Touched By Angels
Touched By Angels
Jennifer Taylor
Some risks are worth taking…Meg's healing touch could give hope to the people of Oncamba, but she despaired of ever getting through to the leader of the medical aid team, Jack Trent. As the spitting image of his flighty ex-wife, Meg had a hard time convincing him that she was up to the job, let alone fighting her own desire for him. And when passion flared and Jack took her in his arms, Meg had to be sure that it was her he would be making love to….
“I wouldn’t ask any woman to share my life again. It wouldn’t be fair to her.”
Meg knew what he was saying, that he was warning her that they had no future, yet she couldn’t let it go without trying to make him see that he was wrong. “Not all women would react like Briony did, Jack.” She took a deep breath. “I wouldn’t.”
He smiled, and there was tenderness in his eyes when he looked at her. “I know that. However, it isn’t a risk I intend to take ever again.”
What could she say when he had made up his mind? Nothing. She couldn’t run from the pain she felt because it was locked inside her. Jack had said that he hadn’t compared her to Briony, but he was still judging her by the other woman’s actions!
Dear Reader (#u85420939-4bb0-554a-8147-8182f5569152),
I have always admired the bravery and dedication of those nurses and doctors who travel around the world doing medical aid work. Touched by Angels is my tribute to them, and I hope that I have managed to capture a little of the excitement, hardship and satisfaction that comes from doing this very taxing work.
This book tells the story of Meg Andrews, a nurse who decides to put her skills to good use by working for an overseas aid agency. She is thrilled when she is asked to join a team of aid workers that is being sent to the African state of Oncamba. The only problem is that the team leader, Jack Trent, makes it plain from the outset that he doesn’t believe she is cut out for this kind of work. Can Meg convince him that she has a lot to offer, both as a highly skilled professional and as the woman who can heal his broken heart?
The story is played out against the backdrop of Africa in all its beauty and cruelty. Although the state of Oncamba doesn’t exist, I hope that the characters will become as real and alive to you as they did to me.
My very best wishes to you all,
Jennifer Taylor
Touched by Angels
Jennifer Taylor
www.millsandboon.co.uk (http://www.millsandboon.co.uk)
CONTENTS
Cover (#u560c5ae5-cf74-58c2-864f-be9e6d1664d2)
Dear Reader (#u1c3c0a09-885c-53a6-b4fc-0cdf367090a2)
Title Page (#uc85dfca1-0c81-5f7b-8a3f-3d4a7ad81848)
CHAPTER ONE (#ulink_33e5a592-b9c0-5b1b-827a-b670a69400fa)
CHAPTER TWO (#ulink_25ee46df-23c7-58e8-a4a0-1c8400e7e7f3)
CHAPTER THREE (#ulink_5a80dcc1-6c07-5c90-a42b-b0a2f963f1c2)
CHAPTER FOUR (#litres_trial_promo)
CHAPTER FIVE (#litres_trial_promo)
CHAPTER SIX (#litres_trial_promo)
CHAPTER SEVEN (#litres_trial_promo)
CHAPTER EIGHT (#litres_trial_promo)
CHAPTER NINE (#litres_trial_promo)
CHAPTER TEN (#litres_trial_promo)
CHAPTER ELEVEN (#litres_trial_promo)
Copyright (#litres_trial_promo)
CHAPTER ONE (#ulink_0c65d5c0-85b9-56c8-b16e-52d54bf242b1)
‘I KNOW it’s short notice. Unfortunately, I only found out late last night that Yvonne wouldn’t be fit enough to travel. However, I do realise that forty-eight hours isn’t very much time to get ready, so if you feel that you can’t make it, please, say so.’
‘No, it’s fine. Really.’
Meg Andrews had heard the hesitation in his voice and frowned. Even at her interview she’d sensed that Jack Trent had reservations about taking her on as a member of the team. Why? Her references were excellent and the experience she’d gained in the surgical wards of Dalverston General Hospital made her ideally suited to the work so why should he have appeared so…reluctant to accept her?
She shrugged off the faint feeling of unease, realising that it was pointless wasting time by worrying about it. There were more important things to think about, like where they would be going, for instance. She felt a little thrill of excitement course through her as it hit her that it was really going to happen at last.
As soon as she’d seen the advertisement in one of the nursing journals for experienced nurses to join a leading overseas aid agency, she’d known that was what she wanted to do. Oh, she loved her job and derived a great deal of satisfaction from it, but it was time for a different sort of challenge.
After the interview she’d sat back and waited to hear where she would be sent, but it seemed to have taken months before this phone call had come out of the blue that morning. Now she could hardly wait to hear all the details.
‘So where exactly are we going?’ Meg asked, unable to keep the excitement out of her voice. She caught a glimpse of herself in the mirror above the table where the phone was precariously balanced on top of a pile of textbooks, and grimaced when she saw the sparkle in her deep blue eyes.
She looked as excited as a sixteen-year-old being asked out on her first date rather than a mature, worldly woman of twenty-six being given details of her next professional assignment! She had to learn to contain her enthusiasm, but it was hard to maintain a calm front even though she sensed that Jack Trent would prefer that kind of approach…
‘Sorry?’ She suddenly realised that he’d said something, and hurried to get her thoughts back on track. It certainly wouldn’t reassure him if she started daydreaming!
‘Oncamba. I’m not surprised that you haven’t heard of the place. Not many people have. It’s a tiny state in south-eastern Africa, the merest pinprick on your map if you want to check out its location.’
Jack Trent’s tone was level as his voice flowed down the telephone line—cool, concise, impersonal, like the man himself. Meg had a sudden mental image of him sitting in his immaculately tidy office, and was glad that video phones were still very much in the future. She could just imagine how those chiselled lips would curl disdainfully if he got a glimpse of the chaotic state of her flat, not to mention the way she was dressed that morning.
She bit back a chuckle as she glanced down at the misshapen black T-shirt—a cast-off from her brother—that she was wearing with jeans which had holes in both knees, and mentally compared it with what Jack Trent had been wearing the one and only time they’d met. He’d been resplendent in a severely cut black suit and pristine white shirt, a soberly patterned tie adding the finishing touch to the picture of professionalism he’d presented.
The fact that the clothes had suited his austerely handsome looks had been more by accident than design, Meg suspected. Jack Trent certainly hadn’t struck her as a man who worried about his image, although admittedly he’d left a lasting impression on her. More than once in the months since that interview she’d found herself bringing him to mind, as she was doing now.
Meg cleared her throat, not sure why the realisation made her feel so uneasy. ‘I see. I take it that background information on the state is rather limited in that case?’
‘I’m afraid so. However, I can let you have what information I’ve managed to get hold of if you’re interested?’
His tone implied that he couldn’t imagine why she should be, and Meg bridled, mentally and physically. Of course she was interested! She was going to be working in the country, wasn’t she?
‘That would be a great help,’ she replied, trying to keep the bite out of her voice. ‘I would prefer not to go there without knowing anything at all about the people and their culture. It would make for a bad start to my mind.’
‘You’re quite right.’ Jack Trent’s tone had softened slightly and Meg bit her lip as she heard the mellifluous tones flowing down the line. She’d never realised before what a beautiful voice he had, although it was hardly surprising when up till now he’d only ever used that impersonal tone when speaking to her. It was an effort to concentrate as he continued.
‘When you’re working overseas you must always take account of local cultural practices. It’s vital that we don’t try to impose our views on the people we are treating as it can be extremely detrimental at the end of the day. The last thing we want to do is to end up alienating those we are trying to help.’
‘I agree. I imagine it can be tempting to try to dictate how things should be done, but you must have to remind yourself constantly that what is acceptable in Britain might be totally unacceptable in another culture,’ Meg replied firmly.
‘Exactly. I’m pleased you understand that.’
Pleased and surprised? Meg frowned as she wondered if she’d imagined that edge in Jack Trent’s voice. She didn’t think so. He had been surprised by her correct assessment of the situation, and her heart sank as she found herself wondering if he was one of those doctors who didn’t hold nurses in very high esteem.
She had worked with a few doctors like that in her time, men mainly, who believed that all a nurse was good for was to carry out their instructions. The idea that a nurse could be an intelligent, thinking professional in her own right was beyond them. However, if Jack Trent was of that ilk then she would make sure that he soon changed his ideas. She was nobody’s handmaiden, neither was her only role in life to be at his beck and call!
‘Oh, I assure you there won’t be any problems in that area, Dr Trent,’ she replied coolly. ‘I’m well aware of the pitfalls of working in a developing country and intend to avoid them.’
‘Really?’ He sounded amused now, although Meg found herself unable to share the joke when she sensed it was at her expense.
‘Yes, really,’ she repeated firmly, feeling her temper move a notch up the scale, which in itself was a rare occurrence. Her good temper and patience were legendary in Dalverston General, her ability to rise above the trivial everyday annoyances which came with the job one of her strengths. It surprised her that Jack Trent had managed to get under her skin to such an extent.
She took a steadying breath, deliberately wiping all traces of emotion from her voice as she continued, ‘I know that I don’t have any hands-on experience of working overseas yet, but I’ve given this enough thought to feel fairly confident that I’ll avoid the more obvious mistakes.’
‘I’m sure you have given it some thought. However, you may find that any preconceived ideas you have will be totally at odds with what the reality of working in a developing country is like.’ His tone was once more impersonal. ‘I suggest that you wait until you get there before formulating your ideas, Ms Andrews. That way you won’t be either disappointed or shocked by what you find.’
‘Meaning what exactly, Dr Trent? That I don’t understand that we shall be working under extreme conditions? That I’m not prepared for the ugliness of poverty and disease?’ She gave a short laugh. ‘Or that I have some romantic notion about going to Africa to play the ministering angel?’
‘I meant exactly what I said, that it would be wiser to wait until you get there before deciding on the best approach to the job.’
There was no hint of annoyance in his voice, Meg noted, biting back the sharp retort that sprang to her lips. If he’d picked up on her irritation then he certainly hadn’t taken any notice of it!
She took a deep breath before she spoke, realising that it would be foolish to promote a confrontation at this stage in their relationship. It certainly wouldn’t help to improve Jack Trent’s opinion of her, that was for sure.
‘I shall bear that in mind, Dr Trent,’ she replied coolly. ‘I’m very much aware that I’m the newcomer to the team so I shall be happy to follow your advice.’
‘Good. I’m glad to hear it. One of the things I must stress, Ms Andrews, is that we all work very closely when we are overseas. Teamwork is all important and there’s no time to pander to anyone’s ego.’
His tone was authoritative. Meg could picture him sitting behind his desk, his dark grey eyes full of that self-assurance which had been so evident at her interview as he’d set about making sure that she’d understood the ground rules. Where work was concerned, Jack Trent wasn’t prepared to compromise but, then, she sensed that he wouldn’t be prepared to do so in other areas of his life either…
Meg cut short that thought because there was absolutely no basis for thinking it. She knew nothing about the wretched man’s personal life, neither did she want to! All she wanted was to be part of the team and be given the chance to put her skills to good use.
‘I don’t have any difficulty with that concept, Dr Trent. And I assure you that I’m well used to working as part of a team. However, to go back to what you were saying about Oncamba, is it possible that you could let me have whatever information is available before we leave?’
‘Certainly. As time is at a premium I suggest that I fax the details to where you work. I take it that won’t cause any problems?’ he suggested levelly.
‘Not at all. Everyone at Dalverston General has been extremely supportive about me joining the agency. The management and the board of trustees have assured me that my job isn’t at risk and that I shall be granted leave of absence whenever I’m asked to go overseas,’ Meg assured him. ‘If you could fax the information through to Roger Hopkins, the hospital manager, he will make sure I get it. I think I gave you the phone number at my interview.’
‘You did. I have it here.’ There was a rustle of papers before Jack Trent said, ‘So, if you’re absolutely certain that you’ll be ready in time to come, that’s just about it. I take it that your jabs are up to date and that you have a current passport?’
‘Of course,’ Meg replied stiffly, wondering if he thought her a complete idiot. Naturally, she’d wasted no time in having all the necessary inoculations as soon as she’d learned that she’d been accepted by the agency…unless he was looking for a reason not to let her go with him even at this late stage?
The thought was more than a little disquieting but she chose to keep it to herself. What was the point in asking him when he would most probably deny it? Yet the thought that Jack Trent didn’t really want her along on this trip wasn’t the most auspicious of starts. She made up her mind that before it was over she would convince him that he’d been wrong to have doubts about her or her name wasn’t Megan Louise Andrews!
‘Right. Then all that needs to be sorted out is your visa, and I shall get onto that straight away now that I know you are definitely coming.’
Jack Trent’s authoritative tones cut through her musings. Meg brought her thoughts back on track once more, afraid that she would miss some vital bit of information and thereby prove him right to have reservations about her suitability. She was going to have to be very much on her mettle from now on, it seemed.
‘We fly out from Manchester airport on Thursday at six p.m., which means you’ll need to be there at least two hours beforehand to check in. Keep any personal luggage to an absolute minimum, though. Although we’ve been given free cargo space on the aircraft, we need every bit of it for our equipment.’
‘We’re taking everything with us?’ she queried, trying to imagine the logistics of packing enough supplies for a trip like this.
‘Not quite everything.’ Jack Trent’s tone had softened once more, and Meg’s finely drawn brows rose when she heard the thread of excitement it held now. It seemed a contradiction in terms—Jack Trent displaying excitement about anything—so her interest was immediately piqued.
‘What do you mean?’ she asked, trying to imagine how he would look with a smile softening those chiselled lips. Her heart gave a small bump when she found it only too easy to imagine it, and she bit her lip, not sure why the picture that had formed in her mind was so unsettling. Jack Trent was handsome all right and she didn’t dispute it, but she certainly wasn’t attracted to him. The idea was ridiculous! However, it took several seconds before the beguiling image of his smiling face faded from her mind, and a couple more before she realised that he was speaking.
‘I didn’t think it would be ready on time but they pulled out all the stops. There’s everything we need on board…consulting rooms, two operating theatres, even a small hospital bay if we need to keep any patients under observation, plus all the facilities to cater to our personal needs, of course.’
‘On board…I’m sorry but I don’t understand. On board what exactly?’ Meg queried bemusedly.
He laughed deeply, the rich sound flowing down the line and making her heart flutter again. ‘Sorry. I’ve lived with this night and day for almost a year now so I forget that other people aren’t as clued up on this project as I am. We shall be using a converted steam train as our base while we are over there. It means that we shall be able to travel throughout the country and see far more patients than we could normally have done.’
‘A steam train!’ Meg couldn’t keep the surprise out of her voice and she heard him laugh again.
‘I know! Sounds incredible, doesn’t it? Evidently, the train was shipped to Oncamba during the early part of the century and used for many years. However, it was left to rust until the new ruler discovered it when he came to power a couple of years ago. It’s thanks to his determination to do something to help his people that this whole venture has got off the ground, in fact.’
Jack’s voice was filled with admiration. ‘He contacted the agency and asked for help, suggesting that if enough money could be raised then the engine would be the perfect means of getting around the country. Evidently, most of the roads had fallen into such a state of disrepair during the previous ruler’s time that travelling about is a nightmare. We in turn contacted various charities and the outcome was enough money to have the train fitted out to our specifications.’
He paused and she wasn’t deaf to the sudden flatness of his tone, such a marked contrast to the enthusiasm he’d shown just moments earlier. ‘So, Ms Andrews, the Oncamba Angel will be not only your place of work but where you will eat, sleep and live for the next three months. While it will be better than working in a hut somewhere in the bush, it certainly won’t be luxurious by western standards, so are you sure that you still want to come along?’
‘That sounds almost as though you’re expecting me to say no!’
Meg laughed but she could hear the edge in her voice and knew that Jack Trent must have heard it, too. Suddenly she didn’t care what he thought, whether or not he would prefer her to take a coolly professional approach. Anger rippled through her as she held the receiver closer, wanting to be sure that he understood what she was saying.
‘Yes, I want to come, Dr Trent, and, no, the thought of the lack of luxury doesn’t bother me. You may be surprised to know that the only thing I’m interested in is doing this job to the very best of my ability. That’s the reason I signed up with the agency, so that I could—in some small way—make a difference to the lives of people who desperately need help.’
She took a small breath, aware that she was trembling after her impassioned outburst. What Jack Trent thought of it she had no idea because it was a few moments before he spoke, and even then his tone gave away nothing about his feelings.
‘In that case I shall look forward to seeing you on Thursday, Ms Andrews. Goodbye.’
He’d hung up before she could reply. Meg slowly replaced the receiver, wishing momentarily that she hadn’t said what she had. But why not? She’d meant every word and she hoped that Dr Jack Trent had taken note of it. Whether he liked the idea or not, she would be at the airport on Thursday. She could hardly wait!
‘Jack Trent! Not the Jack Trent I saw on television last night?’
Meg was on a late that day and had been getting changed to go on duty when her friend, Maggie Carr, arrived for work. Meg had just finished regaling Maggie with what had happened that morning and had to admit that she was surprised by what her friend had said.
‘I don’t know. I didn’t watch television last night because I made a start on painting the kitchen,’ she replied, frowning.
Maggie dragged her sweater over her head then shook back her hair. She and Meg were complete opposites in colouring. Maggie’s olive skin and black hair hinted at her Mediterranean ancestry whereas Meg, with her long blonde hair, delicately fair complexion and deep blue eyes, was a typical English rose. Now Meg hid a smile as she saw her friend roll her eyes in a gesture reminiscent of her Italian mother. They were opposites in temperament as well as looks—because if she was noted for her even temper then Maggie was renowned for her fiery one!
