There was nothing more she could do for the dog.
There was only Ethel.
The fingers were unsalvageable.
The men found remains of them spattered onto the chainsaw. They brought them down to the hospital and Niall inspected them in grim silence as Jess and Geraldine prepared Theatre.
‘Non-viable,’ he said bitterly. ‘Damn…’
The surgery was difficult enough, anyway.
Jess gave the anaesthetic-a role she’d learned as the island’s vet One doctor and one vet on the island meant that the only option was to give anaesthetics for each other’s patients in emergencies, despite genetic differences.
‘It’s only learning about one more sort of animal,’ Jess had joked to her cousin the first time she’d been asked to do it-but it was more than that. Human life was infinitely precious-and infinitely complex…
And Ethel was frail at the best of times.
Jess concentrated fiercely on Niall’s instructions as he debrided the wound and tied off slashed blood vessels.
Niall operated as if he was completely at home at the operating table and Jess had the feeling that he was competent to deal with worse dramas than the one he was dealing with here.
He took Jessie’s lack of human experience on board without a murmur, swiftly assessing how much she knew and didn’t know and changing his own role accordingly. His fingers moved swiftly and skilfully-and Jess was sure that she was looking at something other than basic general practice training.
‘I thought you were a GP,’ she said bluntly and Niall smiled.
‘Well, I guess I am,’ he agreed. ‘Or was. But I’m also a surgeon.’
‘I…I see…’
Jess didn’t see at all. There were things about this man that she could only guess at.
She couldn’t guess at them now, though. There was too much else to concentrate on.
To Niall’s and Jessie’s relief Ethel had stirred from unconsciousness briefly before going under anaesthetic-but had welcomed the anaesthetic like a friend.
There was no joy for her in consciousness.
Geraldine crossmatched blood as they worked, leaving Jess as the only assistant. Ethel needed unit after unit of blood.
‘She’s so thin,’ Niall muttered as he operated. ‘There are no reserves. Tell me about her, Jess.’
‘What do you want to know?’ Jess was concentrating totally on the task at hand. She hardly heard the question.
‘What sort of woman are we operating on?’
Jess forced herself to think.
‘A pathetic one,’ she said at last. ‘Barry knocks her round-it’s common knowledge on the island. She doesn’t have enough money for the basic necessities.’ Jess paused as she concentrated on her row of dials and then started again. ‘Barry drinks all the little money he earns-and most of hers. She takes in ironing and does other people’s housework.’
‘There are bruises here not caused by any chainsaw.’
Jess nodded. ‘That doesn’t surprise me.’
‘Has anyone talked to her about leaving him?’
‘I have.’ Jess had agonised over intervening the first few times she’d met the haunted, softly spoken woman but had finally decided that she couldn’t ignore Ethel’s cringing every time her husband was mentioned.
‘Last time her dog was vaccinated I had to stitch the dog’s shoulder where Barry had planted a boot-and Ethel had bruises which looked worse.’ Jess shrugged. ‘I didn’t achieve much. It’s a huge thing for Ethel to walk away from her husband. She married him thirty years ago when she was sixteen. Her children have long since left the island because of Barry’s evil temper.’
‘Well, she’s not going to get a lot older if she stays with him, that’s for sure.’ Niall sighed and straightened. ‘Reverse please, Jess.’ He moved position to assist her. ‘I’ve done all I can-but she needs a trip to the mainland.’
‘For plastic surgery?’
‘They can rebuild her thumb. By the look of the wear on her hands she’s left-handed and she’ll be lost without the thumb. With clever grafting they’ll shift a toe-if she agrees.’
‘A toe…’
‘Big toes are extraneous,’ he smiled wearily. ‘Missing thumbs are a real pest. We’ll give her the choice in the morning. But for now…for now…’
For now Ethel needed to sleep. She lay shrunken and pallid on the trolley as she started to breathe normally and Jessie’s heart went out to her.
‘What about Barry?’ she asked as Geraldine wheeled Ethel out into the ward and Niall and Jess removed their gowns at the sink.
