City Surgeon, Outback Bride Read online

  ‘Then Ethel the possum she is,’ Carmel said. She gave them some further instructions, where to make Ethel’s bed, how to keep her safe, what else to feed her, and soon they were headed away from the centre and back towards Rayne’s house.

  Jasmine had asked to go back up on Henry’s shoulders, given that she wasn’t allowed to actually carry Ethel home, but as they got near Rayne’s house, Henry said softly, ‘Check Jasmine.’

  Rayne looked up to find the little girl almost slumped over Henry’s head, her eyes struggling to stay open.

  ‘Almost asleep. I guess it’s been too much for her tonight, what with her grandparents arriving, going to the park and now being able to look after a possum.’

  ‘Ethel,’ Henry corrected.

  ‘Apologies. Looking after Ethel,’ Rayne repeated.

  Henry carefully lifted Jasmine off his shoulders, shushing her quietly when she protested. He shifted her into his arms and within another moment she had her head on his shoulder and her arms about his neck. She sighed and her breathing settled.

  They made an alluring picture—man and child. Rayne couldn’t help but notice the way he held her protectively in his arms, and she realised there was a true bond forming between the two of them. Was this something she should be worried about? After all, Henry wasn’t a resident of Deniliquin and one day he would leave. Then again, she recalled their earlier conversation and wondered if he ever would.

  They were walking across Rayne’s front yard when Henry said softly, ‘You go and open the door, get her bed ready and I’ll carry her in.’

  Rayne placed the wrapped, drowsy possum into a cardboard box then went to prepare Jasmine’s bed. Once the child was settled, Rayne went in search of the man who was slowly becoming very important to her. As she walked through the kitchen, she glanced at the whiteboard on her fridge, which had a message from Earlene and Jarvis. She filled the kettle and switched it on before heading into the lounge room.

  Henry was standing next to her bookshelf, a framed photograph in his hand. When he saw her, he didn’t automatically put it back, as though he’d been caught red-handed. Instead, he pointed with his free hand to the couple depicted in the photograph.

  ‘Jarrod and Janey?’

  ‘Yes. That was taken about a month before they died.’ She pointed to another photograph of the four of them and then one that included Jarvis and Earlene. The photograph was next to a small red vase—empty of water—which held the paper rose Henry had given her. Henry was secretly pleased that the rose was in such an honoured place, among the photographs of the people Rayne loved most.

  ‘Uh…would you like a cup of tea? I’ve just put the kettle on.’

  ‘That sounds great.’

  Rayne nodded, suddenly feeling a little aware that the two of them were, for all intents and purposes, alone in the house. ‘Jarvis and Earlene have just gone next door to say hello to my neighbours.’

  Henry nodded at this information as he returned the photograph to its rightful place. He continued to look at the books on the shelf. ‘You’re widely read.’

  ‘I like reading. Relaxes me.’

  He smiled at her over his shoulder. ‘Me, too.’

  ‘Although since Jazzy came to live with me I have considerably less leisure time than previously, but I’m not complaining.’

  ‘She’s wonderful.’

  ‘That she most certainly is.’ Rayne’s gaze flicked over him, taking in his relaxed posture, and the transformation from the man she’d met a week and a half ago was obvious. His hair was slightly mussed, his shirt was a little unkempt and wrinkled from carrying Jasmine, and his dark denim jeans were starting to get a lived-in look to them. She knew he’d wear suits to the Sydney hospital, it would be expected of him, yet if he were to work here in Deniliquin, that wouldn’t be the case at all. People out here didn’t tend to go for appearances, they went on genuine feelings, and Henry was proving to have those in abundance.

  ‘What?’ he asked, and she realised she’d been caught staring.

  ‘Um…’ She smiled shyly and shrugged. ‘I was just thinking how much more relaxed you are.’

  ‘I feel it.’

  ‘I mean even since I met you. The stress and worry have almost disappeared from your face.’

  He raised an eyebrow. ‘Almost?’

  She smiled. ‘Deni isn’t finished with you yet.’

  ‘So you’ve pointed out before.’

  ‘It’s true. This place has a natural healing quality.’

  ‘Seems to have worked for you and Jasmine.’