‘Typical! I might have known you’d miss it!’ Maggie declared, stepping into a pair of blue cotton uniform pants. ‘Anyway, it has to be the same guy—tall, good-looking, extremely good-looking, in fact, all sort of mean and moody, if you know what I mean?’
Meg raised her brows. ‘Mean and moody? I don’t know if that’s how I would have described him, although, on second thoughts, maybe you’re right.’
She pulled a blue cotton V-necked top over her head and smoothed it down her slim hips. ‘He certainly didn’t come across as all that welcoming when I spoke to him this morning. In fact, I got the distinct impression that Dr Trent had reservations about asking me to go on this trip.’
‘Really?’ Maggie was brushing her hair but she stopped to stare at Meg. ‘Why do you say that? I mean, you’ve loads of experience thanks to working on the surgical wards and, from what I heard him saying last night, surgery is going to play a major part on this trip. Isn’t he some sort of eye specialist?’
‘That’s right. Evidently, he works at St Augustine’s as well as being a director of the aid agency. He’s head of the ophthalmology unit there. I believe he also spends a lot of his time lecturing, both here and abroad.’
‘Busy man from the sound of it. Must make it difficult for him to find time for a private life.’ Maggie twisted her hair into a knot and pinned it in place. ‘Pity! He looked rather a dish to me, but you can’t go by appearances, can you? You tell him where to get off, Meg, if he tries giving you a hard time. To my mind, he’s lucky to have got you!’
Meg laughed as she slid her feet into a pair of comfortable rubber-soled clogs. ‘Thanks for the vote of confidence! Can I have it in writing, please, just in case I need it in the next three months?’
‘You aren’t really worried that you might?’ Maggie had been heading out of the staffroom door but she paused to look worriedly at her friend. Meg shrugged, feigning a nonchalance she wished she felt as she slipped past her friend and hurried towards the ward.
‘Not really,’ she fibbed, pushing open the swing doors and smiling at Mrs Watkins who was in the first bed. ‘As you say, I’ll soon put Jack Trent in his place.’
‘Attagirl! Good morning, Mrs Watkins. How are you today?’ Maggie asked as they both automatically stopped beside the middle-aged woman’s bed. Joan Watkins loved to chat, and all the staff made a point of stopping to have a word with her whenever they could spare the time. A widow whose grown-up children lived abroad, she had few visitors to break the monotony of her day.
She had been admitted as an emergency case, suffering from an obstruction of the colon. A temporary colostomy had been performed until she was well enough to have the blocked section removed, and all the staff had been impressed by her cheerfulness and positive attitude. Now she looked curiously at Meg.
‘Morning, girls. Who were you talking about just now? Your boyfriend, was it, love? Is he giving you a hard time, then?’
Meg chuckled wryly. ‘No, he isn’t my boyfriend! He’s someone I’m going to be working with for the next few months.’ She quickly filled Joan in on the details of her trip, smiling when the woman shuddered.
‘Oh, I don’t think I’d fancy doing that! You never know what you’ll catch, going to those sorts of places. What made you decide to apply for the job? Don’t you enjoy working here?’
‘I love it,’ Meg replied sincerely. ‘Both the work and the people I work with. I just feel that I want to try something different, use my skills to help people who so desperately need helping, and this seems the ideal way to go about it. I can work overseas for the aid agency, knowing that I still have my job here to come back to.’
‘But how about your young man—what does he think about you going to a place like that? I bet he doesn’t like the idea,’ Joan persisted, obviously not convinced it was the right thing to do.
‘I don’t have a ‘‘young man’’. Or an old one for that matter!’ Meg laughed. ‘I’m fancy-free at the moment and can do whatever I like. That’s another reason why the time is right for me to take on a job like this. I don’t have commitments at present but all that could change in a couple of years’ time. I couldn’t imagine leaving behind a husband and family while I flew off to the other side of the world to work.’
‘Well, I expect you know what you’re doing,’ Joan conceded reluctantly. ‘So when do you leave?’
‘Thursday evening,’ Meg replied, lifting Joan’s chart off the end of her bed and glancing through it.
‘And are they giving you a send-off, then?’ Joan turned to Maggie. ‘Surely you’ve got something planned to mark the occasion?’
‘We hadn’t but we soon will have! Great idea, Mrs Watkins. Why didn’t I think of it?’ Maggie shook her head as Meg opened her mouth. ‘Don’t waste your breath. I’m going to give you a send-off to remember!’
Meg groaned. ‘Why do I have the feeling that I am going to regret this?’
She did regret it! On the way to the airport late Thursday afternoon, Meg couldn’t think of anything she regretted more, in fact. She’d had only a few hours’ sleep the night before and she felt completely exhausted. Between getting ready for the trip, finishing her decorating and working till eleven the previous night it had been a hectic couple of days.
Even when she’d finished work the previous night, that hadn’t been the end of it. Maggie had rounded up a bunch of their friends and had dragged everyone off to a nightclub where she’d insisted that Meg have a glass of sparkling wine to toast her departure.
After a couple of hectic hours of dancing, Meg had pleaded tiredness as her excuse to leave, only everyone had suddenly decided that a curry would be the perfect ending to the night. Unfortunately, it seemed in imminent danger of making its reappearance so she was thankful when the taxi pulled up outside the departure terminal. Hopefully, a breath of fresh air would make her feel better…
‘Where the hell have you been? I thought I told you to be here well before we were due to fly out?’
Maybe he hadn’t really shouted but to Meg’s sensitive ears it certainly felt as though he had. She turned slowly around and stared at Jack Trent, noting almost idly how angry he looked. Why? Because she’d turned up only five minutes before the alloted time? Or because she’d turned up at all?
‘It is five minutes to four, Dr Trent,’ she said as coolly as she could, because that last thought had stung. ‘I wouldn’t have thought there was any cause for concern just yet.’
‘Wouldn’t you indeed? Well, that’s where you’re wrong, Ms Andrews. As it happens, our flight has been brought forward and we’re due to leave in less than an hour’s time. So, if you wouldn’t mind getting yourself inside, we can check in your luggage.’
He turned to walk inside the building but Meg stopped him by dint of a well-placed hand on his arm. Her fingers closed around the hard biceps and even though she was annoyed she couldn’t help noticing just how very hard it was. That Jack Trent was in superb physical condition couldn’t be disputed. However, his attitude left a lot to be desired!
He swung round to stare at her, his cold grey eyes dropping deliberately to where her hand was still attached to his arm. However, Meg refused to release him until she was good and ready. She certainly didn’t intend to let him think she was afraid of him!
‘What have you got against me, Dr Trent? It’s obvious that you aren’t one hundred per cent happy about me coming on this trip, and I think I deserve to know why, don’t you?’
She was quite pleased with the tone of her voice which had sounded both firm and nicely controlled to her ears. However, if Jack Trent was impressed he gave little sign. His mouth curled into what could only be classed as a sneer as he took stock of her tired face.
‘In that case, Ms Andrews, I may as well be honest and say that I was against you being hired. If it had been left solely to me then you would never have been taken on by the agency in the first place.’
The bluntness of that statement cleared her head more effectively than anything else could have done. Meg stared at him in consternation. ‘Why not? You saw my references and I know for a fact that they were excellent. I also have several years’ experience on one of the most demanding wards in the hospital, so how can you say that?’
‘Because it’s the truth.’ He gave a sharp downward thrust of his hand when she went to speak. It had the added effect of dislodging her hand. Meg let it fall to her side as she stared at him with troubled blue eyes that reflected her hurt and confusion.
He looked away and there was an odd note in his voice all of a sudden, almost as though he might have regretted speaking so bluntly. However, there was no softening to his attitude, Meg realised sickly when he continued.
‘I don’t believe that you will cope, Ms Andrews. That’s it in a nutshell. It makes no difference how good your references are or how much experience you have—I just don’t think that you will be able to handle this kind of work. It is a whole different ball game, working overseas, compared to where you’ve worked in the past.’
‘I know that! I understand that we’ll be working under less than ideal conditions if that’s what you’re concerned about.’
‘I don’t think anyone can truly understand what the conditions will be like until they’ve experienced them at first hand,’ he stated coldly. ‘Oh, I expect you’ve seen TV coverage of aid work but that’s sanitised for the viewers’ consumption. Actually, dealing with all the hardships and unpleasantness is an entirely different matter, believe me.’
‘I do believe you! I know that I have a lot to learn but I’m willing to try. Why can’t you at least give me the benefit of the doubt?’
‘Because there isn’t room on a trip like this for a passenger. We need everyone to pull his or her weight from the outset,’ he snapped back.
‘I shall pull my weight!’ she retorted, whipping up her anger because his words had hurt so much. Maybe it was the combination of the late duty, the decorating, the night out—not to mention the curry—that were all taking their toll, but she felt a lump come to her throat. However, she would walk over hot coals rather than let Jack Trent see that he’d upset her!
‘What if I prove you wrong, prove that I can cope with this type of work?’
‘Then I shall apologise, Ms Andrews. Now, if you’re ready?’ He picked up her bag, leaving Meg to follow him into the airport building.
She squared her shoulders, although she felt rather like a prisoner on her way to the gallows must have felt. Three months of working with a man who thought she wasn’t up to the job and would be waiting his chance to take her to task didn’t sound like a very appealing prospect! It was only the thought of the satisfaction it would give him if she backed out at this stage that firmed her resolve.
Forget the apology. Jack Trent was going to eat a large slice of humble pie at the end of this trip if she had anything to do with it!
CHAPTER TWO (#ulink_cbd59864-97a6-5f23-af94-012abea37092)
THE journey seemed to take for ever so that Meg lost track of the hours they’d spent travelling. After they landed in Johannesburg they took an internal flight which just seemed to go on and on.
Meg knew that everyone was exhausted by the time they landed for the second time at a tiny airfield at the edge of the bush, but there was still another leg of the journey to undergo before they stopped for the night. Three small trucks were waiting to collect them and their equipment and ferry them to the Oncamban border, a good thirty miles away, where they would spend the night. Hopefully the next day they would complete their journey and board the train.
‘Oh, how I hate this bit!’
Lesley Johnson, one of the two other nurses with whom Meg would be working, sighed as she plonked herself down on top of a packing case. A pleasant woman in her mid-forties, with bright red hair and a face full of freckles, she had gone out of her way to make Meg feel welcome. They’d sat in adjoining seats on the flight from Manchester and Lesley had kept up an undemanding conversation, telling Meg about previous trips she’d been on with the agency.
In fact, all the members of the team she had met so far had been extremely friendly. There were five of them in total plus another two who had flown on ahead and would meet them in Oncamba. Meg had just about managed to slot names to faces by now and was sure that she would enjoy working with such a lively bunch of professionals.
They seemed to have accepted her without hesitation, including her in the conversation when they’d stopped for a meal at Johannesburg airport. It was only Jack Trent who seemed intent on treating her as an outsider…
‘Why this bit in particular?’ She deliberately closed her mind to that thought, focusing instead on what Lesley had said. Right at that moment Jack Trent was busily supervising the loading of some of the more fragile equipment onto one of the lorries, and she doubted whether he was giving her any thought! She could see him out of the corner of her eye if she turned her head a fraction, his rangy figure clad in khaki chinos and shirt which blended with the landscape. He should have been virtually invisible in that outfit yet she had no difficulty picking him out. It was as though some sort of inner radar had immediately homed in on him.
‘Because this last stage always seems to take ages!’ Lesley declared. ‘I mean, here we are just thirty miles away from our destination and we’re all itching to get started, but if I know anything at all about these trips it’s that there will be one delay after another, getting the equipment there. You take it from me, Meg, the flight from England is a doddle compared to hauling our stuff over these back roads!’
‘Don’t say that! Here I was thinking that it wouldn’t be long before I’d be able to have a lovely long soak in the bath and wash off some of this grime!’ Meg retorted ruefully, brushing the gritty sand off her dusty jeans. She looked up as a shadow fell over them and her heart skipped a beat as she found Jack Trent staring down at her. It was obvious that he must have overheard what she’d said because there was a mocking tilt to his lips as he treated her to a thin smile.
‘I’m afraid long soaks in the bath are a luxury you’ll have to learn to live without for the next few months, Ms Andrews. I did warn you, if you remember?’
‘How could I forget, Dr Trent?’ She returned his smile with an even thinner one but that didn’t mean the comment hadn’t stung. It wasn’t pleasant to realise that he was only waiting his chance to take pot-shots at her. It was a relief when Lesley interrupted at that point because Meg wasn’t sure what else he might have said.
‘Ms Andrews? Dr Trent?’ the older woman scoffed. ‘Rather formal, isn’t it, for a trip like this?’ She sighed as she looked from one to the other. ‘Don’t tell me you two are going to stand on ceremony for the next three months. How about making that ‘‘Meg’’ and ‘‘Jack’’ and starting as you mean to go on?’
Meg shrugged although she was careful to avoid Lesley’s eyes. Jack Trent had started as he meant to go on, that was the trouble! However, in the interests of team harmony it seemed wrong to make their differences common knowledge. ‘Fine by me. I’d prefer it if you’d call me Meg, anyway.’
‘Of course. And it goes without saying that you must call me Jack,’ he concurred. He turned away before Meg could answer, raising his voice as he called to the rest of the party who were sprawled along the edges of the landing strip.
‘We’re just about ready now, folks. If you want to climb on board then we can make a start. The head driver assures me that it shouldn’t take more than a couple of hours to reach the border, which means we should make it by five p.m. by my reckoning,’ he announced.
‘And if you believe that you’ll believe anything!’ declared Rory O’Donnell, the anaesthetist on the trip, and everyone laughed. Jack joined in as well and Meg felt her pulse miss a beat as she saw the austere lines of his face soften.
He looked so different when he laughed, she realised, even more handsome and attractive, just as she’d imagined he would look, in fact. Was it just that he had trouble unbending in front of her and found it easier to relax with people he liked and respected? She sensed that was so and her heart ached even though she didn’t want it to.
She hurriedly got up when she realised that everyone was making their way to the trucks. Rory was giving Kate Gregory, another of the nurses, a boost up into the high cab amid a lot of teasing, his hands placed firmly on the woman’s ample derrière. It was obvious that Kate was taking it all in good part as she shot a few pithy comments at her colleagues.
Meg smiled as she heard them laugh in response to whatever Kate had said. Obviously a good rapport was already building within the team and she felt her spirits lift. To heck with how Jack treated her—she intended to make the most of this trip and wouldn’t let him spoil it for her!
‘There’s a few points I need to run through with you, Meg, so you may as well travel with me in the first truck.’
Jack didn’t wait for her to reply as he strode towards the first of the three trucks which were lined up on the grass. Meg hesitated but there was no excuse she could think of to refuse his request, apart from one which was as unacceptable to her as it would be to him. To actually come out and tell Jack that she didn’t want to travel with him because he seemed intent on making her feel miserable sounded too pathetic for words.
She followed him to the truck, colouring when he stepped back to let her climb into the cab first. The memory of how Rory had helped Kate was all the incentive she needed to make the ascent in double-quick time! She scrambled on board then quickly slid along the bench seat as Jack climbed up behind her and slammed the door.
He leant forward, his arm brushing the side of her breast as he pointed towards the driver. ‘This is Moses. He’s the head driver,’ he explained, before settling back in his seat.
Meg smiled at the man beside her, trying her best to quell the sensations that were rippling through her. Although the touch of Jack’s arm against her breast had been purely accidental, that didn’t mean she wasn’t very much aware of it. It was a relief to focus on the introductions rather than let her mind go spinning off at tangents, wondering why it should have had such an effect.
‘Hello, Moses. It’s nice to meet you. My name is Meg.’
The man gave her a wide smile, his white teeth flashing against his black skin. ‘Pleased to meet you, Dr Meg.’
He started the engine, giving Meg no chance to correct him about her true status as the engine roared to life. The noise inside the truck was deafening for a few seconds before the gears engaged, and they set off with a shuddering lurch which pitched her sideways into Jack Trent.
Meg flushed as she quickly righted herself. ‘Sorry.’
‘Don’t worry about it.’ Jack placed a booted foot against the dashboard and braced himself as they jolted over another rut. His hand shot out and he grasped Meg’s arm as she bounced on the seat. ‘I know it isn’t very ladylike, but try bracing your feet against the dashboard. It’s the only way to keep yourself steady, I’m afraid.’
Meg did as he’d suggested and after a few moments found that he was right. It was easier to maintain her balance once she had something to brace herself against.
‘Thanks,’ she said with a grateful smile. ‘It’s a lot better like this.’
He shrugged dismissively, turning to stare out of the window as though, now that his duty was done, he intended to leave her to her own devices. Meg took a small breath, refusing to let slip the words she could feel welling up inside her. If he wanted to make it clear that he didn’t care about her comfort then that was up to him. She certainly didn’t intend to make a fuss if that was what he expected!
They travelled in silence for a couple of miles before Jack spoke again. Meg stiffened but, oddly, there was no hint of the expected hostility in his voice.
‘Working out here will be quite a revelation for you, I imagine. I remember the first time I went overseas to work, not long after I qualified. I felt as though I should go straight back to med school because I was constantly being assailed with things I’d never dreamed I would have to deal with.’
