One More Night with Her Desert Prince...

by Jennifer Taylor

  * * *

  Setting in motion his plans for the clinics proved to be easier than Khalid had imagined. His father, King Faisal, proved to be an enthusiastic ally, offering both practical and moral support. His father railroaded the more conservative members of his government and obtained their agreement so that within a remarkably short space of time Khalid was told that he had the go-ahead and that funding would be found to pay for whatever was needed.

  Three months later, the first clinic opened. Peter had proved to be invaluable at finding experienced staff to work for them. Although most people were hired on short-term contracts, the excellent pay plus all the other benefits had attracted a lot of interest. Khalid found himself in the enviable position of being able to pick and choose who they hired.

  Once the clinic opened, he decided that he could afford to take some time off. He had been working flat out and he needed some down time. It was just the thought of spending his free time thinking about Sam that made him hesitate. He couldn’t bear to keep going over and over what had happened when he knew in his heart that he had done the right thing. The only thing. Sam would have wilted and died if she’d had to conform to Azadian standards, even if they were improving.

  He decided that he would spend some time endurance riding. He hadn’t been able to indulge his interest in the sport for some time. Riders crossed the desert on horseback, setting time limits for the distances they travelled. It was a gruelling and demanding hobby that required a great deal of physical and mental strength from the riders. Although the horses were changed frequently, the riders had to complete the course no matter what. It was almost guaranteed that he wouldn’t have time to think about much else, including Sam, hopefully.

  He set off at dawn a few days later, accompanied by several friends who also enjoyed the challenges of the sport. They covered a lot of ground and he was delighted with what they had achieved when they stopped for the night. The next leg promised to be the most taxing so they were up before dawn and set off as soon as the sun rose. By mid-morning they were halfway to their destination and on schedule to complete the next leg on time.

  It was only when they stopped to change horses that he became aware of a potential problem and his heart sank. The sky was rapidly turning dark, showing all the signs that a major sandstorm was approaching. As they gathered the horses and equipment together and hunkered down to ride out the storm, he found himself thinking about Sam.

  Maybe he should have done the same, ridden out any storms that may have occurred in their relationship, fought for that happy ending he wanted so desperately. There were no guarantees in life, apart from the fact that he loved her. He should have fought for what he wanted, he realised. He should have fought for Sam.

  * * *

  The flight to Azad seemed to take for ever. It wasn’t a private jet this time but a scheduled flight with all the attendant delays. Sam was exhausted when they finally touched down. She had booked a room at a hotel close to the airport and found a taxi to take her there, aware that this had been the easy bit. She still had to contact Khalid and make arrangements to see him.

  Her heart jolted at the thought of his reaction to what she had to tell him but she was determined to do the right thing for this baby. She and Jess had kept in touch so as soon as she got into her hotel room she texted her friend to let her know that she had arrived. Jess had moved out to Azad to be with Peter, although they were observing the proprieties and not actually living together. As Jess had told her, it would make it even more special when they got married, which they planned to do very shortly.

  Jess texted her back immediately, offering to meet her for breakfast the following day in the hotel. Whilst two women breakfasting together without a male companion wouldn’t raise any eyebrows in the cosmopolitan confines of the hotel, Sam knew that it would be frowned upon outside. The last thing she wanted was to cause a fuss; she had too much else to worry about.

  By the time the receptionist phoned to tell her that Jess had arrived the next morning, Sam was all ready. Despite her exhaustion, she hadn’t slept and it showed in the dark circles under her eyes. She studied her reflection in the mirror for a moment before practising her smile. She hadn’t told Jess why she had come back to Azad. Although she had no intention of keeping it a secret, it didn’t seem right to tell anyone about the baby before she told Khalid. She had opted instead for the rather flimsy excuse that she had a few days free and wanted to see how the plans for the clinics were progressing.

