by Leah Martyn
‘I’ll follow across to the hospital directly, Agnes.’ Moira squeezed the older woman’s hand. ‘Don’t worry about a thing.’
‘Right, let’s get you on board, sweetheart.’ The paramedics moved in to make the transfer.
With Moira disappearing out into the night, Declan took a quick look around. Thankfully, the damage was only in one part of the hall. He was still considering the injury to Agnes when he heard his name called. He turned sharply. John Cabot was heading towards him.
‘One of my lads has hurt himself, Doc. Breaking all the rules and trying to lift debris on his own.’
‘I’ll take a look at him.’ Declan hitched up his bag and followed the SES leader. ‘Who do we have, John?’
‘Jason Toohey. One of our local football stars.’
Declan found the young man sitting hunched over, hands crossed, supporting his elbows. ‘Where are you hurt, Jason?’ Declan hunkered down beside his patient.
‘Shoulder.’ Jason pulled in a harsh breath. ‘Put it out again, I reckon.’
‘What do you mean again? Does this happen often?’
‘I play league, Doc. It’s contact sport.’
‘I’m well aware of what rugby league is,’ Declan muttered. ‘I want you over at the hospital so I can look at you properly.’
John Cabot looked on worriedly. ‘What do you think, Doc?’
‘Shoulder dislocation,’ Declan said briefly. He looked about him. ‘Is the other ambulance here?’
Gary Bryson joined in the conversation. ‘Just heard they’ve gone to collect a pregnant woman. Roads to Toowoomba are flooded. Looks like she’ll have to have the baby here.’
Bendemere didn’t take midwifery patients. At least not on a regular basis. But Declan guessed there would be protocol in place for just such an eventuality. And he guessed too that Emma, as usual, would have things well in hand. ‘We need to get Jason over to the hospital.’
Rachel Wallace arrived just as Jason was being settled into the treatment room. ‘Sorry, guys.’ She looked from Declan to the young nursing assistant, Talitha, and made a grimace. ‘I’d have been here earlier but when I went to reverse out of the garage, I found a damn great tree had fallen across the driveway. Took me a while to move it.’
Declan’s eyes widened ever so slightly. ‘You moved a fallen tree on your own?’
‘With the help of a chainsaw.’ Rachel coughed out a self-deprecating laugh. ‘And it was more of a sapling really. But there was no way I could have reversed the car over it. Hi, JT.’ She made a sympathetic face at the young man on the treatment couch. ‘Is it the shoulder again?’
‘Yep.’ Jason managed a weak smile, raising his hand in acknowledgment, then wincing as he lowered it quickly.
‘Let’s get Jason on some oxygen, please,’ Declan directed.
‘We’ve all become accustomed to popping Jason’s shoulder back in,’ Rachel said, adjusting the oxygen. ‘Relax now and breathe away, JT. Big tug coming up.’
Not if he could help it, Declan thought. ‘I’ll just try a manoeuvre here, Rachel,’ he informed the nurse manager quietly.
She went to the head of the bed and waited. She watched intently as Declan gently and smoothly reduced Jason’s dislocation until his shoulder was safely back in its socket. ‘Wow…’ Rachel puffed a little breath of admiration. ‘You’re good.’
Declan’s mouth compressed for moment. It was what he’d trained for, for heaven’s sake. But nevertheless Rachel’s compliment had warmed him like a favourite woolly jumper on a winter’s morning. ‘Let’s get a sling on that arm now, please.’
‘Thanks, Doc,’ Jason said, perking up. ‘Looks like I’ll be back in time for the semi-finals weekend after next.’
‘No, you won’t, old son.’ Declan flipped out the patient chart from its rack and took the pen Rachel handed to him. ‘You’re out for the rest of the season. That shoulder needs resting.’
‘Stuff that!’ Jason struggled upright, dangling his legs over the side of the treatment couch. ‘The team needs me. I play second-row forward.’
‘And correct me if I’m wrong.’ Declan’s tone was professionally detached and even. ‘But isn’t that the position where you regularly shoulder-charge your opposite number?’
‘So?’ Jason looked sulky.
‘So,’ Declan elaborated, ‘if you continue playing, you’ll be lucky if your shoulder’s not hanging by a thread by the end of the season. And you’ll be very unlikely to have a future in league at all. How old are you, Jason?’
