She squared her shoulders and lifted her chin, but fortunately he appeared to be in a hurry and with only a brief nod in their direction he went on his way. Jacqueline expelled the air from her lungs and felt the tenseness leave her.
"You're looking a bit pale this morning." Martin finally remarked, frowning down at her. "Aren't you feeling well?"
"I have a slight headache," she informed him, allaying his concern with a smile.
"I was wondering ..." His voice trailed off as they reached Casualty. "They've opened up a new restaurant in town. How about us going there this evening if you're free?"
"That would be lovely, Martin. Thank you." She frowned slightly. "Is it your birthday we'll be celebrating?"
"Well—" He winked at her. "We could always pretend it's my birthday."
"Very well, Martin, we'll do that."
They arranged that he would call for her at seven and parted.
Jacqueline did not see Meldon again until later that morning when he did his rounds. She was in the Sister's office going through the reports when he walked in.
"Good morning, Dr. Powers," she said coolly, rising to her feet.
"Hello, Jacky." There was a smile lurking in his eyes as he appraised her, and Jacqueline returned his glance as calmly as she could.
"Did you want to do your rounds, Dr. Powers?"
The smile left his eyes as he studied her for a moment longer, and when he spoke his voice was abrupt.
"If you could accompany me now I would be grateful."
Jacqueline walked beside him, conscious of the fact that he was deliberately walking at his normal pace, which meant that she was almost running to keep up with him.
Sally was in the ward to meet them and accompanied them as she usually did. When they reached the patient whose appendix had ruptured, Meldon lingered a little longer, taking his time while examining him.
"I was just telling everyone what a wonderful staff you have here, Doctor," the patient said, his eyes turning to Jacqueline. "If it hadn't been for Dr. Thornton here, I might have died."
"That would never have happened," Jacqueline interrupted quickly. "It wouldn't have taken Dr. Mason long to realise that she'd made a mistake."
"But you were quicker than her," he persisted.
Jacqueline remained silent, aware that Meldon was watching her closely.
They went on to the other patients and with meticulous care Meldon examined them where necessary and by glancing at the charts hanging from the foot of their beds he made certain that they were receiving the correct treatment.
When they finally left the ward they walked in silence until they reached the office.
"I would like to see you in my office when you have a moment to spare," Meldon ordered before turning on his heel, and leaving her to wonder what he should want to discuss with her.
An hour later when she entered his office he instructed her to sit down. When she had done so he seated himself on the corner of his desk, so close to her that she only had to reach out a hand to touch him. At this thought her heart knocked uncomfortably against her ribs.
"What did you want to see me about, Dr. Powers?"
"It was 'Meldon' last night," he reminded her gently.
She swallowed and looked away.
"Last night was different."
"How different?" he persisted. "And while you're about it, explain to me why you're like an iceberg towards me this morning?"
'Oh, God,' she thought wildly, 'give me the strength to bear my shame with dignity.' What reason could he have for this inquisition? Surely he must know what he had done to her, or was it perhaps his wish to humiliate her further?
"What's happened, Jacky?" he prompted gently. "Last night when—"
"Please don't!" she interrupted, jumping to her feet. "Last night was ... was ... perhaps we were both just a little bit crazy," she ended lamely.
"Were we, Jacky?" His eyes flickered strangely.
"Yes," she insisted. "What happened last night is best forgotten, and I would be grateful if you wouldn't refer to it again."
His eyes narrowed, then slid slowly and insultingly over the length of her body. The blood rushed to her face and then receded, leaving her white and shaking. She withstood hjs glance for what seemed an eternity, her nerves stretched to breaking point.
A cynical smile twisted his lips.
"I didn't know your kisses were that cheap."
His words fell heavily. She felt their impact and their chill. Not waiting to hear more, she fled from his office and did not stop until she had locked herself into the cloakroom.
What had she done? she thought bitterly. Unintentionally she had made him believe that she was easy prey to any man. Oh, how he must despise her! Yet was he not just the same? Engaged to Tanya but still having interludes with other women?
She clasped her arms tightly about herself as a near physical pain shot through her. She was in love with him!
She loved him deeply and sincerely. That was why he had had such a startling effect on her emotions since their first meeting at Bergvliet.
Jacqueline was not the kind to give her heart lightly, but once given she could never take it back. Meldon belonged to Tanya, and after what had just occurred, she could expect nothing more from him than cool civility.
Her breath caught in her throat in an anguished sob, and uncaring, she let the tears stream down her cheeks. Finally, emotionally spent, she walked across to the basin and opened the tap. She splashed the cold water into her hot face and then dried herself with the hand towel. Her eyelids were red and swollen, but there was no time now to apply any make-up to her face. She just hoped frantically that no one noticed until she had time to escape to her apartment.