He turned to look at her and his grey eyes were warm with the memory as he smiled. ‘I used to lie in bed at night and pinch myself because I couldn’t believe the things I’d seen and done throughout the day!’
‘Then you’ve never regretted getting involved in aid work?’ she queried, emboldened to ask by the fact that he seemed to have dropped the air of aloofness for once.
‘Never.’ He shook his head, pushing back a lock of hair which had blown over his forehead. Both of the truck’s windows had been rolled down, although the breeze that flowed into the cab was almost as hot as the air inside it. Meg could see damp patches forming on the front of Jack’s shirt where the cotton was sticking to his chest and knew that her own clothes were sticking to her as well.
When they lurched over another pothole and her arm brushed his, she could feel the heat of his skin burning into her and knew that the warmth of her skin had flowed into him. It was a strangely disturbing thought that their bodies’ heat was mingling that way.
She cleared her throat, not wanting to think about it. Why should just the touch of this man’s arm seem so very intimate? It didn’t make sense. ‘So you don’t regret not devoting more time to your career, then?’
‘You mean that if I didn’t go on these aid trips then I could be at home, earning more money?’ He gave a dry laugh. ‘No, I don’t regret it. Money isn’t all that important to me, if you really want to know. I believe there are more important things in life than buying a bigger car or a more luxurious house, oddly enough!’
Meg frowned as she heard the acerbic note in his voice. Maybe he was just making sure that she understood he had higher ideals than that, yet there had seemed to be something more to that statement than had first appeared.
‘I don’t find it at all odd,’ she replied quietly. ‘I agree with you, in fact. Money isn’t everything. It certainly doesn’t buy true happiness. That comes from within yourself, from knowing that you are doing the things you want to do and that you are happy with the choices you’ve made.’
His brows rose steeply. ‘A very altruistic attitude, Meg. I didn’t realise that you felt that way.’
She shrugged, not sure that she liked the mocking note in his voice which seemed at odds with the searching look he gave her. ‘You don’t know anything about me, not about the sort of person I am, anyway. References and CVs aren’t very much to go on when judging someone’s character, are they?’
‘Maybe not. But then I doubt if anyone relies solely on what’s written on a piece of paper, even in a work situation. I think most people rely on their instincts when they meet someone new.’
And his instincts had told him that she wasn’t the sort of person he wanted to work with? It was on the tip of her tongue to ask him but she managed to contain the words. What was the point in asking him a question like that when she knew what the answer would be? It certainly wouldn’t make her feel better to hear him state bluntly that he’d taken an immediate dislike to her.
She turned away before he saw the hurt in her eyes. She’d never been faced with this sort of situation before because she’d always got on well with the people she’d worked with. However, it was different with Jack Trent. Maybe it was foolish to be so sensitive but she couldn’t help it.
‘Is something wrong, Meg?’
She shook her head, hating the fact that he seemed to have sensed that she was upset. ‘Of course not. I’m just hot, that’s all.’
She took a tissue out of her pocket and mopped her forehead. Jack sighed as he settled back in the seat.
‘It will get even hotter than this.’
‘Then I shall just have to get used to it, won’t I? I’m sure I’ll survive, Dr Trent.’
‘I’m sure you will.’
There was an odd note in his voice, which made her look at him. However, he wasn’t looking at her but staring straight ahead, his gaze locked on the road as it wended its way through the bush. How, then, did she know instinctively that what had happened had upset him?
She had no idea yet she sensed it was true. Jack was upset because she’d been upset, and the knot of pain which had settled in the pit of her stomach eased a little. Maybe his attitude towards her wasn’t set in stone after all, and she would be able to convince him that he’d been wrong to have doubts about her. The thought was enough to make her spirits lift.
He cleared his throat and she turned to look at him again, feeling her heart immediately sink when she saw that the aloof mask was firmly in place once more. What a fool she was to have imagined that he might have had a change of heart so soon!
‘It will take a couple of days once we get under way to assess the kind of problems we’re going to be dealing with. As you know, my main area of interest is eye disorders, but I shall be doing my share of general surgery, as well as dealing with whatever medical problems we encounter.’
‘That was something I was going to ask you about,’ Meg put in quietly, deliberately confining her thoughts to work because it seemed wiser. She was there to do a job, not to make friends and influence people, and she would be better off remembering that. ‘I know a lot of these overseas aid trips specialise in various fields and I wasn’t sure if that was what we would be doing.’
‘Ideally it would be wonderful if we could specialise. Diseases of the eye, for instance, are a huge problem in a lot of developing countries. I would like nothing better than to spend the next three months devoting my time solely to that area. However, it just isn’t practical,’ he explained levelly. ‘Oncamba has been cut off from the rest of the world for so long that the people have had no access to any sort of medical help for a great many years.’
‘I see. So we are going to treat anyone and everyone we can—is that it?’ Meg asked, frowning as she thought what a huge undertaking it was going to be.
‘That’s right. Oh, I shall still focus as much as I can on treating cases of trachoma and Guy, the other surgeon who has travelled on ahead to get things ready, has a keen interest in the early detection of cervical cancer. But, basically, you’re right. We shall be seeing as many patients as we can fit into a day, no matter what type of problem they have.’
He frowned. ‘It means that the workload is going to be very intensive so it certainly won’t be the best introduction you could have had to this type of work.’
Meaning that he didn’t think she would cope with the pressure? She almost laughed out loud as she realised just how foolish she’d been to imagine he might care about hurting her feelings when he lost no opportunity to try and undermine her confidence!
‘Maybe not. But I’m sure I’ll cope, Dr Trent, despite the fact that you’re expecting me to fall flat on my face!’
She knew how unprofessional it was to speak to him like that and steeled herself for his reply. What she had never expected was that he would laugh.
‘I’m sure that falling flat on your face is something you rarely do, Meg Andrews! I’m certainly not expecting or hoping it will happen either.’
His amusement vanished as abruptly as it had appeared. ‘However, that doesn’t mean that I’ve changed my mind. This isn’t the sort of work for a woman like you.’
And what sort of a woman is that? Meg wanted to ask, only she didn’t. She didn’t need to because she already knew. Obviously, the sort of woman who didn’t impress Jack Trent!
It wasn’t a comforting thought when they would be working together for the next three months. Yet, if she was really honest, she would have been forced to admit that it wasn’t just the fact that he held her in such low esteem professionally which hurt, but the fact that his opinion of her as a person obviously wasn’t any better.
What a good job it was that she had no intention of being that honest!
It was getting dark by the time they reached the village where they would spend the night. Meg was as exhausted as everyone else as she scrambled stiffly down from the lorry. The last five miles of the journey had been a test of endurance and she was black and blue from being jolted around.
‘Why on earth do we volunteer for these trips? I mean, I could be sitting in front of the telly right now with a cup of tea, watching Coronation Street. Must be mad, mustn’t we?’
Lesley came to join her, rubbing her back as she tried to work the kinks out of it. Meg smiled sympathetically. ‘I know what you mean. I thought my teeth were going to drop out on that last stretch!’
She grimaced when Lesley laughed then coloured as she caught the I-told-you-so expression on Jack’s face as he strode past them to speak to Rory. Without stopping to think, she stuck out her tongue at his retreating back and heard Lesley stifle a snort of surprised laughter.
‘Do I get the impression that you and our esteemed leader don’t see eye to eye?’
Meg shrugged, wishing that she hadn’t behaved so childishly. She certainly didn’t want to cause problems within the team at this early stage. ‘Sort of. Anyway, what happens now?’
Lesley took the hint and didn’t pursue it, but Meg could tell that she was curious about what had gone wrong between her and Jack. What could she have said if Lesley had asked her what the problem was? Meg thought ruefully. That Jack didn’t like her for some reason?
It was the truth and yet it seemed such a feeble explanation that she doubted anyone would believe it. Despite all the evidence to the contrary, Jack Trent didn’t strike her as a man who took an unreasoning dislike to people.
That thought didn’t help one bit—it simply served to make her feel even more perplexed. It was a relief when Jack announced that because of the lateness of the hour it might be better if they got straight to bed after they’d had something to eat.
It turned out that Moses lived in the village and his wife, Leah, had prepared a meal for them. Everyone sat round the fire while they ate the deliciously spicy stew the woman had made.
Meg hadn’t realised just how hungry she was until then and had a second helping when Leah shyly offered it to her. She was a beautiful young woman with smooth, ebony skin, her hair intricately beaded and braided. She was obviously heavily pregnant, her distended belly clearly visible beneath the flowing, brightly coloured robe which covered her from neck to ankle. However, she still managed to move gracefully as she served their meal.
She smiled shyly when Meg thanked her. ‘I am pleased that you enjoyed it, Doctor,’ she said in her lilting voice, before she moved away to offer Rory a second helping, which was eagerly accepted.
‘Why does she call us all ‘‘Doctor’’?’ Meg queried, spooning up another mouthful of the tasty concoction. ‘I noticed that Moses did the same before, calling me Dr Meg.’
‘Women come very low down in the pecking order in a lot of these African countries,’ Rory explained, then glanced at Jack who was sitting beside him. ‘Isn’t that right?’
‘Unfortunately, it is. We’ve found by trial and error that it’s better if all the staff are awarded doctor status as it cuts down on a lot of problems, particularly with the male patients,’ he explained, putting aside his empty plate. ‘They accept treatment from a female doctor far more readily than they would accept it from a nurse. On trips like this, our nurses are more nurse practitioners than anything else, responsible both for diagnosing and prescribing treatment in many cases.’
‘And you have no problem with that?’ Meg asked before she could think better of it. She shrugged when everyone looked at her, glad that the heat of the fire could be blamed for her suddenly heightened colour.
‘A lot of doctors don’t hold nurses in very high esteem,’ she muttered uncomfortably.
‘Not a sin that I’m guilty of, believe me. And especially not on an undertaking like this. Everyone’s input is equally important to the success of the operation, which is why everyone is expected to pull his or her weight.’
Was she the only one to feel the sting in the tail of that statement? Meg glanced round the assembled group but not one of them looked as though they suspected Jack had meant that as a warning. It was hardly surprising when it had been aimed at her, though, was it? Hadn’t he said much the same thing earlier, that she was expected to pull her weight? Maybe he was taking the opportunity to remind her?
Suddenly, Meg knew that she’d had enough for one day. She was sick and tired of being in the dog house when she hadn’t done anything to deserve it! She scrambled to her feet, avoiding Jack’s eyes as she smiled at the rest of the team.
‘I don’t know about you lot, but I’m worn out. I think I’ll call it a night if nobody minds.’
‘Well, I don’t for starters.’ Kate got up as well, groaning as she arched her aching back. She shot a wry look at Jack. ‘Yvonne was right to cry off at the last minute if you ask me. I bet she knew you were going to have us bouncing around over miles and miles of dirt tracks!’
Jack laughed deeply as he rose to his feet. In the flickering glow from the fire, his face looked almost saturnine until he smiled, and then there was such a transformation that Meg had to look away, because she didn’t like the way her heart had started to bounce up and down.
It was only a smile, for heaven’s sake! she told herself sternly. And it hadn’t even been directed at her. Yet her foolish heart was playing leap-frog with her ribs.
‘You could be right about that. I should have told her that we’d be travelling by limo and then she might have felt well enough to come along.’ He sighed as he looked at the others. ‘I’m sure we’re all going to miss her.’
Especially when he’d been saddled with a replacement he didn’t want!
Meg turned away, afraid that the hurt she felt would show on her face. Was he deliberately trying to be cruel? she wondered sickly as she hurried towards the hut she’d been allocated to sleep in.
‘Meg, wait a moment!’
She paused when she heard Jack calling her name, although she didn’t turn round because she wasn’t sure that she had her emotions in check sufficiently to face him. She kept her back towards him, staring at the inky blackness of the trees that surrounded the village, yet she knew to the second when he stopped behind her.
That inner radar again, working overtime, she thought with a surge of black humour. Maybe she should use it as an early warning system for whenever he was in the vicinity. She certainly could do with avoiding him from the look of it!
‘I didn’t mean that as it sounded.’ He got straight to the point without any preamble, surprising her enough so that she half turned. She saw the regret in his grey eyes and somehow that undid all her good work, setting free her carefully shored-up emotions. It had been a long, tiring day and Jack’s intransigent attitude hadn’t helped one bit!
She felt her lower lip quiver before she could stop it and quickly turned away, hating herself for letting him see that he had the power to upset her.
‘Oh, hell!’ He reached out, as though he was going to touch her, then let his hand fall to his side without actually making contact. ‘Look, Meg, I wasn’t trying to make you feel that I wanted Yvonne here instead of you,’ he ground out, as though the words had cost him an awful lot of effort.
Maybe they had, Meg thought with unaccustomed cynicism. It certainly couldn’t have been easy for Jack to lie for the sake of harmony within the team!
‘Don’t worry about it,’ she said with an insouciance which cost her even more. ‘I certainly shan’t!’
He didn’t actually grind his teeth but the effect was much the same. Her blue eyes widened when she saw myriad emotions cross his face at that moment. It was a measure of his strength of mind that he managed to control himself, but she was shaking in her boots.
Why in the name of all that was holy did she know that he’d been tempted…sorely tempted…to kiss her? She had no idea but the thought was enough to make her head spin.
‘I apologise, anyway. Goodnight.’
He strode away, leaving her standing there, staring after him. Meg took a tiny breath and let it trickle into her lungs. A bigger one might have helped but she didn’t seem capable of that. Breathing was an effort, thinking even more of one, but feeling…well, feeling was easy-peasy!
She shivered as a hot trickle worked its way up her spine, shuddered as a cold one flowed the other way. Hot and cold chills were suddenly racing through her body however they chose and she couldn’t stop them!
She closed her eyes and tried to subdue the little devils but that was a mistake of gigantic proportions. Jack’s face suddenly filled her mind—lean cheeks, moody grey eyes, enticingly kissable lips…
‘Oh!’ Her eyes shot open before her wayward mind could go any further. Stills she could just about deal with, but if that picture had become animated and moved to the next frame—a close-up of the kiss Jack had so very nearly bestowed on her…
She groaned then clapped a hand over her mouth in case anyone heard her. She had to get a grip! So what if Jack had been tempted to kiss her just now? It didn’t mean that she would have let him or responded. It took two to tango, as her mother was so fond of saying, only that didn’t sound nearly as reassuring as it should have done. While she had absolutely no desire to tango with Jack…
She cut the rest of that thought dead!
Meg wasn’t sure what had woken her. She was so tired that it was a wonder anything had. Yet suddenly she found herself wide awake and staring round at the darkness. Lesley was snoring softly in the adjoining campbed so obviously whatever had woken Meg hadn’t disturbed her.
For a moment she debated rolling over and going back to sleep, but the nagging feeling that something was wrong wouldn’t go away. Pushing back the mosquito net, she took her shoes from the end of the bed and shook them to dislodge any creepy-crawly visitors before slipping them on her feet.
Leah had left them a candle to light the hut with while they’d got undressed but they’d blown it out and now there was only the pale shimmer from a sickle moon to see by as Meg made her way to the door. She peered out across the clearing in the centre of the village and felt her skin prickle with alarm when she saw shadowy figures moving about in front of one of the huts. What was going on? Who was out there? And, more importantly, should she go and find out?
Meg hesitated but the feeling that something was wrong wouldn’t go away. Her legs felt like lead as she stepped from the relative safety of the hut and began to cross the clearing. It was a relief when she spotted Moses among the crowd of people gathered by the hut.
‘Is something wrong?’ she asked, going straight over to speak to him.
He turned to her and his face looked grey and drawn in the moonlight. ‘It is Leah, Dr Meg. The baby is coming but there is something wrong and he cannot be born.’
He gave an expressive shrug which said more than any words could have done. Meg felt her heart sink as she wondered what the problem might be. There were so many things that could go wrong during a birth, although thankfully most could be dealt with in the safety of a hospital. However, this was the middle of the African bush and she had no idea what she was letting herself in for as Moses eagerly accepted her offer of help. At that moment, it seemed a very long time since she’d done her stint on the maternity unit.
The hut was lit by candles, and as Meg went inside she could see several women gathered around the low pallet that Leah was lying on. It was obvious that they were the local midwives and she was conscious that she might offend them if she offered her help. However, they made no objection when she knelt beside Leah, simply moved aside to make room for her. She had a feeling that they believed they’d done all they could and her heart sank even further at that thought, although she tried not to show any trace of concern.
‘Hello, Leah. It’s Dr Meg,’ she said softly, noting the lines of pain that bracketed the girl’s mouth. ‘Can I just check how your baby is doing?’
Leah nodded mutely. She was obviously too exhausted to speak. She arched upwards as another contraction began, a keening wail coming from her as the pain tore through her body. Meg was shocked by how strong her contractions were because there had been no sign that she’d been in labour when she’d served their meal a few hours earlier.
She placed her hand on the young woman’s abdomen and gently palpated it, feeling the hard form of the baby beneath her palm. She couldn’t be certain but she suspected that it was lying in the breech position and that was what was causing the problem. Turning the baby was beyond her because she simply didn’t have that kind of expertise. However, it was obvious that something had to be done—and quickly—otherwise both mother and child could die.
She patted Leah’s hand, trying to sound a lot more confident than she actually felt. ‘Don’t worry, Leah. I’ll go and get another of the doctors and we’ll help you deliver your baby. All right?’
