by Anne Fraser
Trust Mum to be worried about their supper. She had never accepted that both her children were grown up and able to look after themselves. Except they weren’t. At least she wasn’t. After Ian’s death, her mother had insisted on leaving her home here in Fort William and moving to Glasgow to help Georgie look after Jess. Her mother had given up her comfortable life without a thought so she could be with her daughter when she needed her, and had stayed. The only time her mother returned to her home town was when, as now, Georgie and Jess came too. Georgie was grateful. She’d never be able to work without her mother’s help and support. Apart from Jess, work was what had got her through those terrible months following Ian’s death.
But Georgie knew it was time she persuaded her mother that she could cope on her own. Jess had just been offered a place at nursery, starting in the autumn. With Jess at nursery full time, Mary was no longer needed as much to help with the child care. Although she would miss her mother terribly, she had to persuade her to come back here where all her friends and interests were. Georgie smiled. Kirk would become the full focus of Mary’s attention for a change. Although he loved their mother dearly, she was always going on at him to find a good woman and settle down. And Kirk wasn’t a settling-down kind of guy.
It took her another hour before she was able to leave the clubhouse. The rest of the team, who had returned from their rescue, were full of questions and refused to let her go until she had given them a blow-by-blow account. Like Kirk, they knew she hadn’t been out on a rescue since Ian had died and were concerned and anxious to hear how she had coped.
‘I’m okay,’ she reassured them. ‘It got a bit dodgy, but it all turned out okay.’
She couldn’t bring herself to tell them about the few minutes when she’d been terror-stricken and unable to move.
‘Does that mean you’re back with the team, Red?’ Mike, one of the guys she had climbed with many times before, asked.
‘No, Mike. Remember I live in Glasgow now? So it’s hardly going to happen.’
But apart from the fear, she had felt exhilarated—once it was all over. In many ways she had missed the companionship of the team as well as the adrenaline rush of climbing. But, she reminded herself, that life was finished. She had a daughter who needed a mother to be around for a very long time to come.
All in all it had been a couple of hours since the helicopter had left with Jack’s mother. By now there should be news of how she was doing. Perhaps the nurses at the Fort William General would have heard? Leaving Kirk and the rest of the guys, who were planning to move on to their usual watering hole, Georgie jumped into her small car and headed for the hospital, her mind still inexplicably filled with images of a dark-eyed man with a heart-stopping grin.
Georgie knew the staff at the Fort William General well. After all, she had worked with them for six years before moving to Glasgow. Whenever she was visiting Kirk in Fort William, she always dropped in for a cup of coffee.
Lindsay was on duty in A and E and after a brief hug and a disappointed look over her shoulder—she had always carried a torch for Kirk—led her to the cubicle where Jack was in the process of having his broken leg put in a cast. Jack looked up and his face broke into a smile. But it was the man sitting next to him playing on a games console who stopped her breath. Logan Harris! What on earth was he doing here? It was almost as if thinking about him had made him appear. He had peeled down his flying suit to his waist, revealing a hard, taut chest and powerfully muscled arms under his T-shirt.
Behind him, Lindsay wiggled her eyebrows questioningly and grinned. Like everyone else who knew about Ian, she was always telling Georgie it was time to date again.
‘Have a coffee with me if you have time?’ Lindsay said before she disappeared.
Logan got to his feet and held out his hand. ‘I just came to tell Jack about his mum,’ he said. ‘But I’m pleased to meet you properly.’ He shot another devastating smile in her direction and Georgie almost reeled from the force of it. Without his helmet she could see him properly, and if it were possible he was even more attractive than she had thought at first. Although not conventionally good-looking—his features were too rugged for a start—he had a charisma and easy confidence about him that suggested he was used to women finding him attractive. His hair was cropped short, military style, and his face was sculpted over high cheekbones. Only a scar, running from just underneath his cheekbone to the corner of his mouth, marred his good looks, but in some obscure way it only made him more attractive in Georgie’s eyes. Add a six-foot-something frame and a dose of sex appeal Georgie had only ever associated with film stars and it all added up to a mind-blowing package. All of this didn’t tie in with a man who would take the time out to stay with a frightened boy. Georgie was intrigued. And how on earth had he got back here from Glasgow? If he’d driven he must have raced along the roads at breakneck speed.
