Niall was a strange new man in the child’s life. Who could blame Paige for her mistrust?
Who could blame Jessie for the same mistrust?
‘I only went to Jess,’ Paige whispered.
‘On her father’s recommendation, I understand,’ Jess managed. Instinctively she pulled her robe more tightly closed. ‘See if the world’s awake, did you tell your daughter? And if they’re not then wake them up.’
‘I like sharing the joys of parenting,’ Niall said easily. Unlike Jess, he was showered and dressed-in casual slacks and open-necked shirt. He strolled across the lawn towards them, pausing as he came to welcome Harry’s curious advances.
A man content with his lot. At ease with the world.
He smiled at Jess and the force slammed back.
‘He’s…Harry’s better…’ Jess whispered. Dear heaven, why did she react like this?
‘I see that.’ Niall gave the dog a final pat and straightened. He smiled down at Paige. ‘You’ve been helping Dr Harvey look after him?’
‘Dr Harvey’s name is Jessie,’ Paige said solemnly. ‘She doesn’t like anything else. Jess is pretty.’
‘She is at that,’ Niall smiled, and his eyes moved back to Jess. ‘And some!’
Jessie flushed bright crimson.
‘I…I’ll leave your daughter with you,’ she stammered. ‘Harry’s been out for long enough. I’ll take him back to his bed by the fire.’
‘Frank’s awake.’
Jessie’s eyes flew to his.
‘Why don’t we take Harry in to see his master?’ Niall said easily, smiling down at her flushed face.
‘I’m not even dressed,’ Jess told him, grabbing the gown and pulling it tighter.
‘So I see.’ His eyes laughed at her, watching the defensive measure of her hands. ‘But you look great to Paige and I-and Frank will have eyes only for his dog.’ He turned his attention to Harry who’d sat down at Niall’s feet as though waiting. His bandaged paw was still held out in front. ‘Does Harry need to be carried?’
‘I’ll carry him,’ Jess said. ‘I don’t want him overdoing it yet.’
‘He needs to borrow your crutches, Paige.’ Niall smiled and scooped the big dog up into his arms. ‘Border collies are supposed to be the smartest dogs in the world but they’ve never managed crutches. It just shows how smart little girls are. OK, ladies, let’s pay a social visit to Mr Reid.’
He strode into the hospital with his black and white burden and there was nothing for Paige and Jessie to do but follow.
The reunion was all that Jess could have wished.
Frank had slept most of yesterday, like his dog, exhausted by his body’s ills. He hadn’t asked to see Harry and Jess hadn’t offered, unsure of Niall’s reaction.
There was no asking now. By the time Jess and Paige reached Frank’s ward the dog was a bundle of shivering delight on the bed with Frank and practically licking him to death. There were grassy footprints on the bedcover. Geraldine would have a fit but it was hard to know who was more pleased to see the other-man or dog.
‘What do you think of bringing Harry’s bedding in here while there’s no one else in the ward?’ Niall suggested to Jess. He was grinning down at man and dog as if he’d engineered the whole reunion. ‘We can open the French windows and Harry can wander in and out at will.’
Jess stared. ‘And the Health Commission?’
‘Are a long way away, I think you said, Dr Harvey,’ Niall smiled. ‘And I can think of no better tonic for Frank.’
Jess looked down at the elderly farmer’s shrunken frame and her eyes clouded. ‘He’s still ill…’ Frank was muttering endearments to his dog and was out of hearing.
‘If I could find Lionel Hurd I’d be tempted to kick him further than he’s gone,’ Niall said grimly. ‘The diabetes has run out of control for months-and it’ll take a while to settle. I can’t judge long-term damage. But…’ he shrugged ‘…at least now…’
‘At least we have a competent doctor.’ Jess bit her lip. ‘I…We do appreciate it.’
‘I’ll bet.’ He cast a curious look at her. ‘Breakfast, Dr Harvey?’
‘Jessie,’ Paige corrected and Niall smiled.
‘Breakfast, Jessie?’ he amended his question but Jess shook her head.
‘I haven’t showered.’
‘Cook says breakfast is at seven.’
‘I eat my breakfast alone,’ Jessie told him and turned away abruptly. ‘Send…send Paige down to me when she’s ready. I’ll be in my flat-or over in the clinic. She’ll find me…’
‘Alone?’
‘Yes.’
‘Is that the way you want it, Dr Harvey-Jessie?’ he asked and his eyes gently mocked her.
‘Yes,’ she said again and walked quickly out of the room.
Jess didn’t see Niall again for the rest of the day-and that was how she wanted it.
It took trouble to organise. The hospital building was too small by far.
Niall’s presence filled it. Even if she couldn’t see him she could hear him, joking with the nurses, giving orders, moving out into the waiting-room to collect another patient…
It was as if he’d been the island doctor for all his life and not just for two days.
Two days…
She’d known him one more day than that, Jess thought fearfully. So…
So she didn’t know him at all. She knew him less than she’d known John Talbot when first she’d gone out with him.
And that had come close to costing Jess her Jife.
So…
So keep yourself away from him, she told herself fiercely. You know what happened last time. This man has a life of his own-a medical career in England and a life I know nothing of. Even his daughter doesn’t trust him.
Maybe it wasn’t Niall Mountmarche she didn’t trust. Maybe it was the reactions of her own wayward body.
Jess sent Paige to the hospital kitchen for lunch but ate alone. She did when she was busy.
She wasn’t busy today. She just didn’t want to spend any more time with Niall Mountmarche’s eyes on her.
Afterwards she expected Paige to return. Instead Jess did the small animal clinic on her own, working through a stream of animal ills until four o’clock.
As she emerged from seeing her last patient-one egg-bound chook-Niall and Paige were seated in her small waiting-room.
‘C-can I help you?’
It was a crazy question to ask but Jessie’s head wasn’t working normally. There were things going on that she didn’t understand and didn’t like. Not one bit.
‘Paige and I are on our way home,’ Niall said gravely. He stood and his eyes were careful-watchful-as though he was trying to figure Jessie’s reactions out. ‘I’ve finished Friday clinic. There’s only Frank in hospital and he’s doing fine-so, with luck, we’ll have the weekend on the farm.’
‘But we’ll come back Monday,’ Paige said anxiously. ‘Daddy promised.’
‘That’s great.’ Jess tried to smile. ‘I…I’ll see you then.’
‘Ask her, Daddy,’ Paige said anxiously. ‘Ask her.’
‘My daughter’s arranging my social life,’ Niall smiled. ‘We wondered if you’d like to come to dinner tonight.’
‘No.’
The word was out before she could soften it. It was as if Jess had put up both hands in fear.
‘Jess, we’ll hardly bite!’ Niall’s words were humorous but there was a question behind his eyes.
‘I…I know. It’s just…I have my animals to feed.’
‘Isn’t there someone you can organise to do that?’
‘Geraldine’s daughter does them sometimes,’ Jess admitted, ‘but I don’t like asking her unless…unless it’s something important.’
‘And dinner with us isn’t important?’
