Heart Of The Outback, Volume 2

by Margaret Way

  “Better than it could have. There’ve been two casualties but it could’ve been much worse, given the extent of the blast.”

  “Why don’t you go and get cleaned up while Jess and I tidy these things away?”

  Steffi didn’t need to be asked twice. It was bliss to stand under a hot shower, thinking about the day. A day that should have been spent helping Lauren with her wedding plans, not assisting with a major rescue operation.

  But it was probably a good thing she’d been so busy. She hadn’t felt even the slightest hint of the panic attacks that had plagued her recently. She hadn’t had time to think about anything. Was that why? Whatever, at least she hadn’t fallen apart in front of Matt. If anything, she’d taken control, at least when they’d first met.

  Warmth welled up inside her at the thought she’d impressed him today. Not that that mattered. He was no one to her, played no role in her life. What role could men ever have other than to cause trouble? Right now, trouble was the one thing she had in abundance. She didn’t need any more. And trouble that strolled in looking like a rumpled sea pirate, all windblown, wavy hair and long, lean limbs, was trouble with a capital T.

  “Ready when you are, Matt.”

  Matt made a vertical incision through the skin on the anterior aspect of Alex Carter’s left shoulder. His dislocated shoulder had been reduced at the wharf but Toby Maguire, the visiting orthopaedic surgeon, had suspected anatomical damage. X-rays, taken from a superior view, confirmed a fragment of cartilage had separated from the glenoid rim, meaning Alex had to be opened up so they could take a look inside.

  Stuart, the general surgeon, was in the other theatre, stitching up the patient who had sustained stomach wounds, and Jack was in a treatment room removing a fragment from another victim’s eye.

  Matt’s incision had penetrated the skin and he now separated the deltoid and pectoralis major muscles to expose the coracoid process, the bony anterior projection of the shoulder blade.

  “I’m in.”

  Toby came over to have a look. “OK. If you hold the retractors I’ll take a look at the damage.”

  Matt picked up the small retractors and held Alex’s shoulder muscles out of the way, giving Toby a clear field of vision. Toby cut through the bony coracoid, deflecting it downwards along with its attached muscles.

  “What have we got here?” He surveyed the damage, speaking out loud for the benefit of his theatre team. “Torn anterior capsule plus a detached labrum. Let’s get to work.” He reattached the labrum and capsule to the glenoid rim before replacing the coracoid process. “Can you close him up for me?”

  Matt sutured the wound neatly before putting Alex’s arm into a sling to hold it against his stomach over the next few weeks.

  “It was lucky for him you were torn away from your clinic at Port Lincoln and flown back to help out today,” Matt said. “The recovery process in this case is slow enough, without being sent to Adelaide for surgery.”

  “You could have managed this one.”

  “I’m happy to tackle surgical cases in an emergency but I’d rather leave non-urgent cases to the experts.”

  Matt left Alex in the care of the anaethetist and stripped off the outer layers of his theatre scrubs, throwing them into the laundry bin and disposing of his gloves. He untied his mask and left it hanging around his neck, scrubbing his hands at the sink before going to check on the status of the other accident victims.

  The last few minor injuries were being attended to. They were mostly flesh wounds requiring suturing, so he went in search of Bobby.

  He found him resting in a ward with IV pain relief and his leg bandaged and elevated to reduce swelling. The general surgeon was at the nurses” station, writing in Bobby’s medication chart. Matt leant on the desk, peering over his shoulder.

  “What do you think?” Matt asked.

  “Calcaneal fractures are difficult cases, as you know. The best chance he’s got of getting anything near a full recovery is to let him get early movement so I don’t want him restricted in a plaster. I’ll ask Toby to view the X-rays before he heads off, but this is usually the preferred action.” Stuart put the chart down and picked up Bobby’s case notes. “Happy to monitor him? It’s difficult when I’m only here once a week.”

  “Of course.”

  “I’ve ordered physio. Just active bed exercises for the first three or four days. When you’re happy, he can stand to get out of bed and start partial weight bearing, the usual thing.”

