Welsh Wildfire

by Clare Revell

  He collapsed face down, breathing hard. “You should have asked the pretty doc for sleeping pills, Josiah,” he chided himself. “Or just something to stop the dreams.”

  Pushing upright, he took the picture of the waterfall off the wall and shoved it on top of the wardrobe. “Now try keeping me awake at night,” he snarled. He made his way downstairs to the kitchen and made coffee as the sun came up.

  The whole point of running away was to escape the past few weeks, to start fresh. But what hope of that was there if he couldn’t forget?

  3

  Jess spent a busy morning in the antenatal/baby clinic at the surgery. For a brief moment she wondered what had happened seven or eight months ago to have resulted in such a rush of pregnant mums-to-be. Power cut maybe? Or just nothing on the TV. Her train of thought didn’t even get further than that before another appointment came through the doors.

  There wasn’t even time for the cup of tea the midwife had promised her at the start of the session. Just when there was a glimmer of hope a break would appear and she could grab one, the door opened and a slight tap echoed.

  Nerys stuck her head around the edge. “Sorry to bother you, Doc.”

  Jess sighed. That was not the way to start a good conversation. She stuck the stethoscope around her neck. “What’s up?”

  “Fire at the pub. Sam asked you attend and put an end to the ‘sending someone to hospital’ debate.”

  Jess grabbed her kit. “On my way. I’ll see anyone I need to later. Make appointments for home visits this afternoon for me.” She ran out of the surgery and down the street a short distance.

  A fire engine stood outside the pub. Josh stood there, looking mighty fine in his uniform as he held the hose, playing a jet of water over the flames. She hadn’t seen him in the few days since he arrived, though she’d often wondered how he’d been settling in. She had seen him once though, having what appeared to be a heated debate with a couple of men in dark suits, by a swish looking black sedan. After a moment, the men had climbed back into the car and driven off. She hadn’t seen the car since and wanted to ask him about it if she got the chance.

  Her heart began to race and she shook her head. He had a job to do and so did she. She headed over to the figures sitting on the wall under the shade of the tall oak tree. She forced her professional side to surface whether it wanted to or not. You’re here to work, not ogle the fire fighters, she told herself firmly.

  But her eyes had other ideas and she turned to gaze behind her one last time.

  “At last.” Sam’s voice pulled her attention front and center again. “And here’s Jess the Doc to give you the definitive answer. Sit.”

  She scrunched up her nose at him. Two could play at that game. “Hello, Sam the Fireman. What have we got?”

  “Kitchen fire. Gordon here got the worst of it, but he’s being stubborn.”

  “Now there’s a shock,” she teased. “Gordon, stubborn? Well, I never …” She knelt beside the cook and gently took his hand. “I know I like my steak well done, but this is taking things to the extreme.”

  “I’m not going to the hospital, Doc. I have too much to do here.”

  “You need to go and let the burns doctor take a look.” She pulled a couple of plastic bags from her kit and slid them over Gordon’s hands. “These could turn nasty if not treated. And I don’t think you’ll be doing much in the way of pub food today, look you.”

  The woman beside him coughed as the ambulance turned up.

  “Fire’s out,” Josh called. “Safe for you to get in there now, Sam.”

  Sam raised a hand and headed back over to the other firefighters.

  Jess turned to the woman. “You need to go to the hospital as well, Maggie.”

  “But lunch…”

  “…is well done,” Jess finished, “and I’ll tell you for why. Just let the boys in yellow handle it while you get that smoke inhalation seen to, look you.” She turned to the paramedics and filled them in.

  As the ambulance pulled away, a tall firefighter came over to her and pulled off his helmet. “We meet again. I didn’t think they’d call you out to this.”

  She smiled at him, annoyed at the way her heart and tummy flipped in unison at the sight of him. “It’s a small town and I quite often get called in. Some of the townsfolk don’t like the big hospitals so they only take a doctor’s word they need to go.” She nodded to the sooty bandage. “How’s the hand? The bandage looks worse for wear, despite the gloves.”

