Reawakened by the Surgeon's Touch

by Jennifer Taylor

  ‘Here, let me have a go.’

  He reached over and took the radio off her before she could object. He turned the dial the merest fraction and the next moment, Claire heard Lola’s voice flowing across the airwaves. He handed the handset back to her with a smile that immediately set her teeth on edge. She knew it was silly to get upset over something so trivial, but his actions smacked of condescension and it was the one thing guaranteed to rile her.

  Andrew had displayed the same high-handed attitude towards her. He had treated her with a mixture of charm and contempt from the moment they had met only she had been too naive to realise it. The way he had taken over at every opportunity had seemed touchingly gallant and she had enjoyed having him take care of her. It had taken her a while to realise that there was nothing gallant about his desire to rule her life, and definitely nothing gallant about the way he had reacted when she had told him that she no longer wanted to see him. Sickness roiled inside her at the memory and she forced it down. She had nothing to fear because she wasn’t going to put herself in that position again.

  ‘Thank you,’ she said coldly, turning so that she could speak to Lola without having to look at Jude. ‘Hi, Lola, it’s me—Claire. I’m at the airfield and the truck hasn’t arrived. Have you heard anything?’

  ‘Not a word, hon. Give me a second and I’ll see if I can get hold of the driver.’

  Claire waited while Lola tried to contact Ezra, the truck driver. The heat was stifling that day and she could feel sweat trickling between her shoulder blades. The boiler suit she was wearing wasn’t the most comfortable outfit in these conditions but all the women on the team made a point of covering themselves up whenever they left the hospital. Although the Mwurandans were lovely people on the whole, there had been a few unpleasant incidents recently, and it was safer to err on the side of caution.

  ‘I can’t raise him, Claire. I’ll keep trying but at the moment I can’t get a reply.’

  Lola came back on the line. Claire frowned when she heard what the other woman said. ‘Maybe his radio’s down. Some of the sets are on their last legs, so that could be the problem.’

  ‘Could be. Anyway, you’ll be driving back along the same route, won’t you, so you should pass him on the way.’

  ‘I suppose so. Thanks, Lola.’ Claire switched off the radio and stowed it under the seat then turned to Jude, trying not to let him see that she was concerned about what might have happened to the truck. ‘We’d better make a move. There’s no point hanging around here. The driver will just have to bed down in the plane if it’s too late for him to drive back to town tonight.’

  She straddled the scooter and started the engine then looked round when she realised that he hadn’t moved. ‘Are you coming or not?’

  ‘Do I have a choice?’ He sighed as he swung his leg over the seat. ‘It’s either a ride on this contraption or a night in the hold. Not much of a choice really, is it?’

  ‘What did you expect? A chauffeur-driven limousine?’ Claire retorted, letting out the clutch. The motorbike bucked as the gears engaged and she heard him swear as he grabbed hold of her around the waist.

  ‘Do you have a licence for this thing?’ he demanded, leaning forward so she could hear him above the roar of the engine.

  Claire gripped the handlebars, her heart pounding as she felt the weight of his body pressing against her back. It had been a long time since she had been this close to a man and the memories it evoked weren’t pleasant ones, either. It was all she could do to behave with apparent calm as they set off. ‘No, I don’t have a licence as it happens. However, I’ve not had an accident yet, so you should be safe enough.’

  She increased their speed as they left the airfield, weaving her way around the potholes that peppered the road, and felt Jude’s grip on her tighten.

  ‘You really know how to reassure a guy, don’t you?’

  ‘I try,’ Claire retorted.

  She skirted around a particularly large hole, grinning to herself when she heard his breath hiss out as the rear wheel clipped the edge. Maybe it wasn’t a kind thing to do but she had to admit that it felt good to be in control. She had a feeling that Jude Slater rarely allowed other people to order him about and she may as well make the most of it while she could. Once they were back at the hospital, she was going to do as she had said and steer well clear of him. It wouldn’t be a hardship. From what she had seen so far, he was more trouble than he was worth!

