Читать книгу Six Sexy Doctors Part 2 - Joanna Neil - Страница 11

CHAPTER FIVE

BY THE time they arrived back at the bay in front of Meagan’s house the wind had picked up. Dark clouds were scudding across the sky and the first drops of rain were starting to fall. It seemed as though Cameron’s weather predictions had been right, and he hadn’t been making excuses to cut their trip short after all. As Meagan tidied the boat in preparation for leaving, she knew the worsening weather meant there was little chance she and Cameron would be heading out again later. Probably a good thing—although she longed to give him a taste of his own medicine. Already a plan for revenge was forming in her mind.

As she stood forward of the boat, ready to leap out with the ropes to fasten her, she noticed a slim, blonde figure watching them approach. Rachel! She had probably come down to collect the children and take them home, Meagan thought. Or perhaps she was checking up on Cameron. With a shock of dismay, Meagan realised she was still dressed in very little except Cameron’s jumper. It was too late to do anything about it now. And anyway, whatever Rachel thought, whatever was between Cameron and his ex-wife, it had nothing to do with her.

Ian ran towards his mother as soon as he got ashore. ‘Mummy,’ he said, ‘you’ll never guess. Dr Galbraith jumped in the water. Daddy said she fancied a swim. But then she was all wet and had to put on Daddy’s clothes. And she had seaweed in her hair and she looked cross. Then we all laughed and she did too. We had such a good time. I wish you would have come with us.’

‘You know I don’t like getting wet, darling,’ Rachel said, her cool eyes regarding Meagan disdainfully. Meagan felt self-conscious and embarrassed standing before this immaculate woman and wearing Cameron’s clothes.

‘I thought I’d come and check that you are having dinner with us at the House, Cameron. I have to go back to London tomorrow for a few days, but I’ll be back in time for the ball.’

Ian looked at his mother. His lower lip trembled.

‘You don’t have to go back already, Mummy. You said you were staying for ages this time. Daddy, tell Mummy she can’t go. She has to stay here with us.’

Cameron’s eyes were hooded. He looked at his ex-wife.

‘Do you have to go? Can’t you stay a little longer? For your son’s sake, if nothing else?’

‘You know I can only tolerate it here for so long, Cameron. Besides, I need a new dress for the dance as well as checking in with the agency. I’ll be back before you know it.’ She reached out and tweaked her son’s cheek. ‘You know I’d take you with me if I could, don’t you, darling? But there’s school. And anyway Daddy doesn’t like me to take you away.’ She slid a look in Cameron’s direction, seemingly waiting for a response. When she didn’t get one she continued, ‘I think we’d better leave Dr Galbraith to get dressed, don’t you, Cameron?’ She raised an elegant eyebrow in Meagan’s direction. ‘I’d invite you to dinner, but I’m sure you have plenty you’d rather be getting on with. My family has taken up too much of your time as it is.’

Meagan felt herself flush under the woman’s thinly veiled hostility. She couldn’t imagine wanting to spend an evening in her company.

‘No, I think I’ll have a long bath and watch a movie. Thanks all the same.’ Meagan turned to Ian and Effie.

‘Thank you both very much for your company this afternoon. I can’t remember when I last had such good crew.’

‘Does that mean we can do it again?’ Ian’s cheerful smile had disappeared. Once again he looked like the solemn child older than his years that Meagan had first met.

‘Any time. You just phone me whenever it’s a good day, and if I’m free we’ll just pack a picnic and go. If that’s all right with you?’ Meagan asked Rachel.

‘Whatever,’ Rachel replied, shrugging her shoulders and looking bored. ‘Although I have to say I’m surprised, if you are so keen on kids, that you haven’t any of your own.’

Meagan flinched. Was it possible that this woman knew? No, it couldn’t be. No one knew except Charlie. It had been a stab in the dark. Rachel couldn’t know. She picked up her rucksack and shivering, through whether it was from the cold or something else she couldn’t be sure.

‘I’ll return your sweater to the surgery, Cameron. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’ll say goodnight.’ She walked away and didn’t look back.