  “It’s a little messy. Nothing I can’t wash clean later.”

  “Let me take a look. Make sure you haven’t undone all my hard work.” Jess pulled a clean bandage from her med kit and redressed his hand. She did her best to ignore the ripples that ran through her at his touch. She really should know better.

  “Thanks.”

  She glanced up at him and tilted her head. “I thought you looked different this morning. You lost the beard. You look years younger clean shaven.”

  Josh ran his other hand over his chin. “I only have a beard when I’m on vacation. Regulations state no beards on duty.”

  She finished his hand. “Keep the bandage clean this time.”

  He fired off a mock salute. “Yes, ma’am.”

  Sam laughed. “You tell him.”

  Jess scowled. “Gwyliwcheich pen eichhunneu 'n annhymerus' bandage chi ifynyfel mummy yr Aifft.”

  Sam grinned, gave her a mock salute, and headed back to the pub.

  Josh waited until he and Jess were alone before speaking. “What did you say to him? I caught bandage and mummy, but that was it.”

  Jess laughed. “I told him to mind his own or I’d bandage him up like an Egyptian mummy. And he knows I would too.”

  Josh laughed with her. “Would you like to have coffee with me later? Once I buy some that is. I finished the last of the jar this morning. I need to pick up a few other things as well.”

  She tilted her head. “How about I bring dinner with me tonight? Because I know how much food there was left in the house and if you haven’t had time to shop, you’ll starve. And Mam would never forgive me if I let her lodger starve.”

  Josh nodded. “Thank you. That’s very kind of you. I’ll see you later.”

  ****

  Jess let herself into the house just after six-thirty. The house smelt different to usual. She couldn’t put a finger on it immediately, but soon she realized.

  Josh’s cologne hung over the place. His jacket was slung carelessly over the edge of the kitchen door and a half-drunk mug of cold coffee sat on the counter. She placed the bag of ingredients on the side and pulled out the wok.

  Deep baritone singing echoed down the stairs above the sound of running water. Josh must be in the shower. Her cheeks burned at the thought, and she quickly distracted herself by putting oil into the wok to heat.

  Jess quickly chopped peppers, onion, and carrots and then tossed them along with the already cooked lamb into the pan. While that was cooking, she made pastry and lined a baking dish. She tossed the meat and vegetables into it and made a rich gravy with the meat juices. She poured just enough into the dish to cover the filling. Too much gravy and she’d end up with the culinary sin of a soggy bottom. Topping it with another layer of pastry, she popped it into the oven, along with roast potatoes. Peas went into a pan to boil. The remaining gravy sat in the pan waiting to be warmed through at the last minute.

  Jess washed her hands and poured a mug of coffee. The dishes could wait a few minutes. Her mother would have a fit, but her mother wasn’t here. She leaned against the sink, savoring every mouthful.

  “Something smells good.” Josh stood in the doorway, his brown hair damp from the shower and his eyes haunted. He wore a check shirt, with the top three buttons undone, and clean black cords.

  “Thank you.” She finished the coffee and filled the sink with water to wash the dishes she’d used. “How was the construction work?”

  “It was good. Today I inspected gargoyles an
d designed a couple of new ones. I even managed to start carving one of them. A cute little guy I’m nicknaming Hezekiah. And I put out a fire.”

  “You put out a fire, really?” She couldn’t resist teasing him. “I seem to recall there being eight men in uniform at the pub earlier, unless I was mistaken.”

  “Yeah, OK, I had a little help. I have an injured hand, remember.” He winked at her as he crossed the room in three easy strides and grabbed a tea towel to start drying.

  “And he’s modest with it.” Jess couldn’t help teasing the big American. For some reason she felt at ease with him, not on edge like she normally did with strangers. And likewise he didn’t elicit the same level of guardedness she usually felt around her parents’ boarders. She had no idea why, but wasn’t going to question it. She was checking up on him as per her mother’s instructions. Although this was beginning to feel like above and beyond the call of duty. “Are you finding everything all right here? I meant to call around, but it’s been a manic few days with night calls as well.”

