Wedding at Sunday Creek

by Leah Martyn

  ‘Take as long as you need.’ Sam’s look was kind. ‘And Jewel’s not in pain, Darcie,’ he stressed. ‘I’ve sedated her.’

  The little mare was resting on her side. Darcie knelt next to her. ‘I’m here, sweetheart,’ she murmured, touching her hand to the horse’s neck, feeling the soft coat, the already fading warmth. Jewel’s big dark eyes opened and Darcie knew she’d been waiting for her.

  She touched the velvet ears, rubbed gently along the white blaze on the mare’s forehead, her every action rooted in preserving life, until Sam returned to do what he had to do.

  Darcie’s goodbye was silent. Instead, she held Jewel’s head for a moment before burying her face in her soft, shiny coat.

  ‘Time to go, Darcie...’ Max looked drawn.

  Unable to speak, Darcie raised a hand in farewell and turned blindly into Jack’s waiting arms.

  He hurried her towards the Land Rover. Making sure they were belted in, he took off swiftly down the track. If there was a shot, he didn’t hear it, and silently thanked Sam for his sensitivity. Darcie didn’t need that last wrenching finality.

  When they hit the main road back to town, he spoke. ‘It hurts like hell, doesn’t it?’

  ‘Yes, it does.’ Her voice broke. Tears made slow rivulets down her cheeks and she wiped them away with the tips of her fingers. Her thoughts spun and became muddled. It wasn’t like her to be so emotional. Perhaps it was just past history and other losses, she thought bleakly.

  When they neared Sunday Creek township, she asked, ‘Could I come home with you, Jack?’

  Jack felt his pulse tick over. ‘To the new house?’

  ‘If you wouldn’t mind...’ She didn’t look at him, just stared straight ahead.

  Jack placed his hand on her thigh. ‘Of course I don’t mind. I’ll just swing by the residence and grab some whisky. I think we could both use a drink.’ He flicked a glance at her and saw a solitary tear fall down her cheek. He tightened his fingers in a gesture of empathy. ‘I know how bad it feels when you lose a favourite animal.’

  ‘I...don’t usually fall apart like this...’ Her voice was low, throaty, the admission sounding as if it was wrenched from deep within her. ‘I became so attached to Jewel.’ She managed a jagged, self-deprecating laugh. ‘Perhaps it was just wanting desperately something to love.’

  Sweet God. Jack could feel the fine tremor running through her skin beneath his hand. ‘I’m here! he wanted to yell to the treetops. ‘Love me!’ But of course he couldn’t.

  * * *

  Jack took down two whisky tumblers from the wall cupboard. ‘I can have this neat,’ he said. ‘But what about you?’

  ‘Is there any ice?’ Darcie sat at the breakfast bar on a high stool.

  He opened the freezer door. ‘There is. Our Meg’s a legend.’ He shook out ice cubes from the tray and dropped several into her drink. Picking up the glasses, he joined Darcie at the counter.

  ‘Here’s to Jewel,’ he said softly.

  Darcie managed a small smile. She took a mouthful of her drink and blinked a bit. ‘It’s probably crazy to get so emotional over an animal, isn’t?’

  ‘It’s not crazy.’ Jack stroked her hand, which was curled into a fist on the countertop. ‘Animals are wonderful, with hearts as big as the sky. And they’re everlastingly faithful. Something humans could learn from.’

  A little while later Darcie felt the liquor begin to warm her insides. The trembling had stopped. ‘You really get me, don’t you, Jack?’

  Jack paused giving weight to his answer. ‘I think we get each other.’ He looked into her face and saw the honesty there. But he also saw the passion. So, what was she telling him? What was she asking him here?

  She lifted her glass and took the last mouthful of her drink. ‘I don’t want to be anywhere else other than here with you.’

  Jack’s mouth tightened fractionally. ‘Are you sure?’

  For answer, she leaned across and pressed her lips against his, asking a silent question. She felt his resistance for a second and then he exhaled a breath and his mouth softened. Then it opened and his tongue stroked against her lips and she sighed as he lifted her off the stool and gathered her in. Her whole body quivered and she pressed herself in against him, snaking her arms around his neck and opening her mouth, surrendering it to his.

