East of Barryvale

by Yvonne Whittal

  Sister Sally Meyer was at her desk making notes when they entered. Meldon Powers did the necessary intro­ductions and then left the office hurriedly. The two women faced each other across the desk, neither of them very tall and both equally fair.

  "We've met before," Jacqueline remarked as recog­nition dawned between them.

  "Yes," Sally Meyer confirmed. "At the home of my Aunt Ellen Martin."

  "Of course," Jacqueline nodded smilingly as memories came flooding back. "Your aunt used to bake the most delicious koeksisters and as a child I called there more often than necessary just to sample her baking."

  Sally laughed heartily, her eyes crinkling at the corners. "Believe it or not, she's still fond of baking them, and still treats all the children in the neighborhood to a feast as often as they care to come."

  Jacqueline joined in her laughter and then asked more soberly: "How is your Aunt Ellen?"

  "Getting on in years, but unusually healthy for her age." She hesitated for a moment. "She's very anxious to see you again and made me promise to pass on the mes­sage when I saw you."

  "I'll go along and pay my respects as soon as I have a free moment," Jacqueline promised.

  "Would you like to see the Night Sister's report, Dr. Thornton?"

  "Presently, and please call me Jacky," she implored. "Shall we sit down first, then you can tell me something about the routine in the ward?"

  "Our routine here is very similar to any other hospital, Jacky," Sally told her as they both sat down facing each other across the desk. "There are a few private wards and two large main wards. Dr. Sanderson and Dr. Marais do their rounds at odd times during the day, depending on how busy they are, and Dr. Powers does his rounds at eleven every morning to coincide with Dr. Mason's."

  "Is Dr. Mason the only other woman doctor in the hospital?"

  "Yes. The nursing staff find her very difficult to get on with and very hard to please." Sally spread her hands in a helpless gesture. "She seems to have managed to win over Dr. Powers, and that makes things rather awkward for us."

  Jacqueline's brow furrowed as she pondered over what Sally had just told her. Meldon Powers did not look the type of man who would allow himself to be led by the nose. He had an inflexible steel-like quality about him that made it difficult to believe that he could ever unbend sufficiently for a mere woman's whims.

  "Please don't think that Dr. Powers is unjust," Sally interrupted her thoughts. "It's just that it doesn't seem right for the nursing staff to contradict the word of a doctor, and this is why Dr. Powers remains ignorant of certain facts."

  Jacqueline did not question her further and presently they went along to the wards.

  The patients in Men's Surgical were mostly farmers from the surrounding district. In spite of their ailments they were a jovial lot, full of hope that the coming season would be rewarding. They were obviously very fond of Sister Sally Meyer and with their quick and witty re­marks they made it difficult for Jacqueline to keep a straight face.

  "I knew your father very well, young lady," a bearded old man told her as she stopped beside his bed.

  "Did you?" Jacqueline looked at him with interest and saw his eyes go dim with memories. .

  "He delivered all six of my children."

  "Goodness, what a family!" she smiled. "Do they all live here in Barryvale?"

  "No," he told her sadly. "After my wife died they all moved to Port Elizabeth. I never see them any more."

  "I'm so sorry," Jacqueline said sympathetically, placing a gentle hand on his arm and squeezing it com­fortingly.

  "They write to me sometimes and send me photo­graphs of my grandchildren," he continued, and pro­ceeded to produce several snapshots from the drawer of his bedside locker.

  "May I look as well?" Sally asked, coming closer to the bed.

  "Of course, Sister," he smiled, displaying several broken teeth as he proudly spread the photographs on the bed.

  Together, Jacqueline and Sally pored over them while the old man explained their relationship to each of his children. Jacqueline was filled with sadness as she stared

  at the faces of the happy, smiling children. What joy they could have given this lonely old man if they had been close at hand.

  They left him eventually, musing over the much hand­led photographs, to become acquainted with several of the other patients.

  "Doctor, I'm dying," a young man with his leg in plaster called as Jacqueline approached his bed.

  "Is that so?" Jacqueline asked with mock concern, ex­amining the chart at the foot of the bed. "I see you'll be going home tomorrow?"

  "I can't go home tomorrow, Doctor," he protested loudly, placing a hand to his tanned forehead. "My tem­perature's gone up to a hundred and six. You must help me!"

  "We'll have to, it seems," Jacqueline agreed, turning to Sally who stood quietly at her side following the trend of this jocular conversation. "Would you get an ice bath ready for the patient, Sister?"

  "Certainly, Doctor." Sally turned as though to carry out Jacqueline's instructions, but the young man called her back anxiously.

  "You wouldn't do that to a poor chap like me, would you?" he eyed them uncertainly. "I'll freeze to death!"

  "No, you won't," Jacqueline insisted, straight-faced. "Sister is going to prepare the ice bath and we'll have your temperature down in next to no time."

  "No, no!" he protested frantically, when he saw not a glimmer of a smile on Jacqueline's face.