  “Aye. It’s a lovely cottage. Where does this one go?” He held out a dish and moved in the direction she pointed. “It’s the sort of place I would love to own one day. What I call a proper home, rather than a cold mansion.”

  “I grew up here. My parents grew up here. My grandparents and their parents did as well. And they were all doctors—well, the male line anyway.” She dished up and carried the plates to the table.

  “A family business, then.”

  “Kind of. I’m the first female doctor in the family, though.”

  She paused while she said grace, noticing he didn’t. She picked up her fork. “But being back here, practicing small town medicine wasn’t exactly what I had planned. I always wanted to be a surgeon, actually qualified as one, but then somehow ended up in general practice. Da got sick, needed a locum, and asked me to cover. And I’m still here a year later.”

  “Does he still practice?”

  Jess nodded. “There are four of us, although I’m not a full partner.”

  He pointed to his plate with his fork. “This is good. I thought you said you were lousy at cooking.”

  She shrugged. “Maybe I underestimated my talents in the cooking department. This is Welsh lamb. The best kind there is. And I made Welsh cakes for dessert.”

  “And those are?”

  Jess pointed to the plate on the side. “Griddle scones and nothing like Scotch pancakes either.”

  He took a bite. “In the States we call those biscuits, but they’re baked in an oven. They’re best when covered with sausage gravy.”

  She pulled a face. “You do what to them?” She pointed to the sauce the meat was in. “This is gravy.”

  Josh grinned and nodded. “Biscuits and white gravy, staple US breakfast or dinner or whenever we feel like it.”

  Jess shook her head. “No thanks, you can keep them. Welsh cakes are sweet like scones, with sugar, cinnamon, and fruit in them. I also got you some basic groceries. Coffee, milk, bread, and a few bits for the freezer.”

  “Thank you. I should pay you for them.”

  “No need.” She shook her head, eyeing him critically. “You look exhausted. Are you sleeping?”

  “Not well.” He heaved a sigh. “I haven’t in a while. Honestly, I can’t remember the last time I slept all night. I meant to ask when I saw you earlier if there’s any chance you could prescribe me something to help? I can drop by the surgery tomorrow if it’s easier.”

  “I could give you something, but if not sleeping is a long term problem then perhaps counseling…”

  “No.” He replied quickly, but then sucked in a deep breath, his fingers curling into a fist around the fork. “No,” he repeated, quietly. “I’ll not do the counseling.”

  Jess looked at him, surprised by the sudden outburst. “OK. I’ll give you a few pills, sure, but it isn’t the long term answer.”

  He nodded. “Thanks.” His voice was gruff, his reply terse as he stabbed with some vehemence at the lamb and pastry.

  “You’re welcome.” She changed the subject, wanting to bring the smile back to his face, or at least lightheartedness to the meal. “There’s a potluck lunch after church Sunday. Everyone is bringing something, and we pool resources. You’re more than welcome to come along.”

  “I don’t go to church.” Again the reply was quick and automatic.

  “Oh?” she asked curiously. Another touchy subject obviously. What was going on under the surface of this man? Could he have come here for a reason other than a temporary job at the fire station and a chance meeting with Dai?

  His eyes darkened and the shutters dropped over his face. “Church and me don’t exactly go together. It’ll be a cold day in Hell…” He broke off. “Why are you grinning?”

  “Because the town of Hell did literally freeze last winter—it was all over the news. So that is no good as an excuse anymore.”

  Josh’s whole body stiffened. “I’m not going and that’s final.” His tone was bitter.

  “Sounds like a long story behind that statement.”

  “Long and boring.”

  “I can listen if you want—”

  “I dinna want tae talk aboot or even think aboot God or church.”

  “Consider the subject dropped. So what do you do in the States? Does it have anything to do with those men I saw you talking to the other day?” Privately she loved the way he seamlessly switched between US and Scottish accents depending on his temper and state of mind. Was his problem with church related to the nightmares and not sleeping? He hadn’t mentioned nightmares, but that was the general reason people had trouble sleeping.