She wasn’t sure that the girl had even heard her as Leah stared at her with pain-glazed eyes. Meg hurried from the hut and ran across the clearing. Whether it was professional courtesy or pure instinct which made her go straight to Jack’s hut, she wasn’t sure, but she didn’t stop to debate it as she ducked under the low lintel. Leah needed help and, in her view, Jack was the best qualified to give it.
‘Jack, wake up!’ Pushing aside the mosquito netting, she put her hand on his bare shoulder, ignoring the frisson which shot up her arm as she felt the heat of his skin. He was naked from the waist up, a thin white sheet covering the lower half of his body and outlining the narrowness of his hips and muscular power of his long legs.
Meg quickly averted her eyes and focused on the task of waking him rather than letting her mind go wandering off. All right, so Jack was superbly fit but now certainly wasn’t the time to be thinking about it. She tightened her grip on his shoulder and shook him. ‘Wake up, Jack!’
He came to in a rush, grabbing hold of her and rolling over in one swift movement. Before she knew what was happening, Meg found herself flat on her back with Jack looming over her.
‘What the devil…?’ For a moment he looked as stunned as she felt before a slow smile spread across his face. Meg felt her heart go into overdrive because it wasn’t a nice sort of smile by any means. Wolfish. Mocking. Sexy, certainly, but definitely not nice!
‘Well, well. What have we here? Don’t tell me that you’re hoping to improve my opinion of you that way, Ms Andrews?’
CHAPTER THREE (#ulink_0f72f5a4-a6e3-583f-a98a-6869a8d0c0f9)
‘I…YOU…Let me go!’
Meg rolled to her feet as soon as Jack had released her. Pushing back her tumbled hair, she glared at him. ‘What the hell do you think you’re doing?’
He lay back against the pillow, a thin smile curving his mouth. ‘I think I got my question in first, don’t you?’
Meg felt a rush of colour wash up her face and was glad that it was so dark that he couldn’t possibly have seen it. Did he honestly believe that she would have tried to influence him by offering to sleep with him?
The thought sent another surge of heat through her veins which she decided owed itself to anger. It had nothing to do with the remembered feel of his powerful body as it had pressed hers into the mattress, no connection whatsoever to the fact that just for a moment she’d found herself actually enjoying the contact. She was angry because never in her life had she been so…so insulted!
‘If you imagine that I shall dignify that question with an answer then think again!’ she snapped back.
‘In that case, you’ll understand if I don’t answer your question, won’t you? Anyway, I suppose there must have been a reason why you saw fit to wake me even if it isn’t the one that sprang to mind. Is something wrong?’
She very nearly turned round and marched right out of the hut. She had sensed all along that Jack had a low opinion of her but she hadn’t realised before just how low it was. It was only the thought of Leah which helped curb her temper and remember what she was doing there in the first place.
‘Leah’s in labour but there seems to be a problem,’ she explained through gritted teeth. ‘I might be wrong but I think the baby could be breech. Can you come and take a look at her?’
‘Of course.’ He was out of bed before she could blink, stepping into his trousers and dragging on his shirt as he headed for the door. Meg hurried after him as he strode across the clearing, answering the questions he shot at her to the best of her ability. She felt a trifle stunned by the speed of the transformation as he’d switched back to total professionalism in the blink of an eye. Obviously, work came first on Jack’s list of priorities and everything else came a very poor second. Why didn’t that surprise her?
Jack went straight to the bed. Kneeling down, he smiled reassuringly at the young woman. ‘Dr Meg tells me that you’re having trouble, Leah—may I see?’
‘Yes…’ Leah’s voice was weak with exhaustion and Meg found it difficult to hide her concern as she knelt beside the bed and took her pulse. It was so thready and faint that Meg’s heart plummeted because she knew Leah wouldn’t survive if something wasn’t done soon to help her.
Jack looked up and his eyes reflected her concern as he looked at her across the bed. ‘The baby is lying horizontally rather than breech from the feel of it. There’s no chance of it being delivered normally because its arm and shoulder appear to be jammed in her pelvis.’
Meg swallowed as she realised the implications. ‘She needs a Caesarean section, you mean?’
Jack nodded. ‘Yes. There isn’t any other option open to us at this stage. The only way to get that baby out is by doing a section otherwise we’re going to lose both of them.’ He glanced at the young woman and for a moment his face contorted with pain. ‘It might be too late even now but we have to try.’
Meg didn’t question his judgement because she knew he was right. If they didn’t operate immediately then both Leah and her baby would die. She stood up and there was a new determination in her eyes when she looked at Jack. Even if there was only a slim chance that they could save them then they had to try.
‘What do you want me to do first?’
Jack stood up as well and she felt her pulse leap as he smiled at her because for the first time ever there was a trace of admiration on his face. ‘Reckon we can do it, then, Meg?’ he asked quietly, his voice sounding very deep.
She squared her shoulders, striving for a calm she wished she felt, but it was hard to achieve that state when it felt as though dozens of butterflies were fluttering around inside her stomach. To see Jack look at her that way was everything she could have wished for, even though she wasn’t sure why it should have mattered so much.
‘Yes. If anyone can help Leah, I know you can,’ she said quietly, knowing in her heart that it was true.
He inclined his head in brief acknowledgement but that didn’t mean she missed the flare of some other emotion in the depths of his eyes…
She turned away before her mind could start racing along paths there simply wasn’t time to follow right then. She focused strictly on what Jack was saying as he rattled out a list of instructions. Fortunately, they had all the supplies they could possibly need close to hand, although the thought of performing the operation under such conditions was daunting.
In the end, Meg decided that it would be better not to think about it and just get on with the job. If they didn’t operate, Leah and the baby would die. There simply wasn’t a choice so she had to accept the problems and deal with them.
‘Do you want me to fetch Lesley or Kate?’ she offered once she was sure she knew exactly what he wanted doing.
He shook his head. ‘No, there’s no need to disturb them just yet. I’ll get Moses to wake them if I think it’s necessary, but I’m sure you and I can cope, Meg. However, I will wake Rory. We’ll need him to give the anaesthetic.’
Meg nodded her agreement before she hurried away to collect what was needed, but she couldn’t deny that her heart had lifted when she’d heard Jack say that. Maybe he was beginning to trust her after all? Odd how much comfort she derived from that thought.
Afterwards, when Meg looked back on that night, she found it hard to believe that she hadn’t dreamt it. There had been a surreal quality to the whole event which made it hard to believe it had actually happened.
At Jack’s insistence, more candles and an old paraffin lamp had been brought into the hut to supplement the inadequate lighting, but conditions for performing the operation had still been far from ideal. It had been quite a struggle too to source basic supplies and equipment from the packing cases in the trucks.
They’d had to leave Leah on her bed for starters, as there had been no other suitable surface to use. Meg had covered the straw mattress with several sterile sheets, then had brought in a packing case to lay their implements on, draping that as well with a sterile cover. It had seemed very inadequate protection against infection but it had been the best she could do in the circumstances.
Jack had scrubbed up, then let her help him into a gown, holding out his hands so that she’d been able to snap the thin surgical gloves onto his hands.
‘We need to double-glove for this,’ he advised her softly. ‘It would be foolish to take any risks.’
Meg nodded as she went to fetch a second pair large enough to fit him. Aids was endemic in many African countries so she knew he was right to take extra precautions. She followed his lead and put on a second pair of gloves herself, before going to assist him.
Rory looked up and grinned when they joined him by the bed. ‘Typical, isn’t it? You think you’re going to have a nice peaceful start to things and suddenly find yourself thrown in at the deep end!’
Jack’s brows rose. ‘How many of these trips have you been on now? And when has anything ever gone the way we’d planned it? I think I’d worry more if it did!’
Both men laughed ruefully. It was obvious to Meg that they had a great deal of respect for each other and she found herself thinking how wonderful it must be to be an accepted part of the team. She shot a look at Jack and smiled to herself. Still, maybe things weren’t quite so black as they’d appeared a few hours earlier if he was prepared to let her help him?
‘Right, let’s make a start if you’re happy with everything, Rory? We can’t afford to waste any time.’
Jack glanced at the younger man who nodded. Leah had been given an epidural anaesthetic as the risks to both mother and child were far less than if she’d been given a general anaesthetic in her weakened state. She hadn’t made a murmur when Rory had injected local anaesthetic into the epidural space surrounding her spinal cord. It was obvious to Meg that Leah was completely worn out by the ferocity of her labour and she knew that the sooner it was over the better. As to whether they would be able to save both mother and child, that was something they would have to wait and see, but she murmured a fervent prayer that everything would go in their favour from here on.
‘Scalpel.’ Jack’s face was set with concentration as she slapped the razor-sharp knife into his gloved palm. He swiftly and deftly made a horizontal incision in Leah’s abdomen just above her pubic bone. Meg stood beside him, watching intently as he carefully slit through the lower part of the uterus. She could see the baby now and held her breath as Jack lifted it free and handed it to her, working swiftly as he tied and cut the cord.
‘Right, it’s up to you now, Meg,’ he told her tersely, turning his attention back to the young woman.
Meg didn’t say anything because there wasn’t any time to waste. It was a baby boy and she could see at once that he was in some distress. Carrying him swiftly away from the makeshift operating table, she sank onto a chair and laid him across her knees then used a thin piece of sterile tubing to suction the mucus out of his mouth. He hadn’t cried as yet and her heart was racing as she tipped him head down so that any fluid he might have swallowed would drain from his lungs.
‘Come on, poppet,’ she muttered, willing the tiny scrap to take his first breath. ‘Come on, you can do it!’
She tapped the soles of his feet, mentally running through everything she knew about childbirth. Since she’d learned that she’d been accepted by the agency, she’d spent hours poring over her textbooks, brushing up on skills which had become a bit rusty through lack of use. However, all the reading in the world couldn’t compensate for hands-on experience and she prayed that she would be able to help the child. She would never forgive herself if he died!
Laying the baby across her knees again, she placed her mouth over his nose and mouth and gently breathed into his lungs, willing him to respond. There was no sound in the hut apart from the measured rhythm of her breathing as time after time she inflated the infant’s lungs. When Jack appeared beside her Meg didn’t look up because she couldn’t afford to let her concentration lapse. This child was relying on her and she had to help him!
‘You’ve done all you can, Meg.’
Jack’s tone was low but she heard the regret it held and tears welled into her eyes as she realised what he meant. The thought that the baby had died before he’d even had the chance to live was too much to bear.
She breathed into the tiny rosebud mouth once more, refusing to accept that there was nothing she could do for him…
The tiny body suddenly twitched, the baby’s arms and legs shooting out as he began to squirm. Meg’s face broke into a radiant smile as he let out a weak little wail when she raised her head. Within seconds he was crying in earnest, the sound of his irate screams ringing around the hut.
‘We did it!’ she declared, uncaring that tears were streaming down her face as she looked up at Jack. ‘He’s going to be all right!’
‘You did it, Meg, you mean. You and your determination!’ He uttered a joyful laugh while the baby continued to roar his disapproval of the new world he’d found himself in. ‘By heaven, but he’s got a fine pair of lungs from the sound of it!’
Meg stood up, aware that she was trembling as she quickly wrapped the baby in a towel. He needed bathing and checking over but all that could wait a few minutes longer. Right at that moment he needed his mother more than anything else.
Her heart contracted as she realised that she had no idea how Leah had fared. It took every scrap of courage she could dredge up to turn to Jack and ask him because she was so afraid what the answer might be. ‘Is…is Leah all right?’
He squeezed her shoulder and his grey eyes told her that he understood exactly how she felt. ‘She’s fine, or she will be once she sees that young man.’
Meg could barely contain her joy. She smiled at him and saw his eyes darken. Her breath seemed to catch tightly in her chest when she saw the glitter of something hot and wild appear in their depths before he abruptly turned away and went to speak to Rory, who was clearing up.
Meg hugged the screaming baby to her as she hurried to the bed and knelt down. It was neither the time nor the place to think about what she’d seen in Jack’s eyes just now, to wonder why he’d looked at her with such hunger. If Jack didn’t like her then why should he want her? It didn’t make sense.
‘My baby!’ Leah’s exhausted face lit up as soon as she saw her child. She held out her arms, smiling in delight when Meg gently laid the baby in them.
‘It’s a boy, Leah, a lovely little boy.’ Deliberately, Meg forced the unsettling thoughts to the back of her mind, although it wasn’t possible to erase them completely. Jack was attracted to her? Was it possible? Everything that had happened so far pointed to the fact that she must have made a mistake and yet she couldn’t quite convince herself of that.
‘A boy?’ Leah’s eyes were full of wonder as she unwrapped the towel and stared at her baby son. She looked up and there were tears streaming down her cheeks as she tried to smile at Meg. ‘Thank you…thank you!’
It was hard to contain her own emotions in the face of the young mother’s joy. In the end, Meg gave up trying. Tears poured down her face, too, as she squeezed Leah’s hand. ‘I’m so pleased for you, Leah!’
She gave a shaky laugh as she got up and dried her face on the hem of her gown. ‘What a pair we are! Now, I’m sure that Moses must be dying to see his beautiful new son so I’ll go and fetch him.’
Leah smiled as she undid her robe and placed the baby to her breast, where he immediately began to suckle. ‘My husband will be very proud. Every man wants a son,’ she said simply.
Meg turned away, knowing that the picture of the young mother and her child would stay with her for a long time to come. Rory was still busily clearing up and he patted her on the shoulder as she passed him.
‘Well done, kiddo. A first-rate job, I’d say. Welcome to the team!’
Meg smiled back, appreciating the genuine warmth of the comment. ‘Thanks.’
She left him to finish what he was doing and hurried outside. She paused when she saw Jack talking to a smiling Moses. It was obvious that he’d already given the proud father the good news so she turned to go back inside then stopped when Jack called out to her. She went to join the two men, smiling when Moses grabbed her hand and began pumping it up and down.
‘Dr Jack explained that it was you who saved my son. Thank you, Dr Meg. Thank you!’
‘It was my pleasure,’ she replied sincerely. He gave her hand another enthusiastic shake then hurried into the hut, closely followed by several members of his family who had been waiting outside.
Meg grimaced when she found Jack watching her as she rubbed her throbbing fingers. ‘I’m glad it wasn’t twins! I think I may have a couple of crushed bones from the feel of it.’
He laughed deeply, his teeth gleaming whitely in the darkness. ‘He was certainly pleased and no wonder. You did a great job just now, Meg.’
He moved away from the hut and it seemed the most natural thing in the world to go with him. They crossed the clearing, bypassing the huts on the other side and only stopping when they reached the trees which surrounded the village. The night was very dark, the moon just a slim silver curl in the velvety sky, a myriad stars scattered like diamonds across it.
Meg drew in a deep breath, tasting the unfamiliar scents carried on the night air. She was tired from all the travelling and lack of sleep yet she felt so elated that she wanted to shout for joy. As first days went it could have been worse…a lot worse, in fact, bearing in mind what had happened earlier. Had Jack’s attitude towards her improved?
It was too tempting to resist finding out so that she didn’t stop to think about the wisdom of asking the question. ‘So, do you believe now that I can cope with this job?’
He turned to look at her, although his face was shadowed by the overhang of the branches. ‘I think that you handled what happened just now extremely well.’
‘But?’ Meg laughed but there was scant amusement in the sound. She might not be able to see him clearly but she didn’t need to because she’d heard the reservation in his voice. She turned to face him, unaware of how defensive she looked as she stood there in the watery moonlight.
‘There was a definite ‘‘but’’ tagged onto that sentence, Jack, wasn’t there?’
‘Yes, I expect there was.’
He shrugged, his broad shoulders rising and falling beneath his half-buttoned shirt. He looked tired, too, Meg noticed when he stepped out from the shadows. There were deep lines bracketing his mouth and a lack of animation about his expression which made him look older than the thirty-six years she knew him to be. However, tired or not, he obviously didn’t intend to opt for the easy route. Where work was concerned, Jack would never compromise!
‘It’s fair to say that you handled yourself well tonight, Meg. However, that doesn’t change anything. I still don’t believe that this is the job for you,’ he stated flatly.
‘Because I might not pull my weight? Or because I might not be able to cope with the conditions we’re going to be working under?’ She laughed harshly. ‘Come on, Jack! You’ve just admitted that I acquitted myself well tonight so you’ll have to do better than that!’
‘Yes, you did do well tonight and I’m happy to admit it. However, one night’s work isn’t proof that you’ll be able to keep up once the pressure is on.’ His tone was unyielding. ‘It’s far more difficult trying to deal with the daily grind involved in this type of work, as you’ll soon discover for yourself.’
‘I’m sure you’re right but I know that I shall cope no matter how hard it is. So it seems that we’re at a bit of an impasse, doesn’t it?’
Meg stared back at him, wishing there was a way to make him see that he was mistaken about her. It wasn’t going to be easy, though, if Jack had made up his mind.
‘It seems like it.’ He shrugged again but she saw the irritation in his eyes. Obviously he wasn’t used to people questioning his judgement, Meg thought. Well, tough! He wasn’t going to have things all his own way if she had anything to do with it!
‘Anyway, it’s late and it’s time you got some sleep. We’ll be leaving early in the morning as we still have some distance to travel before we reach our destination.’
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Jennifer Taylor
Some risks are worth taking…Meg's healing touch could give hope to the people of Oncamba, but she despaired of ever getting through to the leader of the medical aid team, Jack Trent. As the spitting image of his flighty ex-wife, Meg had a hard time convincing him that she was up to the job, let alone fighting her own desire for him. And when passion flared and Jack took her in his arms, Meg had to be sure that it was her he would be making love to….
