Warming up

"Jeepers Mary, what happened!?"

Elizabeth took in her best friend's appearance; Mary was wearing caveman-style animal skin with the fur pointing inwards (but it looked like wolf) and had bits of that nice blue and white check dress of hers wrapped around her feet and tied with bloody sinew. Her skin was pale and red where it showed, which was over a lot of her body.

"C-cold." was all the girl whispered.

"I believe it; I'm surprised you haven't frozen to ****! Come on, girl, let me get you home."

Elizabeth threw her coat over Mary's shoulders and rushed her the two blocks back to the house. As soon as she got in the door she shouted.

"Dad-dy! Kim-my!"

Her daddy came out of the den at a run. "What is it, girl? Oh my! What happened?"

"I don't know Daddy; I found her out on the street like this."

Mary shivered.

Elizabeth's twin sister ran in from the kitchen. "What's going on?"

"Mary's got herself chilled to the bone and there's sure'n a story behind this, but you two gals get her up to the bathroom and into a tub of warm water. Make sure you check for frostbite. I'm going to get a doctor."

The two girls hustled Mary upstairs and into the bathroom. Elizabeth stripped off the girl's clothes and put them in the sink while Kim ran water in the tub and tested it with her elbow. As soon as Mary was undressed Elizabeth lifted her friend and set her in the tub. The water didn't even cover the girl's ankles.

"This ain't filling fast enough, Liz."

"I know, I know. Wait; I got an idea."

Elizabeth stripped off her clothes and climbed into the tub behind her friend. The water level jumped up and Elizabeth pulled Mary close to her even the girl's skin was freezing cold. Elizabeth cupped water in her hands and poured it over Mary's body.

"Just a sec," said Kim and ran out of the room, leaving the water running. When she got back the water was still only partly covering the seated girl's legs. She dropped two porridge bowls into the water.

Liz understood and started anointing Mary with one of the bowls. "Is that better, Honey?"

Mary shivered but nodded.

"Why'd you bring two bowls, Kimmy? I can only use one."

Instead of answering, Kim stripped and climbed into the tub, kneeling between Mary's legs. The water level jumped to Mary's waist. Kim picked up the other bowl and started using it to pour more water over Mary, dousing her shoulders and head and hair.

By the time Elizabeth's father got back with Doctor Nelson the tub was about full and the girls had switched from bowls of water to rubbing Mary's chest, shoulders, and face with wet hands. Mary was silently shuddering and sobbing but her skin was warm to the touch and clean. Father stood in the doorway while Doc Nelson walked over to the tub.

"We're just warming her up, Doctor," said Kim.

Nelson muttered "I'll say" under his breath as he noticed the injured girl's flushed skin and three sets of erect nipples floating half-out of the water. His professional detachment took over despite his own erection and he shooed the sisters out of the tub while he examined Mary.

After a few moments the sisters came back in sopping bathrobes with a stack of towels.

"Is she going to be okay?" asked Elizabeth.

"She's not badly chilled, but there's some funny marks on her arms and legs and neck. He leaned in and whispered in Elizabeth's ear, "There's also signs she's been sexually assaulted," then continued in full voice. "I suggest you get her into a warm bed and keep her there for a few hours. A few hot water bottles wouldn't hurt, neither."

Did Doc Nelson just wink at her? Elizabeth answered without reacting. "I'll take care of her, Doctor. She can use my bed."

"One more thing," said Nelson, "when she's ready you should take her down to the police station to make a statement. It's pretty obvious she didn't beat herself up."