The Unexpected Father

How long they stayed like that she didn’t know; it felt like hours, but it could have been minutes. When Josh pulled away from her she felt cold, bereft. She watched as he chanced looking out over the top of the door again.

‘They’re asleep,’ he whispered as he sank back down to her.

‘What will we do?’ Her voice was faint.

‘Try and do likewise.’ He smiled at her look of consternation. ‘Don’t worry. I’ll keep watch on the situation.’ He glanced at his watch. ‘Approximately seven hours to dawn. We’ll stay put for six hours; if they are still here then we’ll leave.’

‘Leave the Jeep?’

‘We’ll have no choice. As soon as the sun comes up they’ll see it.’

Samantha swallowed hard.

‘Come on, try and get some sleep.’ He reached for the blanket that was lying beside them and put it carefully around her. ‘Use my knee as a pillow.’

‘I can’t sleep,’ she hissed softly.

‘Try.’ He put a hand at her back and pushed her firmly down towards him. ‘It’s important, Sam,’ he whispered urgently. ‘You’ll need all your strength if we have to walk tomorrow.’

She hesitated for a moment and then did as he asked, curling down beside him and putting her head on his lap. It wasn’t very comfortable, and she was sure she would never sleep, but she closed her eyes to please him.

An animal howled in the distance, its cry unearthly, like a soul in torment. Samantha huddled closer to Josh. His arms went around her, his hand stroking the silky softness of her hair. For what seemed like a very long time she was tense and frightened, listening to every sound outside with bated breath. Josh continued to stroke her hair. The touch of his hand was soothingly hypnotic, and after a while she felt her heartbeats slowing, felt her eyes beginning to close as exhaustion started to overtake her best efforts to keep awake.

When she next opened her eyes daylight filtered down on her through the leafy branches draped over the Jeep. She was alone in the vehicle and fear rushed back as she remembered last night and the danger that had surrounded them. Where was Josh? She sat up cautiously, her heart slamming against her chest, and abruptly a wave of nausea swept over her.

She swallowed hard on the awful feeling. Morning sickness was something she had been plagued with since the beginning of her pregnancy. Desperately she fought against it; she couldn’t afford to be ill now.

Josh was standing next to a camp fire, his hands on his hips as he stared down at a pan boiling on it He turned sharply as she moved.

‘Well, good morning.’ His face lit with a smile as he saw her. Then his eyes narrowed on the deathly pallor of her skin.

‘Are you OK?’

‘Yes...yes, fine.’ Thankfully the feeling was starting to subside. Perhaps it wasn’t morning sickness, just apprehension and nerves. ‘What happened?’

‘Well, there are two pieces of good news and one bad,’ he said easily.

She started to relax at his laid-back manner. Relief was heady, like a good wine running through her body. Josh was smiling, so nothing could be that bad. ‘What are they?’ She pushed her hair back from her face, feeling groggy and only half-awake, but gratefully not ill.

‘Our neighbours left about two hours ago, and they were heading back the way we have come so we don’t need to worry about bumping into them again.’

‘Thank heavens for that.’ Her voice was fervent. ‘What’s the bad news?’

‘There’s no bacon and eggs on the menu.’ His teeth flashed white against his tanned skin. ‘Will black coffee suffice?’

The mere thought made Samantha’s stomach protest. ‘I think I’d just like some water, please,’ she said, trying to push at the branches against the door of the Jeep to get out.

He came across to help her. As he opened the door he held out his hand to assist her in climbing out. It was fortunate that he did because she stumbled as she tried to move, her limbs stiff from the cramped position she had slept in.

His arms were strong as they caught her, and for a moment she allowed herself to lean against him. Then she bent to rub her legs.

‘Pins and needles?’ He didn’t let go of her immediately.

She nodded. ‘Must have been the way I was lying.’

Josh laughed and bent to rub her legs with brisk movements. For a moment she was just relieved by the firm massage as he made the pain start to subside. Then she became aware of the touch of his hands in a different way—a way that made her heart stop beating for a second. Abruptly she pulled away from him. ‘That’s fine now,’ she told him crisply.

He straightened and looked at her. For a moment there was a tension between them that she didn’t dare to examine too closely.

‘I’ll get you some water.’ He moved away from her towards the fire.

She watched as he lifted the canister and carefully poured her a cup.

‘Come on.’ He looked round at her as she just stood watching him. ‘If I put this down on the ground the ants will drink it before you get a chance to even sip it.’

She tried to smile and moved closer to accept the plastic cup he held out towards her. Carefully she avoided looking at him as she did so. Had Josh noticed how she had just reacted to the touch of his hands? She cringed with embarrassment as she thought about the charged silence of a moment ago. Of course he had noticed. Josh Hamilton didn’t miss anything.

Her senses reeled. She was shocked by the flare of desire that had started to uncurl inside her at the touch of his hands. No...it wasn’t desire, she told herself forcefully. She just wasn’t awake properly. If Josh imagined otherwise that was his mistake.

‘Would you like a biscuit or some fruit?’ Josh sat down next to a rucksack that he had taken from the back of the Jeep.

‘No, I’m not hungry, thanks.’ She watched as he helped himself to a piece of fruit from the bag. On second thoughts, maybe he hadn’t noticed anything, she told herself as she started to feel a bit better. Knowing Josh, he would have made some sarcastic comment if he had.

He looked remarkably fresh, considering the way they had spent the night. His dark hair sat smoothly back from his face; his denim jeans and shirt were not even slightly creased. The only thing different about him was the dark stubble on his face, but strangely that just seemed to enhance his dark good looks even further. She had to admit grudgingly that she could see why Joanne Kelly had been so smitten with him. He was very attractive.