. It’s decision-making time. Find somewhere to live or go back to London.’
Tom looked at her for a long moment. ‘I’m sure you wouldn’t have any trouble finding somewhere to live if you decide to stay.’ He transferred his gaze to his brother. ‘I’ll see you tonight.’
He walked out and Oliver looked at Helen. ‘The sun is shining, the sky is blue and there’s snow on the ground. Fancy a walk?’
She nodded. ‘It’s been a busy week. I was hoping you’d suggest it.’
‘Let’s get going, then.’
They walked in companionable silence, their footsteps muffled by the snow, the air still and calm.
When they finally stopped for a rest, their breath clouded the freezing air.
Oliver stared up at the sky with a frown. ‘The weather is closing in. We should probably turn back soon.’ He pulled a flask out of the rucksack and poured them both a drink. He handed a cup to Helen and then muttered under his breath as his mobile phone went off. ‘Here…’ He handed her his mug, too. ‘Hold this for a sec, will you, please?’
While he answered the phone, Helen glanced up at the sky, too. When they’d started out they’d been able to see the tops of all the peaks. Now they were shrouded in mist.
Suddenly she gave a little shiver, relieved that she was with Oliver. It was frightening how quickly the weather could change in the mountains.
Oliver was talking on the phone, screwing up his face slightly as he tried to decipher the crackle. ‘You’re not very clear.’ He listened again and then nodded. ‘That’s better. OK, where is he?’ There was another silence and then Oliver turned and glanced up the path. ‘We’re about half an hour from there.’
Helen felt herself tense. It was obviously a call from the mountain rescue centre. Was someone in trouble?
Oliver was still listening. ‘We can be there faster than that. OK, send them, and I’ll give you a call when we find him.’
He snapped the phone shut and retrieved his drink from Helen’s fingers. Then he poured it carefully back into the flask, untouched.
‘We might be needing this,’ he muttered. ‘A guy used his mobile phone to call the team. He was slurring his words and not making much sense. He wasn’t that coherent and he couldn’t be precise about his position, but Angie, who runs the bed and breakfast at the bottom of the valley, says he was seen heading up here first thing this morning. Apparently he’s been staying with her for a few days on his own. He’s in his fifties and overweight.’
‘I hope he hasn’t had a heart attack up here. He won’t stand a chance, surely?’ Helen quickly handed him her drink as well. ‘I gather you want to try and find him yourself?’
Oliver let out a long breath
. ‘Well, they’re sending the team out of course, but we’re already halfway up his last known route so it seems sensible that we’re the advance party. Do you mind? If he is where they think he should be then we can get to him quickly. In this weather time can make the difference between life and death. And I wouldn’t do it if I thought there was any risk to you.’
He stroked a hand gently over her cheek and Helen felt her heart turn over.
She couldn’t remember anyone ever making her feel so cared for.
She smiled. ‘Of course we must go.’ Even as she said the words, nerves fluttered in her stomach. She just hoped she didn’t let him down.
She watched as he repacked his rucksack and lifted it onto his broad shoulders, trying not to think about the fact that the weather was closing in and fingers of cold were reaching inside her weatherproof jacket.
‘That’s my girl.’ Oliver grinned and his eyes were warm with approval. ‘Time to prove yourself, townie. We’ve been walking for the best part of three hours. It’ll take a while for the rest of the team to assemble at base and then get themselves up here. So we’re the advance party.’
Helen glanced at him. ‘Just remember that I don’t know anything about mountain rescue.’
‘I’m the mountain rescue bit,’ Oliver assured her firmly. ‘You’re my first-aid partner and general helper. If that man is having a heart attack in the mountains, I’m going to need your help.’