Later that evening the weather turned stormy. The rain was lashing against the windows and they rattled at the onslaught. Meagan was surprised at how quickly the weather had changed, just as Cameron had predicted. He had been right to cut their boat trip short.

Meagan shivered. The house felt cool and she eyed the fire apprehensively before rolling up her sleeves and making an attempt at getting it going. Happily, after her third failed attempt Mrs McLeod appeared, and with a certain amount of disdainful clucking got it going for her.

‘I’ll do it for you this time, but watch carefully so you can manage yourself next time. I won’t always be around to help.’

Meagan was getting the distinct impression that the housekeeper didn’t approve of her.

‘I’m sure I’ll manage next time. I’m quite good at picking things up.’

Mrs McLeod harrumphed, lifted the pail by the fire and headed towards the door.

‘Where are you going with the bucket?’ Meagan asked.

‘Out to the peat stack at the back of the house. You’ll need more to see the fire through the evening.’

‘Oh, no, you don’t. It’s wild out there.’ Meagan took the pail from the protesting woman’s fingers. ‘If anyone’s going, its me.’

Reluctantly, Mrs McLeod let Meagan take the bucket. She handed her a torch. ‘Here. You’ll need this. It’s as black as the peat you’re going for out there.’

By the time Meagan returned, Mrs. McLeod had set a pot of tea and a couple of scones on the table, and was tying a scarf around her head.

‘Get out of those wet things and warm yourself by the fire,’ she said brusquely, but Meagan could tell that she was beginning to unbend. ‘I’ll be off to the house before the weather gets any worse.’

Immediately, Meagan put her jacket back on.

‘I’ll run you up quickly.’

‘No, indeed you won’t,’ the older woman protested. ‘We island women are a lot tougher than you city girls. Although—’ she smiled at Meagan ‘—you are not quite as useless as I thought you might be.’

Before Meagan had a chance to protest further, Mrs. McLeod had left.

Once she’d had a bath and something to eat Meagan, took her book and curled up in front of the fire. The wind had risen further and the little house shook as the wind rattled the windows. She was glad that she didn’t have to be out on a night like this. Once or twice the lights flickered. She had been warned that the electricity often went down during storms. Meagan hoped there were some candles stashed somewhere, but if not she’d just have to make do with an early night. Not a bad idea, she thought as she toasted her feet in the warmth of the fire and snuggled deeper into her thick dressing-gown.

She was just about to go to bed when there was a knock at the door. As she opened it, the force of the wind almost took it out of her hand. Standing in front of her was Cameron. His hair was plastered to his forehead and he was dressed in oilskins.

‘Can I come in?’ He had to shout to make himself heard above the wind. It would serve him right if I left him there, Meagan thought. Then he’d know what it felt like to be soaked to the skin. But something in Cameron’s expression told her that this was no social call. Silently she stood back and let him enter. He strode over to the fire and warmed his hands.

‘We need your help, Meagan,’ he said. ‘One of the fishing boats didn’t return this evening. Search and Rescue are sending a helicopter. It’s too stormy for a lifeboat. I’m going with them but we need all hands on deck at the hospital if we find them. And that means all the doctors at both practices. There are four men on that boat.’ He looked anguished. ‘And I know them all.’

‘Of course. I’ll get dressed straight away. But why didn’t you phone? I could have gone straight to the hospital.’

‘Have you tried your phone in the last couple of hours?’ he asked. ‘The lines are down. The mobiles too. It doesn’t help with the communication problems. And, anyway, I didn’t want you driving to the hospital on your own. It’s high tide later tonight and the wind is already pushing the waves over the causeways. If you don’t know exactly where you are going it’s easy to lose your way. But we will need both cars, so you’ll have to follow me closely. I hope to God people have stayed off the road.’

As Meagan ran upstairs to get dressed he called after her, ‘Be as quick as you can, Meagan. I need to be ready to leave the minute the chopper gets here.’

Within minutes they were making their slow way towards the hospital. Meagan was gripping the steering-wheel so tightly she could feel her nails digging into the palms of her hands. Even with the wipers on their fastest setting she could barely see the road in front of her. Instead, she concentrated on following the red rear lights of Cameron’s Jeep. As they crossed the causeway that separated the two islands, water spewed over her four-wheel-drive. For one horrifying moment Meagan thought she was going to be swept away. Why had she ever thought life was going to be unexciting here?

