by Joanna Neil
‘Maybe you’re right.’ He laughed, draining his glass and getting to his feet. ‘Anyway, I’d better get on with the roof while we have this fine weather. I’ll go and get my tools and stuff from the car.’
‘It’s not safe,’ she said again, still hoping to stop him from going ahead with it. ‘I don’t want you to go up there.’
‘It’ll be okay, I promise. I’m wearing rubber-soled shoes and I’ll take extra care. Don’t worry about it.’
It seemed she didn’t have any choice but to wait while he went to gather up his tools and equipment. ‘What can I do to help?’ she asked when he returned. ‘Shall I hold the ladder steady?’
‘That sounds like a good idea.’ He grinned at her. ‘Don’t look so anxious, Katie. It’ll be fine. Tell me about the babies at the hospital. How are they doing? I didn’t get the chance to check up on them yesterday.’
He started up the ladder, and she guessed he was only asking as a way of diverting her attention. ‘Shouldn’t you be concentrating on what you’re doing, instead of listening to me?’ she asked.
‘I like listening to you. How’s Sam? Were you able to check up on him? I know you like to follow up on your patients, so you must know something.’
‘He’s out of Intensive Care,’ she told him. ‘It looks as though the operation you did on him will provide a permanent cure for his condition. He’s much stronger already, and his heart rate is normal now.’
‘That’s good to hear.’
She nodded. ‘He’s such a tiny little thing.’
‘Yeah. But they’re usually great fighters.’ He reached the single storey roof and climbed carefully up to the apex.
Once there, he began to remove tiles, bringing them down one by one, then returning up the ladder so that he could start to fix the new ones in place. He seemed to move around with the agility of a mountain goat, but her heart was in her mouth as she watched him.
‘What’s happening with your little patient—the infant with chest problems?’ he called down to her. ‘Is her condition improving? It’s very scary for everyone when a child can’t breathe.’
‘She’s doing much better now, but we’re keeping her on oxygen until she’s completely stabilised.’ She frowned. ‘You know, Ross, I really can’t answer any more questions while you’re moving about up there. It’s far too distracting.’
‘Okay. I’m almost done here.’
She held the ladder firmly in place while he came down from the roof a while later. ‘Is that it, have you finished?’
He nodded. ‘I just need to hose it down to see if it’s cured the problem. I’ll do that and then go back into the attic to see if everything’s secure.’
She sighed with relief. ‘How do you know about doing this sort of thing?’ she asked curiously. ‘It’s just not the sort of skill a doctor would be expected to have.’ And yet he’d made a perfect job of it, from what she could make out.
He washed his hands at the garden tap, shaking them dry and rubbing them over his denims. ‘I’ve picked up all sorts of useful stuff here and there over the years,’ he said with a smile. ‘Being in the army, you learn to survive in all sorts of conditions, so climbing on a roof is the least of my worries.’
‘But you hurt yourself so badly when you were a teenager. Surely you can’t have forgotten that? I certainly haven’t.’ Her green eyes were full of anguish at the memory. ‘I was so worried when I saw you up there. I had visions of having to call for an ambulance.’
‘Bless you, Katie, for caring so much.’ His arms circled her, drawing her close to his tall, strong body so that she felt the comfort of his warm embrace. ‘But I don’t want you worrying about me. We can’t have premature lines forming on that lovely face, can we?’ His voice softened, became husky. ‘And those sweet lips were never meant for being sad. They’re made for smiling...or for kissing...’
He lowered his head and brushed his mouth over hers, gently coaxing her lips apart, softly tantalising her with his kisses and turning the blood in her veins to a fiery, molten tide. Despite all her misgivings, she realised she loved being in his arms, feeling the thunder of his heart banging against his rib cage, and with a quivery sigh she threw caution to the wind and kissed him fervently in return.
A muffled groan escaped him, and he drew her closer, holding her against him so that her soft curves melded with his powerful, muscular frame. ‘This feels so good,’ he murmured, his voice roughened. ‘You don’t know how long I’ve ached to hold you in my arms, to feel your beautiful body next to mine.’