Long fingers grasped her hand in a firm grip, and sparks shot up Georgie’s arms.
‘Georgie McArthur,’ she said faintly. She dragged her eyes away from him and turned to Jack.
‘Hey. How’re you doing?’
‘Dr Harris says Mum’s awake, but still in Intensive Care in Glasgow. He says she’s going to have to stay in hospital for a day or two, but she’s going to be okay.’
The terrified little boy of earlier was gone. Now he knew his mum was going to be all right, excitement had taken over.
‘What about your dad?’ Georgie asked. ‘Wasn’t he with you?’ The light went out of Jack’s eyes.
‘He lives in Edinburgh. Mum and him aren’t living together right now. They say they’re having a little break from each other. But I don’t believe them. I think they’re getting a divorce. Mum’s been crying all the time. I made her come up here to try and get her mind off it and look what happened. If I hadn’t done what she told me not to, she wouldn’t have tried to come after me and fallen.’ His lips trembled as he remembered his terror.
‘Hey,’ Georgie said soothingly, ‘accidents happen. Your mum will be proud of how brave you were—I promise.’
‘Anyway, Dad’s with her now. He came from Edinburgh as soon as he heard she was hurt. He can’t come and see me ‘cos he doesn’t want to leave Mum on her own.’
Georgie read the hope in his eyes. It didn’t take a mind reader to know his nine-year-old mind already had his parents back together. Georgie prayed he wasn’t going to be disappointed.
‘The hospital says I have to stay in tonight. But Dr Harris says he’s going back to Glasgow tomorrow, so he’ll go with me in the ambulance car if I want.’
Georgie shot a surprised look at Logan. Surely such thoughtfulness was beyond what was required?
‘His mum was taken directly to the head injuries unit at Glasgow City. It seemed sensible. If we’d stopped here and she’d ended up having to be transferred there anyway…’ He lifted an eyebrow slightly, not wanting to complete the sentence in front of Jack.
‘I really, really want to see my mum—and dad.’ Jack’s lip trembled and Georgie’s heart went out to him. She knew he wouldn’t believe his mum was okay until he saw her for himself.
Georgie smiled reassuringly. ‘The Glasgow City just happens to be the best hospital in Scotland for people who have hurt their heads,’ she said. ‘I work there. So I know your mum is in very good hands.’
Logan looked surprised. ‘You do? Work there, I mean?’ He eyed her speculatively. ‘I assumed you were a nurse here.’
‘I used to be, until a few years ago. I’m just here on holiday. I’d take Jack myself but I’m not going back to Glasgow until Sunday night.’
‘I’ve got to go back there tomorrow anyway,’ Logan continued. ‘So it makes sense for me to go with Jack. It would save his father from making the three-hundred-mile round trip. I spoke to him on the phone and he’s relieved to have that taken care of.’
‘Don’t you have to go back with your crew?’ she asked. ‘To HMS Gannet? Isn’t that where the RAF is based? Aren’t y
ou with them?’ A sticker on his T-shirt bore the name Major Harris.
‘I’m not actually with the RAF. I just happened to be visiting their base when the call came through and I was happy to volunteer my services.’
‘So how come you’re here? Didn’t you go with Jack’s mother to the Glasgow City General?’
‘We were heading in that direction when the Fort William General radioed to let us know they had a visiting neurologist from Glasgow who was spending the day teaching some junior doctors here. It made more sense for her to go with Jack’s mother and there are people I need to talk to here. So the helicopter picked her up and dropped me off. She phoned a few minutes ago to give us an update. That’s how we know she’s doing okay.’ He winked at Jack.
Georgie was more and more curious. She waited for him to continue.
‘And, since you are obviously interested, it so happens that the Glasgow City General is going to be my home for the next three months.’