At last they arrived at the hospital, only to find that they were the only medics there so far. The doctors who lived on the south of the island were still making their way. However Meagan was relieved to find that Dorothy and Sophie from the practice had managed it and were waiting with the three hospital nurses to offer what help they could.

‘Any sign of the helicopter yet?’ Cameron asked.

‘They haven’t been able to take off yet. They’re waiting for another crew member and for the wind to die down.’

Cameron cursed. ‘The longer those men are out there, the less chance they have.’

‘Cameron, I’ve got the coastguard on the radio.’ Dorothy handed Cameron the radio receiver. ‘Luckily we have radio contact still,’ she said to Meagan. ‘The hospital here is well set up, thank goodness, for emergencies like these.’

Everyone listened in silence as Cameron took the call. It was evident from his expression that it was more bad news. As he replaced the receiver he turned to the anxious group, his expression grim.

‘More trouble, I’m afraid. A car has gone over the side of one of the causeways. Luckily it isn’t submerged—at least not yet—but the driver is trapped and the tide is rising. The fire brigade is on it’s way now. Dorothy, could you get me the surgical kit? I need to go. The driver may have to be cut out.’

‘I’ll go, Cameron,’ Meagan offered quietly. ‘You wait here for the helicopter.’

He shook his head. ‘It’ll be at least an hour before it’s here. The other doctors should be here by then if I’m not back.’

‘Then I’m coming with you,’ Meagan said. ‘No argument. We can keep in touch with the hospital by radio. If the helicopter looks as if it’s on its way and the others haven’t made it by then, one of us can come back.’

‘I haven’t time to argue. Dorothy, we’ll take the radio with us. Keep in touch. Come on, then, Meagan. Let’s go. We’ll take my car. It’s too risky for you on your own.’

Once again Meagan had to brave the lashing rain and wind. She couldn’t begin to imagine what it was like for the fishermen. If they were alive they must be freezing as well as shocked. Although the outside air temperature wasn’t particularly cold, she knew the temperature of the Atlantic sea could kill within minutes.

It took them ten minutes to drive to the causeway connecting the middle Island to the southern one. The fire engine was there before them and they were glad of its flashing lights to guide them quickly and safely towards the stricken vehicle. Cameron was out of the car almost before he had brought it to a halt and Meagan hurried after him.

‘Any luck, Angus?’ he called out to the fireman as he approached.

‘Hello, Cameron, it’s good to see you,’ the burly islander responded. ‘It’s a visitor to the island. His wife and two kids were in the car with him. We’ve managed to get everyone but the driver out. His foot is stuck and the tide is rising. It’s up to his shoulders now and he’s beginning to panic.’

‘Any chance you could pull the car out, occupant and all?’ Cameron asked.

‘We’ve already thought of that. But I’m afraid there’s no chance. If we had more time then maybe. As it is, we have ten, maybe fifteen minutes left before the water rises above his neck level.’

‘Right, then, let’s take a look.’ Cameron slid down the side of the causeway and slipped into the water. Tall though he was, the water came up to his hips. The front of the car was pointing downwards, meaning that the driver would be even lower than they were. Meagan knew that unless Cameron could release the man, they would have to amputate the foot. But she didn’t know if it was even possible to amputate below water. And if they couldn’t amputate, what would they do? They couldn’t just leave him to drown.

She slid down the slope after Cameron, knowing that a fireman was following with the medical kit held above his head clear of the swirling water. Whatever Cameron decided to do, he’d need help. She watched as, after leaning through the passenger window to say a few words to the frightened but conscious driver, Cameron’s head dropped below the water. A minute later he surfaced.

‘It’s pretty murky down there,’ he shouted over the wind. ‘Even if I had time to amputate, there is no way I’d be able to see well enough. However, there is a little bit of space between his foot and the pedal. I think I might be able to pull it out with brute force. I am just going down for another look. Keep an eye on the patient, would you?’