  Matt took the case notes to countersign, scrawling his name in the space for the admitting doctor as the other doctor excused himself. “I’d better get back to Theatre and whatever remains of my scheduled list. It’ll throw the waiting list into complete chaos if I don’t get through some of the procedures today.”

  Matt headed to the staffroom, hoping for a quick coffee before any more dramas unfolded. He was still on call for the Air Ambulance Service and Sheila could be looking for him at any moment. Jack was already there, sipping his coffee as if it was the sweetest brew he’d ever tasted. Hard on Matt’s heels came Pam Fisher.

  Jack glanced at Pam. “You look frazzled. Anything I can do to help?”

  “Not unless you’re hiding any of my nurses in here,” she said, looking around the staffroom as if hoping to see some more people pop out of the woodwork, but the room was empty except for the three of them. “You haven’t seen Carol by any chance?”

  “Not since she helped me patch up Simon’s ear. What’s the problem?”

  “All these new admissions and too many of them are staying. It’s almost school holidays so I’m desperately short of nurses anyway and now I need to do some major reshuffling of the rosters.”

  Matt asked the obvious. “Can we send some patients to Adelaide?”

  “I wish we could, but I had empty beds and you know what the locals are like. They want to stay close to home. I can’t say I blame them but I need to get more nurses from somewhere. I was hoping Carol would be able to think of some.”

  “Lauren’s sister, Steffi, is back in town on holidays—she’s a RN.”

  Matt’s interest was roused.

  “Would she be able to work if she wanted to?” Jack asked.

  “As long as her registration is current, she can.” Pam was looking happier. “Is she employed anywhere else, though? That might pose a problem.”

  “I don’t think so but don’t quote me on that.”

  “How long is she here for?”

  Matt was aware he was only a fraction away from holding his breath, waiting for Jack’s answer.

  “At least until the end of the school holidays, after Lauren and I get married. You should’ve been able to discharge most of this lot by then.”

  “As long as we don’t have any other big disasters.”

  “Shall I ask her to give you a call?”

  “That would be terrific, thanks.”

  “No problem.”

  “Why do you think she’d be interested in working if she’s on holidays?” Matt asked as soon as Pam had left the room. “Surely that defeats the purpose of a holiday?”

  “Steffi grew up here. I’m learning that you country people like to help each other, particularly in times of a crisis,” he said, making reference to his and Matt’s differing backgrounds. “And if she’s anything like her sister, she won’t be able to resist feeling needed.”

  Matt hoped he was right.

  Steffi’s confidence was growing inch by inch as she checked to see which patients she would be nursing today. A short orientation shift at the hospital the previous day had eased her in a little, and now she was due to do her first full shift.

  Alex Carter’s name was at the top of her list so she decided to start with him. He was less drowsy today, not requiring the same level of pain relief.

  “Good morning, Alex. Would you like a wash?”

  “Absolutely. I’d love to get this orange stuff off me, whatever it is.”

  “It’s Betadine. We use it
to wash your skin before any incisions are made, to reduce the chance of infection. You do look a bit of a mess with the grime from the accident and the Betadine.”

  She set about cleaning him up and making him more comfortable.

  “How about a shave?” She helped him to dry himself then pull his tracksuit pants on, still an awkward movement for him with his arm in a sling.

  He shook his mind. “Maybe I’ll try a beard.” He settled back against his pillow. “Do you think I’ll be allowed to go home today?”

  “If you weren’t left-handed you might.” She got Alex to bend forward so she could slip his right arm into his T-shirt before pulling it down to cover his left. “But as your dominant hand is going to be out of action for at least three weeks, I’d expect that you’ll be with us for a little bit longer.”

  “I’m not going to have to stay in hospital for the whole three weeks, am I?”

  “Not enjoying our company, Alex?”