Georgie’s cheeks grew warm. It was a Highland habit she hadn’t ever really managed to lose—this interest in other people. City people thought it was nosy to ask questions, Highlanders knew it was only polite interest—or at least that’s what they told themselves and each other.
Logan slid her a look and the wheels clicked into place. There had been talk in the A and E department of a consultant from one of the forces coming on loan for three months to look into setting up an emergency medical retrieval team similar to the one the army had perfected. Could it be this man? Georgie had expected someone a lot older for some reason. Someone closer to retirement age. Not this hunk.
‘Are you the doctor who is coming to set up the new emergency service?’ she asked bluntly, ignoring the way her heart was doing a little dance behind her ribs.
‘Got it in one.’ He moved his hand in a mock salute. ‘Major Harris at your service. How did you know?’
‘As one of the A and E nurses at the Glasgow City General, I’d heard the rumours, but I don’t make it to the inter-departmental meetings as often as I should so I’ve only gathered bits and pieces.’ She blew out her cheeks. ‘I’ve been on holiday here for the last couple of weeks, so I must have missed the latest.’
He grinned back and her heart did that complicated manoeuvre inside her chest again. ‘I’ll be there on Monday,’ he said. ‘I’ve a bit of information gathering still to do, including forming links with the other emergency services in the area. Which reminds me, I don’t suppose you have a number where I can get hold of the mountain rescue team leader, do you?’
She raised an eyebrow.
‘We’ll be working with them at some point, so I want to talk to them. I might as well do it now, seeing as I’m here for the night. No point in wasting an opportunity.’
Georgie thought for a moment. Jess would be fast asleep and likely to remain so for the remainder of the night. Kirk and the rest of the team would still be hanging out at the inn where they met most evenings to dissect the day’s climbing and the rescue. She could just give Logan Kirk’s telephone number and leave him to make his own arrangements. But that would be churlish. She made up her mind.
‘You met the team leader earlier—my brother Kirk. I can give you a lift to where he and the rest of the team will be, if you like.’
He smiled broadly. ‘I was hoping you’d say that.’
Georgie and Logan left Jack, who had dozed off while they’d been speaking. Georgie breathed a sigh of relief when she saw Lindsay was no longer outside in the A and E area. She must have gone for her break, which was just as well. Georgie knew her ex-colleague’s curiosity would have known no bounds had she seen her leave with Logan.
Outside, Georgie watched in amusement as Logan folded his long legs with difficulty into the passenger seat of her Mini. Even with the seat pushed back to its furthest position, he still looked cramped.
The last of the sun had disappeared from the sky when they set off from the hospital, the full moon the only light on the dark road.
‘The inn is a few miles out of Fort William,’ she explained. ‘At the foot of the mountains. All the climbers meet there to analyse the day’s climbing and plan their next climb. After that they relax with a pint or two and maybe some music.’
‘Does the inn have rooms?’
‘Yes, but it’s a holiday weekend, so I’m afraid it’s likely to be booked up. Loads of people travel up at this time of the year to climb the mountains. Some come from as far away as London, or Europe.’ The implication of what he was asking hit her. ‘Of course, you don’t have anywhere to stay, do you?’
‘’Fraid not. I didn’t expect to find myself here, let alone staying the night. I don’t even have a toothbrush with me. I assumed it would be easy enough to get a room somewhere.’
She hesitated. What she was about to suggest was making her feel like a teenager asking someone out on a first date, which was ridiculous. It was simply the polite thing to do. ‘Then you’ll just have to stay the night at our house. There’s plenty of space. And it will mean you and Kirk will get a chance to talk without interruptions.’
‘He’s staying with you?’
‘Actually, we’re staying with him. My mum’s there too and my daughter, but there’s still a room free.’
She glanced across at him. Even in the dark she could see his eyes drop to her left hand where she still wore her wedding ring.
‘And your husband? Did you leave him behind in Glasgow?’
‘I’m a widow,’ she said shortly, hearing the hitch in her voice. Saying the words still brought a lump to her throat.