  "But I thought you said you had a high temperature?" she persisted smoothly, and Sally smothered a laugh be­hind her hand as she saw him cringe beneath the sheets.

  "Put him on ice, Doctor," someone shouted from the other end of the ward. "I said he'd get himself in a fix one day!"

  Loud laughter from the other patients followed this remark, and Jacqueline saw the dull red colour spread over the young man's face. His joke had backfired on him and she felt inexplicably sorry for this young man with the big blue eyes and unruly dark hair.

  "What's your name?" she asked gently when the laughter had died down.

  "It's on that chart you were looking at just now," he said sulkily, turning his face away from her.

  "His name is Stephen du Toit," Sally said quickly, and Jacqueline sent a thankful glance in her direction.

  "Mr. du Toit," Jacqueline tried again. "You're not up­set by our little joke, are you?"

  "Not at all, Doctor," he retaliated with forced casual-ness as he turned to look at her again, now quite serious. "It was all just a silly joke."

  "Naturally," Jacqueline replied coaxingly. "I hope you won't leave tomorrow without saying goodbye?"

  She was rewarded with a smile that lit up his whole face. "I'll come looking for you if you're not here."

  "Good," Jacqueline smiled back at him, relieved that he had overcome his slight embarrassment.

  "What a pleasant young man," Jacqueline remarked as they went back to Sally's office. "Does he live in town or is he also a farmer?"

  "He's in partnership with his married brother," Sally informed her. "They have a fantastically large farm about eight miles out of town. The girl who marries Stephen du Toit will get everything her heart desires.Thedu Toits are fabulously wealthy."

  "Do you know him well?"

  Sally shook her fair head with the starched cap perch­ing on top. "They only came to this district about three years ago and keep very much to themselves."

  They stopped short as they entered the office and Jacqueline heard Sally draw her breath in sharply, for at the desk stood Dr. Tanya Mason, her dark hair combed back from her face and a stethoscope dangling from her neck.

  "Why were you in the wards, Sister?" she asked ac­cusingly, pushing her beautifully manicured hands into the pockets of her white coat.

  "I asked Sister Meyer to accompany me so that I could become acquainted with the patients," Jacqueline replied when Sally seemed at a loss for words.

  Tanya Mason turned her attention to Jacqueline, her green eyes taking
in her appearance from the top of her shining fair head to the tip of her soft leather shoes.

  "I was not aware that I'd spoken to you," she spat out venomously.

  Their glances locked and antagonism mounted between them until it became almost tangible. Jacqueline's chin lifted defiantly and when she spoke her voice held a note of quiet authority that caused Tanya Mason's delicately pencilled eyebrows to lift in surprise.

  "I was the cause of Sister Meyer not being here when you arrived, and if you have any complaints I would be grateful if you would address them to me, but in a more courteous manner."

  Several heavily charged seconds passed during which Sally's eyes darted first to Tanya Mason and then to Jacqueline, admiring her calmness in this explosive situation.

  "You must be Dr. Thornton?" Tanya wanted to know.

  "I am."

  "Hm! I hope you won't be altering our routine too drastically?" The sarcasm was evident in her voice as her eyes flickered insultingly over Jacqueline's slight form.

  "It is not my intention to alter anything, Dr. Mason," Jacqueline informed her truthfully. "It's my first day here and I wanted to meet the patients, that's all."

  "Was there something you wanted, Doctor?" Sally asked with as much respect as she could force into her voice.

  "Yes," Tanya Mason snapped back at her. "I wanted to do my rounds, but I wasted my time standing around waiting for you. Perhaps you'll oblige me by being here when I have time to do my rounds later this morning with Dr. Powers?"

  "Certainly, Doctor."

  With a slight nod, Tanya Mason swept out of the office, her footsteps echoing down the corridor. The only trace of her presence that remained behind was the faint odour of her expensive perfume that mingled with the antiseptic smell of the Ward Sister's office.

  "What was all that in aid of?" Jacqueline asked blankly. "I thought you said she normally did her rounds at eleven in the morning?"

  "Normally, yes." Sally threw her hands up into the air in a gesture of despair. She sat down heavily in her chair and motioned to Jacqueline to do the same. "This unex­pected visit of hers can only mean one of two things. Either she's out looking for trouble, or this was her way of meeting you and discovering just how dangerous a competitor you'll be."

  "Competitor for what?"

  "For Dr. Powers' attentions," Sally replied distaste­fully.

  "For heaven's sake!" Jacqueline exploded angrily. "There's no reason for her to think I would be interested in Dr. Powers. I find him overpowering, pompous and arrogant, and not at all the kind of man I could ever be interested in."

  An uncomfortable silence followed Jacqueline's out­burst. Sally's eyes widened and stared at a spot beyond Jacqueline's head. Turning her own head slowly, she felt her heart knock heavily against her ribs as her glance col­lided with a pair of blue eyes that flickered over her mo­mentarily before turning to Sally, who sat as though she had been transformed into a statue.