His hands moved over her, gliding smoothly over every perfect curve, every line, every sensual dip and hollow, worshipping her feminine form until the heat rose in her, her body fizzed with excitement and all she wanted was to have him trail those kisses over her in endless, feverish exploration.
As if he’d read her thoughts, his lips began to trace a path over her throat, meandering leisurely along the velvet soft line of her shoulder, nudging aside the flimsy cotton shirt she was wearing. His long, caressing fingers sought out the full, ripe swell of her breast. ‘Ah, Katie. I dream about you. Wanting you so much...’
Perhaps it was the heat of the afternoon sun, the faint warble of birdsong that came from nearby trees or the heady perfume of flowers that combined to subtly wear down her defences. Katie couldn’t explain it, didn’t want to know why all at once she could think of nothing else but being in his arms. She wanted him, needed him, would give anything to have him sweep her off her feet. It was such an overwhelming feeling, this desperate, all-consuming need.
She wasn’t aware of the fingers working with cool expertise on the buttons of her shirt, and it was only when the warm breeze drifted over her bare skin that she realised he had exposed her to the elements. Her white lace-trimmed bra was no defence against his hot gaze, and in the next moment a soft sigh escaped her as his lips made a gentle foray over the pale golden flesh that spilled from the cups.
At the same time, something soft and silky brushed against the backs of her legs, and she wondered fleetingly what it might be. Ross made a ragged sound, a soft rumble in the back of his throat, and lifted his head to kiss her again. ‘So beautiful,’ he said, his voice low and reverent, his blue eyes as vivid as the electric-blue sky overhead.
This time the intrusion of silky fur and padding feet was far more definite as the puppy insinuated himself between them. They reluctantly broke off their embrace and looked down to see Baz, from his perch on their feet, gazing eagerly up at them. Whatever they were doing, it looked like togetherness and he wanted to join in.
Ross sighed. ‘Maybe we should go into the house and find somewhere comfortable where we can be alone,’ he suggested in a low, husky drawl.
Katie brushed back the loose tendrils of her hair with a shaky hand. She’d been getting out of her depth here, and now the shock of the intrusion had poured cold water on her heightened emotions. ‘Perhaps we’d better not,’ she said. ‘I don’t know what got into me. The sun must have drugged me, I think...’
She hadn’t been thinking at all, or that would never have happened. She was getting in way too deep with Ross. He wanted her, but he’d admitted he couldn’t give his heart to any woman because he was afraid of being hurt, and he’d never spoken of love or how he might be persuaded to set aside his reservations for her, had he?
Seeing her doubts, Ross looked down at the puppy and pulled a face. ‘You have a lot to answer for, young pup.’
A brooding look came into his eyes as he turned his gaze on Katie once more.
‘Perhaps I should have expected you to draw back from me. There’s always going to be that class divide between us, isn’t there? I shouldn’t have tried to make love to you on your home territory, because it’s always going to make you conscious of the difference in our backgrounds, isn’t it?’ A muscle flicked in his jaw. ‘You’ll alwa
ys be the girl from the manor house, and I’ll always be the hired hand. I get it. I understand.’
‘No, you don’t, Ross. You don’t understand at all.’
‘It’s all right, Katie. It doesn’t matter.’
He moved away from her. ‘I’ll get another drink and then check out the roof again.’ He pulled in a deep, steadying breath. ‘Where do you keep your hosepipe?’
But it did matter. Somehow, it mattered tremendously, and she thought desperately about arguing some more, to try to get her explanation across to him, but where would that lead her? Ross wanted her, but his past would always get in the way of their relationship, wouldn’t it?
She stayed silent. If she reached out to him, they would end up in the same situation all over again, and it would be a terrible mistake, because Ross couldn’t possibly be the man for her...could he?
