Englishman at Dingo Creek

by Lucy Clark

  Sebastian remained determined

  There was no way he was going to let this baby die. He’d never lost one before and he didn’t plan to now.

  Finally, a tiny whimper and then a cough came from the small, lifeless little body in his hands and he almost collapsed with relief. The weak but persistent cry continued, and there had never been a more welcome sound to the four adults in that room.

  Dannyella glanced across at him as he placed the little fella on the prepared mattress. “Bonza job.”

  “I take it that means good?”

  Dannyella laughed. This definitely qualified as a “capture” moment. Captured forever in her mind. “Absolutely.”

  Dear Reader,

  I had an absolute ball writing Englishman at Dingo Creek! Dannyella Thompson is such a mischievous woman, I couldn’t resist pairing her up with straitlaced Sebastian MacKenzie.

  I love the Australian Outback and admire the people who live there in such isolated areas. Personally, I need to be within “cooee” of a movie theater! Danny and Sebastian don’t have that luxury but both find perfect harmony in the rugged Outback and with each other.

  I would like one day to visit with them again—to go back to Dingo Creek and see how their lives have turned out. I hope you enjoy getting to know Danny and Mac as much as I did.

  With warmest regards,

  Lucy Clark

  Englishman at Dingo Creek

  Lucy Clark

  CONTENTS

  CHAPTER ONE

  CHAPTER TWO

  CHAPTER THREE

  CHAPTER FOUR

  CHAPTER FIVE

  CHAPTER SIX

  CHAPTER SEVEN

  CHAPTER EIGHT

  CHAPTER NINE

  CHAPTER TEN

  CHAPTER ONE

  SEBASTIAN had never been more glad to reach a destination than he was today.

  After receiving another mumbled apology from the teenager who had vomited on him, Sebastian headed for the plane’s door. The instant he stepped out, the heat hit him like a brick and at least twenty flies started buzzing around his trousers.

  ‘Excellent,’ he grumbled. Now, if only he could find Dr Danny Thompson, things might start to look up!

  Danny knew it was him the moment he stepped off the plane. Stiff-necked Brit, she thought as she watched him survey his surroundings with distaste. He was better-looking than she’d imagined. He was tall—about six feet something—with short dark hair and eyes which were squinting into the setting sun. He was dressed in a crumpled white work shirt and a pair of navy trousers. The top button of his shirt was undone, revealing a small triangle of white—very white, she mused silently—manly chest.

  She shook her head. He would burn to a crisp if he didn’t cover himself with sunscreen and take all necessary precautions. She’d have to watch him…watch out for him, she mentally corrected then shrugged. So what if she found him pleasing to look at…Well, OK, a little more than pleasing. The man was gorgeous and surely that was a bonus considering he’d all but dumped himself into her world for the next two weeks.

  He looked her way but his gaze passed right over her. Not that she was short—five feet nine inches—but, still, inconseqential enough for him to pass over. She knew he was looking for a man—his type always did. Wouldn’t occur to him that the name Danny could also refer to a woman. She smiled as she watched him watch the other six people, who’d flown with him on the small Cessna, disperse.

  The dusty airstrip was devoid of any shelter and as she leant back against her four-wheel drive, Danny saw his gaze pass over her once more. When there was no one else left but her, he headed over. The first thing she noted as he drew closer were the flies buzzing around his legs, and then she smelt it. The second thing she noted were that his eyes were blue.

  A grin lit her features as she swatted at a fly. ‘Looks as though you’ve had a rough trip, mate.’

  ‘Hmm.’ He frowned at her. ‘I suppose you’re the taxi.’ He surveyed her old but reliable four-wheel drive.

  ‘Supposin’ you’re right, mate. What can I do ya for?’ If he thought she was a typical Aussie ‘sheila’, she’d lacquer it on thick.

  ‘I beg your pardon?’

  She nearly smiled at the disbelief which crossed his face. ‘Whered’ ya wanna go?’

  ‘Dingo Creek. Do you know it?’

  She smiled mockingly. ‘Locals know everywhere ’round ’ere, mate.’ Before he could say another word, she’d hoisted his suitcase up and carried it around to the tailgate.