‘Nineteen.’
‘So, you’ve plenty of time to get your footy career up and running again.’
Jason gave a howl of dissention.
‘Hey, JT, listen to Dr O’Malley, hmm?’ Rachel came in with an overbright smile. ‘This is his special field of medicine. He knows what he’s talking about.’
Jason’s lip curled briefly. ‘So—what do I have to do, then?’ he asked ungraciously.
‘I’d like you to have a CAT scan on that shoulder,’ Declan said. ‘We need to know why it keeps dislocating. In the meantime, chum, it’s rest. Want me to have a word with your coach?’
Jason shook his head. ‘I’ll tell him at training.’
Declan replaced the chart, backing against the treatment couch and folding his arms. ‘It won’t be the end of the world, Jason.’ His tone was gentle. ‘We’ll make a plan of action when we see the results of your scan. Maybe the problem can be resolved with some appropriate physio. In all probability, you’ll be back on the field next season. Call the imaging centre first thing on Monday. They’ll give you an appointment. And I’d rather you didn’t try to drive, so can you get a lift across to Toowoomba?’
Jason nodded and stood gingerly to his feet. ‘Uh—thanks,’ he added grudgingly.
‘You’re welcome, Jason.’ Declan’s mouth tightened fractionally. ‘If you could hang around for a bit, I’ll organise a request form for your X-ray.’
‘We can fix you up at the nurses’ station for that,’ Rachel said helpfully. ‘And JT, I’m sure you could do with a cup of tea. Or an energy drink, if you’d prefer. Talitha will show you where to go.’
‘Follow me.’ The young nursing assistant grinned impishly. ‘Unless you’d like a wheelchair?’
‘No way!’ Jason looked horrified. He paused for a second and then, as if he could see he had no other choice, shuffled out after Talitha.
Declan worked his shoulder muscles and lifted his arms in a half-mast stretch.
‘Long day?’ Rachel commiserated. ‘Got time for a hot drink?’
‘Perhaps later.’ Declan smiled. ‘I’ll look in on Emma first. See if she needs any backup.’
‘Oh—OK, then. I’ll be around for a while, if you change your mind.’ She sent him a quick grin. ‘We’ll raid the kitchen.’
‘Oh—Hi.’ Emma had stepped out of the room that had been quickly rearranged as a delivery suite, to find Declan hovering. She blinked a bit. ‘Is something wrong?’
‘I came to see if you needed any backup.’
She shook her head. ‘We’re fine. Dot’s a midwife and the baby’s well on its way. Shouldn’t be any problems.’ She looked closely at him and put her hand on his arm. ‘You look tired. Why don’t you take off? You’ve a big day tomorrow with Tracey.’
Declan’s gaze narrowed. Was she patronizing him? It sure felt like it. His eyes swept over her pale blue hospital gown. ‘I’ll wait.’
‘You don’t have to, Declan. I can get a lift home with someone.’
By the time Declan had formulated a reply, she’d turned away and re-entered the delivery room. He had a frown in his eyes as he made his way back to the nurses’ station. Damn it! he raged silently. What an awful way for their evening to have turned out.
With the baby boy safely delivered and his mum tidied up, Emma felt a surge of relief. In the little annexe, she stripped off her gown and tossed it into the linen tidy. It had been a very long day. Day and a bit, she realized after a glance at the wall
clock. Oh, Lord, she needed her bed. She stretched, feeling the protest of internal muscles, and felt heat rising from her toes upwards until she flushed almost guiltily. She couldn’t believe she’d been so wild with Declan, almost frenzied. She stifled a groan. She hoped he’d gone home. She needed time to gather herself. They’d taken a giant step into the unknown. It had seemed the right one at the time but now, in the fuzzy light of the early hours…The smell of coffee, fragrant and rich, drew her towards the hospital kitchen.
And that was where she found her new lover and the nurse manager. All her insecurities from her past relationship, coupled with the most awful kind of disappointment, washed through her like a power-shower of pain. She pulled back, freezing at what she saw—Declan and Rachel were sitting very closely together, their foreheads almost touching, utterly engrossed in quiet conversation. At least Rachel was the one doing the talking, while Declan seemed enthralled, drawn towards her, listening. Emma felt the drum-heavy beat in her chest, the sudden recoil in her stomach. Surely she hadn’t misplaced her trust again? Surely…
It was the longest minute of Emma’s life. She stood undecided, wanting to run, yet with all her heart wanting to stay. The decision was taken out of her hands when Rachel looked up. ‘Emma…hey…Everything OK?’