  Passion like she’d never known flared inside her. She pushed her hands into his hair, wanting more than anything to touch him. All of him. Her hands fell to the buttons on his shirt, pulling at them impatiently, almost desperate to feel his naked skin, absorb his heat and craving to get closer.

  Jack was momentarily taken aback. This was a Darcie he didn’t know. Yet hadn’t he always known this was the woman inside the contained little shell she exhibited to the outside world? He could sense her loss of control but, on the other hand, he didn’t want her to regret what they were about to do. Pulling away from her mouth, he kissed her throat, trying to slow their ardour. If they were going to make love, he didn’t want it to be a hurried affair, over in seconds. He wanted them to know each other in the finest way possible.

  ‘Come with me,’ he murmured, taking her hands and bringing them to his mouth, pressing a kiss into each palm. He twitched a Jack-like smile. ‘Let’s try out my new bed, shall we?’

  Jack closed the bedroom door softly and for a long moment they looked at each other.

  Darcie couldn’t believe this was really happening. Yet she knew she’d wanted him for the longest time. Wanted him as much as her next breath. ‘Undress me,’ she breathed, a tide of need overcoming her, shocking her in its intensity.

  ‘I want this to be about us, Darcie,’ he said with a rich huskiness that rippled along her skin. ‘You and me. In the truest sense...’

  Darcie gasped, feeling his urgency match her own as he flicked open her shirt, bending to put his mouth to the hollow between her breasts, peeling back the lace of her bra, tracing each tiny exposure of skin with his tongue.

  With the last item of their clothing peeled away, Darcie couldn’t wait a moment longer to burrow in against him. To hold him and be held in return.

  ‘I can hardly believe you’ve come to me at last...’ Jack’s voice was rough-edged with passion held in check.

  The softest smile edged her mouth. ‘But you always knew I would, didn’t you?’ She reached out to carry his hand to her breast, standing full and proud as she straightened back.

  ‘Feel. My heart’s going wild.’

  Jack’s mouth dried. She was...magnificent. And soon they would be as one.

  Lovers at last.

  Darcie had never been so aware of her own sensuality. Leaning down, she patted the clean sweep of the bed. The invitation was in her eyes, her husky feminine laugh almost daring him.

  Jack took her challenge, encircling her wrist and twirling her round so she landed on the bed on her back. In a second he was there beside her. Reaching for her, he gathered her close so that they were looking into each other’s eyes, their mouths a breath apart.

  ‘God—’ Jack brought his head up sharply. ‘I don’t have anything with me.’

  ‘I’m covered,’ she whispered, dazed with emotion. ‘Don’t hold back, Jack.’

  He didn’t.

  Darcie let all her emotions come to the surface. Soul-destroying scars from the past fell away and she felt as though she’d crossed to another time zone. Jack’s touch was instinctive, seeking responses from her she hadn’t known existed, touching her deepest senses, sculpting her body from head to toe.

  ‘Let me now,’ she whispered, deep in thrall, aching to discover him. His groan of pleasure pushed them closer to the edge and finally, irrevocably, they were lost in the taste and texture of each other, moving in perfect rhythm, climbing even higher where they met in the wild storm of their shared release, drenched in a mill
ion stars.

  * * *

  For a long time after, they stayed entwined. Quiet. Even a little amazed that they were there.

  In his bed.

  Lovers.

  ‘You’re smiling,’ Darcie said.

  ‘How do you know?’

  She brought her head up from where it was buried against his chest. ‘Because I am too.’ Lifting a hand, she ran a finger along the shadow already darkening his jaw. And stared into his eyes and let her fingers drift into his hair.

  Jack touched a finger to her lips, his gaze devouring her. ‘No words?’

  ‘No words,’ she echoed, feeling her lips tingle where he’d touched them. She burrowed in against him once more.

  ‘Hungry?’ Jack asked after a while.

  ‘Lazy, I think. But perhaps a bit hungry too. You?’

  ‘I wouldn’t mind a feed,’ he admitted. ‘But let’s have a shower first.’

  Darcie raised her head slightly and blinked. ‘Together?’

  ‘Of course together.’ Laughing softly, he spanned her waist with his hand. ‘I’m not letting you out of my sight.