  Thankfully, Jess seemed to have accepted that but she would soon grow suspicious if Sam appeared with a glum face, hence the smile. However, when she went downstairs and saw Jess waiting for her, it was her friend’s expression that worried her most of all. What on earth was wrong with Jess?

  ‘What is it?’ Hurrying over, she squeezed Jess’s hands. ‘It isn’t Peter, is it? You two haven’t had a row, have you?’

  ‘No. Peter’s fine.’ Jess gripped Sam’s hands and her face was filled with compassion. ‘It’s Khalid. I don’t know how to tell you this, Sam, but he’s missing.’

  ‘Missing. What do you mean?’ Sam’s heart sank like a stone. She could feel it plummeting all the way down to her feet and was glad that Jess had hold of her because she was afraid that she might keel over.

  ‘Apparently, he was out in the desert with some friends. Endurance riding or some such thing—I dunno ’cos I’ve never heard of it before. Anyway there was a sandstorm, a really massive one, and one of the men was badly injured. Khalid insisted that it was too dangerous to move him so once they’d dug out the truck, most of the party set off to fetch help. Khalid stayed behind with the injured man and one of the grooms to look after the horses. The rest of the group had taken a GPS reading so they thought it wouldn’t be that difficult to find their way back but something must have gone wrong with the GPS.’

  Jess gulped. ‘To put it bluntly, they can’t find Khalid and the other men. They seem to have disappeared off the face of the earth. There are people out searching for them, but although no one has actually come out and said so, it’s obvious that they think they’re probably dead!’

  * * *

  Khalid tilted the canvas awning to try and deflect the worst of the heat off his friend. It was midday and the temperature was horrendous. Basir was rambling under his breath again and Khalid frowned. There was no doubt that his friend’s condition was worsening despite the drugs he had given him to fight off any infection. He desperately needed to get him to hospital so that the displaced fracture to Basir’s left femur could be repaired properly. He had done all he could with what limited supplies they’d had with them, but he certainly hadn’t been able to do all that was necessary. If help didn’t arrive soon, he couldn’t guarantee that there would be a happy ending to this story.

  Mohammed, the groom, came to tell him about the horses. The man bowed low then explained that they were all well but that water was running short. They had enough to last them another day but after that...well.

  Khalid thanked him, trying not let the older man see how worried he was. He checked his watch. It was three days since the rest of the party had left to fetch help so where were they? He could only assume that they had encountered some kind of a problem, although he tried his best not to dwell on the thought. He had to stay positive, believe that help would arrive, believe that they would survive; believe that that he would see Sam again. If he stopped believing, especially that last bit, he would give up.

  Closing his eyes, he summoned up her image, unsurprised when within seconds there she was, inside his head. A smile curved his mouth. If the thought of seeing her again wasn’t the biggest incentive of all to remain positive, then heaven alone knew what was!

  * * *

  Jess took Sam to see Peter, who was based at the largest of the clinics. It was almost an exact replica of the one Sam had worked in and her heart ached as she recal
led everything that had happened during her time there. She pushed the memories aside because she couldn’t afford to think about the past. It was the present that mattered and that meant finding Khalid.

  Peter greeted her warmly but it was impossible not to see how worried he was. He sat her down and quietly explained what was happening. There were helicopters out searching for the missing men, plus people on the ground, scouring the desert around where they were believed to have last been seen. It all took time but Khalid would be found, Peter assured her, although Sam suspected that his assurances owed more to wanting to spare her feelings than anything else. They both knew how difficult it would be to find anyone in the vastness of the desert.

  The wait was almost unendurable. Sam had nothing to fill the time and spent it worrying. When Jess came racing into the tent to find her, Sam couldn’t understand what she was saying at first.

  ‘What is it?’ she demanded, leaping to her feet. ‘Has something happened?’

  ‘They’ve found them!’ Jess grabbed hold of her and whirled her round in a victory dance. ‘They’ve only gone and found them!’

