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Chapter 10 Case to the Rescue

As soon as Andrea was sure the emergency dispatch was able to establish their location, she hung up her phone and stepped out of the SUV to go help. Case was standing next to the car, talking to the driver. The small vehicle was tilted at an angle, one side up on the guard rail, the other still on the ground. The woman behind the wheel was crying and screaming. Case was leaning in the window, and it looked like he was holding a cloth of some sort to her head while he spoke softly to her.

Carefully, Andrea eyed the highway. A few cars flew by like the drivers didn’t see there was a problem. Once she made her way across, she ran to Case’s side and realized there were children in the back seat. They were also crying.

“Help my kids!” the woman shouted, hysterical. From what Andrea could see, her face was bloodied. The windshield was broken and the side of the car was badly dented.

The little girl in the back had to be about four years old. Next to her was a baby carrier. Before she opened the door, Andrea could hear the baby crying so she knew he was okay, but she was still scared to look. It was hard to budge the door open because the car was tilted. It wouldn’t go. Case reached through the driver’s window and pressed a button, and the window came down. It would work.

“You’re okay!” Andrea said to the little girl. She was still buckled in her booster seat. From what she could tell, there was no blood. She just looked scared. The baby was also okay—just terrified. “Can you unbuckle yourself?” Andrea asked the girl.

With a nod, the child unhooked her harness, her tears subsiding slightly. She reached for Andrea, and she leaned into the window to carefully pull her out without hitting the baby. Case told the woman to keep holding the towel to her head and scooped the child out of Andrea’s arms. He rocked her, pressing her head to his shoulder. “You’re okay, little one.”

Seeing as though the baby wasn’t harmed, Andrea decided to take him out of his seat and carry him to the SUV where he would be warm. She carefully unbuckled him and cradled him against her shoulder. He stopped crying almost immediately, now that he knew he was safe.

“Ma’am, we’re going to take your kids to our vehicle to keep them warm and safe until the ambulance arrives, all right?” Case said to the woman.

Andrea glimpsed her eyes. They were shiny and unfocused. “My babies.... They’re okay?”

“They are just fine, mama,” Andrea assured her. Once again, she was careful crossing the street. Case carried the little girl, and she climbed inside next to her, still holding the baby.

Before he turned to go, Case paused at the door. “Are you okay, Andrea?”

“I’m fine.” She smiled at him, touched that he’d asked, and he darted back over to help the woman.

“Is Mommy okay?” the little girl asked as Andrea patted the baby on the back.

“She will be. I think she hit her head, but the doctors will take care of her. Boy, that was scary, huh?” The child nodded, her tears dried up now. Andrea smoothed her poofy dark hair. “What’s your name, sweetie?”

“Mia.” She turned and looked at Andrea with big brown eyes. “What’s yours?”

“Andrea.” She smiled and pulled the girl’s coat tighter. It was warm in the truck, but she was shaking, probably from shock.

“You look like a princess.”

Andrea giggled. “Thank you. So do you.” That brought a smile, and Mia rested her head on Andrea’s arm.

The sound of sirens in the distance came steadily closer until the paramedics, police, and a large firetruck were on the scene. Mia watched in awe as the first responders took care of her mother. Case pointed them to the SUV, and soon paramedics came to look at the children as well. “They’re just fine,” a nice EMT said with a smile. “We’ll take them now. Thank you for stopping.” His appreciation was evident in his eyes.

“You’re welcome.” Andrea hugged Mia goodbye and patted her little brother, whose name was Mikey, on the head.

Soon, Case was finished talking to the police about what had happened and came to the SUV. An officer had asked Andrea a few questions while the EMTs were checking the children. Now, they were free to go.

He seemed calm as he climbed behind the wheel, but Andrea’s heart was racing. He was so good with the injured woman, and she was impressed with how well he’d comforted the children, too, especially Mia. She couldn’t help but look at him in admiration.

“What is it?” Case asked, buckling his seat belt. “You’re okay, aren’t you?”

“Yes, thanks go your driving skills. You were incredible.”

His cheeks turned pink, and he shrugged. “All drivers learn first aid, just in case there’s a wreck, but I just did what anyone would do. So did you.”

“Not everyone.” She thought about all of the cars that had driven by.

“Ready to go?”

“I’m so ready.”

Case grinned at her and cautiously pulled the SUV back onto the roadway, headed home—again. She was ready to see Grandpa Jack.

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