  ‘I guess so.’

  ‘No, Rayne, I mean really worked. That little girl has been through the wringer—losing both parents, becoming an orphan. I know she’s only five and that children bounce back, especially when they have people who honestly love them stepping up to fill the void, but what’s happened to her is still huge.’

  ‘Yes. And I’m not under the misapprehension that she’s over it. As she gets older, she’ll understand more, will start to process what happened. There’s still a lot of healing to be done.’

  ‘So you’ll be staying in Deniliquin?’

  ‘Yes. It’s my home.’

  ‘And what about surgery?’

  Rayne sighed. ‘That’s another dream. Perhaps for another day.’

  ‘You don’t deny you love it?’

  ‘Not at all. As far as work goes, it would be highly rewarding but so is being a GP. That said, Jasmine is far more important than anything else.’

  ‘I totally agree, which only makes me admire you even more, Rayne Hudson.’ He shifted and raked a hand through his hair. ‘You’ve had motherhood thrust on you overnight and you’ve stepped up to the plate. That’s a rare quality in a person.’

  ‘I’ve had help and when Jarvis and Earlene move permanently to Deni, I’ll have even more.’

  ‘You’ll form a family unit.’

  ‘Yes.’ Rayne was watching him carefully. He seemed on the brink of saying something, something she could see was causing a conflict within him. She heard the kettle automatically switch itself off but instantly discarded the thought of making tea. Not now. Not when Henry was about to open up to her.

  ‘A family.’ The words were spoken softly. ‘Something else that was taken away from me.’

  Her heart ached for him and when he lifted his eyes to meet hers, they were filled with repressed pain.

  ‘When my wife…’ He cleared his throat. ‘When Natalia had the accident, she was six months pregnant.’

  Rayne gasped and covered her mouth with her hand before shaking her head. ‘Oh, Henry.’

  ‘They delivered the baby—emergency C-section. A little boy. I named him Tucker.’ He shook his head, a small sad smile touching his lips. ‘I hated the name. Can you believe that? Yet it was the name Natalia really wanted if we had a boy.’ He exhaled harshly. ‘We’d argued about it the night before the crash.’ He shook his head again, the smile gone. ‘Stupid.’

  Rayne didn’t know what to say but she felt his pain. Deeply.

  ‘Tucker had emergency surgery to stop internal bleeding and for a while there it looked as though he’d pull through.’ His voice was dry, raspy. ‘He died a week later.’

  A tear slid down Rayne’s cheek and Henry reached out to tenderly wipe it away.

  ‘My family was taken from me, Rayne. Piece by piece. And there was nothing I could do.’

  CHAPTER SIX

  RAYNE put down the phone and quickly wrote something in Billie’s notes before looking at her patient. ‘The pathology results have just come in and I’m pleased to say the test was negative. You do not have glandular fever.’

  Billie heaved a huge sigh of relief. ‘You have no idea how good that is. I was very worried.’

  ‘You and me both.’ Rayne wrote out a script and handed it to her patient. ‘Here you go. This should help with the sore throat and I can highly recommend this herbal tea. It does wonders for sore throats, although it tastes disgusting. Drink it with
lots of honey. Mae has some in the health-food shop.’ Rayne’s phone began to ring again and Billie said goodbye as Rayne picked up the receiver.

  ‘Dr Hudson.’

  ‘Rayne.’

  There was no mistaking that deep, resonating voice. It was the one she’d started dreaming about, the one she’d longed to hear, and it belonged to the man she’d been quite worried about since he’d abruptly left two nights ago. ‘Henry.’ Why was he calling her? Was he sick? Worried? Had there been an accident? She knew he was still helping out on Willard’s crew. Did he need her help in some way? ‘Everything all right?’

  ‘Yes. Er…I’m sorry to disturb you at work but Willard mentioned you were headed out to Donna’s place this afternoon to check on little DT and I was wondering if you wouldn’t mind some company.’

  The tingles, which usually started in her stomach before spreading to the rest of her body, flooded her instantly.

  ‘If that’s OK. I don’t want to intrude.’

