Coming Home (17 page)

She jumped up and ran
outside to greet the courier driver. "Hi."

"Delivery for
Doctor Williams."

"Yep, that's me.
How many boxes do you have?"

The driver looked at
his list. "That would be four. Sign here please." He handed the board
to Rooney and she scribbled her signature, itching to get her hands on the
supplies.

He helped her carry the
boxes into the waiting room, nodded and left them alone.

"This is just like
Christmas," Rooney said as she pulled the tape from the first box.

"Fill me in on
what's happening here. I know this used to be the old vet clinic but it's been
closed for years."

"Yes, I bought it
and, once I get these supplies on the shelves, I can officially open my doors
for business."

"Don't have an
assistant by any chance do you?" Rhian grabbed a handful of the items from
Rooney and put them on the desk.

"No, I don't but
then I don't have any money for one anyway. Why do you ask?" She handed
over another pile of small packages and dumped bubble wrap to one side,
exposing a shiny steel object. Squealing, Rooney pulled it out and grinned.
"This is the most important thing I had to get and it's here."

"I'm kind of
looking for a job."

"What? But you're
pregnant. Why would you want to work?" Rooney walked into the surgery room
with the sterilizer, placing it carefully on the counter before peeling away
the protective covering.

"Because I'm going
nuts. I used to work part time at Len's meat shop but the smell made me sick so
I had to quit. Dennis said I don't have to work, he earns enough at his job but
I'm going crazy. I need to have contact with other people. Please give me a
job, Rooney. I can answer phones and look after things for you."

Rooney turned around
and leaned back on the counter, watching her friend beg for work. "I don't
have any money for staff, not yet anyway."

"I don't care. Pay
me when you start getting clients. I have to get out of the house or I swear to
God, I will do someone a bodily injury. Please, Rooney," she wheedled.

"If you’re
sure—"

"Thank you, thank
you. You won't regret it, I promise," Rhian said as she grabbed her in a
big hug, squealing with joy. Standing back, she took a deep breath. "Okay,
what do you want me to do first?"

***

"I'm sorry, Jack
but that leg is definitely broken." Russ looked at the x-ray again and
pointed out the break to the child laying on the bed with his mother hovering
at his side. "You will be in a half cast for at least six weeks."

"Does that mean I
get out of school too?" He looked at Russ with a cheeky grin.

"Only for the
first couple of days, until you get used to your crutches." He flicked off
the light on the x-ray box and pulled down the film. "I'll let the plaster
room know to expect you. You can go home once they’re finished with you."

"Thanks, Doctor
Williams." Jack’s mother looked tired.

"He’ll be fine.
It's a clean break and shouldn't give him much pain but let me know if anything
about it worries you."

"Thanks." She
smiled as Russ left the room and he could hear her talking in hushed tones to
her son.

"Doctor, there is
a lady in the waiting room who insists on seeing you." Lizzie stood at the
door, her mouth pinched tight and a haunted look in her eyes.

"What's wrong,
Lizzie?" Russ reached out to grip her arms but she stepped away from him,
a world of hurt in her eyes.

"Your wife is
here, Doctor." She turned and tried to walk away, but he grabbed her arm
holding her back.

"I'm divorced. I
don't have a wife."

"Russ, oh Russ,
thank goodness I found you." He looked up as Paula came running toward him
with her arms out. Lizzie wrenched free and walked away, her back stiff and
Russ felt as though he’d been punched in the gut.

"What are you
doing here, Paula?" He held his hands out stopping her before she could
wrap her arms around him. "You are not my wife. I signed the divorce
papers, remember?"

"Yes, darling, you
did." She pouted at him and batted her eyelashes. "It's like this,
Russ, I didn't sign. I've been having second thoughts and besides, I have news
for you which changes everything."

"I don't need to
hear it, Paula. Whatever you’ve come up with now, I don't want to know. As far
as I'm concerned we are over." He turned to walk after Lizzie.

"I'm
pregnant."

Russ stopped and closed
his eyes.
This can't be happening.
He took a deep breath and lifted his
head before turning back to Paula just in time to see Lizzie's back as she
raced away.

"What did you
say?" He walked toward her and the smile slipped from her face.

"You heard, baby,
I'm pregnant."

Russ took her arm and
led her into his office, slamming the door behind them. "Why don't I
believe you, Paula? Is this your idea to get more from me?" He gave a
bitter laugh and lifted his hands in the air. "Guess what, there is
nothing else. I gave you everything except my car and personal belongings. You
have everything I owned."

She pouted and took a
seat, making sure to cross her legs and let her skirt slide up her thigh before
looking back at him. "But honey, I want more. I want our child to grow up
in the fabulous old home you now part own, according to my lawyer, surrounded
by family and with everything you had, servants and house parties. Don't you think
our child deserves that?" Paula leaned back in the chair and looked around
his office, a frown on her face. "I really think that as head doctor of
the hospital, Russ, they could have given you a much fancier office than
this."

He stood looking at the
woman who’d made his life hell for the last twelve months and wondered why she
thought she could get away with this. "You and I haven't had sex for
months, Paula. That child can't be mine."

She smiled sweetly at
him and shrugged. "Well, that may be the case Russ but you have to prove
it, and in the meantime your reputation will be ruined. I'm sure you don't want
that being the new doctor in town. I mean, really, don't you have a certain
standard you should be adhering to?"

He opened the door.
"Leave now, Paula, before I throw you out. This isn't going to work."

She lifted her head and
gave a small, tight smile. "Really? I think it will, darling. I'm staying
in town at the Regent. It might be a good idea if you dropped by tonight and we
had a proper little chat about this problem. I'll expect you for dinner,
Russ."

