City Surgeon, Outback Bride

by Lucy Clark

  At half past four that afternoon, it appeared they could soon think about going home, with only five or six people left to be seen. Thankfully, most of the cases in the past hour or so had been straightforward, with people wanting aches and pains checked out.

  The doors to A and E swished open and in came a burly man, leaning on his mates. He looked feverish, and from the bandage around his right arm was not in good shape.

  ‘Bring him through here,’ Rayne said immediately, leading them into treatment room one. ‘What happened?’

  ‘Bart collapsed, Doc. We were gonna call for an ambulance when he came to and told us not to. Said he was fine.’

  ‘We finally got him to agree to at least come here and get checked out before we leave,’ the other man supplied. The two men hefted Bart onto the examination bed and then stepped to the side to allow Rayne and her team to do their work.

  ‘Has he been drinking?’

  ‘No, Doc. Bart’s a teetotaller. He runs the petting zoo and says he has to keep his wits about him.’

  ‘He’s one of the carnival workers?’

  ‘Yes, Doc. He’s been doing the muster for a good four years now.’

  She nodded, listening to the readings the nursing staff were giving her on the patient’s vitals.

  ‘BP is elevated.’

  ‘Temperature is thirty-nine point two.’

  ‘Get an IV set up to replace fluids. We need to get that temperature down.’ Rayne had pulled on a protective gown and gloves and started to remove the bandage from Bart’s right arm. ‘How long has he had this bandage on?’ It was dusty and bloodstained.

  ‘Oh, I dunno, Doc. He gashed his arm before we got here. We were at Gunnedah before coming down to Deni.’

  As Rayne removed the bandage, a stench filled the room and she wrinkled her nose. ‘It’s badly infected.’ She looked over at one of the nurses. ‘Call Henry. I’d rather he dealt with this.’

  ‘Yes, Rayne. Uh…do you know where he is?’

  ‘He should be around here somewhere. If he’s not, check the ward or X-ray.’

  Bart’s two friends had been ushered from the room and asked to write down any details of what had happened to Bart during the last few days.

  ‘Temperature still isn’t dropping,’ came the report two minutes later, when the next lot of neurological observations had been performed. They’d cut Bart’s clothes off him, checking for other lacerations or tell-tale signs that might give them more of a clue of what they were dealing with. Was the infection causing his high temperature or was there something else?

  Henry walked into the room and went directly to the sink before pulling on a gown and gloves. ‘What have you got for me?’ he asked as he worked. Rayne couldn’t believe she was having difficulty controlling her heart rate. Would there ever come a time when she wouldn’t be instantly affected by this man?

  During the report both she and her staff gave him, Rayne kept sneaking little glances at him. He was currently studying the wound beneath the bandage.

  ‘I didn’t want to debride it until you’d had a look. It appears rather deep.’

  ‘No, that’s fine. You’vegot him on fluids and IV penicillin so that’s a start.’ He looked up at her, their eyes meeting across the examination table, and for one blinding second it was just the two of them locked in a bubble in time. It wasn’t the first time it had happened and it probably wouldn’t be the last. Henry’s eyes were intense, and she could see quite clearly that he was as aware of her as she was of him.

  With a blink the bubble burst and the noises, the staff, the situation intruded into their minds, bringing them back to the present and the patient who was between them. ‘I’ll go get a theatre ready and we’ll take care of that arm. Get Stuie in here to anaesthetise and tell me the instant Bart’s temperature begins to drop.’ With that, he walked from the room.

  It was only a minute later that Rayne also left, throwing her gown and gloves into the appropriate bins as she went. Henry wasn’t at the nurses’ station so she headed around to Theatres to search him out. He wasn’t in Theatres either, and as Rayne stood there for a second, wondering where he might have disappeared to so quickly, the door to the male change rooms opened and out he came.

  ‘Gee, you move fast,’ she said on seeing him.

  Henry nodded but didn’t say anything else.

  ‘Henry?’

  ‘Mmm?’

  ‘Is something wrong?’ Was he regretting telling her he loved her?