Her head was throbbing painfully once more when she finally returned to the ward, and if Sally noticed anything she remained tactfully silent.
That evening Jacqueline accompanied Martin on the first of many such outings. While on duty, she did not spare herself and worked relentlessly in an effort to forget the heartache which had become her constant companion. Her free time was spent studying new methods of surgery or indulging in a social whirl with Martin.
Wherever they went, Meldon and Tanya seemed to dog their footsteps, and Jacqueline experienced her first real pangs of jealousy at the sight of Tanya clinging possessively to Meldon's arm, and at the apparent intimacy that seemed to exist between them.
A thunderstorm was threatening when Jacqueline parked her car at Aunt Ellen's gate late one afternoon. The desire to talk to someone had become too much to bear, and there was no One else she could go to.
"My dear child," Aunt Ellen exclaimed when she opened the door to find Jacqueline on the doorstep. "What have you been doing to yourself? You look absolutely haggard!"
Jacqueline, quite out of character, fell into Aunt Ellen's outstretched arms and wept.
"Oh, Aunt Ellen," she sobbed, "I'm so unhappy!"
Aunt Ellen took her through to the kitchen and put the kettle on. A strong cup of tea was what Jacqueline needed, she said.
"Dry your eyes, child," she said eventually, placing that much-needed cup of tea at Jacqueline's elbow. "Drink up and then you can tell me all about it."
Jacqueline drank her tea obediently and then haltingly unburdened herself, omitting nothing.
"Jacky, something is terribly wrong somewhere," Aunt Ellen said eventually. "I'm almost sure Meldon isn't a philanderer. He wouldn't play fast and loose with any girl's emotions. Why, he told me once that the day he took a wife, the marriage would have to last for ever, for to him those marriage vows were sacred."
"But Tanya said—"
"To the devil with this Tanya woman," Aunt Ellen interrupted strongly. "I'll get hold of her and then we shall see what she has to say for herself."
"No, Aunt Ellen," Jacqueline said hurriedly. "Don't do anything. Please!"
"You love Meldon, don't you?"
"Yes, but I wouldn't want to do anythin
g to spoil his happiness." She wiped a stray tear from her cheek. "If he's in love with Tanya, then let's just leave things as they are."
Aunt Ellen looked at her strangely. "You really love him that much that you could wish him happiness with another woman?"
"If she's the woman he wants to marry, then I can do nothing else, can I?"
The telephone rang just as Aunt Ellen was about to say something. She went to answer it and came back a short while later.
"It's for you, Jacky."
Jacqueline went to the phone only to be told that she was needed on the du Toits' farm, several miles out of town. It appeared that Mr. du Toit was hemorrhaging badly. She planted a quick kiss on Aunt Ellen's cheek and left immediately.
The hospital had arranged for a supply of blood and the ambulance was ready to leave when Jacqueline arrived. Leaving her car in the parking lot, she joined the driver in the cab of the ambulance and with the siren going they drove speedily through the town and out on to the open road.
The sky had darkened and the rain was gushing down by the time they reached the farm. Lightning lit the sky and the clap of thunder that followed was almost deafening. Jacqueline braved the storm and rushed into the house, leaving the two orderlies to bring in the stretcher.
The sight that met Jacqueline's eyes when she entered Mr. du Toit's room was something she thought she would never forget. He lay writhing on the bed in the grip of an agonising pain. His pyjamas were soaked in blood while his tearful wife was trying frantically to stop the bleeding.
"Doctor, please do something for him," she sobbed.
Jacqueline took over quickly, asking rapid questions while she examined him.
"I'm going to have to move him to hospital." Jacqueline told the distraught woman. "It's going to mean an operation."
"Operation?"
Jacqueline nodded and motioned to the two orderlies to bring in the stretcher. "If I'm not mistaken then your husband's trouble is caused by an ulcer. We shall have to operate immediately."
"I'll get my husband's brother to take me to the hospital," Mrs du Toit stated, realising there would not be room for her in the ambulance. "We will follow you."
They lowered Mr. du Toit on to the stretcher and covered him up warmly. Walking beside the stretcher Jacqueline held a sheet of waterproofing over the patient to protect him from the rain, not caring about herself.
"Dr. Thornton, you're soaking wet!" one orderly pointed out worriedly.
"Never mind that. Just get us to the hospital. Fast!"
As they travelled, Jacqueline plunged a needle into Mr. du Toit's arm, and kept a steady flow of life-saving blood flowing through his veins.
It seemed to be an endless journey. Her clothes were wet and cold, clinging to her body and causing discomfort. She was shivering incessantly by the time they finally reached the hospital. The patient had lost consciousness, and once again Jacqueline was drenched to the skin as she entered the hospital walking beside the stretcher. A nurse took over from her as they entered and Jacqueline, not bothering to change, went straight to the theatre to make sure that all was in order.