"I won't be there.
This is over between us and any child of yours is not my problem."

"That is where you
are wrong, darling. I'll make it your problem. Don't let me down, Russ. Seven
o'clock,
ciao
baby." She got up and kissed his cheek in passing,
her laughter hanging in the hallway as she walked out.

Russ stood frozen at
the doorway. This was the last thing he expected would happen.
You fool. You
should have checked to make sure the divorce had gone through properly.
He
started when a cough sounded behind him.

"Doctor, your next
patient is waiting in treatment room four." The nurse gazed at his face
before turning and walking away.

Russ followed her and
took care of his patient, his mind far from the job at hand. When he was
finished, he walked out to the nurse's station. "Where is Nurse
Stanley?"

"She is on lunch
break, Doctor Williams. Can I help with anything?" The young nurse looked
at him hopefully, her smile seductive.

Russ shook his head and
walked to the canteen looking for Lizzie. When he couldn't find her there, he
tried her office. The door was shut and he tapped before opening it.

She looked up, her eyes
red-rimmed and her nose shiny.

"Lizzie..."

"Get out."

"I have to talk to
you."

"No. You've had
your fun, Doctor Williams, now you can go back to your wife."

Russ stepped in and
shut the door, ignoring her. "I told you the truth, Lizzie. She is not my
wife."

She stood up, pushing
her chair back into the wall in a temper. Leaning on the edge of desk, she
glared at him. "From what I heard, she is. And pregnant to boot, what a
bonus. Get out of my office, Doctor, before I call security." She stood
straight now, her mouth tight as the tears welled in her eyes again.

Lost for words, Russ
walked out, closing the door behind him. He headed for his office to make a
call.

"Tory, I need
help."

The drive back to the
farm was a mix of emotions for Cade. He had two more weeks to do the best he
could to mend his leg. If he lay in bed and did nothing it might help and if
that’s what it took, then that’s what he’d do, even if it drove him crazy.
Better that than get kicked off the team.

He drove past the house
and parked his car in the barn. When he shuffled out of the car, he looked
around the farm. Kate was in the coral with a young horse and he could see a
couple of the guys down the paddocks rounding up cattle.

Deciding to say hello
as he passed, Cade hobbled up to the fence and watched her wrestling the
spirited young colt.

"Need a hand with
that?" He dropped his crutches on the grass and pulled himself up to sit
on the top railing.

"In your condition
you’d be more of a hindrance. Just sit back and let me get on with my
job." She cracked the whip and made the colt break into a canter around
the yard.

Cade watched her work,
his gaze going from her long legs to the muscled arms and strong hands holding
the lunge rope. The girl had a body on her and he approved of how well she’d grown
up. Such a shame he hadn't noticed her more when she was a kid following him
around, but she was in his territory now and Cade was enjoying the show.

She hung onto the
animal as it fought and tossed its head. It had the bearing of all of the
farm’s horses. A strong frame but perfectly well proportioned. The bloodline
was obvious. This was a youngster from his father's favourite stallion. It had
the same wild nature its father had and he mentally applauded her determination
and stamina for the way she handled it.

This was a very
different Kate from the one who had hung around him as a teenager. This girl
was strong and capable, and wasn't afraid to show it. The younger Kate had been
all legs and wild red hair with a scattering of freckles over the bridge of her
nose. She was too scared to say anything, always hanging out in the corner of
the room or the shadows of the group of kids that hung out on the farm.

"Slow down you,
stupid colt," Kate growled to herself as the animal skittered around,
throwing its head again. She held the lunge rope and stood her ground, speaking
soothingly to it. Cade knew she was letting the animal sort itself out. He’d
seen his father working the horses enough to know who’d taught her.

A gust of wind blew a
puff of dust around her and the horse twisted its head pulling Kate off her
feet to land in the dirt on her butt.

"Kate, look
out," Cade cried out as the animal reared up, its front legs pawing the
air in fright. Without thinking, he jumped from the fence to lend her a hand.
Misjudging his landing because of the whiskey he'd consumed earlier, he stepped
in a rut catching his foot. Screaming as the pain ripped through his knee, Cade
fell to the ground.

"You frigging
idiot!" Kate's curse broke through the haze of pain.

 He heard her
calming the horse and the shuffle of hooves before the slam of a gate. She
hurried over and dropped to his side. "What the hell did you do that
for?"

"It
was..ahh..going to...fuck that..kills...ahh.. hurt you." The pain ripped
through his leg and Cade knew he’d made the biggest mistake of his life. A cold
sweat broke out on his forehead and he started to shake.

"You’re such a
stupid shit, Cade. For the love of all I hold dear, you test my patience. I
know that horse, it was just freaking out with the wind." She held his
shoulders and let him lean back against her. "I'm not totally green you
know. I rolled out of the way, it's not the first time he's put me on my
arse."

"Shoot the bloody
thing then…ahh, don't move." He sucked in shallow breaths to let the pain
subside. The sweat dripped down his face and Kate wiped it from his eyes,
shielding his face from the sun. He swallowed hard, pushing down the nausea
rolling in his stomach.

"Let me know when
I can move you. Or if you would rather, I can call an ambulance for you?"
She brushed his hair back and smiled into his eyes. "You didn't have to do
that Cade, but thanks for thinking of me. I never thought of you as a hero
before."

"No ambulance.
Won't do any good now." He lay back against her and closed his eyes. His
life was now in ruins because he played the hero to a farm girl. No amount of
whiskey was going to dull this pain. He was finished.