‘I’m sorry,’ Logan said.
Silence stretched between them. This was the part when she usually got twenty questions. But thankfully Logan didn’t ask any more. Either he thought it was none of his business or he could tell from her voice that she didn’t want to talk about it.
‘Thanks for the offer of a room,’ he said finally, ‘but I couldn’t put you out. I’m used to making do wherever I can find a bed. I’m sure I can persuade the inn to squeeze me in somewhere. Even if it’s in a hut outside.’
Georgie shook her head. ‘Nope. Sorry. Highland hospitality won’t allow it. There is no way my mother would forgive me if I let you fend for yourself.’
‘If you’re sure—great. Thank you.’
‘That’s settled, then. I’ll phone Mum once I’ve dropped you and ask her to make up the spare room.’ Although Georgie kept her voice matter-of-fact, her heart was doing its little dance again.
‘Where do you call home?’ Georgie asked. ‘I can’t place your accent.’ Damn. Here she was doing the question thing again, just when she’d promised herself she wouldn’t. But she couldn’t help it—she was intensely curious about this enigmatic man.
‘People tell me I don’t really have an accent. Probably because I’ve travelled all over.’ A shadow crossed his face, to be replaced seconds later by an easy grin. ‘That tends to happen when you’re a regular with the army.’
‘But there must be somewhere you call home!’
‘I’ve rented a place in Glasgow for three months, simply because I didn’t fancy staying in a hotel for that long. It’s the first time in years that I’ve stayed for that amount of time in one place. So I guess it’s home for the time being.’
Georgie felt a pang of sympathy. Her dad had been in the army before he’d retired. She had hated being moved from pillar to post, never really having time to make friends or settle down before moving on. The first time she had ever had somewhere to call home had been when her father had taken early retirement and moved the family to Fort William where his parents had lived all their lives. The last few years of Georgie’s childhood had been spent somewhere settled and she had thrived. Since then, Georgie’s life had been rooted in Scotland and her family and she could think of nothing worse than not having a place to call home. If it hadn’t been for the support of family and friends after Ian had died, she’d never have been able to cope.
‘And your fami
ly?’
It was as if the shutters had come down. The atmosphere in the car turned decidedly cool.
‘The army is my family,’ he said briefly. His mouth curved in to a half-smile. ‘Anyway, I’d rather talk about you.’
Some pair they made. He didn’t want to talk about his life and she didn’t want to talk about hers.
However, she couldn’t help wondering what he wasn’t telling her.
The road was rising steeply but Georgie knew the West Coast like the back of her hands. She could almost have navigated them in her sleep. The mountains of Glencoe rose like cloaked giants on either side of the road. She never failed to feel the brooding loneliness of the place where the Campbells had massacred the MacDonalds.
‘Have you always climbed?’ Logan asked.
‘Since like for ever. My father took me out on the hills as soon as I could walk. If I got tired, he’d fling me like a rucksack on his back.’ Georgie smiled at the memory, before the familiar tug of grief pulled at her heart. Although her father had died four years ago, she still missed him. ‘I was brought up here. I’ve climbed every hill in Scotland, including the Munros, at least twice. I joined the mountain rescue team when I was eighteen. Unfortunately tourists and even experienced climbers constantly underestimate our mountains—especially how quickly the weather can change. I’ve even seen women set off in their high heels for a four-hour climb. And then they’re surprised when they twist their ankle and have to be rescued. I also volunteer as a rescue medic at the annual downhill cycle race that’s held in Fort William every year.’
‘But you live in Glasgow now?’
‘Yes. And have done for the last two and a half years. I’m not really part of the mountain rescue team any more. Today was unusual. I just happened to be hanging out at the clubhouse with Kirk when the call came through. The team was out on another call, so I said I would go.’ She took a shaky breath, remembering how she had frozen and the vertigo she’d experienced. It had never happened before, but this had been the first time she’d climbed since before Jess had been born. Just as well, then, that she was no longer part of the team.
