‘What’s happened to you in the last fifteen years, Theo?’

Savannah watched his face change and he stepped away until there was some distance between them.

‘I grew up.’ He looked at her and smiled briefly. ‘According to my ex-wife, I became harsh, a loner and refused to be tied down.’

Savannah added, ‘You also became a very good doctor.’

‘Thanks.’ The comment was dry.

‘Maybe you just haven’t found the right woman yet. One day you’ll find her, get married and have children.’

Theo laughed bitterly. ‘Having children will make everything all right, will it?’

‘I said, with the right woman.’

‘What about you, Savannah? Could you be that woman?’

Fiona McArthur lives with her ambulance officer husband and five sons in a small country town on the north coast of Australia. Fiona also works as a midwife part-time in the local hospital, facilitates antenatal classes and enjoys the company of young mothers in a teenage pregnancy group. ‘I’m passionate about my midwifery and passionate about my writing—this way I’m in the happy position of being able to combine the two.’

Now that her youngest son has started school, Fiona has more time for writing and can look forward to the challenge of creating fascinating characters in exciting medical romances for her readers to enjoy.

Recent titles by the same author:

MIDWIFE UNDER FIRE!

DELIVERING LOVE

Father in Secret

Fiona McArthur

www.millsandboon.co.uk

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CONTENTS

Prologue

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten

Chapter Eleven

Epilogue

PROLOGUE

‘THE judge said he was better off with me. I’m his mother. So put the money in the account every month and you can see him when I say you can.’

The Blue Mountains shimmered in the sunlight, but the shadowy depths of the thickly wooded gullies mirrored the darkness inside him. Theo McWilliam wondered how he had ever married Marie. He’d thought she was Snow White with her long black hair, creamy skin and those red, red lips. He’d fallen hard and married her straight away. She’d been so sweet in the beginning, and so plausible to the judge at the end. But her black heart showed clearly now. The selfish witch had his son but certainly not because she loved him as a mother should. No, Marie was just using Sam to get back at Theo.

At first there had been no problem seeing his son, as long as he hadn’t kept Sam overnight. Marie had agreed for Theo to take Sam for the day on most weekends because it had suited her. Then it had changed. The money hadn’t been enough.

Lately, when he’d driven the five hours to Sydney to pick Sam up, he’d found the house empty. No one home even to ask.

Sometimes she’d cancel at the last minute and the more frustrated Theo became, the more it seemed to amuse her.

Now it had come to this.

He’d planned some time with Sam on the farm at Bendbrook for several months. Marie had reneged again, just as Theo had arrived in Sydney to collect Sam. To have this time with his son snatched away had ruined Theo’s holidays—not to mention the gut-wrenching part of it—and he was scared Sam would forget who his father was.

Theo fought the urge to tuck the boy under his arm and run. They could find somewhere new to live. Let her try and find them. He could taste the adrenaline in his mouth but his lawyer had warned him against it. ‘You’ll lose him for good,’ he’d said.

He had to do this the right way. He would wait for the time that he could take Sam home permanently and never again have to worry whether or not his son was happy in Sydney with his selfish mother. But time passed slowly in limbo, and Theo wondered how long he could postpone the rest of his life.

CHAPTER ONE

SHE was almost there.

Savannah Laine could feel her pulse quicken. In the past, she’d been the visitor here but this time the valley opened its arms to welcome her home.

The sun shone despite the unaccustomed chill for October. Stretching in front of her was an undulating vista of tree-studded, rolling hills, divided by the thick serpentine coil of the Bendbrook River as it wound its way from the mountains of its birth.

She’d always thought of it as the most beautiful valley in the world. But maybe that was because she had people who cared about her here.

The deeper into the valley she drove the narrower it became. Once past the tiny post office at Upper Bendbrook, the road became a thin, dusty ribbon that sprayed a cloud of billowing brown powder behind her as if to disguise her passing.

Finally, she arrived and she couldn’t help sighing in relief. Her dust-covered Subaru bumped across the cattle grid and up the twin tracks of the driveway to the house.

Savannah swallowed the lump in her throat, stepped out of the car and filled her lungs with the tangy aroma of lemon-scented gum-trees and the sweetness of wisteria. Despite a slightly forlorn tinge of neglect, the farmhouse looked the same as it always had—welcoming.

She stood on her uncle’s verandah, looking out over his paddocks. No, her paddocks, she corrected herself. A copper-coloured hen ran across the boards beside her and she smiled. She was a country girl now.

Benson, her mother’s black miniature poodle, yelped and cringed as the monster squawked past. Savannah reached down and scooped him up one-handed and she could feel his little heart flutter against her fingers.

Now that he was safe, he yapped belligerently at the trespasser.

‘Benson the Braveheart comes to the rescue. I feel so much more secure.’ She watched the hen cluck down the verandah steps. She patted Benson’s head.

‘Before we do anything, I’ll ring Mother to say we’ve arrived.’ Not that her mother particularly cared, but Savannah would go through the motions anyway.

Benson tilted one ear at her and yapped again.

Savannah sighed. ‘I know. But I promised.’

She unlocked the door and stepped into the gloom of the house. Not bothering to turn on the light or pull a blind until she’d completed the task she wasn’t looking forward to, she crossed to the old black wall phone and dialed the number. Finally her mother answered the phone.

‘Laine residence.’

‘Hello, Mother, it’s Savannah.’

‘Yes?’

‘Bridget mentioned you wanted me to ring when I arrived safely.’

‘Did she?’ Savannah could clearly visualise the vague stare as her mother tried to remember if she’d said such a thing to her housekeeper. Then she would shake her head and smile, and decide it was unimportant.

‘So you’re at that place.’ She said it as if she could detect an unpleasant smell. ‘It seems a waste to have the downstairs flat empty now. It seems like you’ve only just moved back in with me. Just because one man let you down, that doesn’t mean you have to run away on your own and leave your mother.’

‘I’m not on my own. Benson’s with me.’

‘Benson who?’

Savannah sighed. ‘Benson the poodle. He was your dog, Mother. Remember?’

‘Oh, yes. Lovely little black thing. I’m glad he’s happy with you, dear. Anyway, there’s always a home here if you decide to sell the place for whatever you can get for it. I’ll mention to Bridget you’ve arrived safely. Thank you for ringing.’ The line went dead.

Savannah felt like a telephone salesman with a product not required.