‘I’ll go to the lock-up now,’ Niall told her. ‘I’d prefer to dress his hand there. Sergeant Russell will keep him under observation for the night-and I’d rather have him making a fuss out of earshot of Ethel.’
‘I’d like to know why she locked him out.’
‘Some of those bruises are recent,’ Niall said grimly. ‘And by the look of her arm I’d say there’s a break that hasn’t been set properly. If I had to guess I’d say the lady’s been living in fear for quite a while.’ He sighed. ‘I’ll go now and dress Barry’s hand and come back…’
‘You’ll stay here the night?’
‘I’d rather be close until Ethel’s stabilised,’ he said. ‘Paige will be right with Hugo. Ethel’s fairly traumatised-and she’s lost a lot of blood.’
Jess nodded. ‘I’ll…I’ll go to bed, then,’ she told him softly. ‘I’ll see you in the morning.’
‘You do that,’ he smiled and touched her face lightly with one finger. ‘You do that.’
CHAPTER NINE
BED…
Not yet. First there were her two little orphans.
For Jess there were always her two-or more-little orphans. They were restless when she got back to her flat, the little wallaby out of his pouch and nosing around the kitchen. Jess sat on the floor by the stove and gave them their milk, using the time to settle her jangled nerves.
She should relax…
She couldn’t.
Niall was gone. He was down at the police station attending the awful Barry.
So…
If Niall was gone why were her senses alight as though electrified? Her whole body seemed to be straining-listening for his return.
He’d go straight to his flat, she told herself crossly. There was no reason for him to come past her room.
He’d check Ethel again.
He could come this way.
It didn’t matter if he did. He’d just walk straight down the corridor, check Ethel, keep going, turn left and go to his side of the hospital.
Right.
So she should get into bed and not sit here by the fire nursing stupid wallabies and listening for stupid footsteps.
‘I’m going nuts,’ she told the little wallaby, and the tiny animal looked up as though in complete agreement.
A car.
The ambulance returning from the police station.
Footsteps down the corridor. They checked outside Ethel’s room. Paused. Stayed for ten minutes. There was a low conversation at the ward door as Niall gave Geraldine her instructions for the night.
The footsteps came on.
Down the corridor and turn left.
Down the corridor…
They didn’t turn left. The footsteps stopped right outside Jessie’s door.
She was hardly breathing. Somehow her lungs had stopped-or was it her heart?
‘Jess?’ A light tap on the door-not loud enough to be heard by Geraldine. ‘Awake?’
No. She shouldn’t be awake. She should be inside her bed with the bedroom door locked and with chains on her heart
Instead of which she was placing the tiny wallaby on the floor and crossing to open the door.
‘Niall…’
‘Who did you think it was?’ he asked wickedly. ‘Santa Claus?’
‘It might have been a call,’ she said with quiet dignity. ‘I do get them.’
‘Surely your
farmers don’t come scratching on your bedroom door at three in the morning?’ he teased. He took a step into the room but paused as Jess laid a warning hand on his arm. ‘What’s wrong?’
‘Wilfred’s out,’ she said briefly. ‘Watch your feet.’
‘Wilfred?‘ Niall looked around-and then down. His eyes creased into a smile at the sight of the little wallaby nosing his shoes. ‘Wilfred,’ he said in satisfaction, leaning over and scooping the joey into his large hand. ‘Haven’t you heard it’s time youngsters were in bed?’
‘He’s a nocturnal animal,’ Jess smiled, moving aside to let Niall come closer to the fire. ‘In another month or so I’ll be starting to prepare him for release.’
‘How do you do that?’
‘I put him out on the verandah at first,’ Jess told him. She was having trouble making her voice work. Niall’s presence filled the room.
‘He learns to come and go as he pleases. I start weaning him off milk. When he’s thoroughly weaned I move his pouch out near the back fence and start putting pellets on both sides of the boundary. The wild wallabies come in to feed-and Wilfred feeds alongside them, with the fence between them. After a few months I open the gate at night so that the wild wallabies can come in-or Wilfred can go out.’