‘Fine.’ Emma took a deep breath. ‘I smelled coffee.’
‘Help yourself.’ The nurse manager pressed a strand of auburn hair behind her ear and got to her feet. ‘I’m off to crash for a while. I’m on an early.’
Two sets of eyes followed Rachel as she left and then Declan pushed up out of his chair. ‘I’ll get you a coffee.’
‘Don’t bother. I’ve changed my mind.’ The words were said tonelessly, like a recorded message.
‘Let’s get you home, then.’ Declan moving with speed, was already ushering her out of the door.
‘You seemed very cosy with Rachel back there,’ Emma said as they drove. Suddenly she felt she was fighting for her very existence, her emotions unravelling like a ball of string.
‘Just killing time,’ Declan answered evenly. ‘Waiting for you.’
A beat of silence and then, ‘I—guess you’d have a lot in common with Rachel. She’s worked all over the world in the OR. She’s smart and savvy. And available.’
‘Don’t do this, Emma.’
Emma felt her throat thicken. ‘She was practically in your lap.’
Declan pulled air into his lungs and let it go. ‘Emma, if you’re waiting for a reaction, I’m not biting. We just have to accept the evening turned out light years from what we’d hoped for.’ He paused. ‘What about coming home with me?’
‘To the cabin?’ He must be out of his mind.
‘That’s where I call home at the moment.’
‘Declan—’ Emma made a weary little gesture with her hand ‘—I’d rather be on my own, if you don’t mind.’
‘So you can do what?’ Declan felt nettled. ‘Talk yourself into believing that making love with me was a huge mistake? Or, better still,’ he revised with heavy sarcasm, ‘that you can’t trust me now?’
Emma felt her stomach churn. He was too near the truth for comfort.
Declan gave a fractured sigh and then he spoke quietly. ‘I realize you feel vulnerable—hell, don’t you think I do as well? But don’t blow this up into something it’s not, Emma. Come home with me. I’ll sleep on the couch. There’s hardly anything left of the night, anyway. But at least we’ll be together. I hate the thought of you rattling around in that great house on your own.’
‘I was doing it long before you came on the scene, Declan. I’m used to it,’ she dismissed. ‘Besides, the power’s back on. I’ll be fine.’
With a weary shake of his head, Declan aimed the car towards Kingsholme.
When they turned into the driveway at the surgery, he cut the engine.
Emma’s head spun round in query.
‘I’ll come in with you,’ he said. ‘Make sure it’s all safe—that no water’s come in, or worse.’
‘Thanks—but there’s never been any problem before.’
In other words, I can get along without you very well; you don’t need to come in at all. Declan’s hands tightened on the steering wheel. ‘It won’t take a minute.’
Once inside, Emma stood stiffly in the kitchen, listening as Declan went from room to room, checking things were in order. It seemed only seconds until he was back and poking his head in the door.
‘Seems fine, very snug. I’ll say goodnight, then.’
‘Yes—OK—thanks.’ Emma voice sounded thick and vaguely husky.
‘I’ll be here about eight in the morning,’ Declan said. ‘To drop the kids off as arranged.’
She nodded. Words, all of them mixed up, tried to force their way from her lips. Words like, Perhaps I was wrong. Perhaps we need to talk. Can things ever be right between us again? Instead, she stood there awkwardly. ‘Take care on the road back to the cabin.’
Declan’s lips twisted in self-mockery. Obviously, she couldn’t wait to be shot of his company. He lifted a hand in a stiff kind of farewell but no words came readily to mind. He turned and left quietly.
The next morning, Emma made a concerted effort to corral her private thoughts and concentrate on the children’s chatter as they drove to the stables. But it was difficult. Declan had had very little to say when he’d dropped them off—well, nothing personal anyway. But she’d hoped, unrealistically perhaps—? ‘There’s Jodi waiting for us!’ Lauren was beside herself with excitement.
‘Now, I want both of you to do exactly what Jodi tells you,’ Emma instructed. ‘Horses can be a bit tricky.’
