The tension eased in the room and they were still smiling when Janet Glover, the nurse manager, came in.
She gave each of them a knowing look. ‘Hello, Cate, Mr Masters.’ Looking at Noah, she said, ‘I want to speak to you.’ She glanced around Cate’s office. ‘Here will do.’
‘And, believe it or not, I’ve been looking for you, Janet.’ Noah turned to Cate. ‘Sorry. Rain check.’
Cate nodded. ‘I’ll leave you to it, then.’ She was glad he hadn’t been able to come, she told herself as she walked towards the cafeteria.
So how did she feel, knowing that Noah had sought her out to pacify her after their words this morning? And, more importantly, why should it matter to him what she thought? She had to admit she was coming to enjoy his company and it certainly couldn’t hurt her cause if she could influence him to see the needs of a rural community. Not just in crisis either. With her help, maybe he could grasp the importance of a well-funded and well-staffed community hospital. She could be pipe-dreaming but she’d give it a shot. Of course, that would be the only reason to get to know the man.
Strangely, after a lonely tea, the rest of the shift started to drag and Cate went over to see Sylvia before the little girl went to sleep for the night. The child’s mother had had to go home and Cate had promised to come over and say goodnight to Sylvia.
‘Hello, darling.’ Cate sat on the edge of the bed and Sylvia’s little hand crept into hers. ‘So poor old Mummy had to leave you to help with the farm?’ Cate stroked Sylvia’s hair with her other hand as Sylvia nodded.
‘Well, the secret is you have to push the buzzer on this cord if you need one of the other nurses to come and sit with you. OK?’ The little girl nodded again. ‘If you get really sad you can get them to wake me up. I’m sleeping over with the babies at the moment because I can’t get home to my mummy either.’
Sylvia’s eyes widened. ‘Are you going to have a baby, Auntie Cate?’
Ouch. Cate blinked and squeezed Sylvia’s hand. ‘I hope so. One day. Not for a while, but when I do, I hope I get a lovely little girl like you. Now, I’ll tuck you in and we’ll both have a good sleep. I’ll come and see you when I get up in the morning. OK?’
She dropped a kiss on Sylvia’s cheek and the little girl kissed her back. ‘Goodnight, Auntie Cate.’
‘Goodnight, darling.’ Cate hugged her close and felt the warmth of her tiny body snuggled against her. Cate swallowed the lump in her throat as she disentangled Sylvia and tucked her in.
The rest of the shift passed slowly and Cate didn’t see Noah again that evening. Odd that she felt like she missed him. She shook herself. Last night’s extra shift must be catching up with her! Cate was glad to see the night supervisor come in to relieve her of the keys so she could head to bed. At least she didn’t have to get up for the early shift…
Friday 9 March
Cate woke early with nine hours to go until she started work. She lay on her back and stared at the ceiling as she listened to the local FM station give out the flood warnings.
Despite the easing of local rainfall, the minor flood warning was official. Even the garbage men couldn’t do their jobs and residents were requested to bag and keep refuse out of any sunshine until collection could be resumed.
It was the little things you didn’t think about when a town became flood-bound, Cate thought. The next item grabbed her attention when it was announced that the lower Riverbank floodgates were to be opened at eleven a.m.
That news gave her a jolt. She’d have to ring her parents if the phones were still working. As down-river farmers, the land in Cate’s family was mostly river flat and alluvial soil. It would nearly all go under when the open floodgates took some pressure off the minor streams. She chewed her lip as she thought of her frustrated father in his wheelchair and her mother and Ben having to cope. Maybe she should have stayed home to help? But it was too late now.
Any chance of a sleep-in was lost. Even though she had another quick shift tomorrow, it just wasn’t going to happen.
Before she went over to see Sylvia, she dialled her parents’ number and the phone seemed to ring for a long time. Finally her brother answered and Cate heaved a sigh of relief. She would have spent the whole day worrying if there had been no answer. ‘It’s me, Cate. How’s it going?’
‘Cate! Good to hear your voice!’ Ben’s voice was deeper than she remembered.