  * * *

  ‘I’d rather not go out to eat,’ Darcie said when they were dressed again and on their way to the kitchen.

  ‘Me neither.’ Jack placed a hand protectively at the back of her neck. Going out would somehow break the spell they were under. And that would come sooner rather than later, he decided realistically. ‘Let’s see what Meg’s left us.’

  ‘Left you, you mean.’ She sent him an indulgent, half-amused look. ‘Meg wouldn’t know I’d be here.’

  They found bread in the freezer, eggs and cheese in the fridge and a can of peaches in the pantry. ‘Enough for a feast,’ Jack declared. ‘Cheese on toast, peaches for dessert.’

  ‘And lashings of tea,’ Darcie requested.

  ‘Of course.’ Tilting her face towards him, Jack kissed her gently on the mouth. ‘English tea for my English rose.’

  * * *

  Cocooned in happiness, Darcie marvelled, ‘I can’t believe the phone hasn’t rung.’

  ‘I can.’ Jack flexed a shoulder and grinned. ‘I told Maggie we were not to be disturbed for anything less than a multi-trauma.’

  ‘Oh, Jack...’ A flood of colour washed over her cheeks. ‘Does she know—about us?’

  ‘She’d talked to Sam.’ Jack seemed unfazed. ‘Maggie got the picture. She said, and I quote, “I’m so glad Darcie has you, Jack.”’

  ‘Oh, heavens.’ Darcie pressed a hand to her heart. ‘Next thing she’ll have us engaged.’

  ‘No, she won’t.’ His mouth worked for a moment. But he thought the idea had real possibilities for all that.

  ‘Will you take me home now?’ Darcie asked, when they’d tidied up after their impromptu dinner.

  ‘I’m coming with you,’ Jack said. ‘I’ll move in here by degrees. When it feels right.’

  ‘Oh...’ Darcie felt a funny lump in her throat. She wasn’t quite ready to share a bed with him on a permanent basis. And she guessed Jack understood that. Even though I love him. The realisation nearly tipped her sideways. She wrestled the startling thought back. Instead, reaching up, she placed her palm against his cheek.

  Jack nodded. Message received and understood. Turning his head a fraction, he kissed the soft hollow of her palm. ‘Let’s go home,’ he said, his blue eyes steady. ‘It’s late and I haven’t said goodnight to Capone.’

  CHAPTER ELEVEN

  A WEEK LATER, Darcie and Maggie were sitting at the nurses’ station, batting light conversation around, when the phone rang. Maggie turned aside to answer it. ‘Bleep Jack,’ she mouthed urgently, and began taking details quickly.

  Jack came at speed to the station. ‘What’s up?’

  ‘Another accident out at that movie site at Pelican Springs,’ Maggie relayed. ‘A stuntman hanging upside down from a tree. Apparently he’s caught and they can’t release him. They’re in a panic.’

  Jack swore pithily. ‘Still no nurse on the set?’

  ‘Apparently not.’ Maggie spun off her chair. ‘Let’s grab some trauma packs, guys. You need to be gone.’

  * * *

  There was no use surmising anything, Jack decided grimly as they drove. But a few probable scenarios leapt into dangerous possibilities.

  ‘If our patient has been upside down for any length of time, he’s quite likely lapsed into unconsciousness,’ Darcie said. ‘It’s going to be tricky, isn’t it?’

  Jack snorted. ‘That’s the understatement of the year. We could have a death on our hands, Darcie. Those bastards are obviously still ignoring normal safety protocols. But this time I’ll nail them.’

  Darcie felt the tense nature of the situation engulf her. Every crisis they faced out here meant delivering medicine in its rawest form. ‘Should we run over what we might find? We’re going to have to think on our feet from the moment we land there.’

  ‘I’ve spoken to Mal Duffy.’ Jack’s response was clipped. ‘The SES are on their way, likewise the ambulance and police. Mal’s wearing both hats. He’s gone ahead and contacted the folk at Pelican Springs. By sheer good luck, the telephone company is doing some work at the property. The phone techs have been using a cherry picker to connect new wiring to the poles. They’re on their way to the accident site as we speak.’

  ‘A cherry picker works like a crane, doesn’t it?’ Darcie’s unease was mirrored in her questioning look.