  He stopped what he was doing and turned to face her. ‘No. Just trying to concentrate, that’s all. It’s difficult to do when you’re in the room,’ he said, watching her expression. Her eyes widened at his words and Henry had to employ all his willpower not to close the gap between them and haul her into his arms. He pointed back towards the A and E department. ‘I forgot there was a room full of people. I forgot there was a patient with an infected gash that stinks to high heaven. I forgot everything the moment I looked into your eyes.’

  ‘I know.’

  ‘That doesn’t happen to me. Things…situations like that don’t happen to me.’

  ‘Or me,’ she pointed out.

  ‘But it did.’

  ‘It did,’ she confirmed. ‘I feel it, too.’

  Henry breathed in deeply and slowly exhaled. ‘You do?’ He’d told her hours ago that he loved her and while he’d also said he didn’t want to force a declaration out of her, he also needed to know her emotions were as intense as his. ‘That’s good to know.’ Then, as though to prove their points, they moved closer. Bit by bit the distance separating them disappeared and soon they were facing each other. He reached out and touched his hand to hers. Immediately her fingers linked with his. ‘I knew once I’d started kissing you, I’d be unable to stop.’

  ‘It’s addictive. You’re addictive.’

  ‘Ditto.’

  He was within kissing distance now and she wasn’t quite sure how those last few centimetres had been bridged. ‘I’ve missed you,’ he murmured. ‘I’ve been in the same hospital with you, working near you, but I’ve still missed you.’

  ‘I missed you, too.’

  ‘Sad.’

  ‘Very,’ she agreed, but all the while her mind kept urging him closer, needing him to follow through on the promise that was zinging all around them.

  ‘I want to kiss you.’

  ‘I want you to kiss me.’

  ‘I can’t.’

  ‘Why not?’

  ‘Because if I do I won’t be able to stop, and I have surgery to perform.’ Although his words weren’t what she wanted to hear, she knew he’d needed to say them. He didn’t, however, back away, seemingly content to torture both of them.

  ‘Let’s get Bart organised and out of the way and then I can clock off and we can have a great night together,’ Rayne whispered.

  ‘Yes.’

  ‘Yes.’ But before he let go of her hands, she couldn’t resist and leaned forward to brush her mouth against his. ‘Sustenance,’ she murmured, and took three huge steps away.

  ‘Tease.’

  ‘Torturer.’ She dragged in a big breath and let it out on a sigh. ‘Do you need me in Theatre?’

  ‘I need you everywhere.’

  ‘Henry. Stop it.’

  ‘You started it.’

  Rayne merely smiled and shook her head, loving their banter.

  ‘Hi, there,’ Stuie said as he walked into the room. ‘Henry, I’ve reviewed the patient and the antibiotics and extra fluids seem to be bringing his temperature down.’

  ‘I’ll go check on the staff,’ Rayne said, leaving the two men alone. Henry couldn’t help but watch her walk from the room and was again hit with the feeling that he couldn’t let Rayne go. How had this happened? He hadn’t planned to meet another woman. Hadn’t planned to fall in love. But he had and now he wasn’t exactly sure how to proceed. There were so many things that needed to be sorted out, so many questions he needed answers to, and so many new plans to make.


  At least now, with Rayne out of the room, Henry was able to concentrate with more success, and even when Bart was wheeled into Theatre a while later, accompanied by Rayne, Henry still managed to maintain control. Realising they were taking this journey together was helping him not to lose concentration, even when she stood beside him to assist with the operation.

  Once Bart was stable and settled in Recovery, it was close to six o’clock.

  ‘Jazzy isn’t going to like this,’ Henry murmured as he headed for the change rooms.

  ‘We’ll make it up to her,’ Rayne promised as she pushed open the door next to his.

  ‘Change fast, Dr Hudson.’

  ‘Likewise, Dr Harcourt.’ Winking at him, she all but danced into the change rooms. It had been so much fun working with him in Theatre. The more he called on her to assist, the more she realised she was indeed selling herself short. She loved theatre work. She always had, and to be able to have that opportunity during Henry’s visit had only made her realise just how much she’d missed it.

  As she finished changing, pulling a hairbrush through her hair, Rayne stopped and looked at her reflection. What did Henry really see when he looked at her? Did he see a woman in control of her life? Did he see a brand-new mother, trying desperately to figure out what to do next? Did he see a woman who was madly in love with him but too afraid to admit it? She knew that once he learned of her feelings things would change… Things were already changing and she didn’t know quite how to cope.