A lump lodged in her throat as she realised how much she’d missed him. But she never would understand how he could have left the farm with just Mum and her to run it. What was it with men? Brett had taken a hike when she’d said she wouldn’t move to Sydney with him and leave her family in crisis, and Ben had left when they’d most needed him.
Her brother was talking and Cate brought herself back to the present to concentrate on the news.
‘The bottom flat’s gone and they haven’t even opened the floodgates yet. But the cattle are safe. You should see them all around the house! Mum’s put a rope up to keep them off the verandah.’ Ben’s voice was quietly confident that he had it all under control. Her little brother? Ten years younger didn’t count once he got to twenty, she supposed. It seemed like she’d always been there to tell him what to do.
She tried to picture him two years older than when she’d last seen him. ‘So all the supplies are fine and Dad’s OK?’
‘Everyone is fine. The house has never been touched in previous floods, so we’re hoping we’re safe. The water line is still a fair way away at the moment. How’s the hospital?’
A picture of Noah filled Cate’s mind. ‘We’ll manage.’
‘If they have you in charge they won’t have any choice.’ They both laughed but Cate was uncomfortably reminded of Amber saying something similar about her need to run things. Was she that bossy? She’d always been a leader but maybe people got sick of being led. She sent her love to her parents and hung up.
After showering, Cate’s feeling of disquiet lingered. She visited Sylvia but the little girl had a new admission to talk to now, another girl her own age, also with pneumonia. Cate left them to it and headed for breakfast. Maybe she was hungry. When she entered the cafeteria, Noah was already there. It would be churlish to sit at another table, she told herself, and took her cereal over to stand beside his chair.
‘Feel like company?’ Her voice was more forlorn than she’d intended.
He glanced up, saw who it was and smiled. ‘Feel free.’
He stood up until she’d sat down and this time it gave her a warm feeling in the pit of her stomach that he’d do that for her. Cate couldn’t help but smile at him and her uneasiness lifted a little.
‘That’s better,’ he said. ‘You looked worried a minute ago. And you shouldn’t be worrying until your shift starts at three. Tell Uncle Noah.’
She stirred her muesli and looked across at him, amused. ‘You’re no relative of mine.’
He shook his head and laughter lines she’d never noticed before creased his eyes. It made him even more attractive, if that were possible. ‘I thought you were related to everyone in the valley?’
‘Only locals.’ She pointed her spoon at him. ‘And you’re not a local.’
His nod was judicious. ‘How do you get to be a local, then?’
She laughed. It was a joke for all newcomers. ‘At least twenty years and a few kids born here would help. But even then it usually takes a couple of generations before you’re really a local.’
‘Well, I’m only on the coast for a couple of months. I’ll have to live without local status.’ He shrugged and Cate felt a little pang of emotion at his words. This was getting ridiculous, she thought. Did she want him to stay or something?
‘So, tell me what’s upset you.’ Noah’s voice made her turn back.
‘How do you know I’m upset?’ She stared at him.
He shrugged again. ‘I’ve had more practice with that emotion than seeing you euphoric.’
Cate sniffed. ‘So I’m not only bossy, I’m crank
y as well.’
It was his turn to frown. ‘Someone said you’re bossy? You sound tired.’ His voice gentled. ‘Go back to bed, Cate. I’ve watched you the last couple of days. You do a great job, you give everything, but you’re going to wear yourself out.’ He laid his hand over hers for a moment. ‘Sure, you’re bossy.’ He smiled to take the sting out of it. ‘But you have to be. That’s what bosses do.’
She must be getting soft in the head because she felt like crying when he’d praised her. Which was ridiculous. She spooned a mouthful of muesli in to distract herself and help push the lump away from her throat. But she could feel his gaze on her and when she looked up he was smiling at her.
His voice was deep and lazy and something inside her responded to it. ‘You need to get out and away from here. Want to come for a ride with me down to SES before you start work? I’ve another appointment with the controller to check out the sandbagging site this morning.’
He was only being kind, but Cate had to admit she liked the fact that he’d asked her. A tad too much, if she was honest. Then there was the thought of getting away for a couple of hours before another tense nine-hour shift. The idea had merit. To hell with it. ‘Sounds good. I’d like to.’