She squeezed the little dog. ‘Why do I leave myself open for that?’ Then she shrugged and pushed it from her mind with the ease of long practice. ‘Bridget would have worried.’ Benson tilted his head but didn’t answer.

‘Well, I’m excited.’ Now Savannah turned to survey the inside of the house. She pulled the string on the nearest blind and the sun streamed in to illuminate the swirling dust motes in the air.

Alone again. Except for her brave warrior dog.

Maybe she was mad, but for the first time in a long time she did feel at peace. She didn’t need to please anyone but herself. Typically, even in eternal sleep, her uncle had saved her sanity.

The next two hours passed in pursuit of dirt and drifts of spiders’ webs, and for someone who hated housework, Savannah scrubbed the little house until it shone. She sang along to the same early Slim Dusty records her uncle had collected. They’d always sung when she’d been a child here and the two of them had yodelled their way through the household chores.

She’d just swept the last of the leaves off the verandah when Benson barked. She glanced up and the dust dried in her throat. A man was walking up her driveway. And she was here, alone. She looked around the verandah and finally at the broom in her hand. Not exactly a deadly weapon!

She moistened her lips and swallowed. Take a deep breath, woman. Either she was going to live here, be self-sufficient and confident, or she could high-tail it back to the rat race and lock herself in her mother’s downstairs flat. She held the broom in one hand, caught Benson up against her chest with the other and drew herself up to her full five feet nothing. Then she waved. Even aliens could come in peace.

He didn’t wave back. Great. She bit her lip.

He was a man all right. His strong thighs pumped as he strode up the hill under the well-cut jeans. She couldn’t tell his age because of the shade thrown over his face by the broad-brimmed black Akubra, but he was fit. Rampantly fit. She gulped.

Of course, that was judging by the speed he covered the distance between them—and the way the sun shone off his muscles below the shoulders of his sleeveless shirt. She tried to dredge up some saliva in her mouth and her heart felt as if it was beating as fast as Benson’s. She could almost feel the testosterone from here. How come men in the city didn’t shout about their maleness like this guy did?

At least he stopped at the bottom of the verandah steps. That gave her time to swallow again. The dark bristles of five-o’clock shadow glinted on his chin while a faint drift of soap assured her he bathed. She smiled to herself at the normality of soap and her shoulders relaxed a little. He was human.

Savannah remoistened her lips. ‘Good afternoon. Can I help you?’

He lifted his hat and raked springy chocolate-brown hair back off his forehead. His eyes were dark blue and really quite beautiful. She lost the plot for a moment as she was drawn into them. Benson squirmed in her arms, trying to bury his head further under her arm. It helped bring her back to reality.

The man turned his hat in his hands and she wasn’t sure if he was being polite or just letting his head breathe.

‘Afternoon. You’re Andy’s niece?’ His voice was deep and clear. A strong voice for a strong man. She supposed she’d expected a slow drawl. She suppressed a shiver of awareness.

‘Savannah Laine. And you are?’

‘Theo.’ She knew that name and her shoulders relaxed a fraction. The country solicitor had said he’d arranged for Theo to care for the stock until she could come. She’d imagined a crusty old farmer. Well, he looked like a farmer but there was certainly no crust—and he wasn’t old either!

‘The gentleman who’s been looking after the animals? Thank you for that.’

‘No problem. Your uncle was a great guy.’ His statement seemed genuine but his gaze held no hint of sympathy for her. It stiffened her spine.

‘Yes, I know.’ She ignored the prickle of tears in her eyes and changed the subject. ‘The animals. That was my next job. So how many animals are there?’

He raised thick brown brows at her ignorance. ‘In the pig shed there’s six sows, a boar and a dozen or so growers that need to go to market soon. I’ll come down with you and run you through the feed schedule board tonight, if you like.’

That many! Savannah swallowed.

He went on. ‘There are twenty or so fowls. If you want to sell any eggs put them in a carton in your mail box and the mailman will leave you two dollars. And there’s one rooster, but I’d be knocking him on the head. He’s a pain.’

Savannah tried to imagine herself knocking a rooster on the head—what did you use? A hammer? She shuddered. ‘He’s probably safe for the moment.’

Theo gave a short laugh and it changed his face into something less harsh.

Thank goodness for that. For a while there she’d thought he was the frozen man. His eyes warmed in genuine amusement and became even more mesmerising until they went cold again. She dragged her attention back to what he was saying.

‘Then there are the cattle—twenty Murray Grey breeders, a placid Murray Grey bull and fifteen vealers.’

She’d helped her uncle with the farm animals over many holidays—she wasn’t scared or lacking in confidence—but that was a heck of a lot of lives depending on her.

‘That’s all?’

‘Just Billy the horse and a couple of ducks and geese, but they’re pretty self-sufficient.’

Savannah nodded and tried to look nonchalant. ‘If you’re not in a hurry, I could come down and see the pigs with you now. What time do they normally eat?’ She put Benson down and descended the stairs to the boot rack.

Theo looked at Benson cringing and quivering on the verandah. He shook his head in disgust. Savannah thought she heard him say ‘Dishmop’ but couldn’t be sure.

He looked at his watch. ‘I’ve been coming around about five in the afternoon and eight in the morning, but they’re pretty flexible. If you leave them too long, they’ll let you know.’

Savannah tapped the wellingtons upside down on the ground and slipped one foot into her uncle’s gumboots.

Theo was much taller than she was and she could feel him looking down at her.

His voice was serious. ‘I had a green tree snake in one boot and a red-back spider in the other one yesterday.’

Savannah’s foot hovered over the second boot. Had she checked it well enough?

She heard him snort and glared up at him. ‘Very funny.’

His face was deadpan. ‘So you reckon you can run this farm on your own?’

That snapped her head up. ‘Why? Do you think I can’t?’

He stared at her for a moment as if she’d really offended him, his eyes narrowed. Then he shook his head once. ‘Lady, luckily, it’s not my problem.’ He turned and started to walk down the driveway to the sheds.

Macho moron. Savannah glared at the muscles of his back moulded against his shirt and clumped behind him in her uncle’s big boots. She’d have to get herself a pair she didn’t swim around in. She awkwardly skipped a couple of steps to make up some ground. Where had he learnt his social graces? The guy was a pain.

She almost laughed out loud when she remembered the rooster and what could happen to ‘pains’ around here. Theo probably wouldn’t notice if she hit him on the head with a hammer.