  Sam gazed at her in shock for a second before her vision suddenly blurred. Jess hastily lowered her onto a seat and pushed her head between her knees.

  ‘Sit there while I fetch you some water. You’ll feel better in a moment.’

  Sam breathed slowly, forcing the faintness away. By the time Jess returned with the water she was able to sit up and take the glass from her. ‘Thanks. Sorry about that. It was the shock, I suppose.’

  ‘Just the shock?’ Jess gave her an old-fashioned look and it was obvious that she had guessed the real reason for what had happened.

  Sam sighed softly. ‘OK. Yes, I’m pregnant. And, yes again, Khalid is the baby’s father.’

  ‘I thought there must be more to this visit than you were letting on.’ Jess sat down beside her and her expression was grave. ‘Does he know about the baby?’

  ‘Not yet. That’s why I’m here, to tell him.’ Sam smiled thinly. ‘I’m not expecting him to be pleased but he needs to know.’

  ‘I don’t know about him not being pleased. From what Peter’s said, I don’t think he will be too upset, shall we say. But that’s your business, not mine. What I will say, Sam, is that you’re doing the right thing, no matter what happens. Khalid needs to know that you’re carrying his child. Right. Now let’s see about getting you to the hospital. According to Peter, Khalid should be there by now and I’m sure you will want to see him a.s.a.p.’

  Sam was grateful for Jess’s understanding. Within a very short time everything was organised and Peter had volunteered to drive her into the city. He led the way once they reached the hospital, obviously familiar with the modern, hi-spec building. Khalid had a private suite on the ninth floor and the state-of-the-art lift swiftly conveyed them up there. There was a guard outside but he bowed when he saw Peter and allowed him to knock on the door, which was opened almost immediately by a white-coated manservant. They were ushered into what was obviously a sitting room and offered refreshments, which they both refused. Sam didn’t want refreshments: she wanted to see Khalid!

  Five minutes later her wish was granted. Sam’s breath caught as they were led into a room that contained all the equipment she would have expected to see in a highly equipped hospital unit. Her eyes skated over the familiar monitors and other equipment before coming to rest on the man lying on the bed. There was a tube attached to his arm, undoubtedly feeding him much-needed fluid. After spending so much time out in the desert, he would be dehydrated, although there could be many other things wrong with him as well.

  Her gaze moved on, searching for clues as to his condition, but she couldn’t see any sign of injury and breathed a little easier. Maybe he wasn’t too badly hurt, not so badly hurt that he was in danger at least.

  The thought triggered another bout of faintness and she swayed. Peter must have noticed her reaction and unceremoniously bundled her into a chair.

  ‘Sit there and I’ll get you some water,’ he told her, hurrying over to fill a glass from the carafe standing on the bedside table.

  Sam slowly raised her head, her face colouring when she discovered that Khalid was watching her. She thanked Peter for the water and forced herself to sip it slowly and not gulp it down as she felt like doing. Khalid was bound to be surprised to see her but was it only that? Surely it wasn’t possible that he had guessed why she had come, like Jess had done?

  ‘So, how are you?’ Peter checked the monitors and nodded. ‘Your vital signs appear to be normal, if it’s any consolation.’

  ‘I’m fine.’ Impatience laced Khalid’s voice and Sam’s skin prickled. She knew what lay behind it, that he had questions he wanted to ask her and didn’t welcome the delay. ‘My doctor is erring on the side of caution, erring too far in that direction in my opinion. He insisted on the drip and the monitors even though they aren’t necessary. I know how I feel and I am perfectly well.’

  As though to emphasise the point, he removed a couple of leads, causing the monitor to beep out a noisy warning. Sam breathed in sharply, her head spinning with the sound. The door was flung open and a couple of nurses appeared. They fussed around when they spotted the loosened leads but Khalid shook his head when they tried to re-attach them.

  ‘Leave them,’ he ordered regally. ‘And while you are here, you can remove the drip as well. It isn’t necessary.’