  Sebastian frowned. The young woman appeared quite strong. She also appeared quite attractive and had an excellent pair of legs. Tanned, smooth and long. Just the way he liked them. He couldn’t help it—he was a leg man. She was wearing khaki shorts, a khaki singlet-top with a man’s work shirt unbuttoned all the way down so it hung open like a jacket. As she shifted, the shirt slipped off one shoulder and he was treated to a glimpse of more of her tanned skin.

  But her legs…they were worth ogling. She wore socks and old work boots and as the shorts covered only the top third of her thighs, the amount of leg revealed was extremely generous.

  An old, well-worn hat was on her head and her hair appeared to be short. Sunglasses hid the colour of her eyes and he supposed she was the modern picture of…outbackishness.

  ‘Ya got business in town?’ Danny asked as she climbed behind the wheel and started the engine. He went around to the passenger side. Before he’d buckled his seat belt, she’d swung the vehicle around and headed away from the airstrip, the air blowing in the windows which were permanently wound down at this time of year.

  ‘That’s right.’ He swatted a fly.

  A grin twitched at her lips. ‘Reckon I can guess what it is.’

  ‘Pardon?’

  ‘Ya business. Ya know, why you’re ’ere. Reckon I can guess it.’ He remained silent and she wasn’t sure if he was trying to decipher her words or comprehend their meaning. She went on. ‘You’re ’ere to marry Ms Maisy, ain’t ya?’

  She glanced across at him and his frown deepened. ‘I beg your pardon?’

  ‘Ms Maisy. We’ve been tellin’ her for years she’d never get a fella to come ’ere ’n’ marry her and that she should just send away for one of them mail-order ’usbands.’

  ‘Mail-order…’ He momentarily stopped trying to unravel the twisted seat belt and stared at her. Danny glanced across, trying hard not to laugh.

  ‘Never believed she would ’ave actually done it an’ all but you bein’ ’ere is proof, I reckon. Fair dinkum, just wait till the town gets a load of ya.’ She brought the truck to a stop near the kerb of the main street and cut the engine just as her passenger clicked his seat belt into place.

  ‘What?’ The man’s eyes were filled with incredulity and annoyance. ‘Why have you stopped?’

  ‘You said you wanted ta go to Dingo Creek, mate. We’re ’ere.’ She climbed out of the truck and shut the door, stepping up and over the large gutter to the footpath. She turned back and looked at him still sitting in the car. ‘Oops.’ She snapped her fingers. ‘Forgot ya bag.’ She headed around and before he could get out to help her, she’d hefted it down and was carrying it up the step. ‘Boy, Ms Maisy’s gonna be right pleased to see you.’ Danny stopped and turned back to look at him, one finger scratching her head just beneath the rim of her hat. ‘A bit younger than we was all thinkin’ but, hey, all the better for Maisy, I reckon.’

  Sebastian couldn’t stop his jaw from clenching at her words. Mail-order husband? A bit younger than expected? It was as though he’d stepped into the twilight zone!

  The grin which split her face was a cheeky one and she couldn’t resist lowering her sunglasses—just for a second—in order to wi
nk at him. She turned and headed into the pub. Maybe these next two weeks weren’t going to be so bad after all. Dr Sebastian MacKenzie seemed like a gullible little goanna!

  ‘Did ya find him, Danny?’ Maisy asked as Danny carried his suitcase to the bar.

  ‘Sure did.’

  ‘Well?’ The older woman swatted a fly and then wiped down the counter once more. ‘What’s he like?’

  ‘Cute.’ Danny shrugged. She put his case down and leant against the bar.

  ‘Well, is he comin’ in?’

  ‘I’m not sure.’ Danny took her sunglasses off and grinned at Maisy.

  ‘What have you been tellin’ him? Spinning him a yarn or two, eh?’

  ‘Can’t blame a girl for having a bit of fun, Maisy. I told him he must be your new mail-order husband.’

  ‘Dannyella Thompson!’ Maisy spluttered with a laugh. ‘You didn’t!’

  ‘What do you reckon?’

  ‘I reckon you’re a tease, playin’ jokes on unsuspecting tourists.’

