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'Shut up,' sheover a fallen branch on the path

Cass halted her with one hand and a second later had lifted her over his shoulder in a fireman's lift, as if she were a sack of potatoes

Sian gave a cry of wordless protest, and he slapped her lightly on the behind 'You're in no state to walk, so stop arguing!'

He was right, but she gave hirunt in surprise

'What was that for? I' to help you, and if you had a shred of honesty you'd adht'

'Why do you think I kicked you? I hate people who are always so sure they're right, even when they are!'

He laughed shortly then 'I don't think I'll ever understand what makes you tick! You're a mystery to me, but then, most women are incomprehensible to most men'

He gently deposited her in the car and they drove off through the falling night Sian closed her eyes and half drowsed, in a drained state of sleepy contentment It was only as they drove up towards his aunt's house that she realised that he had successfully put a stop to her questions about the car crash

Mrs Cassidy met them on the front steps of her home 'My dear Sian, this is terrible! Are you sure you're well enough to leave hospital? You look so pale I can't tell you how sorry I am! I blame myself'

'It wasn't your fault' Sian smiled wearily at her

'But you were a guest in ise, for my whole family!'

Sian looked hard at her, then at Cass, whose face was blank

'OK,' he said curtly 'Noe've got that out of the way, shall we get her to bed before she passes out again?'

His aunt said with dignity, 'Of course, right away, but I wanted to apologise before anything else'

'Thank you,' Sian said, sain