She caught up with him as they crossed the dirt road and entered the bottom paddock together. Savannah tried not to get her boots stuck between the rails of the cattle grid as she crossed, but it felt like there was a magnet drawing her into the broken spaces. The sheds were old but, thank goodness, made of thick hardwood planks that looked as if they’d still be standing if she had grandchildren one day.

It hit her then that she was the sole person responsible for a two-hundred-acre farm, a two-bedroom farmhouse and this menagerie of animals. She swallowed but Theo was getting away while she thought about it and she had to skip a couple more steps.

The pigs heard their approach and started to squeal and shriek in excitement. The thick smell of happy pigs cloyed the air but Savannah didn’t mind it.

It made her think of an uncle who’d paid her fifty cents per sty to hose them out, and had then taken her to the local show to spend the money. She could almost feel the tickle and taste of the fairyfloss they’d bought.

She followed Theo into the old office and stopped in front of the whiteboard nailed to the wall. Each pig’s name had a number next to it for the amount of pails of food it needed.

‘Bruce is the boar, I gather?’ She looked sideways at Theo. ‘So how come he gets three pails and Rosa only gets one and a half?’

‘Bruce has six women vying for his attention. He has to keep up his strength, poor guy. I couldn’t think of anything worse.’

‘Ah. A woman-hater. Personally, I feel sorry for Rosa and the other girls. He probably doesn’t shave.’

Why had she said that? She felt the rush of heat up her face but he didn’t even look at her.

‘They’re happy enough if you meet their material needs.’

I’ll bet there’s a story in that, she thought, but prudently restrained herself.

Theo had started instructing. ‘The pig pellets are in this drum. Make sure you put the brick back on top of the lid or the rats get trapped in there and jump out at you when you open it next.’

Savannah winced. That was one task she wouldn’t forget to do.

‘The pig’s water is piped to those drinking nipples at the side of each pen. You check the nipple as you feed to see if they’re working. The water is pumped from the river so you won’t run out.’

He looked at her from under his frown. ‘I hosed the concrete pens out early this morning but you need to do them at least every two days.’

‘My uncle usually did them daily and I’ll do the same.’

He grunted, looked at her as if to say ‘yeah, sure’, but didn’t comment. They walked the length of the big shed, doling out pails of feed from the bucket he’d filled and checking the water nipples. He stopped beside the last pen. ‘Louise’s litter is due in the next week. She should be fine.’

Savannah had had just about enough of his condescending looks. ‘I have my midwifery certificate, so I’m sure we’ll manage.’

His face twitched, then he smiled, and then he chuckled. It was deep and rumbly and infectious.

Savannah couldn’t help her own smile as she watched him in surprise. He threw back his head and she stared at the strong column of his throat as he laughed.

He wiped his eyes and dragged himself under control. And looked almost as surprised at himself as she was. ‘I’m sorry, it’s the thought of you telling the sow to breathe while you catch the piglets.’ His expression straightened. ‘I’d love to be a fly on the wall.’

His cheekbones were high and his lips were more sexy than sculpted. She wondered what those bristles would feel like against her face.

This was getting crazy. ‘Well, there seem to be a few flies already on the wall here, and I think that’s everybody fed. I need to meet the chickens.’

You coward, Savannah, she chided herself, but it was good to feel the breeze on her hot cheeks once they were outside the shed—and not just because of the smell.

They collected the eggs and he showed her the feed tin and how much to give. None of the cows were being milked so that was one chore she didn’t have to worry about.

She supposed it would be polite to offer him a drink for his help. But was it safe? She decided to take the risk. ‘Would you like a cup of tea?’

‘No, thanks. I’ll be going if you haven’t any more questions.’ He tipped his hat and presented her with his gorgeous back and taut backside as he walked away. Watching him, it made her want to sign up at a gym, although at least living this far out of town she was safe from that. She had a mental picture of herself working out in gumboots and smiled.

Theo certainly wasn’t a talkative blighter and was obviously not going to be an intrusive neighbour. The strange thing was her own disappointment because he didn’t want to stay.

Savannah clumped back up the driveway to the house. She decided against more unpacking and went to shower in the soft rainwater from the tank.

When she was finished, she stood in the steamy bathroom and her towel stilled as she remembered the impact Theo had made on her as he’d laughed in the shed. And even before that. She had to admit she couldn’t remember a more arresting man.

Unfortunately he made her think of barns and hay and dappled sunlight and naked skin on naked skin. It was as if Theo had found and activated her erotic thought button—which was funny because Greg hadn’t discovered it in the two years she’d lived with him.

She jammed the towel through the rail and shivered despite the sudden flush of heat that had invaded her body. Deal with it. She didn’t need to complicate her life with a man. Especially a sinfully physical one with attitude.

This was her chance to be herself. Not trying to be the person someone else thought she was. Not expecting anything from anyone. First her mother and then her ex-fiancé Greg had hurt her—letting her assume his wife was completely out of the picture. From now on she would rely only on herself. She could do this. She could run this farm, start work next week at the small local hospital and live a full life. Be happy as she hadn’t been since the times she’d spent here.

As she glanced around the spartan room the memories crowded her mind. Memories of days filled with laughter, her uncle’s booming voice and, way back in the past, her aunt’s quieter tones that had conveyed so much warmth. Savannah was the child they’d never had and they had been the parents she’d wished had been hers.

Even after her aunt had died, her uncle had still encouraged her to come. He’d called it her crazy place where she could be the child she couldn’t be when she lived at home with her widowed mother. A place to do silly things, like trying to ride a calf, climb trees or cuddle a piglet.

She remembered catching baby turtles in the creek with Dory, the older boy down the road. He’d seemed like a god to her with his long dark hair and broad shoulders. He’d left her tongue-tied one minute and feeling woman-wiser than him the next.

When she was fourteen, it was here she’d received her first kiss and fallen in love with the first boy who hadn’t loved her back. She could still remember the devastation. Her loyal uncle had dried her tears and had vowed Dory had no taste.

The sadness welled up for a moment at her uncle’s passing, and she felt herself stiffen to hold it in. Then she loosened her shoulders. She was home, after all. She could cry if she wanted to.

Savannah wiped the moisture from her eyes and sniffed. Her uncle had always been so proud of her. If only he’d told her he was sick, she would have come to help him even if Greg had objected. But it was too late now.