Jodi spent some time showing them the basic skills in looking after the horses. ‘Now, I’ll have to take each of you separately for a ride,’ Jodi explained to the children. ‘Lauren, you can go first. Joel, you’ll have to wait a bit, OK?’
‘I don’t wanna ride.’ Joel tugged his cap further down on his forehead. ‘I’d rather help feed the horses.’
‘Right, you’re easily pleased.’ Jodi grinned. ‘Come with me, then, dude.’
Jodi was back in a few minutes and began saddling a chestnut pony. ‘This is Lady Marmalade,’ she told an entranced Lauren. She showed the little girl how to mount and then positioned her feet in the stirrups. ‘Lady has a soft mouth,’ Jodi explained as Lauren took up the reins. ‘That means she’ll go exactly where you want her to with just a touch on the bridle.’
Watching on, Emma said, ‘Thanks for doing all this, Jodi.’
‘No worries.’ Jodi gave a dimple-bright grin. ‘It’s good for kids to learn to be safe around animals and have fun while they’re doing it. All set?’ She looked up at her young charge. ‘I’ll lead Lady for a while until you get used to sitting on her back and then I might let you have a ride by yourself.’
Lauren’s little face was alight with happiness.
Jodi pointed to the paddock adjoining the track. ‘Now, for starters, we’ll be taking Lady over there.’
Lauren small hands clutched the reins, her thin little shoulders almost stiff with anticipation of her first riding lesson.
Jodi looked a question at Emma. ‘Coming along?’
‘I thought perhaps I should keep an eye on Joel.’
‘He’ll be fine.’ Jodi flapped a hand. ‘He’s with the guys. And there’s a new puppy over at the barn. He’ll have fun with him. Isn’t it a gorgeous morning after the storm?’ Jodi chatted light-heartedly as they made their way towards the big paddock.
Emma began to feel her spirits lighten. It was indeed a lovely morning. The sun had risen, dispersing the mist, and a brilliant burst of gold-tipped fingers spanned the horizon.
Lauren was going beautifully, Emma decided and, even though she didn’t know terribly much about riding in general, she could see the little girl was a natural. Already her seat was easy, her little back straight, her body moving in tune with the pony’s rhythmic gait. She watched as Jodi gave a thumbs-up sign and then stepped away, leaving
Lauren in charge of her mount. With a tap of her heels, Lauren urged Lady forward and the pony responded, picking up her pace into a bouncy brisk walk.
Emma thought the smile on the child’s face would have dimmed even the Christmas lights. Oh, sweetheart, Emma’s heart swelled. I wish your mum could see you now. She’d be back home in a flash.
And then it happened.
A black streak in the form of a wilful, naughty puppy tore across the paddock in front of Lady. Without warning, the pony took fright, breaking into a jerky canter and racing through the grass. Lauren cried out…and so did Emma.
Jodi began sprinting to try to contain the pony but Lady was having none of it.
‘Oh, no!’ Emma’s hand went to her heart as Lauren lost her seat and tumbled to the ground. Emma ran as if she was possessed. Lauren was in a little heap on the ground, hunched over and looking into the distance at the pony that had careened away to the far side of the paddock. ‘Is she hurt?’ Emma skidded to a stop and dropped to the ground beside the child.
‘She landed like a pro.’ Jodi had her arm around Lauren. ‘She’s one smart little girl.’
‘Ooh…’ Emma felt a sob of relief in her chest.
‘I fell off,’ Lauren said as though the fact amazed her.
‘Yes, you did.’ Jodi squeezed her shoulders. ‘I did too when I first began to ride.’
‘Did you?’ Lauren looked a wide-eyed question at her mentor.
‘Broke my wrist.’ Jodi held up a strong, straight arm. ‘But you’d never know now, would you?’
Lauren shook her head. ‘I don’t think I broke anything.’
‘Just let me take a little look at you, Lauren.’ Emma bent to the child. She did a quick neuro check and asked Lauren to turn her head and lift her arms. ‘Now, can you squeeze my fingers really hard? Good girl. Now, stand up for me, Lauren. And walk a straight line, please, sweetheart. Good. That’s lovely.’ Emma’s heart fell back into its rightful place.
‘I’ll go and catch Lady.’ Jodi scrambled upright. ‘And we’ll get her back to the stables.’