“I wouldn’t ask any woman to share my life again. It wouldn’t be fair to her.”
Meg knew what he was saying, that he was warning her that they had no future, yet she couldn’t let it go without trying to make him see that he was wrong. “Not all women would react like Briony did, Jack.” She took a deep breath. “I wouldn’t.”
He smiled, and there was tenderness in his eyes when he looked at her. “I know that. However, it isn’t a risk I intend to take ever again.”
What could she say when he had made up his mind? Nothing. She couldn’t run from the pain she felt because it was locked inside her. Jack had said that he hadn’t compared her to Briony, but he was still judging her by the other woman’s actions!
Dear Reader (#u85420939-4bb0-554a-8147-8182f5569152),
I have always admired the bravery and dedication of those nurses and doctors who travel around the world doing medical aid work. Touched by Angels is my tribute to them, and I hope that I have managed to capture a little of the excitement, hardship and satisfaction that comes from doing this very taxing work.
This book tells the story of Meg Andrews, a nurse who decides to put her skills to good use by working for an overseas aid agency. She is thrilled when she is asked to join a team of aid workers that is being sent to the African state of Oncamba. The only problem is that the team leader, Jack Trent, makes it plain from the outset that he doesn’t believe she is cut out for this kind of work. Can Meg convince him that she has a lot to offer, both as a highly skilled professional and as the woman who can heal his broken heart?
The story is played out against the backdrop of Africa in all its beauty and cruelty. Although the state of Oncamba doesn’t exist, I hope that the characters will become as real and alive to you as they did to me.
My very best wishes to you all,
Jennifer Taylor
Touched by Angels
Jennifer Taylor
www.millsandboon.co.uk (http://www.millsandboon.co.uk)
CONTENTS
Cover (#u560c5ae5-cf74-58c2-864f-be9e6d1664d2)
Dear Reader (#u1c3c0a09-885c-53a6-b4fc-0cdf367090a2)
Title Page (#uc85dfca1-0c81-5f7b-8a3f-3d4a7ad81848)
CHAPTER ONE (#ulink_33e5a592-b9c0-5b1b-827a-b670a69400fa)
CHAPTER TWO (#ulink_25ee46df-23c7-58e8-a4a0-1c8400e7e7f3)
CHAPTER THREE (#ulink_5a80dcc1-6c07-5c90-a42b-b0a2f963f1c2)
CHAPTER FOUR (#litres_trial_promo)
CHAPTER FIVE (#litres_trial_promo)
CHAPTER SIX (#litres_trial_promo)
CHAPTER SEVEN (#litres_trial_promo)
CHAPTER EIGHT (#litres_trial_promo)
CHAPTER NINE (#litres_trial_promo)
CHAPTER TEN (#litres_trial_promo)
CHAPTER ELEVEN (#litres_trial_promo)
Copyright (#litres_trial_promo)
CHAPTER ONE (#ulink_0c65d5c0-85b9-56c8-b16e-52d54bf242b1)
‘I KNOW it’s short notice. Unfortunately, I only found out late last night that Yvonne wouldn’t be fit enough to travel. However, I do realise that forty-eight hours isn’t very much time to get ready, so if you feel that you can’t make it, please, say so.’
‘No, it’s fine. Really.’
Meg Andrews had heard the hesitation in his voice and frowned. Even at her interview she’d sensed that Jack Trent had reservations about taking her on as a member of the team. Why? Her references were excellent and the experience she’d gained in the surgical wards of Dalverston General Hospital made her ideally suited to the work so why should he have appeared so…reluctant to accept her?
She shrugged off the faint feeling of unease, realising that it was pointless wasting time by worrying about it. There were more important things to think about, like where they would be going, for instance. She felt a little thrill of excitement course through her as it hit her that it was really going to happen at last.
As soon as she’d seen the advertisement in one of the nursing journals for experienced nurses to join a leading overseas aid agency, she’d known that was what she wanted to do. Oh, she loved her job and derived a great deal of satisfaction from it, but it was time for a different sort of challenge.
After the interview she’d sat back and waited to hear where she would be sent, but it seemed to have taken months before this phone call had come out of the blue that morning. Now she could hardly wait to hear all the details.
‘So where exactly are we going?’ Meg asked, unable to keep the excitement out of her voice. She caught a glimpse of herself in the mirror above the table where the phone was precariously balanced on top of a pile of textbooks, and grimaced when she saw the sparkle in her deep blue eyes.
She looked as excited as a sixteen-year-old being asked out on her first date rather than a mature, worldly woman of twenty-six being given details of her next professional assignment! She had to learn to contain her enthusiasm, but it was hard to maintain a calm front even though she sensed that Jack Trent would prefer that kind of approach…
‘Sorry?’ She suddenly realised that he’d said something, and hurried to get her thoughts back on track. It certainly wouldn’t reassure him if she started daydreaming!
‘Oncamba. I’m not surprised that you haven’t heard of the place. Not many people have. It’s a tiny state in south-eastern Africa, the merest pinprick on your map if you want to check out its location.’
Jack Trent’s tone was level as his voice flowed down the telephone line—cool, concise, impersonal, like the man himself. Meg had a sudden mental image of him sitting in his immaculately tidy office, and was glad that video phones were still very much in the future. She could just imagine how those chiselled lips would curl disdainfully if he got a glimpse of the chaotic state of her flat, not to mention the way she was dressed that morning.
She bit back a chuckle as she glanced down at the misshapen black T-shirt—a cast-off from her brother—that she was wearing with jeans which had holes in both knees, and mentally compared it with what Jack Trent had been wearing the one and only time they’d met. He’d been resplendent in a severely cut black suit and pristine white shirt, a soberly patterned tie adding the finishing touch to the picture of professionalism he’d presented.
The fact that the clothes had suited his austerely handsome looks had been more by accident than design, Meg suspected. Jack Trent certainly hadn’t struck her as a man who worried about his image, although admittedly he’d left a lasting impression on her. More than once in the months since that interview she’d found herself bringing him to mind, as she was doing now.
Meg cleared her throat, not sure why the realisation made her feel so uneasy. ‘I see. I take it that background information on the state is rather limited in that case?’
‘I’m afraid so. However, I can let you have what information I’ve managed to get hold of if you’re interested?’
His tone implied that he couldn’t imagine why she should be, and Meg bridled, mentally and physically. Of course she was interested! She was going to be working in the country, wasn’t she?
‘That would be a great help,’ she replied, trying to keep the bite out of her voice. ‘I would prefer not to go there without knowing anything at all about the people and their culture. It would make for a bad start to my mind.’
‘You’re quite right.’ Jack Trent’s tone had softened slightly and Meg bit her lip as she heard the mellifluous tones flowing down the line. She’d never realised before what a beautiful voice he had, although it was hardly surprising when up till now he’d only ever used that impersonal tone when speaking to her. It was an effort to concentrate as he continued.
‘When you’re working overseas you must always take account of local cultural practices. It’s vital that we don’t try to impose our views on the people we are treating as it can be extremely detrimental at the end of the day. The last thing we want to do is to end up alienating those we are trying to help.’
‘I agree. I imagine it can be tempting to try to dictate how things should be done, but you must have to remind yourself constantly that what is acceptable in Britain might be totally unacceptable in another culture,’ Meg replied firmly.
‘Exactly. I’m pleased you understand that.’
Pleased and surprised? Meg frowned as she wondered if she’d imagined that edge in Jack Trent’s voice. She didn’t think so. He had been surprised by her correct assessment of the situation, and her heart sank as she found herself wondering if he was one of those doctors who didn’t hold nurses in very high esteem.
She had worked with a few doctors like that in her time, men mainly, who believed that all a nurse was good for was to carry out their instructions. The idea that a nurse could be an intelligent, thinking professional in her own right was beyond them. However, if Jack Trent was of that ilk then she would make sure that he soon changed his ideas. She was nobody’s handmaiden, neither was her only role in life to be at his beck and call!
‘Oh, I assure you there won’t be any problems in that area, Dr Trent,’ she replied coolly. ‘I’m well aware of the pitfalls of working in a developing country and intend to avoid them.’
‘Really?’ He sounded amused now, although Meg found herself unable to share the joke when she sensed it was at her expense.
‘Yes, really,’ she repeated firmly, feeling her temper move a notch up the scale, which in itself was a rare occurrence. Her good temper and patience were legendary in Dalverston General, her ability to rise above the trivial everyday annoyances which came with the job one of her strengths. It surprised her that Jack Trent had managed to get under her skin to such an extent.
She took a steadying breath, deliberately wiping all traces of emotion from her voice as she continued, ‘I know that I don’t have any hands-on experience of working overseas yet, but I’ve given this enough thought to feel fairly confident that I’ll avoid the more obvious mistakes.’
‘I’m sure you have given it some thought. However, you may find that any preconceived ideas you have will be totally at odds with what the reality of working in a developing country is like.’ His tone was once more impersonal. ‘I suggest that you wait until you get there before formulating your ideas, Ms Andrews. That way you won’t be either disappointed or shocked by what you find.’
‘Meaning what exactly, Dr Trent? That I don’t understand that we shall be working under extreme conditions? That I’m not prepared for the ugliness of poverty and disease?’ She gave a short laugh. ‘Or that I have some romantic notion about going to Africa to play the ministering angel?’
‘I meant exactly what I said, that it would be wiser to wait until you get there before deciding on the best approach to the job.’
There was no hint of annoyance in his voice, Meg noted, biting back the sharp retort that sprang to her lips. If he’d picked up on her irritation then he certainly hadn’t taken any notice of it!
She took a deep breath before she spoke, realising that it would be foolish to promote a confrontation at this stage in their relationship. It certainly wouldn’t help to improve Jack Trent’s opinion of her, that was for sure.
‘I shall bear that in mind, Dr Trent,’ she replied coolly. ‘I’m very much aware that I’m the newcomer to the team so I shall be happy to follow your advice.’
‘Good. I’m glad to hear it. One of the things I must stress, Ms Andrews, is that we all work very closely when we are overseas. Teamwork is all important and there’s no time to pander to anyone’s ego.’
His tone was authoritative. Meg could picture him sitting behind his desk, his dark grey eyes full of that self-assurance which had been so evident at her interview as he’d set about making sure that she’d understood the ground rules. Where work was concerned, Jack Trent wasn’t prepared to compromise but, then, she sensed that he wouldn’t be prepared to do so in other areas of his life either…
Meg cut short that thought because there was absolutely no basis for thinking it. She knew nothing about the wretched man’s personal life, neither did she want to! All she wanted was to be part of the team and be given the chance to put her skills to good use.
‘I don’t have any difficulty with that concept, Dr Trent. And I assure you that I’m well used to working as part of a team. However, to go back to what you were saying about Oncamba, is it possible that you could let me have whatever information is available before we leave?’
‘Certainly. As time is at a premium I suggest that I fax the details to where you work. I take it that won’t cause any problems?’ he suggested levelly.
‘Not at all. Everyone at Dalverston General has been extremely supportive about me joining the agency. The management and the board of trustees have assured me that my job isn’t at risk and that I shall be granted leave of absence whenever I’m asked to go overseas,’ Meg assured him. ‘If you could fax the information through to Roger Hopkins, the hospital manager, he will make sure I get it. I think I gave you the phone number at my interview.’
‘You did. I have it here.’ There was a rustle of papers before Jack Trent said, ‘So, if you’re absolutely certain that you’ll be ready in time to come, that’s just about it. I take it that your jabs are up to date and that you have a current passport?’
‘Of course,’ Meg replied stiffly, wondering if he thought her a complete idiot. Naturally, she’d wasted no time in having all the necessary inoculations as soon as she’d learned that she’d been accepted by the agency…unless he was looking for a reason not to let her go with him even at this late stage?
The thought was more than a little disquieting but she chose to keep it to herself. What was the point in asking him when he would most probably deny it? Yet the thought that Jack Trent didn’t really want her along on this trip wasn’t the most auspicious of starts. She made up her mind that before it was over she would convince him that he’d been wrong to have doubts about her or her name wasn’t Megan Louise Andrews!
‘Right. Then all that needs to be sorted out is your visa, and I shall get onto that straight away now that I know you are definitely coming.’
Jack Trent’s authoritative tones cut through her musings. Meg brought her thoughts back on track once more, afraid that she would miss some vital bit of information and thereby prove him right to have reservations about her suitability. She was going to have to be very much on her mettle from now on, it seemed.
‘We fly out from Manchester airport on Thursday at six p.m., which means you’ll need to be there at least two hours beforehand to check in. Keep any personal luggage to an absolute minimum, though. Although we’ve been given free cargo space on the aircraft, we need every bit of it for our equipment.’
‘We’re taking everything with us?’ she queried, trying to imagine the logistics of packing enough supplies for a trip like this.
‘Not quite everything.’ Jack Trent’s tone had softened once more, and Meg’s finely drawn brows rose when she heard the thread of excitement it held now. It seemed a contradiction in terms—Jack Trent displaying excitement about anything—so her interest was immediately piqued.
‘What do you mean?’ she asked, trying to imagine how he would look with a smile softening those chiselled lips. Her heart gave a small bump when she found it only too easy to imagine it, and she bit her lip, not sure why the picture that had formed in her mind was so unsettling. Jack Trent was handsome all right and she didn’t dispute it, but she certainly wasn’t attracted to him. The idea was ridiculous! However, it took several seconds before the beguiling image of his smiling face faded from her mind, and a couple more before she realised that he was speaking.
‘I didn’t think it would be ready on time but they pulled out all the stops. There’s everything we need on board…consulting rooms, two operating theatres, even a small hospital bay if we need to keep any patients under observation, plus all the facilities to cater to our personal needs, of course.’
‘On board…I’m sorry but I don’t understand. On board what exactly?’ Meg queried bemusedly.
He laughed deeply, the rich sound flowing down the line and making her heart flutter again. ‘Sorry. I’ve lived with this night and day for almost a year now so I forget that other people aren’t as clued up on this project as I am. We shall be using a converted steam train as our base while we are over there. It means that we shall be able to travel throughout the country and see far more patients than we could normally have done.’
‘A steam train!’ Meg couldn’t keep the surprise out of her voice and she heard him laugh again.
‘I know! Sounds incredible, doesn’t it? Evidently, the train was shipped to Oncamba during the early part of the century and used for many years. However, it was left to rust until the new ruler discovered it when he came to power a couple of years ago. It’s thanks to his determination to do something to help his people that this whole venture has got off the ground, in fact.’
Jack’s voice was filled with admiration. ‘He contacted the agency and asked for help, suggesting that if enough money could be raised then the engine would be the perfect means of getting around the country. Evidently, most of the roads had fallen into such a state of disrepair during the previous ruler’s time that travelling about is a nightmare. We in turn contacted various charities and the outcome was enough money to have the train fitted out to our specifications.’
He paused and she wasn’t deaf to the sudden flatness of his tone, such a marked contrast to the enthusiasm he’d shown just moments earlier. ‘So, Ms Andrews, the Oncamba Angel will be not only your place of work but where you will eat, sleep and live for the next three months. While it will be better than working in a hut somewhere in the bush, it certainly won’t be luxurious by western standards, so are you sure that you still want to come along?’
‘That sounds almost as though you’re expecting me to say no!’
Meg laughed but she could hear the edge in her voice and knew that Jack Trent must have heard it, too. Suddenly she didn’t care what he thought, whether or not he would prefer her to take a coolly professional approach. Anger rippled through her as she held the receiver closer, wanting to be sure that he understood what she was saying.
‘Yes, I want to come, Dr Trent, and, no, the thought of the lack of luxury doesn’t bother me. You may be surprised to know that the only thing I’m interested in is doing this job to the very best of my ability. That’s the reason I signed up with the agency, so that I could—in some small way—make a difference to the lives of people who desperately need help.’
She took a small breath, aware that she was trembling after her impassioned outburst. What Jack Trent thought of it she had no idea because it was a few moments before he spoke, and even then his tone gave away nothing about his feelings.
‘In that case I shall look forward to seeing you on Thursday, Ms Andrews. Goodbye.’
He’d hung up before she could reply. Meg slowly replaced the receiver, wishing momentarily that she hadn’t said what she had. But why not? She’d meant every word and she hoped that Dr Jack Trent had taken note of it. Whether he liked the idea or not, she would be at the airport on Thursday. She could hardly wait!
‘Jack Trent! Not the Jack Trent I saw on television last night?’
Meg was on a late that day and had been getting changed to go on duty when her friend, Maggie Carr, arrived for work. Meg had just finished regaling Maggie with what had happened that morning and had to admit that she was surprised by what her friend had said.
‘I don’t know. I didn’t watch television last night because I made a start on painting the kitchen,’ she replied, frowning.
Maggie dragged her sweater over her head then shook back her hair. She and Meg were complete opposites in colouring. Maggie’s olive skin and black hair hinted at her Mediterranean ancestry whereas Meg, with her long blonde hair, delicately fair complexion and deep blue eyes, was a typical English rose. Now Meg hid a smile as she saw her friend roll her eyes in a gesture reminiscent of her Italian mother. They were opposites in temperament as well as looks—because if she was noted for her even temper then Maggie was renowned for her fiery one!
‘Typical! I might have known you’d miss it!’ Maggie declared, stepping into a pair of blue cotton uniform pants. ‘Anyway, it has to be the same guy—tall, good-looking, extremely good-looking, in fact, all sort of mean and moody, if you know what I mean?’