  Could she put herself through such a big change? Allowing Henry into her life on a full-time basis? It was what she wanted, she knew that, but at the same time she was scared of it. Was this the real deal? She didn’t want to end up like her mother. She didn’t want to be incapable of giving and receiving real, honest, intimate love. She loved Henry, of that she was certain, but what if he hurt her? What if she sacrificed everything for him—the way her mother had time and time again—and what if he let her down?

  Her mother had never recovered well from that sort of heartbreak. Could she?

  CHAPTER TWELVE

  BY THE time they returned to Rayne’s house, Jasmine was in a very grumpy mood.

  ‘Where have you been?’ She stamped her foot and crossed her little arms over her chest. ‘I’ve been waiting for ever!’

  ‘Sorry, petal, but we had to help a sick man. He’s going to get better now.’

  ‘I don’t care.’ With that, Jasmine ran off. Rayne looked at Earlene in confusion.

  ‘What’s happened?’

  ‘She has been out of sorts since you left this morning. She also has a slight temperature.’

  ‘What?’ Rayne’s feelings switched from one of guilt at being away so long to one of caution. ‘How long? Is it up by much?’

  ‘Not by much, but it might account for her not feeling well.’

  ‘She’s sick? She can’t be sick.’ Rayne turned to Henry, who had just walked in the door. ‘Jasmine has a temperature.’

  ‘What? Where is she?’

  ‘Mad at us.’

  Henry shrugged and walked further into the house. ‘She’ll just have to be mad. Jasmine?’ he called, but received no reply. ‘Jazzy, we’re sorry we took so long. We’re both here now and we can’t wait to spend time with you.’

  ‘Go away!’ Jasmine called, giving her hiding-place away. Henry headed over to where she was hiding behind the lounge, but didn’t approach her. Rayne watched in awe at the way he dealt with the five-yearold’s tantrum.

  ‘Is that what you really want? Do you want Rayne and I to go away?’

  ‘Yes,’ came the answer, although all the adults could hear the wavering of the little voice.

  ‘OK, then. We’ll go away.’ He turned and had taken two steps away when Jasmine flew at him, clinging to his leg.

  ‘No. Don’t go.’

  Henry lifted the little girl into his arms and kissed her forehead, lingering a moment to try and gauge her temperature. ‘She is a little warm,’ he stated, looking at Rayne. ‘Jazzy, are your ears sore?’

  ‘This one is,’ she said, pointing to the left one before burying her head into Henry’s shoulder and bursting into tears.

  ‘Medicine and sleep,’ Earlene suggested.

  ‘I’ll get my bag,’ Rayne murmured as Henry sat down with Jasmine. Rayne returned with the tympanic thermometer and an otoscope.

  ‘You have an otoscope at home?’ Henry seemed surprised.

  ‘You don’t?’

  He smiled at her words and just that glorious sight was enough to help Rayne relax. As soon as Henry had confirmed that Jasmine had a raised temperature, Rayne felt the walls close in on her. Jasmine was sick! She couldn’t be. Nothing could happen to that child. She was too precious, too necessary in her life. Jasmine was all she had left of Janey and therefore she wasn’t allowed to be sick. Jasmine was sick! The words went round and round in her head like a stuck record and she desperately tried to control herself so she didn’t panic. Medically she could handle anything, except Jasmine being sick.

  Now Henry was here, taking control, remaining calm. Rayne had been ready to break into panic mode, to rush Jasmine up to the hospital, but Henry merely held the child close to him and cuddled her. The tears subsided and Jasmine was now lying on his torso, her arms about his neck, her eyes closed, her breathing regular.

  ‘What’s her temperature?’ he asked as Rayne withdrew the thermometer.

  ‘Thirty-eight point one.’

  ‘Check her ears. You’ll no doubt find that they’re the culprit.’

  She did as he’d suggested and agreed with him.

  ‘No doubt Earlene’s been keeping Jasmine’s fluids up. We’ll give her some medicine and sponge her down. She’ll be fine. You’ll see.’