She crossed the bathroom, and opened the window to let in the fresh air. She was not going to think about Greg. From now on she was her own woman and this was a new life. She couldn’t wait to start work next week!

* * *

‘And this is our resident doctor, Dr McWilliam, whom we mentioned at the interview.’

The stillness in Savannah’s face wasn’t because the old-fashioned waiting room in Bendbrook Hospital was empty and she was used to being in charge of a busy emergency department in one of Sydney’s largest hospitals. It wasn’t even the waves of hostility she felt emanating from Julia West, the now second-in-charge nurse showing her the ward. It was the blow to her solar plexus delivered by a pair of beautiful blue eyes creased at the corners and the broad shoulders of a man she’d already met.

‘So our new leader arrives. Hello, Savannah.’ There was no warmth in Theo’s voice.

Savannah worked frantically to correct the tilt in her world’s axis. McWilliam. So Theo would be Theodore. Dory. Dory McWilliam. My God!

She’d thought he would have moved or married or something. She hadn’t even recognised him. He seemed different to the man she’d met last week but if she looked hard she could see traces of the boy beneath the man. He’d been an arrogant teenager then—but she’d still fallen for him—and it didn’t look like he’d changed.

He was neat and tidy, his face was shaved—it had been a crime to hide that jaw—and his thick brown hair was now cut close to his head. He still looked incredibly sexy and she felt his impact right down to her toes. Dory McWilliam.

A metamorphosis from the boy she remembered, and she wondered what sort of a doctor he was. She’d bet he kissed differently now!

Now, that was unprofessional. Stop it!

She ignored the warmth of her cheeks, held out her hand and then instantly regretted it. Her fingers were taken, squeezed and probably left incapable of feeling anything but his touch for the next hour—and this was only the first time she’d actually touched him in fifteen years. Yep. She was in trouble!

Luckily she had her voice under control. ‘So you’re Dr McWilliam. I think I met a relative of yours a few days ago.’

‘That would be the one on holidays.’ He nodded.

‘Hmm. It’s pleasant to meet you, too.’ Actually, she was thinking, thanks for ruining my life. She’d moved from Sydney to break her chronic habit of falling for the wrong man but it seemed she’d turned full circle. Well, this could be her third chance—she’d work on a cure this time.

She forced herself to move away from him and get on with her day. It seemed a positive diversional tactic. ‘Thank you for introducing me to everyone, Julia. We should have a good morning.’

‘If you say so.’ Julia West was tall, willowy, dressed in the plain blue sister’s uniform and clearly unamused at being passed over for the top job.

Savannah gave her a sunny smile. ‘We’ll certainly work on it.’ She slid her bag into the spare cupboard under the desk and slipped the key into her pocket. At least she’d had some orientation and knew where most things were and went. It didn’t look like sweet Julia was going to be particularly helpful today. But as long as it didn’t affect the quality of care for their patients, she was entitled to it.

The sound of the first ambulance of the day drew her attention and both women walked to the emergency entrance to greet it.

Theo drained his coffee-cup, threw his stethoscope around his neck and stood up to stretch. With less than two hours of the sixteen-hour night shift to work, he was feeling remarkably awake.

In fact, he was feeling more awake than he’d felt for the last two years since he’d moved back here. Of course, he’d just had a month’s break from work, and despite the frustration and disappointment with Sam’s cancelled visit, there was novelty in change.

He grunted. Change was usually a stimulant—it had nothing to do with his new neighbour who was poured so deliciously into her floral administration uniform.

His thoughts had persistently wandered to Savannah over the weekend but he’d resisted the urge to check on her.

He’d even convinced himself she’d probably have a few disasters, although hopefully all the animals would survive. Then she’d give up and shift back to the city she’d come from. And he could ignore the shock of attraction he’d tried to forget when he’d seen her for the first time in fifteen years.

She’d come for holidays when she’d been younger, like a black-haired Madonna with her serious face. Those dark violet eyes of hers had seemed to see right through him.

Her hair had been long then, but he liked the way it curled around her face and bounced out now, like those Patty Duke movies his mother had loved to watch.

She’d certainly grown up. Unfortunately, it wasn’t just her luscious little body that grabbed his attention. There were memories, too.

Theo remembered the direct look she’d given him the first time he’d kissed her all those years ago. As if to say, So that’s what it’s all about.

When he’d found out the name of the new charge sister for the emergency department, he’d flinched and realised there were two places he had to avoid Savannah now. He’d completely forgotten that Andy had spoken of his niece being a nurse.

Of all the bad luck.

CHAPTER TWO

THEO needed to stay focused on his own agenda. Savannah Laine could not be allowed to affect his life.

Julia was on her way back to the office and he raised his eyebrows.

‘Ready for me yet?’

‘Yes.’ She slid open the filing-cabinet drawer and withdrew some patient notes. ‘You remember Mrs Reddy?’

‘Elsie with emphysema.’ He held his hand out for the old medical records.

‘That’s right. She was too breathless to stay home. Savannah...’ she rolled her eyes ‘...is settling her in.’

‘I’ll be there in a minute. I’ll have a quick look at her usual medications first.’

‘My, you’re eager for work this morning. How strange,’ she said over her shoulder as she walked away. ‘I’ll go and put the coffee-jug on as no one needs me.’

What was wrong with Julia? She wasn’t usually this moody. Theo frowned at her back and flicked through the patient’s notes.

Elsie Reddy. Last admission a month ago, also for breathlessness.

She’d been given home oxygen, a Ventolin nebuliser, fluid tablets, potassium supplement to replace what the fluid tablet took out, digoxin for heart rhythm, quinine for leg cramps—all the usuals.

He particularly remembered that she had bad veins for getting blood. But it was time for a look. He walked onto the ward.

‘Good morning, Mrs Reddy. I’m Dr McWilliam.’

‘I know.’ Elsie Reddy’s face was pale except for two spots of unhealthy colour in her cheeks, but the soft wheezing voice still held a smile. ‘Big virile man like an out-of-work stuntman.’ She took a breath. ‘Got yourself a woman yet?’ She laboured to catch her breath again.

Theo looked at Savannah who was standing by the old lady’s bed, and glared at the suppressed amusement he saw in her face. He looked back at the older woman. ‘How about you try to not talk and I’ll have a listen to your chest?’

‘When I’m not talking I’ll be dead,’ she said, but sank wearily back against the high pillows and closed her eyes.

