The Bachelor Doctor

by Judy Campbell

  ‘I’m glad things are working out between you. You and I seemed to get on very well, didn’t we?’ He looked out of the window. ‘You’d better get that little boy back to his bed. The snow looks pretty fierce and your car’s not suitable if you hit any drifts.’

  ‘That’s why Jake’s brought us—his car’s more powerful and it’s got chains. We’ll be fine.’

  He nodded, looked speculatively at Jake and Cara, and a fleeting smiled crossed his face. ‘That’s kind of you, Jake. Now, off you go and let me get some shuteye!’

  The car was travelling through a white world. The snow had stopped and now every branch and building was covered with a thick layer of icing-sugar white. It looked like something from a Christmas card. Dan had fallen asleep in the back of the car, firmly strapped in and his arm supported by an arm rest. Cara leant back in her seat and closed her eyes. Just as she’d got one worry out of the way with Dan, another popped up to take its place. She wondered how her father would stand up to the rigours of a triple bipass, how she’d get to the hospital tomorrow, and if Annie would mind looking after Dan.

  She flicked a look at Jake. She was grateful to him for the lift, but that was another worry. Whatever they’d assured her father, working with this man wasn’t going to be easy and she saw months of edginess between them.

  Jake’s deep voice suddenly cut into her thoughts. ‘Anything the matter? You seem very tense.’

  ‘Not really…just Dan and my father, I suppose.’

  He glanced at her quickly. ‘You know there’s nothing to worry about with Dan, and Gordon will be a new man after his operation. There’s something more to it than that—tell me.’

  She was silent, twisting her hands together. Then she gave an inward shrug. What did it matter if he thought she was prying? She had to find out more about this man—after all, they had to work together. She flicked a looked at him under her lashes.

  ‘You’re a hard man to fathom, Jake.’ She smiled.

  He raised an eyebrow. ‘What do you mean by that?’

  ‘Not many men would have disregarded last night altogether—you must have taken a dislike to me!’

  He looked straight ahead, manoeuvring the twisting roads carefully. ‘Don’t be ridiculous,’ he said roughly.

  ‘Perhaps you were told never to kiss colleagues, then?’ Her tone was bantering.

  His hands tightened on the steering-wheel, his knuckles white. ‘I don’t like to endanger working relationships,’ he muttered. ‘And perhaps I’m frightened…’

  ‘Frightened? For heaven’s sake. What of?’

  The light from the porch lit his face and he turned to look at Cara. Suddenly she noticed that his eyes were not just a deep blue—they had green flecks in them as well. He touched her cheek with his hand, and a slight smile lit up his saturnine face for a second.

  ‘Frightened you’ll find out about my dark secrets!’ he said lightly.

  A cynical expression flitted across Cara’s face. He was frightened all right—frightened of getting entangled with a single mother and what it would do to his career! She lifted Dan gently out of the back seat and turned to look at Jake.

  ‘We certainly wouldn’t want to do that,’ she said drily. ‘Thanks for the lift. I’ll speak to you tomorrow.’

  Jake looked in the rear-view mirror at Cara as he drove away, hugging her little boy against her in the cold whilst she opened the door. There was some truth in what he’d said. He wanted to keep his private life just that—private! What was the point of telling her about his disabled sister? Cara would think it ridiculous that Ursula would stand in the way of a relationship. But, of course, there was much more to it than that. Ursula had seen him through medical school, scraped together enough money to keep them going, and it was indirectly because of him that she’d ended up being mugged and left with her terrible injuries. There was no way he would desert her and send her into a home, and there was no way he could expect a wife to cope with his sister’s jealousy and possessiveness.

  He put the car into a low gear and started the climb up to the old cottage where he lived with Ursula. She’d be in bed now, but he knew there’d be an inquisition in the morning as to why he’d been so late. He smiled wryly to himself. He’d better keep quiet about the looks of his new colleague, the way her lashes fanned onto her cheekbones, the scattering of freckles on her upturned nose, the delicious little hollow in her neck that he longed to kiss whenever he saw her. Ursula would only see Cara as a rival for his affections, someone who might take him away from her—and her control.