Meg raised her brows. ‘Mean and moody? I don’t know if that’s how I would have described him, although, on second thoughts, maybe you’re right.’
She pulled a blue cotton V-necked top over her head and smoothed it down her slim hips. ‘He certainly didn’t come across as all that welcoming when I spoke to him this morning. In fact, I got the distinct impression that Dr Trent had reservations about asking me to go on this trip.’
‘Really?’ Maggie was brushing her hair but she stopped to stare at Meg. ‘Why do you say that? I mean, you’ve loads of experience thanks to working on the surgical wards and, from what I heard him saying last night, surgery is going to play a major part on this trip. Isn’t he some sort of eye specialist?’
‘That’s right. Evidently, he works at St Augustine’s as well as being a director of the aid agency. He’s head of the ophthalmology unit there. I believe he also spends a lot of his time lecturing, both here and abroad.’
‘Busy man from the sound of it. Must make it difficult for him to find time for a private life.’ Maggie twisted her hair into a knot and pinned it in place. ‘Pity! He looked rather a dish to me, but you can’t go by appearances, can you? You tell him where to get off, Meg, if he tries giving you a hard time. To my mind, he’s lucky to have got you!’
Meg laughed as she slid her feet into a pair of comfortable rubber-soled clogs. ‘Thanks for the vote of confidence! Can I have it in writing, please, just in case I need it in the next three months?’
‘You aren’t really worried that you might?’ Maggie had been heading out of the staffroom door but she paused to look worriedly at her friend. Meg shrugged, feigning a nonchalance she wished she felt as she slipped past her friend and hurried towards the ward.
‘Not really,’ she fibbed, pushing open the swing doors and smiling at Mrs Watkins who was in the first bed. ‘As you say, I’ll soon put Jack Trent in his place.’
‘Attagirl! Good morning, Mrs Watkins. How are you today?’ Maggie asked as they both automatically stopped beside the middle-aged woman’s bed. Joan Watkins loved to chat, and all the staff made a point of stopping to have a word with her whenever they could spare the time. A widow whose grown-up children lived abroad, she had few visitors to break the monotony of her day.
She had been admitted as an emergency case, suffering from an obstruction of the colon. A temporary colostomy had been performed until she was well enough to have the blocked section removed, and all the staff had been impressed by her cheerfulness and positive attitude. Now she looked curiously at Meg.
‘Morning, girls. Who were you talking about just now? Your boyfriend, was it, love? Is he giving you a hard time, then?’
Meg chuckled wryly. ‘No, he isn’t my boyfriend! He’s someone I’m going to be working with for the next few months.’ She quickly filled Joan in on the details of her trip, smiling when the woman shuddered.
‘Oh, I don’t think I’d fancy doing that! You never know what you’ll catch, going to those sorts of places. What made you decide to apply for the job? Don’t you enjoy working here?’
‘I love it,’ Meg replied sincerely. ‘Both the work and the people I work with. I just feel that I want to try something different, use my skills to help people who so desperately need helping, and this seems the ideal way to go about it. I can work overseas for the aid agency, knowing that I still have my job here to come back to.’
‘But how about your young man—what does he think about you going to a place like that? I bet he doesn’t like the idea,’ Joan persisted, obviously not convinced it was the right thing to do.
‘I don’t have a ‘‘young man’’. Or an old one for that matter!’ Meg laughed. ‘I’m fancy-free at the moment and can do whatever I like. That’s another reason why the time is right for me to take on a job like this. I don’t have commitments at present but all that could change in a couple of years’ time. I couldn’t imagine leaving behind a husband and family while I flew off to the other side of the world to work.’
‘Well, I expect you know what you’re doing,’ Joan conceded reluctantly. ‘So when do you leave?’
‘Thursday evening,’ Meg replied, lifting Joan’s chart off the end of her bed and glancing through it.
‘And are they giving you a send-off, then?’ Joan turned to Maggie. ‘Surely you’ve got something planned to mark the occasion?’
‘We hadn’t but we soon will have! Great idea, Mrs Watkins. Why didn’t I think of it?’ Maggie shook her head as Meg opened her mouth. ‘Don’t waste your breath. I’m going to give you a send-off to remember!’
Meg groaned. ‘Why do I have the feeling that I am going to regret this?’
She did regret it! On the way to the airport late Thursday afternoon, Meg couldn’t think of anything she regretted more, in fact. She’d had only a few hours’ sleep the night before and she felt completely exhausted. Between getting ready for the trip, finishing her decorating and working till eleven the previous night it had been a hectic couple of days.
Even when she’d finished work the previous night, that hadn’t been the end of it. Maggie had rounded up a bunch of their friends and had dragged everyone off to a nightclub where she’d insisted that Meg have a glass of sparkling wine to toast her departure.
After a couple of hectic hours of dancing, Meg had pleaded tiredness as her excuse to leave, only everyone had suddenly decided that a curry would be the perfect ending to the night. Unfortunately, it seemed in imminent danger of making its reappearance so she was thankful when the taxi pulled up outside the departure terminal. Hopefully, a breath of fresh air would make her feel better…
‘Where the hell have you been? I thought I told you to be here well before we were due to fly out?’
Maybe he hadn’t really shouted but to Meg’s sensitive ears it certainly felt as though he had. She turned slowly around and stared at Jack Trent, noting almost idly how angry he looked. Why? Because she’d turned up only five minutes before the alloted time? Or because she’d turned up at all?
‘It is five minutes to four, Dr Trent,’ she said as coolly as she could, because that last thought had stung. ‘I wouldn’t have thought there was any cause for concern just yet.’
‘Wouldn’t you indeed? Well, that’s where you’re wrong, Ms Andrews. As it happens, our flight has been brought forward and we’re due to leave in less than an hour’s time. So, if you wouldn’t mind getting yourself inside, we can check in your luggage.’
He turned to walk inside the building but Meg stopped him by dint of a well-placed hand on his arm. Her fingers closed around the hard biceps and even though she was annoyed she couldn’t help noticing just how very hard it was. That Jack Trent was in superb physical condition couldn’t be disputed. However, his attitude left a lot to be desired!
He swung round to stare at her, his cold grey eyes dropping deliberately to where her hand was still attached to his arm. However, Meg refused to release him until she was good and ready. She certainly didn’t intend to let him think she was afraid of him!
‘What have you got against me, Dr Trent? It’s obvious that you aren’t one hundred per cent happy about me coming on this trip, and I think I deserve to know why, don’t you?’
She was quite pleased with the tone of her voice which had sounded both firm and nicely controlled to her ears. However, if Jack Trent was impressed he gave little sign. His mouth curled into what could only be classed as a sneer as he took stock of her tired face.
‘In that case, Ms Andrews, I may as well be honest and say that I was against you being hired. If it had been left solely to me then you would never have been taken on by the agency in the first place.’
The bluntness of that statement cleared her head more effectively than anything else could have done. Meg stared at him in consternation. ‘Why not? You saw my references and I know for a fact that they were excellent. I also have several years’ experience on one of the most demanding wards in the hospital, so how can you say that?’
‘Because it’s the truth.’ He gave a sharp downward thrust of his hand when she went to speak. It had the added effect of dislodging her hand. Meg let it fall to her side as she stared at him with troubled blue eyes that reflected her hurt and confusion.
He looked away and there was an odd note in his voice all of a sudden, almost as though he might have regretted speaking so bluntly. However, there was no softening to his attitude, Meg realised sickly when he continued.
‘I don’t believe that you will cope, Ms Andrews. That’s it in a nutshell. It makes no difference how good your references are or how much experience you have—I just don’t think that you will be able to handle this kind of work. It is a whole different ball game, working overseas, compared to where you’ve worked in the past.’
‘I know that! I understand that we’ll be working under less than ideal conditions if that’s what you’re concerned about.’
‘I don’t think anyone can truly understand what the conditions will be like until they’ve experienced them at first hand,’ he stated coldly. ‘Oh, I expect you’ve seen TV coverage of aid work but that’s sanitised for the viewers’ consumption. Actually, dealing with all the hardships and unpleasantness is an entirely different matter, believe me.’
‘I do believe you! I know that I have a lot to learn but I’m willing to try. Why can’t you at least give me the benefit of the doubt?’
‘Because there isn’t room on a trip like this for a passenger. We need everyone to pull his or her weight from the outset,’ he snapped back.
‘I shall pull my weight!’ she retorted, whipping up her anger because his words had hurt so much. Maybe it was the combination of the late duty, the decorating, the night out—not to mention the curry—that were all taking their toll, but she felt a lump come to her throat. However, she would walk over hot coals rather than let Jack Trent see that he’d upset her!
‘What if I prove you wrong, prove that I can cope with this type of work?’
‘Then I shall apologise, Ms Andrews. Now, if you’re ready?’ He picked up her bag, leaving Meg to follow him into the airport building.
She squared her shoulders, although she felt rather like a prisoner on her way to the gallows must have felt. Three months of working with a man who thought she wasn’t up to the job and would be waiting his chance to take her to task didn’t sound like a very appealing prospect! It was only the thought of the satisfaction it would give him if she backed out at this stage that firmed her resolve.
Forget the apology. Jack Trent was going to eat a large slice of humble pie at the end of this trip if she had anything to do with it!
CHAPTER TWO (#ulink_cbd59864-97a6-5f23-af94-012abea37092)
THE journey seemed to take for ever so that Meg lost track of the hours they’d spent travelling. After they landed in Johannesburg they took an internal flight which just seemed to go on and on.
Meg knew that everyone was exhausted by the time they landed for the second time at a tiny airfield at the edge of the bush, but there was still another leg of the journey to undergo before they stopped for the night. Three small trucks were waiting to collect them and their equipment and ferry them to the Oncamban border, a good thirty miles away, where they would spend the night. Hopefully the next day they would complete their journey and board the train.
‘Oh, how I hate this bit!’
Lesley Johnson, one of the two other nurses with whom Meg would be working, sighed as she plonked herself down on top of a packing case. A pleasant woman in her mid-forties, with bright red hair and a face full of freckles, she had gone out of her way to make Meg feel welcome. They’d sat in adjoining seats on the flight from Manchester and Lesley had kept up an undemanding conversation, telling Meg about previous trips she’d been on with the agency.
In fact, all the members of the team she had met so far had been extremely friendly. There were five of them in total plus another two who had flown on ahead and would meet them in Oncamba. Meg had just about managed to slot names to faces by now and was sure that she would enjoy working with such a lively bunch of professionals.
They seemed to have accepted her without hesitation, including her in the conversation when they’d stopped for a meal at Johannesburg airport. It was only Jack Trent who seemed intent on treating her as an outsider…
‘Why this bit in particular?’ She deliberately closed her mind to that thought, focusing instead on what Lesley had said. Right at that moment Jack Trent was busily supervising the loading of some of the more fragile equipment onto one of the lorries, and she doubted whether he was giving her any thought! She could see him out of the corner of her eye if she turned her head a fraction, his rangy figure clad in khaki chinos and shirt which blended with the landscape. He should have been virtually invisible in that outfit yet she had no difficulty picking him out. It was as though some sort of inner radar had immediately homed in on him.
‘Because this last stage always seems to take ages!’ Lesley declared. ‘I mean, here we are just thirty miles away from our destination and we’re all itching to get started, but if I know anything at all about these trips it’s that there will be one delay after another, getting the equipment there. You take it from me, Meg, the flight from England is a doddle compared to hauling our stuff over these back roads!’
‘Don’t say that! Here I was thinking that it wouldn’t be long before I’d be able to have a lovely long soak in the bath and wash off some of this grime!’ Meg retorted ruefully, brushing the gritty sand off her dusty jeans. She looked up as a shadow fell over them and her heart skipped a beat as she found Jack Trent staring down at her. It was obvious that he must have overheard what she’d said because there was a mocking tilt to his lips as he treated her to a thin smile.
‘I’m afraid long soaks in the bath are a luxury you’ll have to learn to live without for the next few months, Ms Andrews. I did warn you, if you remember?’
‘How could I forget, Dr Trent?’ She returned his smile with an even thinner one but that didn’t mean the comment hadn’t stung. It wasn’t pleasant to realise that he was only waiting his chance to take pot-shots at her. It was a relief when Lesley interrupted at that point because Meg wasn’t sure what else he might have said.
‘Ms Andrews? Dr Trent?’ the older woman scoffed. ‘Rather formal, isn’t it, for a trip like this?’ She sighed as she looked from one to the other. ‘Don’t tell me you two are going to stand on ceremony for the next three months. How about making that ‘‘Meg’’ and ‘‘Jack’’ and starting as you mean to go on?’
Meg shrugged although she was careful to avoid Lesley’s eyes. Jack Trent had started as he meant to go on, that was the trouble! However, in the interests of team harmony it seemed wrong to make their differences common knowledge. ‘Fine by me. I’d prefer it if you’d call me Meg, anyway.’
‘Of course. And it goes without saying that you must call me Jack,’ he concurred. He turned away before Meg could answer, raising his voice as he called to the rest of the party who were sprawled along the edges of the landing strip.
‘We’re just about ready now, folks. If you want to climb on board then we can make a start. The head driver assures me that it shouldn’t take more than a couple of hours to reach the border, which means we should make it by five p.m. by my reckoning,’ he announced.
‘And if you believe that you’ll believe anything!’ declared Rory O’Donnell, the anaesthetist on the trip, and everyone laughed. Jack joined in as well and Meg felt her pulse miss a beat as she saw the austere lines of his face soften.
He looked so different when he laughed, she realised, even more handsome and attractive, just as she’d imagined he would look, in fact. Was it just that he had trouble unbending in front of her and found it easier to relax with people he liked and respected? She sensed that was so and her heart ached even though she didn’t want it to.
She hurriedly got up when she realised that everyone was making their way to the trucks. Rory was giving Kate Gregory, another of the nurses, a boost up into the high cab amid a lot of teasing, his hands placed firmly on the woman’s ample derrière. It was obvious that Kate was taking it all in good part as she shot a few pithy comments at her colleagues.
Meg smiled as she heard them laugh in response to whatever Kate had said. Obviously a good rapport was already building within the team and she felt her spirits lift. To heck with how Jack treated her—she intended to make the most of this trip and wouldn’t let him spoil it for her!
‘There’s a few points I need to run through with you, Meg, so you may as well travel with me in the first truck.’
Jack didn’t wait for her to reply as he strode towards the first of the three trucks which were lined up on the grass. Meg hesitated but there was no excuse she could think of to refuse his request, apart from one which was as unacceptable to her as it would be to him. To actually come out and tell Jack that she didn’t want to travel with him because he seemed intent on making her feel miserable sounded too pathetic for words.
She followed him to the truck, colouring when he stepped back to let her climb into the cab first. The memory of how Rory had helped Kate was all the incentive she needed to make the ascent in double-quick time! She scrambled on board then quickly slid along the bench seat as Jack climbed up behind her and slammed the door.
He leant forward, his arm brushing the side of her breast as he pointed towards the driver. ‘This is Moses. He’s the head driver,’ he explained, before settling back in his seat.
Meg smiled at the man beside her, trying her best to quell the sensations that were rippling through her. Although the touch of Jack’s arm against her breast had been purely accidental, that didn’t mean she wasn’t very much aware of it. It was a relief to focus on the introductions rather than let her mind go spinning off at tangents, wondering why it should have had such an effect.
‘Hello, Moses. It’s nice to meet you. My name is Meg.’
The man gave her a wide smile, his white teeth flashing against his black skin. ‘Pleased to meet you, Dr Meg.’
He started the engine, giving Meg no chance to correct him about her true status as the engine roared to life. The noise inside the truck was deafening for a few seconds before the gears engaged, and they set off with a shuddering lurch which pitched her sideways into Jack Trent.
Meg flushed as she quickly righted herself. ‘Sorry.’
‘Don’t worry about it.’ Jack placed a booted foot against the dashboard and braced himself as they jolted over another rut. His hand shot out and he grasped Meg’s arm as she bounced on the seat. ‘I know it isn’t very ladylike, but try bracing your feet against the dashboard. It’s the only way to keep yourself steady, I’m afraid.’
Meg did as he’d suggested and after a few moments found that he was right. It was easier to maintain her balance once she had something to brace herself against.
‘Thanks,’ she said with a grateful smile. ‘It’s a lot better like this.’
He shrugged dismissively, turning to stare out of the window as though, now that his duty was done, he intended to leave her to her own devices. Meg took a small breath, refusing to let slip the words she could feel welling up inside her. If he wanted to make it clear that he didn’t care about her comfort then that was up to him. She certainly didn’t intend to make a fuss if that was what he expected!
They travelled in silence for a couple of miles before Jack spoke again. Meg stiffened but, oddly, there was no hint of the expected hostility in his voice.
‘Working out here will be quite a revelation for you, I imagine. I remember the first time I went overseas to work, not long after I qualified. I felt as though I should go straight back to med school because I was constantly being assailed with things I’d never dreamed I would have to deal with.’
He turned to look at her and his grey eyes were warm with the memory as he smiled. ‘I used to lie in bed at night and pinch myself because I couldn’t believe the things I’d seen and done throughout the day!’
‘Then you’ve never regretted getting involved in aid work?’ she queried, emboldened to ask by the fact that he seemed to have dropped the air of aloofness for once.