  ‘Uh…no. That’s fine. I’ll be finished consulting here in about an hour, then I was going to grab a bite of lunch before heading out on my house calls. Donna’s last on the list. Is that all right?’

  ‘Sure. Sounds good. I’m heading over to see how Brian’s doing soon so I’ll be able to give you an update when I see you.’

  ‘OK. Looking forward to it.’ She went to ring off but had the feeling there was more he wanted to say so she waited with mounting expectation.

  ‘Rayne. I’ve, um…had a thought.’

  ‘Really? Just one?’ Rayne couldn’t help teasing and she heard Henry chuckle. She breathed a mental sigh of relief. She’d been quite worried about him.

  ‘Why don’t we have lunch together?’

  ‘Oh.’ She was surprised by the invitation. ‘Uh…all right. That would be lovely.’

  ‘Really?’

  ‘Sure. Where? I can’t promise I’ll be on time.’

  ‘That’s fine. I understand completely.’

  ‘Of course you do.’ She closed her eyes and hit herself on the head. ‘Well, how do you want to play this?’

  ‘Why don’t I call by for you in about an hour and wait until you’re done?’

  ‘You’ll wait in the waiting room?’

  ‘That’s what they’re for, Rayne.’ It was obviously his turn to tease her.

  ‘I guess it is. All right. It’s a date. I’ll see you then.’

  ‘Date?’ Henry asked his reflection after he’d hung up the phone. It had been absolutely years since he’d had a date. In fact, the last person he’d dated had been his wife…well, obviously, before she had been his wife. Henry lay back on the bed and hooked his hands behind his head, recalling how he’d met Natalia at university. She hadn’t liked him at first, calling him obnoxious, but she’d later revealed that she’d been smitten since the moment they’d met but hadn’t wanted to let him know it.

  And then she’d been taken from him. At first not in a physical sense but mentally. He’d known that even if she’d come out of the coma, there would have been significant brain damage…but she hadn’t. His life with her was over. He’d accepted that over a year ago and these past six months since her death had seen him hibernate inside his cave, trying to figure out how to cope with his new life.

  Was it too soon to start dating?

  He shook his head and stood, crossing to the bathroom to take a shower and get ready. He’d already been out with Willard that morning and the scent of sawdust might not be all that appealing to Rayne.

  He smiled when he thought about her, about the woman who was so dynamic, so vivacious, yet he could still see the questions and sadness behind her eyes. She’d come to Deniliquin to heal herself and she had, but the true sadness hadn’t disappeared. Every time she spoke of her childhood, of her mother and now about Jasmine’s mother, Janey, the sadness was there. Rayne was still broken and the overwhelming urge to help her was too much for him to continue fighting it.

  He wanted to see her, to be with her, to listen to her talk, to hear her laugh. He liked spending time with Rayne and he didn’t care what anyone else thought—he was going to date her.

  Rayne found it nigh on impossible to concentrate properly for the rest of the morning, glancing at the clock and then her remaining patient list and then back to the clock again, all the time wondering whether Henry was out there, sitting in the waiting room.

  Her first clue came when Margy Innes waddled into her consulting room, fanning her face.

  ‘Woo-ee, Rayne. That is one gorgeous man ya got out there, hon. Snap him up. This one’s a keeper.’

  ‘Henry?’

  ‘Of course. Who else do ya think I’d be talking about?’ She rubbed her belly, caressing the child inside. ‘There’s a shortage of good-lookin’ fellas out here. Gotta snap up the good ones while you can.’

  ‘Just like you did.’

  ‘Yep. My Josh is one of the better ones, I’ll give ya that.’

  ‘So how have you been feeling? No swelling in the slightly higher temperatures we’ve been enjoying?’

  ‘Nah. This isn’t hot, hon. Not even thirty degrees outside. I’ll be fine.’

  ‘I’m sure you will be but let’s get your check-up under way.’ Rayne looked at the clock again.

  ‘Ah…pining to see him. That’s always a good sign. I can go and come back another day. Don’t want to stand in the way of true love.’

  Rayne smiled, brushing Margy’s words away. True love? No. Impossible. As far as Rayne was concerned, it didn’t exist. Well…it did but for people like Earlene and Jarvis, Janey and Jarrod or Donna and Janic. Not for her. She had her mother’s genes and from the few relationships she’d had in the past, true love most certainly wasn’t on the menu.