  CHAPTER SIX

  CARA glanced at her watch in irritation. Why was it that when she wanted just three things at the supermarket there was only one checkout and ten people in front of her with groaning trolleys? She’d come in early on a Saturday morning, having dropped Dan off to play with a friend from the nursery. She was going skiing with Karen, but they had to get to the slopes soon for the days became dark very early at this time of year. When her father came home from hospital the following week there would be precious little time for recreation and she intended to make the most of it.

  She really needed to get out onto the slopes for a breath of fresh air and exercise, Cara reflected. The past few weeks hadn’t been all that easy—ever since the night when they’d brought Dan back from the hospital there’d been a tension between Jake and herself. He’d been perfectly courteous, but remote. It was as if he was deliberately keeping his distance, trying not to get drawn into any discussion that didn’t involve work. Sometimes she felt stifled by the atmosphere and longed to tell him to lighten up, even ask him outright if he’d prefer that she didn’t work with him at all!

  And yet she had a feeling that despite himself Jake Donahue wasn’t too averse to her. Why else come into her room to discuss something trivial to do with work at the end of the day when he could have left a note? Why else come round to see Dan so much at the weekends? Even though Dan’s arm had now healed and there was no excuse to ask how it was, often Jake would turn up with a new game at a Saturday lunchtime. Dan looked forward greatly to these visits, and was always talking about Jake. Sometimes Cara found their growing intimacy unsettling.

  She reached the head of the queue and fumbled in her purse to pay. She was darned if she’d allow all this to bother her—even though Jake’s image did seem to creep into her mind far too often, and when he did come near her heart beat a nervous tattoo against her ribs. If he wanted to keep his distance, so would she, however uncomfortable it was!

  The slopes were teeming with skiers and snow-boarders, many of whom had come from Edinburgh or Glasgow for the weekend. Karen’s husband, Ian Taylor, was operating the drag lift, and grinned as they showed him their passes.

  ‘Hope you’ve got your long johns on,’ he said, ‘It’s bitterly cold up there!’

  Karen was just ahead of Cara and teamed up with another woman beside her. Cara glanced up at the person she was to go up with and swallowed very hard. Deep blue eyes in a strong face looked down at her, and a firm mouth lifted in a slight smile.

  ‘Seems like we’re paired off together—I’ll take the far side,’ said Jake.

  Cara stared at him, completely taken aback. She was about to spend ten minutes in the closest physical proximity with the man who’d been keeping her at arm’s length for weeks!

  ‘Why are you here?’ she asked baldly. ‘I didn’t know you skied.’

  ‘When I can. I’m on duty here this afternoon. I’m part of the mountain rescue team that’s always around, and we help to police the slopes amongst other things. We try and stop people going down the slopes like maniacs and crashing into others if we can. I told you before, we’re short of people and I got an urgent call today to help make up numbers as two of the team are off ill. As it’s a Saturday, I can manage that.’

  She took her place by his side and slid a nervous glance towards him. He looked pretty good in his ski outfit—tough and athletic, goggles pushed back over a thick woollen band round h
is head. He had a rucksack on his back and a strip across his back that said, MOUNTAIN RANGER.

  She swallowed as their lift got nearer. ‘Actually, I’m not an expert on these drag lifts. I seem to fall off them rather a lot—and take my partner with me!’

  He looked down at her with a light-hearted chuckle as if the astringent air had banished his usual restraint. ‘Let’s see how we go on, then—I dare you to knock me flying!’

  Ian slipped the wood behind them attached to the spring-loaded wire that pulled them up the slope, and in no time at all she was pressed firmly against Jake’s thighs. Immediately her legs slid over to his side and she stiffened, fighting against the support it gave.

  ‘Oops! I’m not very good at this!’ she admitted, giving a little shriek. ‘I can’t seem to keep control!’

  ‘Are you trying to push me off?’ Jake murmured, bracing himself against her weight as they were pulled upwards. ‘You’re certainly stronger than I thought!’

  She felt his muscular legs pressing against hers, forcing her back into her own tracks. ‘Sorry,’ she gasped. ‘I’m not doing it on purpose! Aagh!’