The surgical team were ready and waiting while she gave her hair a quick rub with the towel before slipping into her theatre gown.
"Dr. Thornton, you can't possibly remain in those wet clothes," Theatre Sister reprimanded while assisting her.
"There's no time to change now," Jacqueline almost snapped at her. "Every second we waste could cause this patient's death."
Three hours later, she wearily pulled her mask down to below her chin and removed the protecting turban from her head.
"You were wonderful, Dr. Thornton," the Theatre
Sister praised her while helping her out of her gown. "For a moment back there I thought we were going to lose him, but your quick action did the trick."
Jacqueline said nothing, but let the Sister babble on. She was not listening any more. Her brain felt numb and she was conscious of a dull ache in every part of her body.
"Go and change, Doctor," the Sister's voice penetrated through to her. "Get out of those wet clothes and into a hot bath. If I were you I'd get some rest as well. We'll let you know if there's the slightest change in the patient."
Jacqueline nodded automatically and left the theatre. Yes, she thought, Sister was right. A hot bath and into bed. But before she could rest peacefully in the comfort of her own apartment, she simply had to see Mr. du Toit once more, if only to make sure that he was comfortable.
"What on earth are you doing here, Dr. Thornton?" the Night Sister asked when Jacqueline silently entered the ward an hour later. "Theatre Sister said she had ordered you to bed."
Jacqueline passed a hand wearily over her burning eyes. "I just wanted to take a last look at Mr. du Toit."
"His wife is sitting with him now," the Sister told her as they walked towards the bed with the screens around it. "She refuses to leave his side."
Jacqueline followed the Sister behind the screens and looked down upon the pallid but peaceful face of her patient.
"Is he going to get well, Doctor?" Mrs. du Toit asked anxiously. "His eyes nickered a moment ago, but he couldn't hear me when I spoke to him."
"I'm sure he's going to be fine," Jacqueline assured her, placing her fingers on his wrist and feeling the steady pulse beat. "We had a few anxious moments in the theatre, but everything went off smoothly."
The woman nodded, wiping the tears from her eyes.
"May I stay with him?"
"Of course you may." Jacqueline turned to the Sister standing silently beside her. "If Mrs. du Toit should want to lie down for a while during the night, there's a private ward that is empty. Will you show her the way?"
"Yes, Doctor."
"Dr. Thornton, I would like to thank you for all you did for Henry," Mrs. du Toit said quietly.
"It's my job to help where I can," Jacqueline smiled down at her. "Don't forget if you should want to get some rest, Sister will help you."
Taking a last look at the patient, Jacqueline left the ward, instructing the Sister to call her if necessary.
She awoke with difficulty the following morning. She felt feverish, with an uncommon tightness about her chest. This was not the time to be sick, she scolded herself as she swallowed a couple of aspirins.
Mr. du Toit was awake when Jacqueline walked into the ward early that morning. The storm had passed and the air was fragrantly fresh.
"How are you feeling, Mr. du Toit?" she asked, taking his pulse.
"Better than I did yesterday," he smiled at her weakly.
"You frightened the life out of us," his wife scolded him playfully. "Even Dr. Thornton got a fright when she saw you. You shouldn't do things like that."
"I was trying to make life more exciting for you," he teased lightly.
His wife took his hand between her own and placed it against her cheek.
"I think we can do without this kind of excitement in future," she said unsteadily.
Jacqueline had difficulty in controlling her own tears as she watched them talking together quietly, oblivious of the people around them. Inexplicably she thought of Meldon, and the way his eyes crinkled at the corners when he smiled. Her own heartbeats mocked her as she turned swiftly and left the ward.
By eleven that morning Jacqueline's head felt as though it would burst and her eyelids insisted upon drooping. Her chest felt so tight that she could hardly breathe, and she shivered incessantly.
"You ought to be in bed," Sally protested when Jacqueline almost staggered into her office and slumped into a chair.
"I just can't go off sick now," Jacqueline croaked. "Give me some aspirins and I'll be feeling better shortly."
Sally remarked that she thought a sudden improvement was quite unlikely, but she shrugged and nevertheless handed her a glass of water with the aspirins.
"Stay here for a while," Sally suggested before leaving the office, "and see what you feel like when the aspirins have taken effect."
&nb
sp; Left alone, Jacqueline slumped forward on the desk and buried her face in her arms, her head throbbing painfully.
She had no recollection of how long she remained in that position, but when she suddenly felt a heavy hand on her shoulder, she lifted her head and forced her heavy eyelids upward to look straight into Meldon's thunderous face.
East of Barryvale Page 9