  Steffi jumped as a third person joined their conversation. She turned around to see Matt standing by the door, looking clean and fresh compared to when she’d last seen him at the wharf, but still a little rough around the edges. He smiled at her and his slate-grey eyes lit with warmth.

  Her heart started racing. At least she wasn’t in the middle of shaving Alex. Her hands were shaking so much he would have been bleeding by now.

  They greeted him unison. “Hi, Dr Zeller.”

  “Alex. Steffi.” He inclined his head towards her.

  Steffi helped Alex settle back against the pillows again but she was conscious of Matt as he walked to the bedside. “What are you doing here?”

  “My ward round.”

  “But I thought you were a flying doctor.”

  “I am. But anyone admitted to hospital by me is my responsibility, including anyone I operate on, or assist with, too. I’m here on a daily basis, give or take a day here and there.”

  Matt returned his attention to Alex. “Keen to get home, are you? Let me take a look at your shoulder.”

  Steffi waited for further instructions while Matt examined his patient, using the time to study him more closely.

  He had a strong jaw and well-defined cheekbones, chiselled features. He was dark, intriguing. His hair was longish but it suited his angular features. Tall and lean, he looked like he could use a decent meal, although his broad shoulders saved him from looking undernourished. He was undeniably attractive, maybe not in a classic sense but he definitely had something that made her want to be near him, listen to his voice, shake his hand again. What a pity they couldn’t be introduced again. She touched her right palm, remembering the feel of his hand shaking hers at the wharf, his grip firm, warm, strong.

  Perhaps because of where they’d first met, she still thought he’d make a good pirate—the handsome rogue. He even had a scar on his upper lip which was only visible in certain lights. He was what people meant by the strong, silent type. Serious, intense maybe. And it helped that he didn’t appear to be aware of his good genes. Arrogance wasn’t high on her list of appealing character traits in a male. She shook her head to clear the muddled direction of her thoughts. Since when had she had any list of appealing male character traits?

  Matt was now palpating Alex’s shoulder, checking the temperature and feeling for any excess swelling. Steffi knew the wound itself was slightly reddened but nothing more than expected.

  He picked up Alex’s chart. “Can you wriggle your fingers for me please?”

  Alex attempted to move fingers that were stiff and swollen.

  “Have you been doing the exercises the physio showed you?”

  Alex nodded.

  “As often as she said?” Matt obviously doubted it, and Steffi agreed. Alex’s fingers shouldn’t be that swollen, and if he had been exercising them regularly they would have to look for other reasons for the swelling.

  Alex shook his head. “It’s pretty sore.”

  “When you do your wrist and finger exercises?”

  “No,” he admitted. “When I do the elbow and shoulder ones.”

  Matt frowned. “You’re not moving your arm when you do the shoulder exercises, are you?” It was too early for Alex to be moving his shoulder joint without damaging the repair site.

  “No, just pushing against my other hand to tighten the muscles.”

  Alex was supposed to perform some static shoulder exercises and also take his arm out of the sling a few times a day to straighten his elbow, so Steffi knew that was OK.

  “Did the physio tell you to do those after pain relief?”

  “Yes.”

  “The wrist and finger exercises are comfortable?” Alex nodded again.

  “But you’re not doing them every hour.”

  “I forget.”

  “You need to start remembering. I’m not going to discharge you with so much swelling, particularly when you’re left handed. I’ll check you again in the morning and speak with the physio before we make any decisions. Do your exercises, OK?”

  “Yes, sir.”

  Matt turned to Steffi. “I won’t ask you to police his exercises, he’s a grown man… .”

  Steffi could hear the request just the same. “It’s OK, I’ll give him a few reminders but I think having to stay in here will be reminder enough. Isn’t that right, Alex?”

  “For sure.”

  “Good.” Matt turned back to Steffi. “Any more of my patients on your list?”

  “Let me check.” Steffi pulled her list from her pocket. “Bobby Simpson, he’s yours?”

  “He is. Shall we see him next?”