As he dropped once more below the surface of the water, Meagan slid into the freezing cold water, gasping as she felt herself lose feeling. If it was this cold for her and she was only in up to her waist, what would it be like for the car driver? She also knew that the car was in a precarious position. At any moment it could slide deeper into the water, taking its occupant—and possibly Cameron—with it. She realised they were working against the clock.

‘What’s your name, sir?’ she asked

‘Richard,’ he said.

He looked pale and his lips were blue. With the cold, or did he have internal injuries? Whatever the reason, Meagan was sure he was going into shock soon, if he didn’t drown first. She reached into the bag for an oxygen mask and cylinder. ‘Could you hold on to the cylinder?’ she asked the fireman standing beside her. She slipped the mask over Richard’s face, talking to him in a calm voice. ‘We’ll give you something for the pain in a second,’ she said.

Suddenly the car, with a screeching of metal on rock, started to slide further into the sea. The fireman pulled Meagan away from the car, preventing her from being dragged with it.

Meagan held her breath as for one dreadful moment she thought the car was going to completely disappear under the water, but it stopped after sliding a few inches. Without thinking about the danger, Meagan went back down after it. Richard grasped for her hand and held it. He was clearly terrified. Meagan looked around for Cameron. Had he been trapped under the moving car? She couldn’t stop herself crying out with relief when his head reappeared.

‘Whew! That was close,’ he said, and unbelievably he winked at Meagan. Was it possible that the man was actually enjoying the danger?

‘I think we can get him out if the firemen pull while I manoeuvre his ankle. The only thing, Richard,’ he said, turning to the patient, ‘is I’m almost sure your ankle is broken. It’s going to be pretty painful doing it this way.’

Richard lowered his mask and managed a nervous smile. ‘A bit of pain is better than the alternative, wouldn’t you say?’ he said. ‘Just do what ever you have to, but get me out of here.’

The wind was still rising and the waves whipped the words from his mouth, but Meagan knew what Cameron intended to do.

‘There’s no time, Meagan. We have to give him a shot of morphine, then the firemen will pull him out while I dislodge his ankle. It’ll be painful, but with a bit of luck he’ll pass out.’

In the end it happened just as Cameron said it would. They got him out and he came around in the ambulance a few minutes later.

‘My family?’ he moaned. ‘Are they all right?’

‘Yes. They’ve gone ahead to the hospital to be checked over,’ Meagan soothed the frantic man.

Richard tried to sit up.

‘Just relax. It’s only a precaution. They’re fine. They didn’t leave until they knew you were safely out of the car and we promised we were right behind them.’

He sank back down and Meagan replaced the oxygen mask.

‘You go in the ambulance with him. I’ll drive,’ Cameron said.

Meagan looked at Cameron. His hair was plastered to his forehead and streams of water ran down his face. Although he must be very cold, he showed no signs of discomfort. If anything, Meagan thought he looked entirely at home with the elements. She, on the other hand, was shivering.

Cameron ran to his Jeep and returned with a thick jacket.

‘Here,’ he said. ‘Put this around you. When you get to the hospital, make sure you get out of those wet clothes immediately.’

‘Second time today I’ve been soaked,’ Meagan said, attempting a smile. ‘And the second time today I’ve borrowed your clothes.’

Cameron looked at her. ‘You did all right back there.’ He grinned and Meagan’s heart thudded. But before she could reply he was running back to his car.

The hospital was a hive of activity when Meagan arrived with Richard in the ambulance. The injured man’s family were sitting in blankets, looking bedraggled and shocked, but according to Dorothy they were fine except for a few cuts and bruises. Not having taken the time to change out of his wet clothes, Cameron was on the radio.

‘The helicopter still can’t take off,’ he said. ‘They’ll let us know as soon as they can. But another trawler has spotted the boat. It’s still afloat, although limping slightly. It’s too choppy for the trawler to get any closer, but there’s still hope that the men are all right. In the meantime, I’m afraid there is nothing we can do except wait.’

‘Hey, Cameron, will you, please, go and get changed?’ Dorothy said crossly. ‘You’re dripping all over the floor.’ Despite her tone, Meagan could see she was simply concerned about him. ‘Richard’s ankle is being X-rayed and then if, as we suspect it is broken, we’ll attend to it. He’ll need to stay the night. In fact, the whole family should. There’s no way they can go back out in this.’