‘Never.’ He shook his head, pushing back a lock of hair which had blown over his forehead. Both of the truck’s windows had been rolled down, although the breeze that flowed into the cab was almost as hot as the air inside it. Meg could see damp patches forming on the front of Jack’s shirt where the cotton was sticking to his chest and knew that her own clothes were sticking to her as well.
When they lurched over another pothole and her arm brushed his, she could feel the heat of his skin burning into her and knew that the warmth of her skin had flowed into him. It was a strangely disturbing thought that their bodies’ heat was mingling that way.
She cleared her throat, not wanting to think about it. Why should just the touch of this man’s arm seem so very intimate? It didn’t make sense. ‘So you don’t regret not devoting more time to your career, then?’
‘You mean that if I didn’t go on these aid trips then I could be at home, earning more money?’ He gave a dry laugh. ‘No, I don’t regret it. Money isn’t all that important to me, if you really want to know. I believe there are more important things in life than buying a bigger car or a more luxurious house, oddly enough!’
Meg frowned as she heard the acerbic note in his voice. Maybe he was just making sure that she understood he had higher ideals than that, yet there had seemed to be something more to that statement than had first appeared.
‘I don’t find it at all odd,’ she replied quietly. ‘I agree with you, in fact. Money isn’t everything. It certainly doesn’t buy true happiness. That comes from within yourself, from knowing that you are doing the things you want to do and that you are happy with the choices you’ve made.’
His brows rose steeply. ‘A very altruistic attitude, Meg. I didn’t realise that you felt that way.’
She shrugged, not sure that she liked the mocking note in his voice which seemed at odds with the searching look he gave her. ‘You don’t know anything about me, not about the sort of person I am, anyway. References and CVs aren’t very much to go on when judging someone’s character, are they?’
‘Maybe not. But then I doubt if anyone relies solely on what’s written on a piece of paper, even in a work situation. I think most people rely on their instincts when they meet someone new.’
And his instincts had told him that she wasn’t the sort of person he wanted to work with? It was on the tip of her tongue to ask him but she managed to contain the words. What was the point in asking him a question like that when she knew what the answer would be? It certainly wouldn’t make her feel better to hear him state bluntly that he’d taken an immediate dislike to her.
She turned away before he saw the hurt in her eyes. She’d never been faced with this sort of situation before because she’d always got on well with the people she’d worked with. However, it was different with Jack Trent. Maybe it was foolish to be so sensitive but she couldn’t help it.
‘Is something wrong, Meg?’
She shook her head, hating the fact that he seemed to have sensed that she was upset. ‘Of course not. I’m just hot, that’s all.’
She took a tissue out of her pocket and mopped her forehead. Jack sighed as he settled back in the seat.
‘It will get even hotter than this.’
‘Then I shall just have to get used to it, won’t I? I’m sure I’ll survive, Dr Trent.’
‘I’m sure you will.’
There was an odd note in his voice, which made her look at him. However, he wasn’t looking at her but staring straight ahead, his gaze locked on the road as it wended its way through the bush. How, then, did she know instinctively that what had happened had upset him?
She had no idea yet she sensed it was true. Jack was upset because she’d been upset, and the knot of pain which had settled in the pit of her stomach eased a little. Maybe his attitude towards her wasn’t set in stone after all, and she would be able to convince him that he’d been wrong to have doubts about her. The thought was enough to make her spirits lift.
He cleared his throat and she turned to look at him again, feeling her heart immediately sink when she saw that the aloof mask was firmly in place once more. What a fool she was to have imagined that he might have had a change of heart so soon!
‘It will take a couple of days once we get under way to assess the kind of problems we’re going to be dealing with. As you know, my main area of interest is eye disorders, but I shall be doing my share of general surgery, as well as dealing with whatever medical problems we encounter.’
‘That was something I was going to ask you about,’ Meg put in quietly, deliberately confining her thoughts to work because it seemed wiser. She was there to do a job, not to make friends and influence people, and she would be better off remembering that. ‘I know a lot of these overseas aid trips specialise in various fields and I wasn’t sure if that was what we would be doing.’
‘Ideally it would be wonderful if we could specialise. Diseases of the eye, for instance, are a huge problem in a lot of developing countries. I would like nothing better than to spend the next three months devoting my time solely to that area. However, it just isn’t practical,’ he explained levelly. ‘Oncamba has been cut off from the rest of the world for so long that the people have had no access to any sort of medical help for a great many years.’
‘I see. So we are going to treat anyone and everyone we can—is that it?’ Meg asked, frowning as she thought what a huge undertaking it was going to be.
‘That’s right. Oh, I shall still focus as much as I can on treating cases of trachoma and Guy, the other surgeon who has travelled on ahead to get things ready, has a keen interest in the early detection of cervical cancer. But, basically, you’re right. We shall be seeing as many patients as we can fit into a day, no matter what type of problem they have.’
He frowned. ‘It means that the workload is going to be very intensive so it certainly won’t be the best introduction you could have had to this type of work.’
Meaning that he didn’t think she would cope with the pressure? She almost laughed out loud as she realised just how foolish she’d been to imagine he might care about hurting her feelings when he lost no opportunity to try and undermine her confidence!
‘Maybe not. But I’m sure I’ll cope, Dr Trent, despite the fact that you’re expecting me to fall flat on my face!’
She knew how unprofessional it was to speak to him like that and steeled herself for his reply. What she had never expected was that he would laugh.
‘I’m sure that falling flat on your face is something you rarely do, Meg Andrews! I’m certainly not expecting or hoping it will happen either.’
His amusement vanished as abruptly as it had appeared. ‘However, that doesn’t mean that I’ve changed my mind. This isn’t the sort of work for a woman like you.’
And what sort of a woman is that? Meg wanted to ask, only she didn’t. She didn’t need to because she already knew. Obviously, the sort of woman who didn’t impress Jack Trent!
It wasn’t a comforting thought when they would be working together for the next three months. Yet, if she was really honest, she would have been forced to admit that it wasn’t just the fact that he held her in such low esteem professionally which hurt, but the fact that his opinion of her as a person obviously wasn’t any better.
What a good job it was that she had no intention of being that honest!
It was getting dark by the time they reached the village where they would spend the night. Meg was as exhausted as everyone else as she scrambled stiffly down from the lorry. The last five miles of the journey had been a test of endurance and she was black and blue from being jolted around.
‘Why on earth do we volunteer for these trips? I mean, I could be sitting in front of the telly right now with a cup of tea, watching Coronation Street. Must be mad, mustn’t we?’
Lesley came to join her, rubbing her back as she tried to work the kinks out of it. Meg smiled sympathetically. ‘I know what you mean. I thought my teeth were going to drop out on that last stretch!’
She grimaced when Lesley laughed then coloured as she caught the I-told-you-so expression on Jack’s face as he strode past them to speak to Rory. Without stopping to think, she stuck out her tongue at his retreating back and heard Lesley stifle a snort of surprised laughter.
‘Do I get the impression that you and our esteemed leader don’t see eye to eye?’
Meg shrugged, wishing that she hadn’t behaved so childishly. She certainly didn’t want to cause problems within the team at this early stage. ‘Sort of. Anyway, what happens now?’
Lesley took the hint and didn’t pursue it, but Meg could tell that she was curious about what had gone wrong between her and Jack. What could she have said if Lesley had asked her what the problem was? Meg thought ruefully. That Jack didn’t like her for some reason?
It was the truth and yet it seemed such a feeble explanation that she doubted anyone would believe it. Despite all the evidence to the contrary, Jack Trent didn’t strike her as a man who took an unreasoning dislike to people.
That thought didn’t help one bit—it simply served to make her feel even more perplexed. It was a relief when Jack announced that because of the lateness of the hour it might be better if they got straight to bed after they’d had something to eat.
It turned out that Moses lived in the village and his wife, Leah, had prepared a meal for them. Everyone sat round the fire while they ate the deliciously spicy stew the woman had made.
Meg hadn’t realised just how hungry she was until then and had a second helping when Leah shyly offered it to her. She was a beautiful young woman with smooth, ebony skin, her hair intricately beaded and braided. She was obviously heavily pregnant, her distended belly clearly visible beneath the flowing, brightly coloured robe which covered her from neck to ankle. However, she still managed to move gracefully as she served their meal.
She smiled shyly when Meg thanked her. ‘I am pleased that you enjoyed it, Doctor,’ she said in her lilting voice, before she moved away to offer Rory a second helping, which was eagerly accepted.
‘Why does she call us all ‘‘Doctor’’?’ Meg queried, spooning up another mouthful of the tasty concoction. ‘I noticed that Moses did the same before, calling me Dr Meg.’
‘Women come very low down in the pecking order in a lot of these African countries,’ Rory explained, then glanced at Jack who was sitting beside him. ‘Isn’t that right?’
‘Unfortunately, it is. We’ve found by trial and error that it’s better if all the staff are awarded doctor status as it cuts down on a lot of problems, particularly with the male patients,’ he explained, putting aside his empty plate. ‘They accept treatment from a female doctor far more readily than they would accept it from a nurse. On trips like this, our nurses are more nurse practitioners than anything else, responsible both for diagnosing and prescribing treatment in many cases.’
‘And you have no problem with that?’ Meg asked before she could think better of it. She shrugged when everyone looked at her, glad that the heat of the fire could be blamed for her suddenly heightened colour.
‘A lot of doctors don’t hold nurses in very high esteem,’ she muttered uncomfortably.
‘Not a sin that I’m guilty of, believe me. And especially not on an undertaking like this. Everyone’s input is equally important to the success of the operation, which is why everyone is expected to pull his or her weight.’
Was she the only one to feel the sting in the tail of that statement? Meg glanced round the assembled group but not one of them looked as though they suspected Jack had meant that as a warning. It was hardly surprising when it had been aimed at her, though, was it? Hadn’t he said much the same thing earlier, that she was expected to pull her weight? Maybe he was taking the opportunity to remind her?
Suddenly, Meg knew that she’d had enough for one day. She was sick and tired of being in the dog house when she hadn’t done anything to deserve it! She scrambled to her feet, avoiding Jack’s eyes as she smiled at the rest of the team.
‘I don’t know about you lot, but I’m worn out. I think I’ll call it a night if nobody minds.’
‘Well, I don’t for starters.’ Kate got up as well, groaning as she arched her aching back. She shot a wry look at Jack. ‘Yvonne was right to cry off at the last minute if you ask me. I bet she knew you were going to have us bouncing around over miles and miles of dirt tracks!’
Jack laughed deeply as he rose to his feet. In the flickering glow from the fire, his face looked almost saturnine until he smiled, and then there was such a transformation that Meg had to look away, because she didn’t like the way her heart had started to bounce up and down.
It was only a smile, for heaven’s sake! she told herself sternly. And it hadn’t even been directed at her. Yet her foolish heart was playing leap-frog with her ribs.
‘You could be right about that. I should have told her that we’d be travelling by limo and then she might have felt well enough to come along.’ He sighed as he looked at the others. ‘I’m sure we’re all going to miss her.’
Especially when he’d been saddled with a replacement he didn’t want!
Meg turned away, afraid that the hurt she felt would show on her face. Was he deliberately trying to be cruel? she wondered sickly as she hurried towards the hut she’d been allocated to sleep in.
‘Meg, wait a moment!’
She paused when she heard Jack calling her name, although she didn’t turn round because she wasn’t sure that she had her emotions in check sufficiently to face him. She kept her back towards him, staring at the inky blackness of the trees that surrounded the village, yet she knew to the second when he stopped behind her.
That inner radar again, working overtime, she thought with a surge of black humour. Maybe she should use it as an early warning system for whenever he was in the vicinity. She certainly could do with avoiding him from the look of it!
‘I didn’t mean that as it sounded.’ He got straight to the point without any preamble, surprising her enough so that she half turned. She saw the regret in his grey eyes and somehow that undid all her good work, setting free her carefully shored-up emotions. It had been a long, tiring day and Jack’s intransigent attitude hadn’t helped one bit!
She felt her lower lip quiver before she could stop it and quickly turned away, hating herself for letting him see that he had the power to upset her.
‘Oh, hell!’ He reached out, as though he was going to touch her, then let his hand fall to his side without actually making contact. ‘Look, Meg, I wasn’t trying to make you feel that I wanted Yvonne here instead of you,’ he ground out, as though the words had cost him an awful lot of effort.
Maybe they had, Meg thought with unaccustomed cynicism. It certainly couldn’t have been easy for Jack to lie for the sake of harmony within the team!
‘Don’t worry about it,’ she said with an insouciance which cost her even more. ‘I certainly shan’t!’
He didn’t actually grind his teeth but the effect was much the same. Her blue eyes widened when she saw myriad emotions cross his face at that moment. It was a measure of his strength of mind that he managed to control himself, but she was shaking in her boots.
Why in the name of all that was holy did she know that he’d been tempted…sorely tempted…to kiss her? She had no idea but the thought was enough to make her head spin.
‘I apologise, anyway. Goodnight.’
He strode away, leaving her standing there, staring after him. Meg took a tiny breath and let it trickle into her lungs. A bigger one might have helped but she didn’t seem capable of that. Breathing was an effort, thinking even more of one, but feeling…well, feeling was easy-peasy!
She shivered as a hot trickle worked its way up her spine, shuddered as a cold one flowed the other way. Hot and cold chills were suddenly racing through her body however they chose and she couldn’t stop them!
She closed her eyes and tried to subdue the little devils but that was a mistake of gigantic proportions. Jack’s face suddenly filled her mind—lean cheeks, moody grey eyes, enticingly kissable lips…
‘Oh!’ Her eyes shot open before her wayward mind could go any further. Stills she could just about deal with, but if that picture had become animated and moved to the next frame—a close-up of the kiss Jack had so very nearly bestowed on her…
She groaned then clapped a hand over her mouth in case anyone heard her. She had to get a grip! So what if Jack had been tempted to kiss her just now? It didn’t mean that she would have let him or responded. It took two to tango, as her mother was so fond of saying, only that didn’t sound nearly as reassuring as it should have done. While she had absolutely no desire to tango with Jack…
She cut the rest of that thought dead!
Meg wasn’t sure what had woken her. She was so tired that it was a wonder anything had. Yet suddenly she found herself wide awake and staring round at the darkness. Lesley was snoring softly in the adjoining campbed so obviously whatever had woken Meg hadn’t disturbed her.
For a moment she debated rolling over and going back to sleep, but the nagging feeling that something was wrong wouldn’t go away. Pushing back the mosquito net, she took her shoes from the end of the bed and shook them to dislodge any creepy-crawly visitors before slipping them on her feet.
Leah had left them a candle to light the hut with while they’d got undressed but they’d blown it out and now there was only the pale shimmer from a sickle moon to see by as Meg made her way to the door. She peered out across the clearing in the centre of the village and felt her skin prickle with alarm when she saw shadowy figures moving about in front of one of the huts. What was going on? Who was out there? And, more importantly, should she go and find out?
Meg hesitated but the feeling that something was wrong wouldn’t go away. Her legs felt like lead as she stepped from the relative safety of the hut and began to cross the clearing. It was a relief when she spotted Moses among the crowd of people gathered by the hut.
‘Is something wrong?’ she asked, going straight over to speak to him.
He turned to her and his face looked grey and drawn in the moonlight. ‘It is Leah, Dr Meg. The baby is coming but there is something wrong and he cannot be born.’
He gave an expressive shrug which said more than any words could have done. Meg felt her heart sink as she wondered what the problem might be. There were so many things that could go wrong during a birth, although thankfully most could be dealt with in the safety of a hospital. However, this was the middle of the African bush and she had no idea what she was letting herself in for as Moses eagerly accepted her offer of help. At that moment, it seemed a very long time since she’d done her stint on the maternity unit.
The hut was lit by candles, and as Meg went inside she could see several women gathered around the low pallet that Leah was lying on. It was obvious that they were the local midwives and she was conscious that she might offend them if she offered her help. However, they made no objection when she knelt beside Leah, simply moved aside to make room for her. She had a feeling that they believed they’d done all they could and her heart sank even further at that thought, although she tried not to show any trace of concern.
‘Hello, Leah. It’s Dr Meg,’ she said softly, noting the lines of pain that bracketed the girl’s mouth. ‘Can I just check how your baby is doing?’
Leah nodded mutely. She was obviously too exhausted to speak. She arched upwards as another contraction began, a keening wail coming from her as the pain tore through her body. Meg was shocked by how strong her contractions were because there had been no sign that she’d been in labour when she’d served their meal a few hours earlier.
She placed her hand on the young woman’s abdomen and gently palpated it, feeling the hard form of the baby beneath her palm. She couldn’t be certain but she suspected that it was lying in the breech position and that was what was causing the problem. Turning the baby was beyond her because she simply didn’t have that kind of expertise. However, it was obvious that something had to be done—and quickly—otherwise both mother and child could die.
She patted Leah’s hand, trying to sound a lot more confident than she actually felt. ‘Don’t worry, Leah. I’ll go and get another of the doctors and we’ll help you deliver your baby. All right?’
She wasn’t sure that the girl had even heard her as Leah stared at her with pain-glazed eyes. Meg hurried from the hut and ran across the clearing. Whether it was professional courtesy or pure instinct which made her go straight to Jack’s hut, she wasn’t sure, but she didn’t stop to debate it as she ducked under the low lintel. Leah needed help and, in her view, Jack was the best qualified to give it.