Savannah smiled at the old lady’s dry comment. ‘Mrs Reddy’s temperature isn’t elevated but it’s pretty cold outside this morning. Her respirations are thirty-two and blood pressure’s up.’

‘You think she’s got an infection?’ He raised his head and looked at Savannah. When she nodded her hair bounced. He frowned and concentrated. ‘I’ll put a line in, get some blood gas analysis from Pathology and we’ll start some Ventolin via nebuliser and maybe antibiotics later.’

They both heard the sound of another ambulance pulling up outside.

Savannah tilted her head. ‘Leave me a quick written order and I’ll put the cannula in and get a Ventolin nebuliser going while you see to that one.’

Theo raised his eyebrows. ‘You’ll put the cannula in? The winds of change are obviously blowing.’ He shrugged. ‘But that’ll certainly make my job easier.’ He scribbled on the notes, patted Mrs Reddy’s arm and left.

Savannah smiled at the old lady. ‘Did you catch all that?’

‘Most of it.’

‘I’ll pop a drip in this arm, take some blood, then we’ll put something into the bag of fluid to help your lungs work better.’

‘My veins are bad.’ The memories of past jabs shone in wary eyes.

Savannah lifted the frail arm and ran her fingers lightly over the papery skin. ‘Yours look better than the veins they’ve been showing me in the city lately.’

Five minutes later, Theo poked his head around the curtain. Savannah was cleaning up after completing the tasks quickly and competently.

He nodded. ‘I’m impressed. Can I borrow you?’

She barely glanced at him. ‘Sure, but check these ampoules first, please, and I’ll start this infusion.’

‘Bossy little thing, aren’t you?’ She certainly hadn’t been bossy fifteen years ago and Theo wasn’t quite sure he appreciated her lack of deference now!

She raised her own eyebrows and this time met his eyes. ‘You have no idea.’

Savannah turned back to her patient and lifted the mask over Elsie’s face, then slid the nurse-call button into her hand. ‘Ring me if you’re worried, but you should start to feel better soon. I’ll be back as quick as I can.’

Theo watched her gentleness with the old lady and forgave her assertiveness. He sighed. He’d probably have to get used to it.

The sound of another ambulance, this one with the siren wailing, made Savannah and Theo look at each other. ‘The all-or-nothing law of country hospitals,’ he said with resignation. They moved towards the entrance.

Savannah shrugged. ‘Well, the city ones don’t have a quiet time except maybe at four o’clock on a Sunday morning—so we’ll manage.’

The new patient had all their attention after one glance.

The ambulance officer passed the history over quickly. ‘Mr Grey was found almost unconscious under his house. He’d been doing some dusting for fleas.’

The white-haired man on the stretcher was pale and saturated with sweat. His nose was running and his chest gurgled with fluid. Savannah felt the leap in her own pulse rate at the sight of the gravely ill man.

His clothes were covered with a fine powder and he lay limp on the trolley except for the twitches he had no control over.

‘Wear some gloves and get his clothes off. Looks like organophosphate poisoning.’

Savannah did a double-take. This was a different Theo. This doctor was fast, sure and determined to keep his patient alive until the intravenous line he’d quickly inserted could be used to inject the atropine he was drawing up. They had a chance.

Savannah snatched a pair of disposable gloves from the box and started to strip the shorts and T-shirt from the man.

“It’s a parasympathetic nervous system reaction from the pesticides, isn’t it?’ she asked quietly.

‘Right. Not wearing full-length clothes wouldn’t help. The poison is absorbed through the lungs, gut and skin. So until you get his skin washed he’s still absorbing the poison into his system. All I can do is keep giving atropine, which has the opposite effect on the body. Hopefully it will override his nervous system response, which is to produce so much in the way of secretions he could drown in them.’

The man was gasping for breath and Savannah could well believe Theo’s worst-case scenario. Savannah swiftly applied the cardiac leads and began to sponge the man’s body. Julia arrived to help and kept replacing the water dish and washers with fresh ones.

‘Pinpoint pupils and respirations are faster and shallower.’ Savannah dried him and pulled a warm blanket over his twitching body. Her voice was steady. ‘Blood pressure’s falling, he looks like he might fit.’

Theo was calm but intense. ‘Pump the intravenous fluid into his veins—it’s hypovolaemic shock from the fluid shift. Pupils are beginning to dilate so the atropine is starting to take effect. He should improve soon. It’s usually quite dramatic. Looks like they got him here just in time.’ They both glanced at the monitors and nodded.

‘Vital signs are stabilising, and his twitching has decreased. Stop pumping the fluid in and we’ll just run it normally now.’ Savannah removed her hand from the manual pump bulb on the IV line and flexed her fingers.

That had been close. Any doubts she’d had about Theo’s skill were gone.

Theo was looking down at the patient when the man opened his eyes.

‘Hello, old son.’ He squeezed the man’s shoulder and Savannah blinked at the kindness in Theo’s eyes. ‘You gave us a scare for a while there. You should be on the mend now but we need to move you up to Intensive Care for at least seventy-two hours.’ He turned away to write up the notes on Mr Grey. ‘Speed his transfer to the unit, Sister. I’ll go out and see his wife.’

Two broken legs, a toddler with a temperature and a teenage boy’s three-day-old burn that needed redressing saw them through to morning tea.

Theo was off home at ten, Mrs Reddy and the two orthopaedic patients had been transferred to the wards and the toddler sent home with a script. Savannah looked around. The ward was back to empty.

‘That was fun.’ Theo’s voice was dry and he met Savannah’s eyes. They froze for a moment before both turned away. He felt like a cruising jock in high school and the feeling was so alien to him he shook his head.

Must be sleep deprivation, he decided. He hadn’t felt like this for years!

He stretched before he patted his pocket for his keys. ‘Well, it’s been interesting, working with you. I’m back on the ten-to-six day shift tomorrow so I’ll see you then.’

Savannah tried not to stare at his broad back and neat denim-clad bottom as he strolled out the door. She mentally kicked herself. He turned and saluted Julia who was on her way back to the desk after restocking a trolley.

Savannah forced her eyes away from Theo’s departing figure. ‘He seems very competent and caring with the patients,’ she commented.