  ‘You’ve nursed children with temperatures before?’

  ‘I looked after Natalia when she had a temperature.’

  ‘Oh.’ She’d forgotten he’d helped nurse his wife. ‘It’s just that you’re so good with children…well, with Jazzy.’

  ‘I’ve always liked kids.’ He met Rayne’s eyes. ‘Always wanted a brood of my own.’ He half expected her to shy away from his words, from what he was saying without really saying it, but she didn’t. Instead, she took his hand in hers and brought it to her lips, kissing it tenderly. It was the perfect answer.

  Together they sponged Jasmine down, pleased when the thermometer recorded a slightly lower temperature. Finally the fever broke and the child slipped into a deep, natural sleep. Rayne slumped down onto the lounge and sighed in relief. Slowly, the tension of the last few hours started to drain out of her, and as she remembered how scared she’d been for the little girl, tears started to prick behind her eyes. Valiantly, she tried to hold them back.

  ‘Let it out, Rayne. It’s OK to let go.’ Henry’s words were filled with healing and when she looked up at him and sniffed, he smiled and brushed the teardrop quivering on her eyelashes away with his thumb. ‘Let it out, honey.’

  She nodded and slowly the tears slid down her cheeks. Henry tightened his hold on her hand, wanting to let her know that she was incredibly special to him and that to share a moment like this was so intimate, so personal and so right.

  When she’d finished, he held out his handkerchief to her, which she took with gratitude.

  ‘Sorry, I’m overreacting, I know. Aren’t you glad you came back with me tonight?’ She laughed as she spoke. ‘Sick children and crying women.’

  Henry shifted so that he was facing her and reached out to touch her hair, sifting his fingers through it. ‘It’s OK. And you’re beautiful.’

  ‘What?’ she scoffed. ‘With a red nose and puffy eyes?’

  ‘Yes.’ He cupped her cheek. ‘You’re beautiful, Rayne, and I would far rather be here with you and Jazzy than anywhere in the world.’

  ‘Oh.’ His words were perfect, touching her deep within her soul. ‘Really?’

  ‘Yes.’ He leaned forward and pressed his mouth to hers as though to prove his point. ‘Yo
u’re beautiful on the inside as well as on the outside, and that’s an amazing quality to have.’ He took her hands in his and looked into her eyes with complete tenderness. ‘This thing between us, Rayne. You have to know it’s just the beginning.’

  ‘Beginning of what?’

  ‘Of the next chapter of our lives.’

  ‘Our lives?’

  ‘Yes. I need you with me, Rayne. You and Jazzy.’

  ‘Henry?’

  ‘I want to move to Deniliquin. To be near you.’

  ‘But you can’t do it just for us. It needs to be the right thing for you, too.’

  ‘It is. Believe me, it is. Rayne…’ He shifted slightly, adjusting the way he was holding Jasmine, propping a pillow behind her head. ‘Rayne…you’ve helped me in such an amazing way. You’ve brought me out of the past, out of my loneliness, and you’ve shown me that there’s more of a future for me than just grinding away at that hospital. After Natalia’s accident I despaired of ever being happy again. I was so alone. I had no one and that started to consume me. I started to tell myself I didn’t need anyone, that work would be enough. I had to keep going, although I wasn’t sure why.

  ‘I knew after Natalia had been in the coma for about six months that she would never make a full recovery. The damage had been done and it was then I started to let go. Took a while, believe me, but deep down inside I knew I had to let go but, in doing so, I sank even deeper into that lonely void.’

  ‘Oh, Henry.’ She kissed his hand again, her heart wrenching for him. ‘I know that void. I’ve been there.’

  ‘I think that’s why we connected so quickly. We sensed that about each other and you’ve helped me to climb out, helped me to let go and to start afresh.’ He shook his head. ‘When I heard that part of the building had collapsed, when I thought you were under all that rubble…’ He stopped and closed his eyes. ‘It was as though the loneliness was reaching out to grab me again.’ He looked at her, his eyes intense. ‘I can’t lose you, Rayne. I love you so deeply, so passionately. I need you in my life, to fill it with joy and happiness and, hopefully, children. Brothers and sisters for Jasmine. More grandchildren for Earlene and Jarvis.’