  CHAPTER TWO

  THEY DROVE FOR almost a quarter of an hour in silence. Claire suspected that it was a combination of the noise from the engine plus a fear of her driving which was keeping Jude quiet, not that she was sorry, of course. When he suddenly leant forward she had to steel herself not to react as she felt the solid length of his body pressing against her back.

  ‘What’s that over there? Is it the missing truck?’

  Claire slowed so that she could look at where he was pointing and felt her stomach sink when she spotted the truck partly hidden by some trees. All their vehicles were old and riddled with rust which was why the truck had blended so perfectly into the background; in fact, she wouldn’t have noticed it if Jude hadn’t pointed it out.

  ‘It looks like it,’ she agreed, bringing the motorbike to a halt at the side of the road. She kept the engine idling while she looked around, but there was no sign of movement from what she could see. The area appeared to be deserted, although she wasn’t about to take that as proof there was nobody about. It could be a trap set by the rebel fighters and she needed to be on her guard. Switching off the engine, she climbed off the bike, nodding to Jude to indicate that he should get off as well. Opening the seat, she took out the pistol.

  ‘You carry a gun?’

  The shock in his voice would have been comical in other circumstances but not right then. Claire was starting to get a bad feeling about this and she didn’t need him kicking up a fuss.

  ‘This isn’t Mayfair, Dr Slater. This is the middle of Africa and there are rebel factions active in the area.’ She nodded at the bike. ‘Stay here while I go and see what’s happened.’

  She didn’t wait to check that he was following instructions. She just headed towards the truck, sure in her own mind that the handsome Dr Slater would prefer not to risk his oh-so-handsome skin. Anyway, she needed to keep her wits about her instead of worrying about him...

  ‘Shouldn’t we find some cover? We’re sitting ducks out here in the open.’

  Claire spun round when she heard him hiss the question at her and glared at him. ‘I thought I told you to stay with the bike!’

  ‘You did,’ he said shortly, staring past her. His hand shot out when she went to walk away. ‘Wait! I thought I saw something move— Yes! There! Just to the left of the truck—did you see it?’

  Claire screwed up her eyes against the glare from the sun as she stared towards the truck. ‘I can’t see anything.’

  ‘It could have been a bird, I suppose.’ He turned to her and she could tell from the set of his mouth that it would be a waste of time ordering him to go back to the bike. ‘OK. Shall we do this, then?’

  ‘Yes, but stay behind me.’ She gave him a grim little smile. ‘I wouldn’t like you to get between me and any potential target.’

  ‘And here was I thinking that you would love the chance to put a bullet in my back.’

  He gave her a mocking smile then set off, ignoring her instructions as he led the way towards the trees. Claire muttered something uncomplimentary under her breath as she hurried after him. Why, for two pins, she would haul him straight back to the plane and have the crew lock him in the hold! Didn’t he understand how dangerous the situation was and that they were both at risk of walking into a trap? Yet he had to get all gung-ho about it, playing the big, tough hero protecting the helpless little woman...

  ‘If you’re goin
g to curse me then may I suggest you wait until later?’ He stopped so suddenly that Claire cannoned into his back. Muscles rippled as he absorbed the impact and she hastily disentangled herself, not wanting to run the risk of storing away the memory of all that warm, hard flesh.

  ‘All that hissing and spitting under your breath is going to be a real problem when we reach those trees.’ He glowered at her. ‘I need to be able to hear if there’s anyone moving about and your mutterings and mumblings will only hamper things.’

  ‘Oh, well, excuse me! I didn’t realise you were such an expert in these matters. Maybe you’d like me to walk downwind so I don’t interfere with your olfactory processes?’

  ‘Funny. If you’re as good with that gun as you are with your tongue, lady, then we should be safe enough.’ He treated her to a smile that was all flashing white teeth and very little warmth. ‘However, from the way you’re holding it—like a freshly skinned rabbit—I very much doubt it. So no more muttering until we know for certain there are no bogeymen lurking in the woods, eh?’