Cameron stood for a moment surveying his team. Satisfied that everything was under control, his eyes lighted on Meagan.

‘Dr Galbraith, did I not give strict orders that you were to change out of those clothes the minute you got back?’

‘I think you should use the shower first,’ Meagan said. ‘I’ll stay with the patients.’

With a couple of strides Cameron was by her side. ‘Out of here,’ he growled. ‘Unless you want me to lift you bodily into the shower?’

Aware of the amused glances from the staff and certain that Cameron would do what he threatened, Meagan backed out hastily. ‘I’ll only be a minute,’ she said.

When she returned, wearing a clean pair of scrubs and some theatre clogs she had found in the changing room, Dorothy thrust a steaming cup of coffee into her hands. Suddenly she felt exhausted. It had been a long day and it wasn’t over yet. She couldn’t remember the last time she’d had so much physical exercise. Who needed a gym? She put the cup down and closed her eyes, letting the warmth of the department seep into her bones.

She must have fallen asleep briefly, because the next thing she knew she was being lifted onto a gurney and covered by a blanket. She looked up through half-closed eyes to find Cameron looking down at her, his expression inscrutable. She started to sit up, but he pressed her back down.

‘Take a rest while you can,’ he said. As she started to protest he stopped her words with a finger on her lips. ‘It’s good to rest when you can. I promise I’ll let you know when we need you.’

When she next woke up, the wind seemed to have died down a bit, and the rain only lashed against the windows sporadically. Cameron had also changed into scrubs and was just replacing the radio handset.

‘The coastguard is taking off. They’ll be with us in about twenty minutes,’ he said. ‘They are going to pick me up so I can go with them. They’ve re-established contact with the fishing boat and it seems that one of the crew has a suspected head injury. They are going to winch me down so I can make an assessment.’

How could he look so calm? Meagan thought. But his brow was furrowed and lines of tiredness were evident around his eyes.

‘I can go instead of you,’ Meagan offered. ‘I’ve had a rest so I’m probably fitter.’

Cameron looked at her and grinned, the dimples at the corners of his mouth evident.

‘You are a brave woman, Dr Galbraith. And thanks, but no. I’m a volunteer member of the coastguard and I’ve been trained for this. You haven’t. You stay here and wait for our return.’

Meagan could see that while she had been asleep one of the doctors from the other practice had arrived. There were more than enough people to cope at the hospital.

‘Let me come on the helicopter at least,’ she pleaded. ‘I’ve never been on one before. I promise I won’t get in the way.’

Cameron frowned, considering her proposal.

‘All right, then, but only if you promise not to get in the way. It’s probably not a bad idea to have another doctor ready to assess any casualties. But if there is any chance at all that you’ll be frightened, let one of the others go. The last thing any of us need is a scared doctor getting in our way.’

‘Don’t you know by now, Dr Stuart, that nothing frightens me? At least, nothing physical,’ she added under her breath, turning away so he wouldn’t catch her words.

The airport where the helicopter would be landing was only a few minutes away by car and had already touched down when Meagan and Cameron arrived.

‘This is Dr Galbraith.’ Cameron introduced her as a member of the crew helped them on with suits and harnesses. ‘She’s coming too.’

The crewman nodded. ‘Been up before?’ he asked Meagan as he made the final adjustments to her harness. Meagan shook her head. ‘But I love flying.’

The crewman, who introduced himself as Jamie, smiled and handed her a set of headphones. ‘It gets pretty noisy up there. You’ll need these. I have to warn you it’s going to be a bumpy ride.’

Meagan glanced over at Cameron. He looked perfectly at home in his outfit, as if he had been flying all his life. He searched her eyes as if checking out her anxiety levels before, satisfied, grinning at her and giving her a thumbs-up.

He reached over and made a slight adjustment to her helmet. Meagan felt the warmth of his fingers sweep across her jaw.

‘It’s going to be rough out there. Last chance to change your mind,’ he murmured, his voice low. ‘No one will think any the worse of you.’