‘Jack, wake up!’ Pushing aside the mosquito netting, she put her hand on his bare shoulder, ignoring the frisson which shot up her arm as she felt the heat of his skin. He was naked from the waist up, a thin white sheet covering the lower half of his body and outlining the narrowness of his hips and muscular power of his long legs.
Meg quickly averted her eyes and focused on the task of waking him rather than letting her mind go wandering off. All right, so Jack was superbly fit but now certainly wasn’t the time to be thinking about it. She tightened her grip on his shoulder and shook him. ‘Wake up, Jack!’
He came to in a rush, grabbing hold of her and rolling over in one swift movement. Before she knew what was happening, Meg found herself flat on her back with Jack looming over her.
‘What the devil…?’ For a moment he looked as stunned as she felt before a slow smile spread across his face. Meg felt her heart go into overdrive because it wasn’t a nice sort of smile by any means. Wolfish. Mocking. Sexy, certainly, but definitely not nice!
‘Well, well. What have we here? Don’t tell me that you’re hoping to improve my opinion of you that way, Ms Andrews?’
CHAPTER THREE (#ulink_0f72f5a4-a6e3-583f-a98a-6869a8d0c0f9)
‘I…YOU…Let me go!’
Meg rolled to her feet as soon as Jack had released her. Pushing back her tumbled hair, she glared at him. ‘What the hell do you think you’re doing?’
He lay back against the pillow, a thin smile curving his mouth. ‘I think I got my question in first, don’t you?’
Meg felt a rush of colour wash up her face and was glad that it was so dark that he couldn’t possibly have seen it. Did he honestly believe that she would have tried to influence him by offering to sleep with him?
The thought sent another surge of heat through her veins which she decided owed itself to anger. It had nothing to do with the remembered feel of his powerful body as it had pressed hers into the mattress, no connection whatsoever to the fact that just for a moment she’d found herself actually enjoying the contact. She was angry because never in her life had she been so…so insulted!
‘If you imagine that I shall dignify that question with an answer then think again!’ she snapped back.
‘In that case, you’ll understand if I don’t answer your question, won’t you? Anyway, I suppose there must have been a reason why you saw fit to wake me even if it isn’t the one that sprang to mind. Is something wrong?’
She very nearly turned round and marched right out of the hut. She had sensed all along that Jack had a low opinion of her but she hadn’t realised before just how low it was. It was only the thought of Leah which helped curb her temper and remember what she was doing there in the first place.
‘Leah’s in labour but there seems to be a problem,’ she explained through gritted teeth. ‘I might be wrong but I think the baby could be breech. Can you come and take a look at her?’
‘Of course.’ He was out of bed before she could blink, stepping into his trousers and dragging on his shirt as he headed for the door. Meg hurried after him as he strode across the clearing, answering the questions he shot at her to the best of her ability. She felt a trifle stunned by the speed of the transformation as he’d switched back to total professionalism in the blink of an eye. Obviously, work came first on Jack’s list of priorities and everything else came a very poor second. Why didn’t that surprise her?
Jack went straight to the bed. Kneeling down, he smiled reassuringly at the young woman. ‘Dr Meg tells me that you’re having trouble, Leah—may I see?’
‘Yes…’ Leah’s voice was weak with exhaustion and Meg found it difficult to hide her concern as she knelt beside the bed and took her pulse. It was so thready and faint that Meg’s heart plummeted because she knew Leah wouldn’t survive if something wasn’t done soon to help her.
Jack looked up and his eyes reflected her concern as he looked at her across the bed. ‘The baby is lying horizontally rather than breech from the feel of it. There’s no chance of it being delivered normally because its arm and shoulder appear to be jammed in her pelvis.’
Meg swallowed as she realised the implications. ‘She needs a Caesarean section, you mean?’
Jack nodded. ‘Yes. There isn’t any other option open to us at this stage. The only way to get that baby out is by doing a section otherwise we’re going to lose both of them.’ He glanced at the young woman and for a moment his face contorted with pain. ‘It might be too late even now but we have to try.’
Meg didn’t question his judgement because she knew he was right. If they didn’t operate immediately then both Leah and her baby would die. She stood up and there was a new determination in her eyes when she looked at Jack. Even if there was only a slim chance that they could save them then they had to try.
‘What do you want me to do first?’
Jack stood up as well and she felt her pulse leap as he smiled at her because for the first time ever there was a trace of admiration on his face. ‘Reckon we can do it, then, Meg?’ he asked quietly, his voice sounding very deep.
She squared her shoulders, striving for a calm she wished she felt, but it was hard to achieve that state when it felt as though dozens of butterflies were fluttering around inside her stomach. To see Jack look at her that way was everything she could have wished for, even though she wasn’t sure why it should have mattered so much.
‘Yes. If anyone can help Leah, I know you can,’ she said quietly, knowing in her heart that it was true.
He inclined his head in brief acknowledgement but that didn’t mean she missed the flare of some other emotion in the depths of his eyes…
She turned away before her mind could start racing along paths there simply wasn’t time to follow right then. She focused strictly on what Jack was saying as he rattled out a list of instructions. Fortunately, they had all the supplies they could possibly need close to hand, although the thought of performing the operation under such conditions was daunting.
In the end, Meg decided that it would be better not to think about it and just get on with the job. If they didn’t operate, Leah and the baby would die. There simply wasn’t a choice so she had to accept the problems and deal with them.
‘Do you want me to fetch Lesley or Kate?’ she offered once she was sure she knew exactly what he wanted doing.
He shook his head. ‘No, there’s no need to disturb them just yet. I’ll get Moses to wake them if I think it’s necessary, but I’m sure you and I can cope, Meg. However, I will wake Rory. We’ll need him to give the anaesthetic.’
Meg nodded her agreement before she hurried away to collect what was needed, but she couldn’t deny that her heart had lifted when she’d heard Jack say that. Maybe he was beginning to trust her after all? Odd how much comfort she derived from that thought.
Afterwards, when Meg looked back on that night, she found it hard to believe that she hadn’t dreamt it. There had been a surreal quality to the whole event which made it hard to believe it had actually happened.
At Jack’s insistence, more candles and an old paraffin lamp had been brought into the hut to supplement the inadequate lighting, but conditions for performing the operation had still been far from ideal. It had been quite a struggle too to source basic supplies and equipment from the packing cases in the trucks.
They’d had to leave Leah on her bed for starters, as there had been no other suitable surface to use. Meg had covered the straw mattress with several sterile sheets, then had brought in a packing case to lay their implements on, draping that as well with a sterile cover. It had seemed very inadequate protection against infection but it had been the best she could do in the circumstances.
Jack had scrubbed up, then let her help him into a gown, holding out his hands so that she’d been able to snap the thin surgical gloves onto his hands.
‘We need to double-glove for this,’ he advised her softly. ‘It would be foolish to take any risks.’
Meg nodded as she went to fetch a second pair large enough to fit him. Aids was endemic in many African countries so she knew he was right to take extra precautions. She followed his lead and put on a second pair of gloves herself, before going to assist him.
Rory looked up and grinned when they joined him by the bed. ‘Typical, isn’t it? You think you’re going to have a nice peaceful start to things and suddenly find yourself thrown in at the deep end!’
Jack’s brows rose. ‘How many of these trips have you been on now? And when has anything ever gone the way we’d planned it? I think I’d worry more if it did!’
Both men laughed ruefully. It was obvious to Meg that they had a great deal of respect for each other and she found herself thinking how wonderful it must be to be an accepted part of the team. She shot a look at Jack and smiled to herself. Still, maybe things weren’t quite so black as they’d appeared a few hours earlier if he was prepared to let her help him?
‘Right, let’s make a start if you’re happy with everything, Rory? We can’t afford to waste any time.’
Jack glanced at the younger man who nodded. Leah had been given an epidural anaesthetic as the risks to both mother and child were far less than if she’d been given a general anaesthetic in her weakened state. She hadn’t made a murmur when Rory had injected local anaesthetic into the epidural space surrounding her spinal cord. It was obvious to Meg that Leah was completely worn out by the ferocity of her labour and she knew that the sooner it was over the better. As to whether they would be able to save both mother and child, that was something they would have to wait and see, but she murmured a fervent prayer that everything would go in their favour from here on.
‘Scalpel.’ Jack’s face was set with concentration as she slapped the razor-sharp knife into his gloved palm. He swiftly and deftly made a horizontal incision in Leah’s abdomen just above her pubic bone. Meg stood beside him, watching intently as he carefully slit through the lower part of the uterus. She could see the baby now and held her breath as Jack lifted it free and handed it to her, working swiftly as he tied and cut the cord.
‘Right, it’s up to you now, Meg,’ he told her tersely, turning his attention back to the young woman.
Meg didn’t say anything because there wasn’t any time to waste. It was a baby boy and she could see at once that he was in some distress. Carrying him swiftly away from the makeshift operating table, she sank onto a chair and laid him across her knees then used a thin piece of sterile tubing to suction the mucus out of his mouth. He hadn’t cried as yet and her heart was racing as she tipped him head down so that any fluid he might have swallowed would drain from his lungs.
‘Come on, poppet,’ she muttered, willing the tiny scrap to take his first breath. ‘Come on, you can do it!’
She tapped the soles of his feet, mentally running through everything she knew about childbirth. Since she’d learned that she’d been accepted by the agency, she’d spent hours poring over her textbooks, brushing up on skills which had become a bit rusty through lack of use. However, all the reading in the world couldn’t compensate for hands-on experience and she prayed that she would be able to help the child. She would never forgive herself if he died!
Laying the baby across her knees again, she placed her mouth over his nose and mouth and gently breathed into his lungs, willing him to respond. There was no sound in the hut apart from the measured rhythm of her breathing as time after time she inflated the infant’s lungs. When Jack appeared beside her Meg didn’t look up because she couldn’t afford to let her concentration lapse. This child was relying on her and she had to help him!
‘You’ve done all you can, Meg.’
Jack’s tone was low but she heard the regret it held and tears welled into her eyes as she realised what he meant. The thought that the baby had died before he’d even had the chance to live was too much to bear.
She breathed into the tiny rosebud mouth once more, refusing to accept that there was nothing she could do for him…
The tiny body suddenly twitched, the baby’s arms and legs shooting out as he began to squirm. Meg’s face broke into a radiant smile as he let out a weak little wail when she raised her head. Within seconds he was crying in earnest, the sound of his irate screams ringing around the hut.
‘We did it!’ she declared, uncaring that tears were streaming down her face as she looked up at Jack. ‘He’s going to be all right!’
‘You did it, Meg, you mean. You and your determination!’ He uttered a joyful laugh while the baby continued to roar his disapproval of the new world he’d found himself in. ‘By heaven, but he’s got a fine pair of lungs from the sound of it!’
Meg stood up, aware that she was trembling as she quickly wrapped the baby in a towel. He needed bathing and checking over but all that could wait a few minutes longer. Right at that moment he needed his mother more than anything else.
Her heart contracted as she realised that she had no idea how Leah had fared. It took every scrap of courage she could dredge up to turn to Jack and ask him because she was so afraid what the answer might be. ‘Is…is Leah all right?’
He squeezed her shoulder and his grey eyes told her that he understood exactly how she felt. ‘She’s fine, or she will be once she sees that young man.’
Meg could barely contain her joy. She smiled at him and saw his eyes darken. Her breath seemed to catch tightly in her chest when she saw the glitter of something hot and wild appear in their depths before he abruptly turned away and went to speak to Rory, who was clearing up.
Meg hugged the screaming baby to her as she hurried to the bed and knelt down. It was neither the time nor the place to think about what she’d seen in Jack’s eyes just now, to wonder why he’d looked at her with such hunger. If Jack didn’t like her then why should he want her? It didn’t make sense.
‘My baby!’ Leah’s exhausted face lit up as soon as she saw her child. She held out her arms, smiling in delight when Meg gently laid the baby in them.
‘It’s a boy, Leah, a lovely little boy.’ Deliberately, Meg forced the unsettling thoughts to the back of her mind, although it wasn’t possible to erase them completely. Jack was attracted to her? Was it possible? Everything that had happened so far pointed to the fact that she must have made a mistake and yet she couldn’t quite convince herself of that.
‘A boy?’ Leah’s eyes were full of wonder as she unwrapped the towel and stared at her baby son. She looked up and there were tears streaming down her cheeks as she tried to smile at Meg. ‘Thank you…thank you!’
It was hard to contain her own emotions in the face of the young mother’s joy. In the end, Meg gave up trying. Tears poured down her face, too, as she squeezed Leah’s hand. ‘I’m so pleased for you, Leah!’
She gave a shaky laugh as she got up and dried her face on the hem of her gown. ‘What a pair we are! Now, I’m sure that Moses must be dying to see his beautiful new son so I’ll go and fetch him.’
Leah smiled as she undid her robe and placed the baby to her breast, where he immediately began to suckle. ‘My husband will be very proud. Every man wants a son,’ she said simply.
Meg turned away, knowing that the picture of the young mother and her child would stay with her for a long time to come. Rory was still busily clearing up and he patted her on the shoulder as she passed him.
‘Well done, kiddo. A first-rate job, I’d say. Welcome to the team!’
Meg smiled back, appreciating the genuine warmth of the comment. ‘Thanks.’
She left him to finish what he was doing and hurried outside. She paused when she saw Jack talking to a smiling Moses. It was obvious that he’d already given the proud father the good news so she turned to go back inside then stopped when Jack called out to her. She went to join the two men, smiling when Moses grabbed her hand and began pumping it up and down.
‘Dr Jack explained that it was you who saved my son. Thank you, Dr Meg. Thank you!’
‘It was my pleasure,’ she replied sincerely. He gave her hand another enthusiastic shake then hurried into the hut, closely followed by several members of his family who had been waiting outside.
Meg grimaced when she found Jack watching her as she rubbed her throbbing fingers. ‘I’m glad it wasn’t twins! I think I may have a couple of crushed bones from the feel of it.’
He laughed deeply, his teeth gleaming whitely in the darkness. ‘He was certainly pleased and no wonder. You did a great job just now, Meg.’
He moved away from the hut and it seemed the most natural thing in the world to go with him. They crossed the clearing, bypassing the huts on the other side and only stopping when they reached the trees which surrounded the village. The night was very dark, the moon just a slim silver curl in the velvety sky, a myriad stars scattered like diamonds across it.
Meg drew in a deep breath, tasting the unfamiliar scents carried on the night air. She was tired from all the travelling and lack of sleep yet she felt so elated that she wanted to shout for joy. As first days went it could have been worse…a lot worse, in fact, bearing in mind what had happened earlier. Had Jack’s attitude towards her improved?
It was too tempting to resist finding out so that she didn’t stop to think about the wisdom of asking the question. ‘So, do you believe now that I can cope with this job?’
He turned to look at her, although his face was shadowed by the overhang of the branches. ‘I think that you handled what happened just now extremely well.’
‘But?’ Meg laughed but there was scant amusement in the sound. She might not be able to see him clearly but she didn’t need to because she’d heard the reservation in his voice. She turned to face him, unaware of how defensive she looked as she stood there in the watery moonlight.
‘There was a definite ‘‘but’’ tagged onto that sentence, Jack, wasn’t there?’
‘Yes, I expect there was.’
He shrugged, his broad shoulders rising and falling beneath his half-buttoned shirt. He looked tired, too, Meg noticed when he stepped out from the shadows. There were deep lines bracketing his mouth and a lack of animation about his expression which made him look older than the thirty-six years she knew him to be. However, tired or not, he obviously didn’t intend to opt for the easy route. Where work was concerned, Jack would never compromise!
‘It’s fair to say that you handled yourself well tonight, Meg. However, that doesn’t change anything. I still don’t believe that this is the job for you,’ he stated flatly.
‘Because I might not pull my weight? Or because I might not be able to cope with the conditions we’re going to be working under?’ She laughed harshly. ‘Come on, Jack! You’ve just admitted that I acquitted myself well tonight so you’ll have to do better than that!’
‘Yes, you did do well tonight and I’m happy to admit it. However, one night’s work isn’t proof that you’ll be able to keep up once the pressure is on.’ His tone was unyielding. ‘It’s far more difficult trying to deal with the daily grind involved in this type of work, as you’ll soon discover for yourself.’
‘I’m sure you’re right but I know that I shall cope no matter how hard it is. So it seems that we’re at a bit of an impasse, doesn’t it?’
Meg stared back at him, wishing there was a way to make him see that he was mistaken about her. It wasn’t going to be easy, though, if Jack had made up his mind.
‘It seems like it.’ He shrugged again but she saw the irritation in his eyes. Obviously he wasn’t used to people questioning his judgement, Meg thought. Well, tough! He wasn’t going to have things all his own way if she had anything to do with it!
‘Anyway, it’s late and it’s time you got some sleep. We’ll be leaving early in the morning as we still have some distance to travel before we reach our destination.’
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Jennifer Taylor
Тип: электронная книга
Жанр: Современные любовные романы
Язык: на английском языке
Издательство: HarperCollins
Дата публикации: 16.04.2024
Отзывы: Пока нет Добавить отзыв
О книге: Some risks are worth taking…Meg′s healing touch could give hope to the people of Oncamba, but she despaired of ever getting through to the leader of the medical aid team, Jack Trent. As the spitting image of his flighty ex-wife, Meg had a hard time convincing him that she was up to the job, let alone fighting her own desire for him. And when passion flared and Jack took her in his arms, Meg had to be sure that it was her he would be making love to….