‘It’s a long process,’ Niall said thoughtfully.
‘Any faster and the wild animals will kill him,’ Jess said. ‘After he’s acclimatised I go back to laying pellets further from the fence on the outer side of the boundary-I’m doing that now-so animals I’ve already released always have a fall-back position.’ She smiled. ‘So they’re released-but I usually keep track of them for ever. That’s the plan, at any rate.’
‘For ever,’ Niall said slowly. ‘That’s a long time, Jess.’
‘I’m in no hurry,’ she said equably. Then, at the look on Niall’s face, her composure left her. ‘How…how was Barry?’
‘Aggressive. Belligerent. Foul-mouthed. Called his wife every name in the book-and a few more besides. Sergeant Russell ended up charging him with assault so we can keep him locked up and I don’t have to admit him here.’
‘Can you do that?’ Jess said doubtfully. ‘If he was on the other side of the wall then he wouldn’t know where Ethel’s hand was.’
‘I’m not saying tonight was any more than a stupid, mindless accident,’ Niall told her. ‘But there’s the bruising, the unset broken arm and your evidence.’
‘She won’t lay charges.’
‘My evidence will hold him until she’s fit to decide whether to lay charges or not,’ Niall said in satisfaction. ‘I’ve given her a fair dose of pethidine now with orders that it be repeated two-hourly. If she doesn’t need pain relief she sure as heck needs a sedative. She’s been through a shocking experience. The lady will sleep-or will be reported to be sleeping-until we can arrange an air ambulance to the mainland. It might have to wait until she’s in Sydney before the police interview her. With luck Barry might have to kick his heels in the lock-up for two days.’
‘You and Sergeant Russell thought that up,’ Jess accused and Niall grinned.
‘We’re just following the law. And sometimes the law is a very handy thing. And very, very slow.’
‘I see.’
Jessie’s answering smile was unsure. She lifted her little wallaby and held him close. Niall stood smiling down at her and she felt shy-and infinitely vulnerable. ‘Well, thank…thank you for coming to tell me. I’ll…I’ll put Wilfred to bed now.’
‘I didn’t come to tell you anything,’ Niall said softly and the smile on his face changed. He put a hand out and touched the soft fur of the wallaby. ‘I came to see you. And Wilfred doesn’t want to go to bed.’
‘He does…’
‘I think it’s your duty as Wilfred’s treating veterinarian to introduce him to his new life,’ Niall smiled. ‘And as the island’s new medical superintendent it’s my duty to superintend you while you superintend Wilfred.’
‘I…I beg your pardon.’
‘We’re going for a walk,’ Niall told her. His hand dropped to take hers in a grip that brooked no argument. ‘You’re still dressed, I see. Wise girl.’ He smiled again and his smile made Jessie’s heart do strange things inside her. ‘Did you know I’d come back, then? Or hope…?’
‘I did no such thing,’ Jess managed with an attempt at dignity. ‘I…I had to feed my animals.’
‘For close on an hour?’ He shook his head and gently led her over to the outside door. ‘Sweet liar,’ he whispered and ushered her outside into the moonlight.
It was a night of magic.
The moon hung low over the horizon, glinting across the distant sea. Jess was wearing a soft sweater over her jeans but she hardly needed it. The warmth of the night was comfort enough.
The smell of the sea was in the air and the fragrant stands of Australian native frangipani were dropping a scattering of creamy yellow blooms in the breeze drifting from the ocean.
There were fuchsias growing in profusion by the verandah. Jess placed the tiny joey gently on the green grass and the joey took one look at the fuchsia bushes and started to munch. Heaven for a small wallaby…
He’d make it, Jess thought in satisfaction. This little one followed his instincts-and he was coming through his tough times.
He followed his instincts…
A dangerous path.
Jess glanced sideways at Niall Mountmarche’s dark figure and her heart misgave her.
Should she too be following her instincts?