Julia’s eyebrows were raised. ‘Hmm. He’s quick but thorough, not like some around here. Plus he’s not hard on the eyes—especially with his hair cut. But the ex-wife soured him and he’s emotionally dead.’ There was bitterness in Julia’s voice that spoke of an unsatisfactory love life of her own. Savannah met her eyes.

‘That’s OK, I’m trying for celibacy,’ she replied, and was pleasantly surprised when Julia gave a short laugh. There was hope for her yet!

Julia looked up, curious. ‘So how do you two know each other?’

‘I met him one day last week. He lives on the nearest property and looked after my late uncle’s farm until I moved up here. We actually played together as kids when I came up for holidays, but I don’t think he remembers.’

Julia nodded. ‘I’m sorry to hear about your uncle. And I was less than welcoming this morning. Ask me anything about the place.’

‘We’ll take it slow. I’m not going to rush in and change everything, but if I can see something that makes our job easier and more efficient, we can look into it. Obviously the computer age hasn’t caught up with Bendbrook yet so that’s on my list.’ Savannah glanced at the clock. ‘Where’s the doctor that starts at ten?’

‘One of our local GPs, Dr Hudson—’ that hint of bitterness again laced Julia’s voice ‘—does the odd shift when we can’t get a resident. He usually runs late.’

‘What if an emergency comes in?’

‘Theo has breakfast at the canteen before he goes to bed. We call him back if we’re desperate. In that respect we’re really lucky to have him. We’ve had some less-than-perfect residents. The medical superintendent tried to get Theo to sign a contract—they even offered him the post of Director of Emergency—but he says he’s not interested. Refuses to be tied down.’

One of those. Savannah decided it was time to stop discussing Dr McWilliam and filed away the issue of tardy Dr Hudson for a discussion on punctuality later. ‘Let’s have a look at this stock order.’

* * *

The canteen was quiet and Theo was giving himself a harsh talking-to. He was getting involved. He’d not looked at another woman since Marie had ground him into the dust, and he wasn’t going to start now. You couldn’t trust them. So many times he’d thought he’d won custody of Sam and then Marie had pulled something else out of the hat. He’d finally realised she enjoyed his pain.

He didn’t know how much more he could take. His life was marking time until he could win custody of Sam, and his lawyer promised that day would soon come.

Theo didn’t want to complicate it with an overly demanding job—he had to be free to be able to leave at any minute if needed. But what about Andy’s niece?

Savannah provoked a response in him that he didn’t understand. She was bossy, and yet caring with her patients. There was something about her that pierced his usual wall of indifference that protected him from the female of the species.

Maybe if he found out what it was he could inoculate himself against her like a flu vaccine. He forked the last of his powdered scrambled eggs into his mouth and swallowed it with a grimace. He needed to get home and out of here.

* * *

The pigs were cross. Their mistress had not seen them all day and had then decided to change her sty-cleaning time to before the evening meal. They squealed, nudged and butted her legs as she hosed, but she refused to give in until the floor was clean.

‘It’s OK, you girls. I’ll feed you soon. Anyone would think you hadn’t eaten for a week.’

Bruce stared with piggy eyes through the slats in his own clean pen and grunted and munched.

Savannah smiled as she hosed. They were all characters. Rachel was bossy, Hilda a greedy guts and Trisha was timid. Rosa and Keira looked exactly the same and she called them the twins.

Poor old Louise was ponderous with her unborn babies and Savannah kept telling herself a pig could have piglets without a human’s help.

It had been too cold to clean the sties before work and surprisingly she found it mindlessly relaxing after the tension of starting the new job that day. And recognising the first boy she’d ever kissed. It was crazy. They’d been kids. It meant nothing.

The sound of water hitting concrete and the cacophony of the pigs masked Theo’s approach.

He leaned back against the debarked tree-trunk used as the centre pole of the pig shed and watched her as she talked to the pigs.

She looked younger in a man’s flannelette shirt with sleeves rolled up and a pair of old jeans tucked into Andy’s boots. She’d certainly filled out and gained confidence over the years. He’d found that out at work.

One of the sows butted her in her nicely rounded backside and she barely flinched as she turned the hose on the offender with a laugh. He had to admit it, she handled the animals well.

Now that he looked, he could see a glimpse of the girl from the past. Especially when she laughed. She’d had that same bubbly chuckle all those years ago. He’d teased her about it. But on the rare occasions he’d heard it then, and listening now, it still made him smile.

He wasn’t even sure why he was here. He’d had trouble sleeping today and once it had hit four o’clock he hadn’t been able to stay in bed any longer.

He told himself he was being neighbourly, checking on her for Andy’s sake, but he wasn’t quite convincing himself.

She’d been so competent at work that morning that he wondered if he’d secretly hoped she’d look at a loss on the farm. He could despise a city slicker like his ex-wife.

No such luck. But he couldn’t afford to get sidetracked here.

Sam was the major factor in his life and always would be. He wasn’t free to dally for the fun of it. But there was something about her...

Savannah released the trigger on the hose and tipped the last of the pellets onto the floor of the final pen.

The noise level went from screaming pitch to munching level in the space of two seconds. She laughed out loud.

Theo took his shoulder off the pole. ‘If only everyone were that easy to please.’

Savannah jumped at the sound of Theo’s voice and spun to face him. Unconsciously she aimed the hose at his chest and he raised his hands.

CHAPTER THREE

‘DON’T shoot.’

‘Well, don’t sneak up on me!’

Savannah lowered the hose and Theo put his hands down. His lips twitched at her threatening attitude.

‘A brass band could sneak up on you with the noise this lot makes. Where’s your guard dog?’

‘Benson doesn’t like the pigs. He’s asleep up at the house.’ Savannah collected the empty buckets and pails and passed him to go into the office.

He followed her. He didn’t understand it. ‘Why do you have a dog like that?’

‘He was my mother’s.’

A strange, vulnerable look crossed her face and it looked out of place on the confident woman he’d met twice. ‘I’m sorry, has something happened to your mother?’

‘Yes. She tired of the dog. Like she tires of everything. So I took him.’

This was too deep for him. He didn’t want to know why she hurt when he asked about the dog.

Savannah could see he looked uncomfortable. She turned and walked towards the driveway. ‘Did you want something, Theo?’

‘No. I was just checking that you were getting on all right with the animals, and I’ve brought my phone number in case you need help with an emergency on the farm.’ He handed her a piece of cardboard he’d ripped off a cereal box.