She held his glance. His eyes were warm and steady. She felt her heart flutter. Maybe she was a little nervous, she thought. Why else would her heart be racing?

‘Let’s get on with it,’ she said, climbing into the helicopter. ‘We don’t want to keep those poor men waiting any longer than they have to.’

It was as turbulent in the air as Jamie had warned. Once the helicopter lurched and dropped. Despite herself, Meagan gasped and grabbed Cameron’s thigh, momentarily squeezing her eyes closed. When she dared to open them again it was to find Cameron looking down at her, amused.

‘Did any one ever tell you that you have strong hands Meagan?’ He grinned. Embarrassed, she forced herself to uncurl her fingers and remove her hand. But the sensation of his rock-hard thigh muscles stayed in her fingertips. Now was not the time! She had to concentrate on the job ahead.

‘When we locate the vessel, they’ll winch me down.’ Cameron’s voice crackled through her headphones. ‘I’ll make an assessment, then they’ll send down the stretcher. While I’m getting the patient strapped onto the stretcher, they’ll lift anyone who doesn’t need assistance. Once they are on board, you’ll need to carry out another assessment and make sure they receive any treatment they need. Get them warmed up at least. OK?’

‘Aye, aye, sir,’ Meagan said, getting into the swing of things. ‘Or should I say Roger that? Like they do in the movies?’

Cameron rolled his eyes at her, then smiled. Meagan admitted to herself that she loved the way the dimples appeared in his cheeks when he smiled. Then, just as quickly, she berated herself. What was the matter with her? She was behaving like a hormonally charged teenager. It must be the adrenaline.

She was interrupted from her wayward thoughts by the pilot announcing that they had found the missing fishing boat. Meagan peered through the rain but could see nothing except waves stretching as far as the eye could see. Cameron touched her shoulder and pointed slightly forward from where Meagan was looking. Eventually her eyes could just make out the shape of the stricken vessel beneath them. It wasn’t a particularly big boat. Probably just big enough for the four man crew and their catch. The fishing boat was listing to the side as if it had taken water on board. On the deck stood three of the fishermen, waving frantically. One was gesticulating at the deck, but apart from that they seemed unharmed. It seemed it was the only the fourth absent fisherman that they would have to worry about.

As the helicopter hovered, Cameron made his final preparations to be winched down.

‘I’ll send up the three men while I’m checking out the injured man,’ he reiterated. Hopefully it won’t take too long to get everyone on board.’ Then before Meagan had a chance to reply he was being lowered towards the boat.

She watched, her heart in her mouth, as the cable holding Cameron swayed in the wind. Underneath them the fishing vessel was also continuously moving, one minute rising towards them, then the next falling away. Meagan now knew that she had completely underestimated the risk Cameron was—they were all—taking. She knew if it weren’t for the skill of the crew the helicopter could crash or, and she shuddered at the thought, Cameron could be crushed against the moving boat. She could barely bring herself to watch until finally Cameron was on the boat and unhooking himself from the winch. ‘Thank God,’ she prayed under her breath. He’d made it.

But the danger wasn’t over yet. They still had to get everyone on board. A few heart-stopping minutes later the first fisherman appeared in the doorway of the chopper. Meagan and Jamie pulled him on board, where he lay gasping and shivering. Meagan had only enough time to satisfy herself that he was cold and shocked but otherwise unharmed before the next fisherman was pulled in.

As she examined the second man, she could feel the first man pulling at the sleeve of her jacket. He leant close, shouting in her ear.

‘It’s Jock who’s hurt. The rest of us are all right. But Jock was hit on the back of his head by the equipment we use to lift the fish. He’s in a bad way.’

‘Try not to worry.’ Meagan had to yell to make herself heard above the roar of the helicopter and the sound of the wind. ‘Dr Stuart will look after him.’

‘I don’t think he can move him,’ the man yelled back. ‘I think he’s hurt his spine. He hasn’t been able to move his arms or legs since.’