‘I’ll see you in half an hour out the front, then.’ He stood up and they both glanced at the time. Noah laughed. ‘Do you want to synchronise our watches, Agent 99?’ His impersonation was dreadful, but she laughed anyway.
When she met Noah at his car, his eyebrows nearly disappeared into his hair. Cate was dressed in gumboots, cut-off jeans, an oilskin rain jacket and black Akubra hat. The clothes were different but her long brown legs were gorgeous and he tore his eyes away with reluctance. A pair of gardening gloves poked out of her pocket.
‘I don’t think I’ve ever seen you look so relaxed,’ he said as he opened the door of his car for her.
Cate hesitated before she slid into the plush seat. ‘Is that a polite way to say I look like a hobo?’ She didn’t wait for an answer. ‘Nice car. Should I take my gumboots off? Or I could even walk down.’ She frowned and gestured to the SES centre, which was plainly visible from the hospital. ‘I don’t know why you’re taking the car anyway.’
‘In case it rains and I’m needed back here urgently.’ Noah caught her look. ‘I’m not lazy—just sensible. Cate Forrest, you are the most forceful woman I have ever met.’
He looked her over and she wasn’t sure if it was her imagination that his gaze seemed to linger on her bare legs. ‘Why are you dressed like that?’
She threw up her hands in a pose. ‘This is what all the best-dressed sandbag-fillers wear!’
He chuckled before turning the key to start the car. ‘I suggested an outing—not a second job! Are you really going to fill bags?’
She grinned at his expression. ‘The bags need filling and I need the exercise. I’ve been inside for three shifts, and a couple of hours of physical labour will be good for me.’
Noah could think of a more pleasant way to burn off energy. He shook his head and stamped down his baser instincts. ‘You’re mad! But I had an idea of that anyway.’ He pulled out into River Street. ‘So, what do you do on this farm of your parents?’
‘Fencing, manage the cattle and horses, maintain the vehicles. All the usual farm stuff.’ She shrugged it off.
Noah was intrigued. He’d bet she was good at all that physical labour, too. ‘My impression has always been that farming was done by the farmer, not the farmer’s daughter.’
Cate shot him a look. ‘Don’t be sexist. My mum helps as well. Dad manages the business side of the farm now. He was an Australian horseman of the year before his accident landed him in a wheelchair.’
Noah winced in sympathy. ‘A horse-riding accident?”
Cate’s eyes clouded briefly. ‘No. A branch fell on him.’ She didn’t say any more and Noah didn’t want to push it.
The silence stretched and then Noah spoke up. ‘Do you have any brothers or sisters or farm helpers?’
Cate stared straight ahead so that he couldn’t see her expression. ‘One younger brother, who left home a couple of years ago. But he’s home for the flood and seems to be doing everything I did. They’re managing well.’
He shot a look at her profile. ‘You sound surprised. Shouldn’t you be happy about that?’ He was pulling up at the SES centre and suddenly Cate wanted to get out without answering. She should be happy that Ben was coping perfectly without her. She just had to get used to it.
Noah seemed to be able to read her too well for the short time they’d known each other. It might be wise to maintain some distance from him. And remind herself he was here to downgrade her hospital, before leaving again for Sydney.
But she’d decided to worry about that part of his portfolio after the flood. She had to admit the minor crises she’d laid at his door had been sorted quickly and efficiently. He was very good at his job, even if it wasn’t the one she thought he should be doing. She lifted the doorhandle and slid out of the car—to safety.
CHAPTER FIVE
THE SES control centre was manned by a dedicated band of volunteers who didn’t complain when they were pulled from their beds to attend to some emergency. The sandbaggers were even more eclectic. Each mound of sand had its own work party of bag-fillers and another group retrieved and loaded the bags onto a truck to transport to one of the levee banks.
Cate pulled on her gloves and joined one of the smaller gangs, eager for something to divert her mind from Noah. The others in the gang, most of whom she knew, looked up with tired smiles but didn’t pause in their shovelling.