Along what dangerous path were her instincts leading her?
She shouldn’t be out here. She should gather her little wallaby and run.
‘I know who looks like the wild creature here,’ Niall said conversationally. He stood with his hands in his pockets, surveying Jess and her joey with satisfaction. ‘You look like something’s about to eat you. If I had to guess which of you was more afraid…’
‘Wilfred hasn’t learned to be afraid yet,’ Jess whispered.
‘And you have?’
‘Y-yes.’
‘There’s no need.’ Niall moved then, once more swinging into that lithe, easy movement which reminded Jess of a big cat. Effortless…
Jess couldn’t move. She was like a small creature in his sights-powerless to resist.
And not sure that she wanted to.
‘Jess, don’t look like that…’
He gathered her hands, pulling her body into his in a swift, sure movement. ‘Jess, there’s no need for fear. There can’t be. I’ve spent my life looking for someone like you-and I’d started to think she didn’t exist.’
‘No…Please…’
‘There’s no “no” about it, my Jessie,’ he murmured. ‘Here you are, my lovely, lovely Jess, and I need you to say “yes” more than I need life itself. My Jess of wild creatures. You’ve come into my life and lifted my daughter from her cage of fear. You’ve pulled me from the shadows and bullied me into medicine again.
‘You…you take the whole world on your shoulders-and yet you fear it. There’s sanctuary for the healer as well, Jess, if only…if only you’ll let me into your heart.’
‘I can’t…I don’t…’ Jessie’s face was against the coarse cotton of his shirt. She could feel his heart beat-strong and sure.
‘You don’t what?’ He put her away from him, holding her at arm’s length and watching her face in the moonlight. ‘You trusted one man once-one man out of many-and that one man betrayed you. Are you going to impose John Talbot’s face on mine-see him wherever you see me? I’m here to tell you, Jess, that love has nothing to do with what was between you and John Talbot. Love has no fear.’ His grip tightened. ‘Except…except the fear of losing.’
‘Niall…’
‘I swear to you, Jess,’ he said softly. ‘I have no hidden agenda. There are no vicious surprises in my background. I want you for your own lovely self.’
‘You…’
‘I want you, Jess,’ he said, his voice low and husky with em
otion. She was somehow pulled against him again, his lips moving in her hair. ‘I’ve never wanted anyone…’ He sighed.
‘That sounds false, doesn’t it? I’ve had women before, Jess. You know that. Paige is living proof. I thought…I thought I was in love with Paige’s mother-so much so that I asked her to marry me. Thank God Karen knew better than both of us that the love wouldn’t last. It wasn’t the real thing. What I felt for Karen is a pale shadow of what I’m feeling for one lovely vet with a heart bigger than any person I’ve ever met before.’
His hands moved to her waist, caressing her body against his.
‘I need you, Jess,’ he said humbly. ‘With a heart so big, my lovely Jess, can you find a place for me in there?’
The sureness had gone from his voice. There was a tremor of uncertainty-as if, for once in his life, Niall Mountmarche was unsure.
Desperately unsure.
It moved Jess as nothing else could have done. Not the feel of his hands on her body, the sound of his voice…the steady beating of his heart…
She looked up into his face and almost unconsciously her hands went up to touch…to hold…to draw his mouth down to her lips…
How could she resist? How could she refuse this man-this man who was becoming part of her being? It was as if she was melting into his soul.
‘Niall…’
And then there was nothing else, except the soft rustle of the breeze in the frangipani and the distant murmur of the sea.
Niall’s lips met hers and Jessie’s doubts drifted off on the night wind…
Somehow…sometime and who knew when?-certainly not the lovers-they drew apart. Wilfred had finished his munching and the joey was huddled uncertainly at Jessie’s feet
Jess gave a shaken gasp and leaned down to scoop her baby into her arms.
‘He should…He should be in his bed…’ she whispered.
‘What a good idea.’ Niall’s arms linked around her waist enfolding girl and baby wallaby to him in a protective clasp. ‘I’ll take you both to bed…’
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