  Shutters promptly went up across his face. “What men?”

  “The one in suits and a very posh black sedan. The debate looked quite heated before they left.”

  “I don’t want to talk about that either.” His pager went off and relief crossed his face as he stood. “I’d better go.”

  Jess nodded. “I’ll clear up. I’ll be gone before you get back, so I’ll leave those meds on the dresser for you.”

  “Dresser? Which room is that in?” He shrugged into his jacket.

  Jess pointed to the sideboard unit with glass cupboards on the top. It filled one side of the kitchen. Her mother stored all the plates and glasses in it, as well as the odd ornament or three. “That’s a dresser.”

  “OK.” He ran out as fast as he could.

  She leaned back in her chair, confused. There was more to Josh than met the eye. And what met her eye was pretty pleasing to be sure. But to say he was a complicated bloke was putting it mildly.

  A Scot, with American citizenship, doing something in the US he didn’t want to talk about. And what was it with him and the whole anti-church thing he had going? It was safe to say there was a lot more going on than she knew. Like the proverbial iceberg, there was only a small bit showing. She’d love to find out what lurked beneath the surface.

  She cleaned up, putting the leftovers in the fridge for him. Once she’d done that, she headed back to her temporary home over the surgery, determined to pray for the tall, dark, deliciously handsome stranger who was very much on her mind.

  4

  Josh walked into the surgery more than ready to have the stiches removed. He’d been in the UK for a week now and still no contact from his father, which surprised him. Dad knew exactly where he was. Maybe Dad was waiting for him to make the first move. Or some crisis had blown up demanding his full attention.

  He’d managed to avoid bumping into the pretty doc since that dinner they’d shared, but couldn’t stop the confounded woman from filling his thoughts. Or stop her words from echoing in his mind. Or was it God poking him with a big, sharp stick?

  Sunday had been especially hard. Church bells had rung across the valley and mountains for over an hour, calling people to worship. Attending church was something he’d done every Sunday for the whole of his life. But no longer. Not since July fourth.

  Instead, he’
d packed up some sandwiches and bottled water, got into the car and driven into the National Park, where he spent both the sunniest and wettest day he’d seen in a long time climbing Mount Snowdon.

  While on the mountain Josh tried to avoid God, but he failed spectacularly. Rather, he encountered evidence of God in creation everywhere. The mountains, vast blue sky, birds, butterflies, and the clean air all shouted God’s glory. He wanted out of that one-sided relationship that had cost him everything he held dear. Well, maybe not quite everything, but it may as well have been. He’d quit his job and left the church, but unlike every other job he’d ever had, this time his Employer, his Master, didn’t seem to get that and wouldn’t let him go.

  And he didn’t have time for a relationship with a woman either. No matter how pretty she was. And the same went for avoiding doctors.

  He glanced at his watch, wondering how much longer he’d have to wait, as Jess came out of her exam room and smiled at him. Was that smile for him? There was no one sitting on either side of him, so it must be for him. He smiled back. His resolve failed immediately. He’d avoid every single doctor in the world apart from one.

  This particular doctor he didn’t mind seeing again.

  “Hi, Josh.” Jess grabbed his notes. “Come on through.”

  Josh stood and followed her across the ever decreasing space. What was it about her that sent his already taut nerves into overdrive?

  “Sorry to have kept you, we had a couple of emergencies come in. How have you been?” she asked closing the door.

  “OK,” he managed. The space he was in now seemed to be the size of a small cupboard. Her floral perfume was overwhelming, she seemed to be everywhere at once, and he all he wanted to do was run.

  She took hold of his hand, her gentle touch branding him and rooting him to the spot. “Have you settled in all right?” Her soft voice ran rivers of fire through him.

  “Aye. It sure is pretty around here.” He mentally slapped himself. He was a grown man, not a teenager with a crush. He knew better. He was… oh who are you trying to kid, Josiah? You’re a grown man with a crush on a woman you can’t have.