  When the check-up was finished, Rayne walked Margy out into the waiting room to find Henry chatting with the receptionist. Thankfully, there appeared to be no other patients waiting to see her, which meant she was finished.

  ‘Won’t be a moment. I’ll just get my things.’

  ‘Take your time,’ he called as she headed back into her consulting room. Rayne closed the door and quickly checked she had the files and medications she’d need for the house calls. When she’d done that, she crossed to the mirror to check her reflection and nearly squeaked with dismay. Her hair was all messy, her ponytail all loose and floppy and her face was as pale as though she’d just seen a ghost. Why hadn’t she thought to check her reflection before going out just now?

  Quickly, she set to work, finger-combing her hair and searching through her bag looking for a lipstick or lipgloss. She couldn’t find anything and made a mental note to put some make-up in her bag from then on. Instead, she bit her lips and pinched her cheeks to give them a bit more colour.

  ‘That’sthe best you can do,’ she told her reflection, then rolled her eyes and shook her head, unable to believe the tizz Henry had her in. He’d already seen her while she’d been delivering a baby; dressed in theatre scrubs with theatre mask and hat on; walking around the town bribing people with cupcakes! What did it matter how she looked?

  But for the first time in a long time Rayne wanted to look nice for someone…and that someone was Henry.

  This time, Henry drove. Not in her ute but in his highly comfortable and luxurious Jaguar.

  ‘You don’t mind your car getting a little dirty?’

  ‘It’s a car, Rayne.’

  She raised her eyebrows at that. ‘Not a big revhead, like most men?’

  He laughed. ‘Well, I appreciate the car, if that’s what you mean, but the roads we’ll be going on aren’t too bad. Correct?’

  She smiled. ‘Too late now if they are.’ They were headed away from town and curiosity started getting the better of her. ‘So…where are we going for lunch?’ She’d half expected him to take her to one of the numerous cafés around town but it appeared he had plans of another kind.

  ‘Ah…somewhere special.’

  ‘But you’re not going to tell me?’

 
‘Correct. Not much further to go.’

  ‘You seem to know your way around.’

  ‘Actually, Willard told me about this place and gave me directions.’

  ‘Willard?’

  ‘Problem?’

  ‘No. No. It just means the whole town will know we’ve gone off to have a secret rendezvous lunch together.’

  ‘They already have us matched. I heard Gladys talking to the minister the other day about reserving a date for us to come and see him for pre-marriage counselling.’

  ‘She didn’t!’ Rayne was horrified but Henry only laughed. ‘Oh, I’m so sorry.’

  ‘For what?’ He looked over at her for a moment. ‘It’s fine, Rayne. I’m used to being talked about.’

  ‘At the hospital?’

  ‘Yes.’

  ‘Sure, but not right in front of your face and not about such a topic as that.’

  ‘No.’ He chuckled. ‘The gossip around the hospital was more centred on the “poor Henry” aspect.’

  Rayne shook her head. ‘I hate that.’

  ‘The pity party attitude?’

  ‘Exactly.’

  ‘So do I.’

  ‘Is that why you left?’

  ‘Taken a sabbatical, you mean.’

  ‘No, I mean left.’ She shifted in her seat, adjusting the seat belt so she could look at him a little better. ‘You may have officially applied for leave but in your mind you were leaving.’

  ‘Are you accusing me of running away?’

  She pondered that for a moment. ‘Sort of but not quite.’

  ‘Well, I’m glad that’s clear.’ He chuckled. It was good to talk to her, to exchange banter with her, to laugh with her. He breathed in, her scent winding itself around him…and he liked it.

  ‘You can hardly run away from yourself, Henry.’

  ‘Good point.’ They were almost at Conargo now and he slowed the car, indicating a left turn, but all Rayne could see on the left was a wide-open field. Her curiosity was definitely piqued.

  ‘So…what else makes you think I’ve left my job at the hospital?’

  ‘For a start, the sentence you’ve just uttered because I never said you’d actually left your job but perhaps mentally you have. Since you arrived in town—’