  She knew she didn’t have to follow Matt on his rounds. She also knew she was more than happy to do so, more than willing to extend the contact, even if it was purely for work’s sake. Maybe working together at the wharf had created some sort of bond between them. Hadn’t she heard of that happening between disaster victims and their rescuers? Maybe it was true for coworkers, too. Or maybe it was simply chemistry, possibly all one-sided. Whatever it was, she almost felt as though, if he asked, she’d follow him anywhere. Maybe not follow, but certainly walk by his side. She felt safe with him. Quite why that was when her main image of him was as a pirate, she couldn’t say. She quickened her step to match his and wondered what her hair looked like today. And knew then that the panic attacks might have been only an initial sign that something was seriously wrong with her mind. She was juggling too many needs at the moment to start giving her hair any sort of priority.

  Bobby was in the next ward but, through the window in the corridor, they could see that he was busy with the physiotherapist, so they stopped outside.

  “Jack didn’t have much trouble persuading you to work with us, I gather.”

  “I think he knew to appeal to my sense of community spirit.” Steffi laughed as she spoke and Matt thought he’d never heard a lovelier sound.

  “How long will we have the pleasure of your company?”

  “At least until Lauren and Jack’s wedding. It’ll be a good break for us.”

  Us? Matt felt a surge of disappointment rip through him. Or was it jealousy? She had a husband. But hadn’t she said her name was Harrison, the same as Lauren’s?

  “Is your husband from around here, too?”

  He got a blank look in response to his fishing for information. “I don’t have a husband.”

  He was aware of the tension evaporating from his body. Good. One less obstacle. Perhaps the “us” wasn’t very serious after all.

  “I have a daughter.”

  Matt felt relief shoot through him. A daughter. Steffi was a mother. That was much better than her being a wife. “How old is she?”

  “Almost nine.”

  “Nine!” He knew Steffi was older than Lauren so she was at least twenty-six but … “You couldn’t possibly have a nine-year-old child.”

  “I do. I started young.”

  He thought he could hear a note of regret creep in to Steffi’s voice. What was that all about?


  “I have a niece in town, Susie, she’s eight and a half, going on fifteen. She spends a lot of time with me when her parents are working. Maybe we should get them together?”

  “Maybe.”

  “I can hear a ‘but.’”

  She shrugged. “I’m just used to making my own arrangements where Jess is concerned.”

  “Wouldn’t she like some company her own age?”

  She shrugged again and didn’t meet his eyes. Not quite the enthusiastic response he’d hoped for.

  “Why don’t you think about it? Maybe ask Jess?” Matt reached down to his belt and pulled his pager off as it started beeping. He glanced at the number. “I won’t be offended if you don’t take me up on the offer. My skin’s thicker than that.” He knew the grin he shot at her was full of cheek, challenging her to ask Jess and saying he knew full well what Jess’s reaction would be.

  Matt waited but Steffi didn’t respond. He clipped his pager back onto his pocket. “Think about it?”

  “OK.” She added almost as an afterthought, “Thank you.”

  “Good. I’ll catch up with you later.” He tapped his pager. “I’d better go see what this is about.”

  Steffi stood still, waiting for the tingles to stop running down her spine. One grin, one genuine smile to crinkle the lines in his face, and she’d gone to mush. She wasn’t sure what she’d just agreed to. Introducing her daughter to Susie, Matt’s niece, was that all? There was nothing too threatening about that, it was just to give Jess a friend. There was no reason why she wouldn’t be able to keep her distance from Matt. There was no indication that Matt was as attracted to her as she was to him, no suggestion he was being anything other than a friendly local, making a gesture of welcome. So there was nothing to worry about.

  And if she decided to stay in Port Cadney, the fact that Jess would already have a friend would make the transition easier for them both. She tugged absently at the skirt of her uniform as thoughts of all the things she really had to worry about clouded her mind. It seemed like she had her whole life to sort out. In the scheme of things, whether or not she could, or should, get to know Matt surely shouldn’t be giving her so much anxiety. But nowadays it seemed she’d worry about anything that stood still for long enough.