  ‘Mmm. It’ll be mounted on the back of a truck,’ Jack explained. ‘Usually, the operator stands at the control panel at the side of the truck and directs the crane to wherever it’s needed. There’s a cage-like platform at the top of the crane, of course,’ he added. ‘The rescue team will ride up in that.’

  And that meant Jack himself would go up, Darcie thought tightly. ‘I hate this!’ she said with feeling. ‘We’re doctors—not monkeys!’

  That brought a glimmer of a grim smile to his mouth. ‘It offends me too, Darcie, that these morons think they can get away with treating their workers with such disrespect. Let alone the people who have to come and rescue them from their folly.’

  Darcie bit down on her bottom lip. She could tell, even without looking at him, that Jack was strung tight, focused...almost driven. She only hoped he’d keep a cool head. But, of course, he would. They both would.

  Because there was no other choice.

  * * *

  The accident site was in chaos when they got there. Automatically, the doctors donned their high-visibility vests and hard hats. ‘Here’s Mal,’ Darcie said with something like relief. ‘Perhaps he can tell us what’s going on.’

  Jack grunted. ‘More than that clown Meadows, by the look of it.’ Even as he spoke, the unit manager was screaming at the grips—the unskilled workers on the set—to do something.

  Mal didn’t bother with greetings. Instead, he cut to the chase. ‘The flying doctors are within a two-hundred-mile radius. We managed to catch them at Harborough station before they turned round to head back to base. If they cane it, they should be here within the hour.’

  ‘Thanks, Mal.’

  ‘Cherry picker’s just arrived,’ the policeman said. ‘Two of the SES guys will go up with you. While you see what can be done medically, they’ll start cutting him away.’

  ‘Do we have a name?’ Jack’s gut clenched. This was a nightmare.

  ‘Wayne Carmody. Sixtyish.’

  ‘Oh, hell...’ Jack shook his head. ‘What’s he thinking of, doing stunt work at his age?’ Well, he already knew the answer. This whole set-up was nothing short of illegal. Understaffed and unsafe. Only people desperate for work would consider risking their lives here. ‘Right, I’m ready.’ Jack creased his eyes against the sudden glare as he looked up at the skeletal outline of the crane. �
��Let’s get that contraption moving.’

  ‘I’m coming with you.’ Darcie’s voice showed quiet determination.

  ‘You’re not!’ Jack’s response was immediate and unequivocal.

  ‘We’re a team, Jack,’ she reminded him, pushing down her own fears. ‘We combine our skills.’

  For a fleeting moment they challenged each other and Jack’s mouth pulled tight. She was as pale as parchment. But as plucky as all get-out. There was no way she’d be left out of this. ‘Just do what I tell you, then,’ he stipulated, the edges of his teeth grating.

  * * *

  Darcie felt the nerves in her stomach pitch and fall as they were hoisted upwards. Nausea began gathering at the back of her throat and she almost made a grab for Jack. But she fought back the impulse. Instead, she anchored her panic by breathing deeply and holding onto the metal bars of the cage for dear life.

  As they reached their target, Jack took in what they had to deal with. Trauma with a capital T. Poor guy. Wayne Carmody was hopelessly entangled, hanging onto consciousness by a thread, his face and arms almost purple with the pressure from his upside-down position.

  The crane’s operator directed the platform in as close as it would go. ‘Best I can do, Doc,’ he called from below.

  ‘Thanks—just keep it steady,’ Jack yelled back. ‘Wayne,’ he addressed the rapidly failing stuntman, ‘can you hear me?’

  The man’s response was a bubble of sound.

  ‘Don’t lose it, mate,’ Jack said. ‘We’ll have you down soon.’ He turned to Darcie. ‘Let’s get a non-rebreathing mask on him. It’s the only way we can manage the oxygen flow. His BP has to be off the wall. And getting an IV in nigh impossible.’

  ‘I’ll get an aspirin under his tongue.’ Darcie steadied her position, delving into the trauma kit. It wasn’t the ideal solution but the aspirin would begin lowering the injured man’s blood pressure and at least alleviate some of the shock his body was undergoing. ‘I think there’s a possible femur fracture, Jack.’ Her worried eyes took in Wayne’s right leg, which was hanging at a very odd angle.