  A sudden bump in the tracks forced her ski over his and for a horrible moment she imagined them both falling off and rolling down the slope together in a tangle of arms, legs and skis!

  ‘You don’t get rid of me that easily…’ Jake put one arm round her and bodily lifted her from his skis and back into her space. ‘Now,’ he murmured, ‘keep your legs straight and relax. With any luck we’ll reach the top soon before you knock everyone over!’

  As the lift came to an end there was a dip on the pathway. Skiers were supposed to let go of the wooden support and glide towards the exit, leaving the lift to carry on again down the slope. In a sudden panic, Cara let go far too early and after wobbling precariously fell over right into Jake.

  ‘Hell!’ murmured Jake’s voice in her ear. ‘Is that how you always leave the lift?’

  With a vice-like grip he pulled her upright and she slid in an unsteady way to the side with her legs wide apart and his arms still guiding her. Then gradually, despite his support, she began to topple over. Clutching despairingly at him, she fell in an undignified heap to the ground, pulling him with her.

  He pulled himself up quickly and then hauled Cara up with him, using both arms round her to steady her. He looked very gravely at her for second, then suddenly threw back his head and gave an uninhibited bellow of laughter. It was as if the weeks of tension had melted away with that one embarrassing fall of hers!

  ‘You’re like an uncoordinated octopus,’ he spluttered. ‘Everyone in range of you is in danger!’

  Cara looked at him with uncertainty. Was he really being humorous, relaxed with her?

  ‘I’m glad you’re amused,’ she said primly, then added more pointedly, ‘At least I’ve found something to make you laugh!’

  Jake gave a wry smile and nodded. ‘Perhaps I have been rather too…serious over the past few weeks. I’ve been thinking that maybe it’s time to lighten up. If we’re colleagues, then we ought to be friends!’

  His arms were still round her, strong, all-enveloping, and as he looked down at her it was as if that spark they’d had on the island had re-ignited. She saw the laughter in his eyes fade and something very like tenderness take its place. Cara forgot the other people on the slope flying down all around her. The laughter and shrieks of the crowd faded and in that moment there was just Jake and herself, pressed together, and the lightning of incredible attraction flashing through her. His body was muscular and hard—and she felt intoxicated and yet terrified to be held so firmly against him.

  Surely she wasn’t imagining that Jake felt it, too. If he really wanted to keep her at arm’s length he’d drop his grasp on her, wouldn’t he? There was something in that steady blue gaze and tight grip of his that seemed to signal he wasn’t all that ill-disposed towards her after all.

  He smiled wryly down at her. ‘I’d forgotten how exciting skiing could be,’ he said in a slightly husky voice.

  What was it that had built up this powder keg of pent-up energy between them? Had the clear champagne-like air intoxicated them, or was it the sudden freedom of the slopes?

  ‘You…you seem very relaxed,’ murmured Cara. ‘I was beginning to think you couldn’t laugh with me again…’

  For answer, he hugged her closer to him, and she gave a sharp intake of breath. She had to get away from Jake before she made a fool of herself—like kiss him full on the lips or bury her head into his warm neck!

  ‘Race you to the bottom,’ she yelled, escaping from his grasp and plunging down the slope as fast as she could with legs as wobbly as jelly and her heart clattering against her ribs.

  It became a magical, fun day—the sun sparkling overhead in a cerulean sky, the air crisp and invigorating. Jake seemed a different man, carefree, relaxed and enjoying himself, as if the vigorous exercise had cast out some of his reserve. Karen and Cara did sedate runs whilst he flew up and down, occasionally waving to them and sometimes trying to persuade some of the young hotheads not to snowboard directly in the line of the skiers.

  If skiing is all it needs to relax a tense, moody person, reflected Cara as she watched Jake zoom down ahead of her, executing perfect turns on the slope, she’d prescribe it to all her patients!

  At the bottom of the run was a large hut which served hot drinks and snacks. The women decided to rest after about an hour and Ian joined them, rubbing his hands.

  ‘It’s looking a bit black over there,’ he said, jerking his head down the valley. ‘We’ll be stopping the lift soon and I guess Jake will be doing a final run to make sure everyone’s off the slope. We want to finish well before it gets dark.’