CHAPTER EIGHT
‘DO YOU WANT any more coffee or shall I start to clear away?’ Jessie held the coffee pot aloft for Katie to see.
‘No, thanks. I’ve had all I want.’
‘Okay.’ Jessie glanced at her watch. ‘I need to get a move on. I’m supposed to be organising a day out for a little birthday girl and her friends today. There’ll be tractor rides, messing about in the hay barn and all sorts of things that I need to supervise. Ending with a birthday lunch in the upper hall, of course, and what’s the betting someone will eat too much cake and be sick? That happened at the last two parties.’
Katie pulled a face. ‘I’m glad I don’t have to deal with that—it’s been bad enough lately, with Baz being sick off and on.’ She frowned. ‘I can’t think what’s causing it. I’ve been really careful with his food, and he certainly seems to be healthy enough. The vet said he was doing really well when he had his last lot of vaccinations. It’s very odd.’
She didn’t know how she was going to explain it to Ross and Finn. They were both concerned about him. Her mind veered away from thoughts of Ross. She was too churned up inside emotionally to be able to think straight when it came to anything to do with him.
‘You’re right. It’s a puzzle to know what’s going on.’ Jessie started to clear the breakfast table, and glanced out of the window to where Baz was playing in the garden with the boy from next door. He’d taken to coming around regularly to play with the puppy. ‘I don’t know what’s been going on out there,’ she remarked. ‘Jack’s looking a bit concerned.’
‘Is he?’ Katie brought her mind back to everyday matters and followed her gaze. ‘I’ll go and find out what the problem is. It’s about time for Baz to come in anyway. I have to be at work soon.’
She went out into the garden and walked onto the lawn where seven-year-old Jack was frowning as he studied the flowerbeds. ‘Is something wrong, Jack?’ she asked. There was no sign of Baz, until she caught sight of the tip of his tail waving above a curtain of ferns.
‘He’s been sick again,’ he told her worriedly. ‘It’s making me feel a bit sick as well.’
‘Oh, dear. You do look a bit pale.’ Katie put a comforting arm around him. ‘Perhaps you’d better go back home and tell your mum about it. It might help if you lie down for a bit until your tummy settles.’
He nodded, and she slowly walked him back to his house. ‘You’ll be able to see Baz later,’ she told him.
Jack’s father hadn’t left for work yet. His car was still in the drive, and as Katie approached the house she could hear sounds of raised voices from inside.
‘There were three of those small pork pies in the fridge this morning and now there are only two,’ Jack’s mother was saying. ‘I wanted them for this evening. I don’t understand it—I can’t keep track of anything just lately. It’s as though I’m going mad. Things keep going missing.’
Katie glanced at Jack. That, at least, answered a question in her mind. The child was biting his lip and seemed reluctant to go indoors. ‘It’ll be all right, Jack,’ she told him. ‘I’ll tell your mother that you’re not feeling well. Okay?’ She urged him forward and knocked on the kitchen door.
‘Jack’s feeling a bit under the weather,’ she said, when her neighbour answered the door. ‘I think he might need to lie down for a while. I’m sorry I can’t stop, but I have to be at work soon.’
Her neighbour smiled. ‘Thanks for bringing him back, Katie. I’ll take care of him.’ She felt the child’s forehead with the back of her hand and led him away, carefully closing the door.
Katie walked back to the house, calling Baz as she went. He trotted beside her, apparently recovered from his illness and eager to find his basket and his toys.
‘I think I know why Baz is being sick,’ Katie told Jessie. ‘I’ve a feeling Jack’s been feeding him pork pies and all sorts of goodies.’
‘Oh, heavens!’ Jessie looked at him and stroked his head as he settled down in his basket. ‘You poor little thing.’
Katie left for work a short time later, and sought out her first patient in one of the treatment rooms. She was a little disturbed to find Ross already in there with the child, but she put on a professional front and prepared to greet him in what she hoped was at least a friendly manner.