‘That’s very thoughtful of you. Thank you.’ She grinned at the brand. ‘Coco Pops? I hadn’t picked you as a chocolate-covered-cereal-eater, Theo.’

‘They were for a guest who never came.’ He looked away and changed the subject. ‘Tell me how the rest of your first day at work went then I’ll push off.’

‘It was fine. There are a few areas I think we could streamline, and I’d love your input.’ She saw the look on his face. ‘If you’re interested?’

His face remained closed. ‘In discussing improvements? Not really. I do my shift and go home. I’ll leave all that to the enthusiastic ones like you.’

Savannah narrowed her eyes. The guy was a selfish jerk. How could a health professional not be interested in the smooth running of the department? She supposed it went along with the man who wouldn’t accept a permanent job.

She had to stop expecting people to be things they weren’t. She should have learnt with her mother—and Greg. ‘Then you’ll have to excuse me. I’m looking forward to my shower.’

He screwed up his nose. ‘You need one.’ He spun right as they crossed the road and headed down it towards his own home a couple of bends further up the road.

She spoke to his retreating back. ‘I’m not ashamed of it. Honest labour dirties your hands, Theo.’

He didn’t answer.

Savannah steamed all the way up the driveway. Mainly because she was ashamed of her rudeness to him. Sixteen hours of night shift was honest labour. And he’d come to check she was OK and bring his phone number in case she needed him. She was the jerk. But that crack about her needing a shower had been petty. She sniffed her sleeve and screwed up her nose. ‘Phew.’ Maybe more truthful than petty after all!

She kicked her boots off at the bottom of the stairs and stomped onto the verandah. She wasn’t normally this short-tempered or intolerant. Perhaps she had more of her mother in her than she’d thought. Ouch. She preferred to believe it was because she hadn’t slept well the night before. Without the sounds of the traffic in the city she’d found it difficult to settle, and the old house creaked and groaned a lot. Or maybe she was scared because she was impossibly attracted to Theo and he was just as prickly as she was.

Benson yapped from inside the house.

‘Ha. Guard dog indeed! Where were you when I needed you?’

* * *

The next morning Savannah planned to apologise to Theo as soon as he came in. But she didn’t have time.

Dr Smythe, a thin, nervous man, slow to work with and easily flustered, had patients banked back to the doorway. He’d spent nearly an hour trying to put a drip in a young man who had accidentally chainsawed a zipper in his leg, and in the end Savannah had tactfully offered to do it herself.

By the time Theo arrived, Savannah was ready to throw her arms around him. He raised his eyebrows at the pile of waiting patient cards, and looked at her sardonically.

‘Smythe snowed under, is he?’

‘Yes,’ Savannah said with great restraint.

‘Well, let’s get moving, then.’

Savannah heaved a sigh of relief and followed him from cubicle to cubicle. She watched, impressed, as he soothed frayed nerves and anxious relatives made worse by the long wait. He remained even-tempered and very thorough. He was very good at his job. Why wouldn’t he take it on permanently?

By the time lunchtime came she was ready for a break. But she didn’t get one.

‘Savannah. In here, please.’ The urgent summons from Julia in cubicle three had all thoughts of food banished immediately.

The very young woman behind the curtain was large all over and shapeless in a thick jumper. Tears rolled down her cheek and there was real fear in her eyes.

‘Let me go to the toilet. I’ve got to go.’

Savannah took one look at the ungainly woman struggling to sit up and remembered another large young woman from her previous hospital whom she’d never forget.

‘Can you hang on for one more minute while Sister fills me in?’ Savannah looked at Julia.

‘This is Carly, she’s fifteen. I can’t get much of a history but wondered if she had an acute appendicitis, except the pain comes and goes.’

‘I’ll bet. Carly, let me have a very quick feel of your tummy, and then we’ll talk about your pain.’ Savannah lifted the baggy jumper and shirt underneath and ran her hands over the girl’s round but not bulging stomach. She felt a definite kick from the baby within. The top of the uterus was palpable as being consistent with a full-term baby. She caught Julia’s eye and nodded at the incredulous look on her face.

‘Get her a trolley and over to Maternity Ward, and ring to say we’re coming. She’s ready to...’ Savannah stopped and sought another way to say it. ‘Be transferred. Ask Theo to come in, please.’

Julia scooted out the door. Carly was between contractions at the moment and Savannah needed some information. She might have two minutes before the next one.

‘Carly, have you been to see a doctor in the last year?’

‘No.’

‘Where’s your mum?’

‘She’s in the waiting room with Dad.’

‘Are you bleeding down below?’ Savannah was aware of Theo’s feet stopping outside the curtain. The curtain parted slightly and his eyes met hers. She held her finger up for a second and he stood back. Savannah looked back at the girl.

A pink flush rose in her cheeks and the girl looked away. ‘I think I might have my period, but I only ever had one so I’m not sure.’ Baby blue eyes looked up at Savannah with relief. ‘So that’s why I have pains. It’s a period.’

‘I don’t think it’s a period. Carly, I’m sorry to ask you this, but are you a virgin?’

This time the cheeks stayed pink. There was a silence and Savannah willed the girl to answer before the next contraction.

Carly swallowed. ‘I’m nearly a virgin. I only did it the once and that was a long time ago.’

‘About nine months?’ Savannah smiled softly down at the naïve young woman beside her.

Carly’s lip quivered and she turned tear-filled eyes up at Savannah. ‘I’m having a baby?’ She sniffed. ‘I really hoped I wasn’t.’

Savannah reached for her hand. ‘Very soon.’

Her eyes widened. ‘I don’t know how. Don’t you have to go to classes or something to learn how to breathe?’

Savannah couldn’t help the smile this time. ‘No. Your body will let you know what to do. Don’t be scared and just do what your body tells you.’

‘Mum and Dad will kill me.’ Her eyes widened and she groaned. ‘My body’s telling me I want to go to the toilet.’ She squeezed her eyes shut, crushed Savannah’s hand and grunted.

Theo stepped from behind the curtain and into the cubicle. ‘I gather we’re having an unplanned baby.’

‘I was hoping we’d get her to Maternity first but she must have been in second stage when she came in.’

‘How could you tell if you haven’t examined her?’

Savannah gave him an old-fashioned look. ‘Let’s say my experience tells me.’

Savannah leaned her face close to the girl’s and stroked her cheek. ‘Carly, the doctor’s here. It’s OK, sweetheart. Do you want your mum?’