  Cara sipped her hot chocolate appreciatively. It had been a marvellous time, but she needed to get back to Dan. Just as she started to gather her things Jake came into the hut, his large frame seeming almost too big for the room. He came over to Ian, pulling off his goggles.

  ‘Hate to tell you Ian, we’ve just had a call from a hill-walker that two people have been spotted under Ballranoch Tor, one with a possible leg fracture. Both are probably hypothermic. I’ve got a rough fix on their position, but the man’s mobile keeps cutting out. We’ll need to get going whilst it’s still light.’

  ‘How many rescuers have we got?’ asked Ian.

  Jake pulled a wry face. ‘Just three of us. I’ve got my medical stuff with me and I’ll contact the air ambulance when I get a better idea where they are. With any luck we’ll be able to get there before the cloud comes down.’

  Cara stood up. ‘Let me come with you,’ she suggested. ‘At least I’ve some medical expertise—and you said you needed help.’

  Jake glanced at her, frowning. ‘No, I couldn’t do that. You haven’t done any training yet in mountain rescue.’

  ‘You tell me as we go, then! Is it difficult terrain?’

  ‘Not really—we’ll traverse all the way on our skis. The tor is actually only round the bulk of the hill here. I’d take a guess that they’ve been incredibly stupid and started skiing off piste where there’s a lot of rocky outcrops just waiting to trip someone up. I don’t think they’ll be far away.’

  ‘Well, I may not be much good on drag lifts, but I can handle the skiing OK,’ remarked Cara. ‘All I’m concerned about is picking up Dan from his friend’s house.’

  ‘I can do that—no problem,’ said Karen quickly. ‘Annie will be waiting at the house, won’t she? She’ll be delighted to have him to herself for a while!’

  Cara shot her a grateful glance. There was no shortage of help round here when it was needed.

  ‘Would you? That’s really kind. I’d like to see what happens in a mountain rescue—besides trying to help. It would be good to get the experience.’

  ‘Well, then,’ said Jake, hoisting a large pack onto his shoulders, ‘if you’re sure, we’ll set off now.’ He looked at Cara assessingly. ‘You look as if you’re wearing plenty of thermal clothing—t
he temperature will plummet when the sun goes behind the hill. Ian and Max, his twin brother, make up the rest of our depleted team. We’ll set off together and as we get nearer we’ll spread out a bit in a “critical search pattern”, as it’s called, keeping an eye open for the victims or any of their dropped possessions.’

  ‘Right.’ Cara nodded. A frisson of excited interest went through her as she wondered what they would come across when they reached the stricken people. It felt good to be involved in something that would hopefully lead to a happy outcome.

  Ian introduced her to his brother Max—to Cara’s eyes they seemed identical! Then they started to glide over the snow in single file, the sun still bright above their heads.

  ‘Watch out for rocks,’ warned Ian. ‘The snow is very uneven here with all the drifting that occurs when it’s windy.’

  It didn’t take long to circle the bulge of the hill, and immediately Cara felt the temperature drop as the shadow of the mountain fell in their path. It looked menacing and forbidding, and completely different from the gaiety of the ski-slopes they’d left behind.

  ‘Spread out now,’ instructed Jake. ‘If you see anything, yell!’

  A few minutes later, Max shouted out and waved to them. ‘To the right! Twenty-five degrees east!’

  Cara followed the three men as they descended to the lee of a large rock where two figures were huddled together, one of them raising an arm. They could hear a feeble cry of ‘Help’ as they traversed over to them. Cara squinted through her goggles at the ground in front of her. It wasn’t easy. They were going quite quickly and every so often a bare patch of rock showed blackly through the snow. She gritted her teeth—there was no way she could let the team down and injure herself!

  ‘Will you look at what they’re wearing?’ muttered Jake as they reached the young couple lying frightened and white-faced against the rock ‘Those T-shirts wouldn’t keep a fly warm!’

  The girl had been crying. ‘Thank God you’ve come!’ she whimpered. ‘My boyfriend’s hurt his leg badly, and my arm’s really painful!’