  It was obvious that they were unhappy about that idea. The older woman muttered something before they both hurriedly retreated. Sam suspected that they were going to find the doctor and leave the decision to him, not that she blamed them. In their shoes, she would have wanted some backing if she’d been ordered to countermand instructions, even if it was someone of Khalid’s standing issuing them.

  The thought that he was playing on his royal status to get his own way annoyed her. She glared at him. ‘Throwing your toys out of the pram because you can’t do what you want doesn’t exactly show you in a good light, Khalid.’

  His head reared up when he heard the scorn in her voice. ‘I am a doctor. I know if I’m ill and need all this equipment or not.’

  ‘Perhaps.’ She shrugged. ‘Although to my mind you aren’t in a position to make rational decisions. Not after being out in the sun for so long.’

  ‘You think I am suffering from sunstroke and unable to know my own mind?’ he shot back.

  ‘Something like that,’ she countered, oddly exhilarated by the spiky exchange. She had spent the past few weeks first brooding about sleeping with him, then missing him, and then worrying about his reaction when she told him she was pregnant. It was a relief to be able to let loose some of the turbulent emotions that filled her.

  ‘Now, now, children. Let’s not squabble.’ Peter looked from one to the other with undisguised amusement. ‘You’ve both had a shock and my advice is to let things settle before you go tearing strips off each other.’ He gave them a moment for that to sink in then went to the door. ‘I’m off to find myself a cup of tea. Try to be good while I’m away, won’t you?’

  Sam watched the door close behind him. Her heart was pounding because she was very aware that now they were alone she would have to tell Khalid why she had come. Maybe she could put it off a while longer but why bother? He had said that he was fine and there was no reason to delay.

  ‘Khalid...’

  ‘I’m sorry, Sam. I have no idea why I behaved that way when I have been longing to see you.’ He cut her off but she didn’t mind, not when she heard what he said.

  ‘Have you?’ she asked huskily.

  ‘Yes. It was the thought of seeing you that kept me going these past few days.’ He held out his hand, palm up. ‘Seeing you and touching you.’

  Sam didn’t need to hear anything more. She was across the room in a trice, placing her hand in his and gripping it so tightl
y that it was a wonder his fingers didn’t go numb. ‘I’ve been longing to see you too. See you and...and touch you.’

  ‘My love.’

  He pulled her down to him, his mouth claiming hers in a kiss that was an explosion of so many emotions that her heart ran wild. Passion and tenderness, desire and need were all mingled together in one huge surge of feelings that cleared her mind of everything else. It was hard to gather her thoughts when they broke apart but Sam knew that she had to tell him about the baby before they went any further.

  ‘I have something to tell you, Khalid. Something that you may not want to hear but which you need to know. I’m pregnant with your child.’

  Khalid felt the world grind to a stop. It was as though it was suddenly teetering on its axis, brought to a halt by the announcement. He stared at Sam, seeing the worry in her eyes as well as the determination. How much courage it must have taken for her to come here and tell him that after the way they had parted, he couldn’t imagine, but he was filled to the brim with admiration for her. Filled with that along with so many other emotions he could barely make sense of them all. Then one single thought rose to the surface: She was carrying his child.

  ‘Oh, my sweet!’ He pulled her into his arms, held her to his heart and rejoiced. It was something he had longed for yet had never allowed himself to hope it would happen. Now that it had, he knew that he would make it work. Somehow. Some way. Any way at all! No matter what problems they encountered, he and Sam would love and care for this precious child. Together.

  He kissed her again and it was a kiss that held a promise for the future. Drawing back, he looked deep into her eyes. ‘I can’t tell you how thrilled I am. It’s what I have dreamt about but never thought would happen.’ He placed his hand on her stomach, imagining the new life growing inside her womb. ‘Having you and a baby was my dearest wish but I was afraid it couldn’t be.’