  ‘He may be smart as far as medicine is concerned but he’s gonna have trouble surviving these two weeks in the outback. Most city folk do.’ Danny shrugged nonchalantly.

  ‘Ya ain’t gotta be born here to appreciate the beauty, Danny,’ Maisy countered.

  ‘Want to make a bet? Our city doc out there will more than likely be glad to see the back of this place by the end of next week.’

  The sound of car engines could be heard getting louder and Danny checked her watch. ‘Right on time. Give me a cold one, Maisy, before the guys drink you out of beer.’

  ‘This pub? Never. Not once, lovey, have we ever run out of beer.’ Both women watched the door. ‘Reckon you might wanna go bring him in, lovey. Save him the embarrassment of walking in after the blokes have arrived.’

  Danny sighed theatrically. ‘You spoil all my fun, Maisy.’ She took a good, long drink of her beer before heading to the door.

  The heat inside the car was stifling but his limbs were just too exhausted to move. He closed his eyes and leant his head against the seat. What a day! Now…now some crazy woman with a pair of the sexiest legs he’d ever seen, who talked like a twanging guitar, was convinced he was someone’s mail-order husband!

  He didn’t need this. He really didn’t need this.

  A far-off whirring noise had him raising his hand to swat lethargically in front of his face. A moment later, his sluggish brain registered the fact that it wasn’t the sound of a fly or a mosquito—both of which this place seemed to have in abundance. He opened his eyes and looked out the window. He couldn’t see anything but the strange sound was getting louder.

  He heard footsteps and turned his head, watching as the only person he’d spoken to in this dry outback…town, for want of a better word, walked towards him. His gaze travelled quickly over her legs before they were hidden from his view as she came to stand by the truck.

  She leaned down on the open window ledge next to him, the faint smell of perspiration and a subtly feminine scent mingling together as he breathed in. The sunglasses had been removed and her eyes were blue. A teasing, alive-with-life blue.

  ‘Sebastian?’

  He raised an eyebrow in surprise. She knew his name?

  She nodded. ‘Yeah, I know who you are. You’re not Maisy’s mail-order husband. You’re the visiting doctor.’

  Her twangy accent was gone and he couldn’t help but scratch his head. She stepped back, opening the door for him. The engines were getting closer and she could see a cloud of dust heading their way. ‘I was pulling your leg and, um…’

  Sebastian undid his seat belt and stepped from the car, looking down at her.

  Man, he was tall. Danny felt something flutter deep within her. She liked tall men. She took a deep breath. ‘Well…I apologise. I shouldn’t have…you know…taken the mickey.’ She shrugged apologetically. ‘But right now,’ she said, laying a hand on his arm and tugging him forward, ‘I think you might want to come inside as in about two minutes…’ she pointed to a cloud of dust which could be seen in the distance ‘…this pub is going to be filled with tired, sweaty men who have put in an honest day’s work and are ready for some shenanigans…er…’ She stopped, seeing the frown on his face, and wondered if she needed to translate. ‘That means playing pranks and getting up to mischief.’

  ‘I know what shenanigans means,’ he muttered as he followed her.

  ‘Right. Of course you do.’ Danny dropped her hand from his arm and headed into the pub. ‘Beer?’ she asked him, trying to ignore the way her hand still tingled from the feel of him.

  ‘No, thank you. I’d prefer a cup of tea.’

  ‘Tea? It’s almost forty degrees outside! Don’t you want a cold one?’

  ‘No, thank you.’

  ‘I’ll make ya a cuppa tea, lovey,’ Maisy said from behind the bar. She held out her hand. ‘I’m Maisy and don’t you go believin’ anything this young mischief-maker says. I’ve already had three husbands and at the moment I’m quite happy not to have another one.’

  Sebastian smiled gratefully. ‘I’m pleased to hear it.’

  ‘Sit yaself down, lovey, and I’ll get you that cuppa.’

  ‘Actually, I presume I’m staying here?’ He waited for Maisy’s nod. ‘In that case, would you mind showing me to my room? I’ve been travelling since about four o’clock this morning and I’m rather exhausted.’ He was pleased to note a look of contrition cross the young woman’s face and he hoped she was feeling guilty about her earlier joke.

  ‘Right you are, lovey. Watch the bar,’ she said to Danny.