They had been cautious around one another ever since that day when he’d come over to the house, but they had to work together, and she was trying to be as normal as she could around him. It was hard, but as long as she kept their conversations strictly to work matters, she felt she could just about handle the situation.
He was sitting with the child’s mother, who supported her two-year-old daughter on her lap while Ross held an oxygen mask in front of the toddler’s nose and mouth. The mother was comforting the child, who was lethargic but clearly distressed.
‘Hi, there.’ Ross introduced Katie to the mother, adding, ‘Dr Brechan will be looking after Alice. She’ll take good care of her.’
Katie nodded, and smiled at the young woman. ‘I’ll listen to her chest and try to find out what’s going on in there.’ She could see that the little girl was struggling for air, pulling on her chest and abdominal muscles to help with her breathing. When she’d finished her examination and looked at the child’s fingers and toes, she found there was a faint blue tinge about them.
‘We’ll admit her to the paediatric ward,’ she said, ‘and in the meantime we’ll keep her on humidified oxygen with nebulised adrenaline.’ She noted the medications down on the chart. ‘And we’ll give her corticosteroids, which should help ease things for her.’
Ross nodded agreement, telling the mother, ‘I think it will help if you loosen her clothing a little. She’s quite feverish, and we need to bring her temperature down to make her more comfortable.’ He stood up, passing the oxygen mask to the woman, and then he began to apply pads to the girl’s chest, so that she could be linked up to the monitors. ‘You’ll be all right, sweetheart,’ he said softly to the little girl. ‘I know you’re feeling miserable right now, but we’ll look after you.’
Katie watched him, touched by his gentleness. It was a wonderful thing to see, this strong man showing such a tender side, and it brought a lump to her throat. She had to drag her gaze away from him, though, and busy herself with the job in hand, taking a blood sample for testing and making sure that the medications were started right away.
Later, when they were sure that the little girl was less agitated and all the treatment protocols were in place, they left the mother and child in the care of a nurse.
Ross walked with Katie to the nurses’ station. There was silence between them for a while, but then he asked, ‘Have you seen anything of Finn lately? I heard things had gone wrong at home and he was thinking of packing a bag and leaving. I wondered if he’d asked you and Jessie to put him up?’
‘Oh dear, are things that bad for him at home?’ she said, looking at him worriedly. ‘He came to the house yesterday as usual and took Baz for a walk. I didn’t hav
e too much time to stop and talk with him, but he did mention that his father was making life difficult for him. He said nothing he did was right. I told him parents and teenagers often have problems understanding one another and I thought they should try and sort things out between them.’
‘Hmm. That’s easier said than done.’ Ross made a face. ‘When I think back to my childhood, it’s like history repeating itself.’
‘All the more reason to nip it in the bud, don’t you think? Or is Finn to end up leaving home and joining the army in order to escape, the way you did? What will his mother think of that? She’s been ill—she must be worried sick by all this. And I know you’re trying to help him, but I don’t think it will make things easier for her if you encourage him to move in with you. He should be dealing with his problems, not running away from them.’
‘So you think I’m to blame for the way he’s acting?’ His jaw tightened.
‘I didn’t say that. I just think there must be a way around the problem.’
His expression was cynical. ‘You have no idea how the other half live, have you? Everything is straightforward for you, your family is always there for you, strong and supportive and going the way they’ve always gone, quietly and traditionally, following years of good breeding and high standards. Not every family works that way, you know.’
She sent him an exasperated look. ‘Does it have to come back to that every time, with you? My family’s really not much different to any other. We have our ups and downs, the same as anyone else.’
He shrugged. ‘Maybe it’s my background that’s to blame after all, then. We’re the odd ones out.’
Katie bit back a retort as Shona appeared with a patient’s file, urging her to attend a small boy who appeared to be suffering from an infected joint. ‘I’ll be right there,’ Katie told her.
‘And there’s a youth coming in by ambulance,’ Shona told Ross. ‘He has some kind of heart rhythm complaint. The paramedics think it might have something to do with drug taking.’