  With that he started walking again, ignoring her as he headed towards the trees. Claire glared after his retreating back before she forced herself to follow him. If they hadn’t been in such desperate need of another surgeon at the hospital then she would have left him here and to hell with the consequences. So far as she was concerned, the rebel fighters were welcome to him!

  They reached the outer rim of the trees and stopped. Jude cocked his head to the side, obviously listening for any sound of movement. Claire held her breath because even though the rebels might be welcome to him in theory, she didn’t really want him to come to any harm. He glanced at her and there was no trace of laughter on his face this time. He seemed completely focused on the possible dangers and for some reason, she felt almost ridiculously pleased that he was taking her concerns seriously.

  ‘I’m going to skirt round towards the truck through those trees,’ he explained in a whisper, pointing out the route he planned to take. ‘I want to see if the driver’s still in the cab.’

  ‘I’ll keep you covered,’ she replied equally quietly, quelling a shiver as she looked around. The thought that someone could be hiding in the scrub, watching them, wasn’t a pleasant one.

  ‘You do that.’ He gave her a quick grin. ‘But if you do see anything untoward then make sure it isn’t me in your sights, will you? I don’t fancy taking a bullet home as a souvenir.’

  ‘I’ll do my very best to miss you,’ she agreed sweetly, and he laughed.

  ‘Promises, promises—sounds like the story of my life!’

  He slipped away before she could say anything, not that she could have come up with anything apposite. Claire sighed because it was the story of her life that she could never come up with a witty response when she needed it. She waited in silence, wondering how she would know when he had reached the truck. He was hardly going to holler, Yoo-hoo, I’m here, was he?

  Was he?

  Her heart sank at the thought that he might not be taking this as seriously as she had thought. After all, Dr Slater knew nothing about the dangers of working in this country. Although the majority of the Mwurandans were kindly, God-fearing people, the rebel fighters stopped at nothing to achieve their aims. In the past two months they had stepped up their campaign of terror and everyone working in the country had been warned to be on their guard.

  Claire knew that the Worlds Together team would be pulled out if the situation worsened and that she would have to leave with them if that happened. Although she wasn’t officially part of their team, she worked alongside them and there would be no excuse for her to stay if they left. Although her visa expired shortly, she wanted to remain here for as long as possible. The thought of going back to England didn’t appeal, so she tried not to think about it.

  There was still no sign of Jude and she could feel her anxiety rising. Where on earth was he?

  All of a sudden she spotted a movement near the rear of the truck and her breath hissed out in relief when she realised it was him. He was crouched down beside the back axle and, as she watched, he began to creep forward, using the truck as a shield as he made his way to the cab. He disappeared from view and she held her breath, praying that nothing had happened to him. If it was a trap, she had let him walk right into it...

  He suddenly reappeared and she saw him lift up his hand and beckon to her. He pointed towards the trees, obviously indicating that she should follow the route he had taken. Claire gripped the pistol more firmly as she began to make her way through the undergrowth but her palm was slippery with sweat. Twigs snapped and grasses rustled and her heart pounded harder than ever. She was making so much noise that it would have been far simpler and a whole lot quicker just to run across the clearing. Anyone watching was bound to have heard her!

  She reached the truck at last and gasped when she saw that Jude had found Ezra, the driver. He was lying on the ground beside the cab with Jude crouched down beside him. She ran forward and dropped to her knees, staring in horror at the bloody mess that was the man’s head.

  ‘Is he dead?’

  ‘No. He’s hanging on—just.’

  Jude’s tone was grim as he elbowed her aside so that he could finish examining the man. Claire didn’t protest as this was hardly the time to worry about the social niceties. Long, dexterous fingers tested the man’s scalp with a delicacy she had witnessed only a couple of times before in her nursing career. Surprisingly, a lot of surgeons had big, clumsy-looking hands, but Jude’s hands were as finely tuned as a pianist’s as he felt his way across the driver’s skull. He looked up and something warm and sweet rose inside her when she saw the concern in his eyes. Despite appearances to the contrary, Jude Slater possessed more than his share of compassion for his fellow man, it seemed.