An hour later, Noah walked over to where Cate toiled happily. She didn’t see him approach and he stood for a moment and watched her easily shovel the sand into the bag held by one of the other women. To Noah, there was something carelessly sensual in the way she dug and lifted and emptied the sand in a rhythmic sequence. A sheen of perspiration on her well-shaped arms testified to her efforts. The stacks of filled bags proved the collection of people were a team.
He couldn’t think of any of the women he knew in Sydney who would consider doing this to help out. But the controller had told him that between the different sandbag operations there were nearly a hundred women and two hundred men, not usual volunteers to the SES but all helping during the flood for the common good.
It was becoming a worry that he admired Cate more every time he saw another facet of her personality. She looked up and saw him and her smile drew him to her side.
He cleared his throat. ‘I have to go back. Janet Glover has an emergency.’
Cate leaned on her shovel for a moment and wiped her forehead. Tiny grains of sand trailed across her face. ‘I’ll walk up later.’
‘Close your eyes.’ Noah leaned forward and brushed the streak of sand off her face and immediately regretted it as he felt the smooth softness of her skin. Now he would feel her under his fingers for the rest of the day. What was it about this woman that penetrated the shell he’d thought impervious?
He looked hard into her face as he said, ‘I’ll see you this afternoon, then.’
Cate watched Noah stride back to his car. What had he been looking at? She really hoped he hadn’t heard her small gasp as his fingers had brushed her face. She flushed as she imagined those fingers sending electricity through her whole body…What was wrong with her?
Cate glanced around at the other volunteers in her gang, hoping they hadn’t noticed her distraction. Luckily, the two grandmothers, four teenage boys and half-dozen men were too absorbed in their work. Soon they’d need another mound of sand. Apparently there were bagging gangs on both sides of the traffic bridge and along the levees as well.
By lunchtime, Cate was feeling much better and, having helped a bit, was ready to go back to the hospital. Out of the corner of her eye, she noticed that one of the grandmothers, Ida Matthews, had paused in her shovelling to rub her foot. ‘Mongrel thing,’ Ida muttered, and shifted her body weight to get comfortable.
> Cate handed her shovel to another young lad who had just arrived. ‘Have mine. I have to go.’ She moved across to the elderly woman. ‘Sore foot, Ida?’
Ida put her foot down gingerly. ‘I stood on a nail in the garden a couple of days ago and it’s giving me trouble today.’
‘How are you for tetanus coverage?’ Cate bent down and slid the gumboot off Ida’s foot. The sole where the nail had gone in was hot and red. ‘I’ll hitch us a ride back to the hospital and you’d better see a doctor in Emergency about that foot. I don’t like the look of it.’ She smiled at Ida, who was a known chatterbox. ‘It would be terrible if your jaw locked up from tetanus.’
Ida smiled back tiredly and shrugged. ‘If you think I should. I didn’t like to take their time if they’re busy.’
Noah should hear this, Cate thought wryly. ‘That’s what they’re there for. Let’s go.’
Cate left Ida with the emergency staff and took herself off for a much-needed shower and some lunch. There was still an hour before work—time to phone her parents to see how they were faring as the water rose.
Her father answered the phone. ‘Hi, Dad. It’s me. How are you going down there?’
‘Hello, Cate, love. We’re fine but I’m glad we got out of dairy cattle and into beef. At least we don’t have to milk cows in a dairy a foot under water. The road is cut off and the milk trucks can’t get in next door. Poor devil will have to throw his milk out until they can pick it up. But it could be worse.’
Cate smiled at the expression. Even in hospital when her parents had found out about his paraplegia, they’d both said, ‘It could be worse.’ ‘How’s Mum?’
‘Your mother is wonderful, as always. She’s enjoying having Ben home and she’s taking photos to show you. She’s not happy about the influx of snakes, though. They’re heading for high ground and I guess the house paddock is it. Ben had a black snake try to climb into the saddle with him yesterday. It was the funniest thing.’
Cate joined her father’s laughter as she imagined it. ‘Rather him than me.’
Emergency in Maternity Page 6