Meagan, satisfied that the second man was also essentially unhurt, moved on to the last man who by this time had been winched on board. At the same time she was thinking frantically about what she’d been told. What if Jock had sustained injuries to his spine? Could they take the risk of moving him? Even strapped to the stretcher, surely it was too much of a risk? But what else could they do? They couldn’t leave him there.

Once again Cameron’s voice crackled in her ear, this time confirming her worst fears.

‘I’m sorry, guys, but you’ll have to leave us here for the time being. I think Jock may have fractured his spine. I don’t want to take any chances trying to manoeuvre him onto the stretcher. Even with help it’s too much of a risk.’

‘Roger that,’ came the pilot’s reply. ‘Is the boat capable of staying afloat until we can get someone to tow you in?’

‘It had better be,’ came the grim reply, ‘otherwise you could say we are truly sunk. I’m going to take off my radio for a couple of minutes so I can listen to Jock’s chest. I’ll speak to you again when I’ve finished.’

The last man on board was shouting something at Jamie. Meagan couldn’t make out the words but she could tell Jamie was worried.

‘What is it?’ She asked.

‘He says Cameron hurt himself when he landed on the deck of the boat. He took a blow to his forehead.’

‘In that case, I’m going down. He’ll need help.’

‘Sorry, no can do,’ Jamie said. ‘It’s too dangerous for a woman. Besides, Cameron will have my guts for garters if I let you go down. And I’m not having that.’

Meagan pulled herself to her full height.

‘In this scenario, don’t think of me as a woman,’ she said through gritted teeth. ‘Think of me as a doctor. And if you don’t let me go down, I’ll have your guts for garters.’

Something in the look she gave him must have convinced him. ‘What do you think, Captain?’ he asked.

‘I don’t like it,’ came the reply, ‘but I don’t know what else we can do. He needs help and I need you on board. But if we are going to drop her down, we need to do it now.’

‘OK, then, Doctor, let’s get you hooked up.’

When Meagan felt herself being lowered from the helicopter she felt truly scared for the first time. The rope swayed with the combined turbulence of the helicopter’s blades and the wind. She also knew with certainty that Cameron would be furious when he saw her. At that precise moment she didn’t know what she feared most—this awful sensation of being buffeted by the wind or Cameron’s anger.

Sure enough, when he reached out to pull her onto the deck he was livid. Meagan could see that he had sustained a nasty gash on his forehead which was bleeding profusely. He seemed oblivious to the rivulets of blood that streamed down his face.

‘What on earth are you thinking?’ he said. ‘I’m going to tell them to winch you right back up.’ Before he could act on his threat, Meagan had unhooked herself, just as Jamie had shown her, and was giving the helicopter a thumbs-up.

‘The men told me you had hurt your head. You can’t look after a patient properly if you’re hurt yourself,’ Meagan said firmly. ‘I want to take a look at it.’

She could see that Cameron wasn’t finished with her yet, but there was little he could do as the helicopter had already left.

‘Let’s get below out of the wind. Jock’s there already.’

Meagan watched anxiously as Cameron used the rails at the side of the steps to go below. She wanted to check Cameron’s injury, but she knew, for the time being, that keeping the boat afloat was the more urgent issue. It was listing to one side, rising with each wave and still taking on water. She knew she needed to keep the boat turned into the wind as best she could or there would be the danger of the boat taking on more water with every wave and capsizing. Now that she was actually on the boat she felt happier. The sea had never frightened her. Just as long as you treated it with respect and kept your cool.

She made her way to the wheelhouse to turn the stricken boat into the wind. She knew she would have to stay at the wheel until help reached them, hopefully before too long.

An irate Cameron appeared.

‘What are you doing here?’ he said.

‘I’m staying here,’ Meagan replied. ‘If you need me to help with Jock, that’s a different matter, but unless you do, this is where I’ll be.’

‘Jock’s stable for the moment. Why don’t I steer the boat and you keep an eye on Jock?’

‘Tell me, Cameron, can you do something about the wound on your head?’

Cameron touched his head gingerly. ‘It just needs a dressing—something to keep it from bleeding,’ he said.

‘It’s settled, then,’ Meagan said. ‘You go back below and sort your head out and keep an eye on Jock. You’re the one with more medical experience and I’m the one who knows how to keep a boat afloat. I’m staying here. If I need you, I’ll yell—I promise.’