  ‘What? Now? With all those blokes about to descend?’

  Maisy chuckled as she came out from behind the bar and started up the steps which led to the rooms. ‘Serves you right for teasing poor Dr MacKenzie here.’

  For the first time since he’d arrived, Sebastian smiled at her, and Danny was amazed to find that she quite liked it. She also liked the sensations it evoked deep down in the pit of her stomach. Granted, it was a smug smile but, still, it brought a light to his tired blue eyes. With a sigh, she walked behind the bar, watching him as he walked up the stairs behind Maisy. His legs were long and lean in those trousers and she wondered how good he would look in a pair of shorts. Oh, yes, she thought as she started pulling beers as the sounds of car doors opening and closing could be heard. The next two weeks were going to be humdingers!

  Two hours later, Sebastian could bear the noise from downstairs no longer—or the heat of his room. It was stinking hot and extremely humid. He’d never experienced anything like it. Every time he breathed in, he thought the hairs in his nostrils were going to get singed.

  The windows were open, the old flyscreens keeping out most of the pesky insects. The ceiling fan was whirring so fast he thought it might detach itself from the ceiling at any moment. He’d already taken two showers—both of them as cold as the water could get—and still he was bathed in a sheen of sweat. He swatted a fly which had somehow made it into his room and decided that enough was enough!

  Pulling on a pair of crisply ironed shorts and a short-sleeved cotton shirt, he brushed his hair and hunted through his suitcase for the going-away present Halley and Max had presented him with yesterday evening.

  ‘You’re going to need something cooler to wear on your feet in the outback,’ Halley had said laughingly as they’d dined at the Chinese restaurant in Heartfield. Sebastian had stayed with the married medical couple for two weeks in rural Victoria as part of his study for his thesis on country GPs. Halley had even pursuaded him to do a bit of rock climbing while he’d been there, which he’d thoroughly enjoyed. He pulled out the present and frowned at it—a pair of rubber flip-flops. Thongs, Halley had called them.

  Shaking his head, he dropped them to the ground and slid his bare feet into them, his big toe on one side of the stem, which kept the article together, and the other four toes on the other side. It was a rather strange sensation but better than putting on socks and shoes again.

&n
bsp; He headed out of his room, conscious of the flip-floppy sound the thongs made as they hit his heel. As he walked down the stairs, Sebastian wondered if the young woman was still here. He also wondered when Dr Danny Thompson was going to put in an appearance. Although he wasn’t supposed to start with the local doctor until tomorrow, he thought it quite rude to not have been welcomed by him in the first place. Then again, maybe the doctor was out on a call. Maisy and the young woman who’d brought him here from the airstrip obviously knew who he was so it wasn’t as though the information of his arrival had gone astray.

  The small pub seemed to be filled with men, all wearing hats and all holding beers. Maisy was laughing behind the bar as she poured another drink, but the young woman wasn’t by her side. Sebastian frowned, wondering why it bothered him that she’d left.

  ‘Blimey!’ One fellow yelled out. ‘Get a load of this guy’s shorts.’

  ‘I haven’t seen front pleats that sharp since me army days,’ another man retorted, and raised his hand in a salute to Sebastian.

  ‘At ease, men,’ Sebastian said as he headed over, a grin on his face. He was more than happy with the good-natured teasing and leant against the bar.

  ‘Another cuppa tea, lovey?’ Maisy asked.

  Sebastian considered it for a moment before shaking his head. ‘I think I’ll try one of those ales, thank you, Maisy.’

  ‘It’s called a beer, mate.’

  He nodded. ‘Right you are. A beer, please, Maisy.’

  ‘Comin’ right up.’

  ‘I take it you’re the new doc come to do some study or somethin’ with Danny.’ The man who’d spoken had a shock of red hair peeking out from beneath his hat.

  ‘That’s right,’ Sebastian replied, accepting his drink from Maisy with thanks.

  ‘Bluey’s the name.’ Bluey held out his hand and Sebastian shook it. ‘So why on earth did ya wanna come all the way out ’ere for?’

  ‘Research. I’m doing a thesis on country general practitioners in England, and as an added bonus thought it might be good for comparison to see how GPs work in another country.’