  "Dr. Sanderson is sending up that patient of his who was operated on this morning," Meldon Powers said authoritatively. "I want him put in a private ward and I want him specialled."

  "I'll see to it at once, Dr. Powers."

  Sally rose and, after excusing herself to Jacqueline, she followed Meldon Powers' tall, broad-shouldered frame from the office. Jacqueline had no way of knowing whether he had overheard their conversation, for his granite-faced expression had remained inscrutable.

  Her association with Meldon Powers had started off badly, she realised as she bit her lip thoughtfully. With every encounter the animosity between them seemed to grow, and she knew, too, that if he had heard her criti­cism of his character, it would not help to ease the situ­ation between them. A slight sigh escaped her as she won­dered dispassionately whether she had made the right decision in coming back to Barryvale.

  Jacqueline walked out of the office and met Martin Richter coming down the corridor. A broad smile spread over his freckled face.

  "I'm afraid I couldn't wait to find out what progress you've been making." He looked at her enquiringly. "Did the Chief threaten to have you for breakfast if you refused to dance to the tune he played?"

  "Something like that," Jacqueline laughed shakily.

  "Did he upset you?"

  "A little," she admitted.

  "You're not going to allow his attitude to send you scurrying back to the bright city lights, are you?" He gave her a look of concern as he fell into step beside her.

  Jacqueline considered his question gravely for a mo­ment and then, with a look of determination on her face, she replied:

  "No. Whatever happens, I'm staying."

  "Good girl!" He placed his hand beneath her elbow. "I have a few minutes to spare, so let's go and grab our­selves a cup of hot coffee in the canteen, then you can tell me all about it."

  Jacqueline shook off her slight fit of depression and striving at lightheartedness she set off with him in the direction of the hospital canteen.

  CHAPTER THREE

  The weather had been oppressive all week, but as yet there was no sign of the much-needed rain, as Jacqueline lay tossing in her bed unable to fall asleep in the stifling heat.

  An interesting but tiring week lay behind her. She had assisted Dr. Sanderson with several operations and was surprised to see that his methods were modern and up to date with the latest techniques practised overseas. Dr. Tanya Mason was, as Sally Meyer had warned her, dif­ficult to get on with, but Jacqueline had managed to avoid any serious clashes between them.

  She had had very little to do with Meldon Powers ex­cept for accompanying him on his daily rounds. Tanya Mason had been with him on these occasions and be­tween the two of them they had practically ignored Jacqueline's existence, and it occurred to her that she could just as well not be there, for they never included her in their discussions.

  The luminescent hands of the clock were shifting steadily towards midnight as Jacqueline moved about restlessly, pummelling her pillow into shape and en­deavouring to get some sleep. But this was not to be, for the silence was suddenly broken by the shrill ring of the telephone. With a muttered exclamation she stretched out her hand and lifted the receiver off the hook.

  "Hello?"

  "I have a gentleman on the line, Dr. Thornton," the switchboard operator told her. "He says his wife is in labour and he wants you to come out to his farm to take the confinement. Could you speak to him, Doctor?"

  "Yes, put him through," Jacqueline replied, switching on the bedside lamp and blinking in the sudden glare as the operator put the caller through.

  "Dr. Thornton?"

  "Yes."

  "My name is Ben Enslin," the man continued in an agitated voice. "My wife is in labour, Doctor. I can't bring her into town because my car is in the garage for repairs and just this afternoon my truck broke down. Could you please come out, Doctor? It's our first baby, you see, and we weren't expecting it quite so soon."

  "How do I get to your farm, Mr. Enslin?" Jacqueline asked briskly.

  "We're four miles out on the Port Elizabeth road. I'll have one of my boys at the gate with a lantern so you won't miss it."

  "I'll be there as soon as I can," she promised.

  "Is there anything I can do for her until you come, Doctor?"

  Jacqueline detected a slight note of panic in his voice. "Just keep her comfortable and remain calm. Don't let her see you're worried."

  She replaced the receiver and dressed as quickly as she could, slipping a cool cotton dress over her head. Not bothering to apply make-up to her face, she ran a comb through her hair and made a quick check that she had everything in her medical bag that she might need.

  The Austin started miraculously at the first press of the starter, and Jacqueline drove as swiftly as she could through the silent streets until she came to the open road. Putting her foot down further on the accelerator, she picked up speed, its lights cutting through the darkness ahead.

  The boy was at the gate as Ben Enslin had promised and Jacqueline turne
d off on to the bumpy, two-laned farm track. The lights were on in the farm house, she noticed, as she parked the car and slid out. The front door was jerked open and a stockily built man with unruly fair hair falling over his forehead came towards her.

  "I'm Ben Enslin," he said, holding out his hand and clasping hers warmly. "I'm so glad you could come, Dr. Thornton. I've been going nearly out of my mind with worry."

  Jacqueline followed him into the house and at the door of the bedroom he stood aside for her to enter. The woman lying on the rumpled bed was young and obviously in pain as she looked up thankfully at Jacqueline.