The next two hours passed slowly. Meagan kept the boat headed into the wind, knowing that as long as she did that they should stay afloat. Every now and again Cameron would check to see that she was still all right. The second time he appeared he had bandaged his head—and not made a very good job of it either, Meagan thought perversely. She ignored his entreaties for her to change places with him. After a time the rain and wind began to ease and visibility improved. At last she made out the shape of the lifeboat coming towards them. She used the intercom to let Cameron know and as soon as the lifeboat was secured next to them she went below. Cameron was sitting beside Jock, explaining that soon they’d be moving him. Cameron looked exhausted, and from the lines around his mouth Meagan knew he must be in a great deal of pain.

She dropped to her knees to examine his head. It was, however, impossible to make a reliable assessment without undoing the bandage and that was likely to start the wound bleeding again.

‘You should have taken something for the pain,’ she said.

He smiled tiredly at her. ‘I needed to keep my wits about me. I’ll take something later.’

It took less than half an hour for them to get back to dry land. The air ambulance was standing by ready to transfer Jock to the specialist spinal unit in Glasgow, although to every one’s relief he was beginning to experience a return of feeling to his limbs. Cameron offered to travel with him, but the doctor from the other practice had already volunteered.

‘I’m rested,’ he told Cameron. ‘Besides, it looks as if you could do with a couple of stitches.’

Cameron reluctantly agreed to let Meagan suture his wound.

‘I could do it myself,’ he growled. ‘Just give me a mirror.’

‘Don’t be ridiculous,’ Meagan said. ‘Of course you can’t manage yourself. I’ll do it.’

‘I just hope you’re not seeing double with tiredness,’ he complained. ‘You need to get some sleep.’

But eventually, seeing that Meagan was determined, he let her close the wound. He hardly flinched when she injected some local anaesthesia. As she cleaned the gash, he grabbed her hand. ‘You did well out there,’ he said. ‘You’re a very brave woman, but I wish you hadn’t put yourself in danger.’ His eyes glinted as he held her gaze. Meagan felt her spine tingle.

‘Why? Were you worried about me?’ she teased.

‘You’re my responsibility,’ he said. ‘I promised Colin I would look after you. How would the practice cope if both of us had been lost?’

Meagan felt an irrational stab of disappointment. Was that how he saw her? His responsibility? Was that all? But, of course, she was forgetting about Rachel. No doubt he was still in love with her and hoping for a reconciliation. Meagan dismissed the slice of pain she felt at the thought. He had chosen Rachel over her once before, and would probably do so again. She of all people could never—would never—come between two people if there was even the smallest chance they could patch things up, especially when there was a child involved. She began to stitch, resisting the urge to stab him with her needle.

‘It seems to me that you are the one needing to be looked after. You’re the one who’s hurt after all. There’s not a scratch on me.’

He grinned and the tiredness left his features.

‘Ah, Meagan, why was our timing all wrong?’

She wasn’t sure what he was saying. Did he mean he wished he’d met her before Rachel? And if so how, did she feel about that? Her heart gave another flip. She knew how she felt. She knew deep in her bones that she and Cameron were meant for each other. She had known it the first time she had met him and she knew it now. She could love this man. She could love him with every fibre of her being. But it was too late. Much too late.

By the time Cameron and Meagan left the hospital, the sun was beginning to climb in the sky. The wind had almost dropped completely and it looked as if the day would turn out fine. Meagan guessed she wouldn’t be seeing most of it. A warm bath, something to eat then bed, she promised herself. Then she fell asleep.

She woke to the sensation of being lifted gently out of the car. She knew she should resist, but she felt so comfortable held against Cameron’s chest. He kicked her front door open and with her still in his arms climbed the stairs two at a time. She felt herself being lowered onto the bed. She wanted to open her eyes and say something, but they felt too heavy. For once she was unable to resist being taken care of. Besides, she didn’t have the energy to fight this man all the time.

Just before she gave in to sleep once more, she felt lips as light as a feather brush her temple. She thought she heard him murmur her name, but when she opened her eyes he had gone.