The Unexpected Father

Samantha wasn’t sure whether he was teasing her or not. ‘Well, she certainly wasn’t a nurse at Chuanga Hospital,’ she said with a shrug. ‘The only accessories you can lay your hands on here are bandages, and we’re fast running out of them.’

He laughed at that and slammed the back of the car shut. ‘On that happy note, perhaps we should hit the road and get out of here now?’

She nodded, her heart starting to beat a rapid, nervous tattoo again. It wasn’t just the thought of the danger that lay ahead of them on the road that made her nervous, it was the thought that she was leaving her job, the place that had been her home for over two years, and she was leaving to face an unknown destiny.

A door opened behind them and Sister Roberts came out with Nurse Kelly and several of Samantha’s work colleagues.

‘We thought we would give you a royal send-off.’ Joanne Kelly grinned at Samantha. ‘We’re going to miss you.’

‘Not too much, I hope,’ Samantha said honestly, her gaze moving to the sister anxiously. ‘I must admit that I feel incredibly guilty about this—as if I’m running out on you, that I’m letting you down by leaving.’

Sister Roberts shook her head. ‘You’re a fine nurse, Samantha and you have worked well for us over the years. We are grateful for that.’

The two women embraced. ‘Take care,’ the sister whispered as they pulled apart.

When Samantha turned to get into the Jeep she saw Joanne reaching to kiss Josh full on the lips. ‘Good luck,’ she was saying softly. ‘And if you ever come back this way, look me up.’

Samantha swung herself up behind the wheel. ‘When you are ready, Mr Hamilton,’ she said as she started the engine.

He grinned at that, but didn’t exactly hurry himself. ‘Thanks for looking after me so well, Joanne,’ he said, touching the nurse’s face with a gentle hand.

Samantha revved the engine and he turned and got in beside her. ‘What’s the matter, Sam?’ he asked derisively. ‘Anybody would think you were jealous.’

Irritation flitted briefly through Samantha as she put her foot down on the accelerator. ‘Of what?’ she grated sardonically. ‘You do like to flatter yourself, don’t you?’

He laughed at that, his laugh warm and attractive in the early-morning air.

Then she turned to wave to her colleagues and her irritation with Josh Hamilton was forgotten. She drove slowly out of the hospital compound, past the church where just a couple of days ago she had said a final goodbye to her husband, then down the narrow village street. A few schoolchildren standing along the roadside waved to them happily and shouted goodbye, their faces bright and smiling, their clothes shabby but well washed. Their laughing, playful voices drifted in the early-morning stillness.

As they left the village of Chuanga the sun was lifting higher in the sky, turning it from gold to crimson. Ahead the road was straight and undulating through the scrubland. Even though it was still early, heat shimmered against the horizon, like a molten wave of water.

The road was uneven and they bounced against the suspension as Samantha crunched through the gears.

Josh grimaced. ‘You may as well keep the Jeep in top,’ he advised drily. ‘You don’t have to worry about traffic lights or junctions, just a few wild animals who might decide to cross your path.’

She pushed her long hair back from her face and flicked him an impatient look. ‘I’m not completely stupid,’ she told him brusquely.

‘I hope not,’ he said laconically. ‘Otherwise I would never have asked you to drive.’ He picked up a pair of binoculars and trained them on the road ahead for a moment.

He’s so arrogant, she thought angrily. Joanne must be completely off her rocker to find such a man attractive.

Then the surface of the road changed to what amounted to a mere dirt track. ‘Keep your foot down,’ he directed her curtly as they hit the rough patch and she instinctively started to ease up on the gas.

‘Who is driving this car?’ Her tone was sarcastic.

‘You are.’ He grinned at her, his eyes moving over the soft curves of her body. ‘And may I say you are doing so beautifully?’

‘Don’t patronise me,’ she told him crossly. Then she found the car wheels spinning ineffectually as they became momentarily stuck in deep ruts in the road.

‘I hate to say, I told you so,’ Josh drawled. ‘But if you don’t keep your foot down that’s going to happen again and again.’

‘Did anyone ever tell you that you’re a know-it-all?’

‘I’ve been called worse.’

Gritting her teeth, she did as he said and the vehicle jerked along obligingly. As they drove, it felt as if the car was walking over the terrain, first one side then the other, negotiating small hillocks and deep gouges in the earth.

As the hours passed and the sun climbed higher in the sky the heat became more and more intense. Dust flying in through the open top of the Jeep caught on Samantha’s throat until it felt like sandpaper.

‘It’s like an oven out here,’ she commented rawly, unfastening the top buttons on her T-shirt in a vain attempt to let some cool air flood over her body.

Josh glanced at his watch. ‘Nearly midday,’ he murmured almost to himself. ‘We haven’t done bad.’

‘Thanks.’ She cast a sardonic glance in his direction at the grudging compliment. She was the one who ‘hadn’t done bad’.

Josh grinned, leaned over into the back of the Jeep and brought out a can of cola. ‘Can I tempt you to something refreshing?’

Samantha’s eyebrows shot up in surprise. ‘Where did you get that?’

‘Corner shop,’ he answered drolly.

She frowned. ‘You know what I mean. Cans of that particular drink are like gold-dust these days in Chuanga.’

‘Strange how the most ordinary, mundane things assume enormous desirability when you can’t get them, isn’t it?’ He smiled. ‘This was a parting gift from Joanne. She really is quite a girl.’ He held the can out to her.

Was there an innuendo in those words somewhere? she wondered grimly. Did he mean that his laid-back, devilmay-care indifference was what made Joanne so keen...or was the heat making her read things into an innocent remark? Despite the fact that her throat felt parched and on fire, she had a moment of hesitation before accepting the drink. Something about Joanne Kelly’s blantant desire for this man irritated her immensely.

‘Are you referring, in your own modest way, to the fact that Joanne found you attractive?’ she murmured caustically as she tipped the can to her lips. The liquid wasn’t as cold as she would have liked it, but it was nectar to her parched throat.

A gleam of amusement lit his eyes. ‘Well, actually, I would never describe myself as ordinary or mundane, but...’ He shrugged. ‘As they say, beauty is in the eye of the beholder.’

‘Yes, there’s no accounting for taste.’ She handed the can back to him. ‘Do women usually throw themselves at you like that?’

‘Only on days with a Y in them,’ he said with a mischievous glint in his green eyes.

‘Very funny.’ She turned her attention firmly back to the road in front of them. ‘What does your wife think about it?’ she asked nonchalantly.

‘She’s my ex-wife. I thought I’d already mentioned that fact.’

‘I’m surprised you haven’t married again, what with all these women chasing you.’ Samantha’s mouth slanted in a wry smile.

‘The idea doesn’t appeal,’ he said, lifting his binoculars and scanning the horizon again. ‘Some men just aren’t cut out for marriage.’

Was he like Ben? she wondered suddenly.

‘Want me to take over while you get something to eat?’ Josh’s voice brought her attention winging back with a jolt.

‘Are you up to driving?’ she asked hesitantly.