At the girl’s tentative nod, Savannah straightened. ‘What’s her name?’

‘Ruth.’

‘I’ll be back in a tick.’

Theo looked up. ‘You’re not leaving me here?’

‘Yeah, wish I could be a fly on the wall.’ She saw him frown and she smiled. ‘I’ll be quick.’

She closed the curtain and glanced up the corridor. The orderly was coming to push the bed to Maternity. With a bit of luck they might make it there yet. She picked up a prepackaged emergency delivery set and tucked the paper-covered bundle under her arm—description side down—just in case.

Savannah turned the other way into the waiting room. There were only two people left in there—a large-boned woman who could be none other than Carly’s mum, and the other a thin, bald man turning his hat in his hands. Both stood up when Savannah entered.

Worried blue eyes searched Savannah’s face. ‘How’s my Carly?’

‘She’ll be fine but she needs her mum. Can you follow me, please?’

Ruth touched her husband on the arm and gestured for him to take her handbag. ‘What about her dad?’

‘Perhaps it’s better if he stayed here for the moment. He can come in if you want him, too, shortly. The cubicles are very small.’

They strode quickly back towards the cubicles. Ruth caught Savannah’s arm. ‘What’s wrong with her?’

Savannah tried to imagine how she would feel as a mother in this situation. Procrastination wouldn’t help.

‘Carly is having a baby.’

The breath puffed between Ruth’s lips. ‘When?’

‘Today. Now.’

Ruth stopped walking, closed her eyes for a second and then started to walk again. ‘Then we’ll leave her father in the waiting room.’

* * *

Theo was sweating. He’d specialised in orthopaedics, not obstetrics. He had no doubt he could deliver a baby, despite the five years or so since the last one, but he had to make the decision to stay or go to Maternity. He didn’t want this child, with no antenatal care, born in a corridor between the two wards.

What was keeping Savannah? He realised he missed her calmness. Just as he decided to go for Maternity, Carly put her chin on her chest and screamed. Well, that made the decision easy. Looked like it was here.

Savannah swished through the curtains and surprisingly she was smiling. She put an emergency delivery set-up on the bottom of the bed and started to open it. Good idea!

Carly’s mum followed her. Ruth went straight to her daughter and kissed her.

‘Duffer. You should have told me. Now, stop that screaming and give it a shove, like you gotta go.’

Theo met Savannah’s eyes and both smiled. She mimed that he should go and wash his hands and waved a pair of gloves at him.

He felt the smile tugging on his lips and did as he was told. How had Savannah turned this situation into normal so quickly?

In the few seconds he was gone, Savannah had Carly sit higher in the bed, slip her trackpants off and hold herself under her thighs with her hands. The sheet across her lap gave some degree of dignity. Her mother rested her arm around Carly’s shoulders.

Theo marvelled as determination replaced the look of fear on the girl’s face and a dark crescent of the baby’s head protruded between her legs. He heard her gasp at the sensation. He winced. It was at moments like this he was glad he was a man.

Theo’s hand hovered over the bulge of the baby’s head, not touching but ready in case Carly decided to push without control. But she didn’t. Incredible girl.

The back of the baby’s dark head of hair continued to distend the vulva until it seemed there couldn’t possibly be more room, and then the head started to extend as the baby lifted its chin inside its mother.

First the top of the head and then, centimetre by centimetre, the forehead swept the perineum until the gentle rush of nose, mouth and chin completed the first of the obstacles to the outside.

They all sighed. ‘You’re doing beautifully, Carly.’ Theo’s voice was quiet and didn’t disturb the mood of the occasion.

‘It’s stinging, burning like mad.’ Carly groaned between her teeth.

‘It must be. Just relax for a moment until you get another contraction. I’m going to feel if the umbilical cord is around the baby’s neck in case it’s too tight.’

He slipped one finger next to the baby’s neck and circled it. ‘No cord.’

‘I’m getting another pain.’

‘Then push,’ said her matter-of-fact mother.

First one shoulder was born for Theo to slip his finger into the axilla and then the other, and in a rush the body and legs followed. Theo lifted the child onto Carly’s stomach by the baby’s armpits and Savannah laid a small blanket across the pair to block out any breeze.

Ruth kissed her daughter and wiped the tears from her own cheek with the back of her hand.

Carly wasn’t satisfied. ‘Well, what is it?’

They all looked at each other and Savannah’s eyes twinkled. She lifted the blanket again. Theo raised the child for Carly to say it first.

‘It’s a boy. Thank goodness. He doesn’t have to go through that.’

They all laughed.

Soon third stage was complete, both mother and child had been checked over and Theo left to write up the notes.

Ruth brought in the new grandfather. He stood there, blinked, opened and closed his mouth a few times and then sank onto the only chair in the cubicle.

‘Well?’ His wife nudged him to encourage some comment.

The older man cleared his throat. ‘Are you both well?’

Carly barely met her father’s eyes as she nodded her head.

‘That’s good.’ He sighed, stood up and leaned over to kiss his daughter’s cheek. ‘Er, I always wanted a son. A grandson will be grand.’

Satisfied all would be well with her patient, Savannah slipped out to join Theo at the desk. He looked up with a straight face.

‘Maternity rang and asked how come we did them out of their job?’

She smiled. The birth was a lovely memory to share. ‘That was a nice delivery, Theo. Maybe you should work in obstetrics.’

He frowned.

Now what was wrong with him? She felt like kicking him out of the mood.

He shook his head. ‘With no antenatal care, we’re lucky the baby had no problems. I can’t believe no one knew she was pregnant.’

‘I think Carly had an idea, but hoped it would go away.’

He snorted. ‘How?’

‘If you were fifteen, scared and not sure what was going on, it might seem reasonable. Actually, I had a case exactly like Carly’s at my last hospital—so it’s not so unusual.’ She tilted her head. ‘Haven’t you ever done something you regretted and wished the whole problem would go away?’

He froze and refused to meet her eyes. Man, had he! ‘I’m going to the cafeteria for lunch. Ring me if you need me.’

Theo spent another meal talking to himself in the cafeteria. Savannah was right. Birth was special. Yet it was just another thing Marie had excluded him from. Maybe it was time he learned to deal with it.

Driving home that night, Theo forced himself not to slow down as he drove past Savannah’s farm. Stopping by unexpectedly two days in a row would be too much.

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