  ‘His skull’s a mess. There’s at least two deep depressions, so heaven only knows the extent of the damage. It looks as though he’s been clubbed over the head because he certainly didn’t get injuries like these from sitting in that truck, minding his own business.’

  ‘It must have been the rebel fighters,’ she said shakily, struggling to get a grip. Thoughts like that certainly weren’t ones she wanted to encourage. ‘Maybe they thought he was transporting equipment to the airport and that’s why they ambushed him. They’ve been doing a lot of work on the runways recently.’

  ‘You could be right.’ He sighed. ‘I don’t know how we’re going to get him to hospital but it certainly won’t be on the back of that motorbike of yours. It looks as though I’ll have to drive the truck back—if it’s still working.’

  ‘I wonder why the rebels didn’t take it,’ Claire said, frowning. There had been a number of similar incidents recently and on each occasion the vehicle had been stolen.

  ‘Probably because it doesn’t work,’ Jude suggested with a grimace. ‘In which case, we’re up the proverbial creek without the proverbial paddle.’

  He didn’t say anything else as he stood up and climbed into the cab. Claire heard the engine screech as he attempted to start it and her stomach tightened with fear. If there was anyone hiding in the trees then now was the time they would show themselves.

  The thought had barely crossed her mind when there was a loud cracking noise and she felt the air shiver as a bullet whistled past her ear. She dropped flat on the ground, her heart pounding as more shots were fired at them. Some hit the truck, others ricocheted off the trees, and all were far too close for comfort.

  ‘Hell’s bells! These guys really do mean business, don’t they?’

  The shock in Jude’s voice as he dropped down beside her made her smile despite the precariousness of their position. ‘This isn’t a theme park experience, Dr Slater. This is the real thing, bullets and all. We really are being shot at by the bad guys.’

  ‘That tongue of yours is going to get you into serious trouble one of these days.’
He ducked as another volley of shots whined over their heads. Rolling onto his side, he glowered at her. ‘OK, Ms Know-it-all, what do you suggest? Do we wave the white flag and appeal to the goodness of their hearts? Or do we try to outmanoeuvre them?’

  ‘I don’t think they’re very big on the milk of human kindness,’ she retorted. ‘We have a choice. It’s either fight or flight, and I know which I prefer.’

  ‘I’m with you there, although I don’t know if this thing is up to it.’ He shot a disgusted look at the truck. ‘That engine doesn’t sound exactly tuned for speed to my ears.’

  ‘Probably not if you’re used to something more luxurious but we’re not so choosy here,’ she snapped, pressing her face into the dirt as more shots whined over their heads. Her voice was muffled as she continued. ‘We only have one criterion when it comes to a vehicle: does it work?’

  ‘In that case, we have the prince of trucks at our disposal. It works, although I can’t guarantee how fast it goes.’ He ducked as another bullet hit the truck then scrambled to his feet. ‘I’m going to get the driver into the cab.’

  ‘I’ll help you.’

  ‘No, you won’t. You stay there and keep your head down. I don’t want to have to rescue two casualties, thank you very much.’

  Claire fumed as he scuttled on all fours to the cab and wrenched open the door. As the newbie member of the team, he seemed rather too keen to hand out orders. She started to get up then dropped back onto her stomach as another hail of shots pierced the side of the truck just above her head. She could only watch as Jude dragged the driver to the cab and somehow managed to bundle him inside. Sweat was streaming down his face by the time he had finished and there were damp patches on his shirt but he still managed to grin infuriatingly at her.

  ‘So, are you coming, then? Or are you going to stay there and enjoy the scenery?’

  Claire gritted her teeth as she belly-crawled to the cab. She wasn’t going to fall into the unseemly habit of trading insults with him. Fortunately their attackers didn’t appear to know that they had moved because they were still firing at the rear of the truck. It meant they would have surprise on their side when they set off.