Bride for Glenmore (3 page)

‘Well, there you are, then.’ Kyla stood to one side so that Ethan could watch the trace. ‘There’s ST segment elevation in two leads. I expect you’ll want to give him heparin and reteplase. I’ll get it ready.’

Ethan looked at her and she saw approval and a flicker of surprise in his eyes. ‘Do we have morphine and GTN spray?’

‘Of course.’ The question amused her. So he thought he was working in a backwater, did he? She unlocked the drug cupboard, found what she needed and prepared it, listening as he talked to Doug.

‘I’m afraid the ECG shows that you’re right about the heart attack, Doug. Probably caused by a blood clot in one of the vessels leading to your heart.’ His tone was calm and steady. ‘I’m going to give you a drug that will break it down.’

‘One of those clot-busters I’ve been reading about?’

‘That’s right. We need to get the blood flowing back through that artery for you. Before I give it, I need to ask you a few questions.’

Doug winced, his face pale behind the mask. ‘I ought to warn you that I hate quiz night at the pub. I never go. If you’re about to start on capital cities, you can forget it. I left school at sixteen and went out on my father’s boat.’

Ethan smiled. ‘You don’t suffer from any bleeding disorders? Haven’t had surgery lately?’ He asked a series of rapid questions and then took the drugs from Kyla. ‘How long does the air ambulance usually take to arrive and where do they land? I’m not sure he’s stable enough to travel.’

‘The paramedics are skilled and you can go with him. They carry a defibrillator, along with all the other gear you’re likely to need.’

Ethan administered the drug carefully. ‘And they can fly here?’

‘Oh, yes, providing the weather is all right, and today it should be fine.’ Kyla took the empty syringe from him and disposed of it with swift efficiency. ‘We need to call the hospital and fill out details for the transfer.’

‘If I go with him, that will leave you with no doctor.’

Kyla smiled. ‘Logan’s still on the island and he won’t be long, I’m sure. Don’t make the mistake of thinking that you’re indispensable, Dr Walker,’ she said cheerfully, her eyes sliding to Doug’s taut features. ‘We nurses are extremely versatile.’

His gaze followed hers and he frowned and checked Doug’s pulse. ‘How’s the pain now? Any improvement?’

Doug nodded. ‘Better,’ he rasped, just as Evanna came back into the room.

‘Air ambulance will be here in fifteen minutes,’ she said in her calm, gentle voice. ‘I’ve explained to the patients in the waiting room that there will be a delay until Logan gets back.’

Kyla looked up. ‘Did you call him?’

‘Yes. Mrs Taylor has a nasty laceration of her leg and she’s very shaken up but nothing’s broken. He’s going to bring her back here to be sutured and I’ve said that one of us will spend some time in the home with her, discussing how to avoid falls.’

Kyla frowned as she reached for the phone. ‘She ought to join your exercise class, Evanna. Did she trip over something?’

‘Not sure. Janet just found her at the bottom of the stairs. It was fortunate that she didn’t break anything or we’d be keeping the ambulance busy today.’ Evanna glanced at her watch. ‘If you don’t need me here, I’ll get started. I’m going to filter Logan’s patients and see as many as I can for him.’

She left the room and Kyla handed Ethan the phone. ‘You’ll want to speak to the head of the coronary care unit at the Infirmary. His name’s Angus Marsh. He’s a nice guy.’ She walked over to Douglas. ‘It’s time we let your wife know what’s going on. This is an Island, Doug. She’ll see the air ambulance and pretty soon someone is going to tell her who the patient was. The first thing she’ll do is worry and what will be going on in her head is going to be worse than the real thing. The second thing she’ll do is kill me.’

As if to prove her point, the door flew open at that moment and Leslie hurried into the room.

‘Who needs phones when there’s the island grapevine?’ Kyla breathed, stepping back from the couch and watching as Leslie lifted her hands to her cheeks.

‘What have you been doing to yourself, Douglas Rory Fraser McDonald?’

Doug gave a feeble groan but there was no missing the affection in his eyes. ‘What are you doing here, woman?’

‘I was buying fish from Geoff on the quay and he told me he’d seen you looking really off colour and heading up this way.’ Leslie stared at the ECG machine in horror and then turned to Kyla. ‘Nurse MacNeil? What’s going on?’

Kyla’s gaze flickered to Ethan but he was on the phone, talking to the consultant at the hospital, arranging the transfer. ‘Douglas has had some chest pain and it looks as though he might have had a heart attack,’ she said gently. ‘He’s doing very well and there’s certainly no need to panic. We’re going to transfer him to the mainland just until they’re happy with his condition. Just a precaution. The helicopter is going to be here in a minute.’

Leslie gave a soft gasp. ‘You’re going to the mainland? You’ve had a heart attack? And just when were you planning on telling me this, Doug? Next Christmas?’

‘Stop fussing. Kyla was just about to ring you but they’ve been working flat out since I arrived.’ Doug kept his eyes closed and his voice was thready. ‘Go back and check on our Andrea. I’ll call you from the hospital.’

‘Andrea is fine. She’s thirteen now. She can get herself to school.’ Leslie looked at Kyla, her face grey with shock and worry. ‘Can I go with him?’

Kyla nodded. ‘You should be able to but I’ll have to check with the crew. Leslie, you look very pale. Sit down.’ She quickly dragged a chair across the room and the other woman plopped onto it gratefully.

‘I’ll be fine in a minute,’ she muttered, rubbing her hand across her forehead. ‘It’s just a bit of a shock, that’s all.’

Ethan replaced the phone just as Evanna popped her head round the door again. ‘The helicopter is here. The paramedics are bringing a stretcher in for you.’

‘I’ve spoken to the hospital and they’re expecting him.’ Ethan checked Doug’s observations again and then helped the paramedics move him onto the stretcher.

They loaded Doug into the helicopter, helped Leslie on board and then Ethan sprang up beside him in a lithe, athletic movement. ‘How do I get back?’

Kyla grinned. ‘If you’re lucky, they bring you back. If you’re unlucky, you swim. Don’t worry, the water’s quite warm at this time of the year. See you later, Dr Walker.’

She ducked out of range of the helicopter’s blades and made her way back into the surgery. Walking into the crowded waiting room, she explained what had happened and quickly assessed who could see her instead of a doctor.

‘Is Doug going to be all right?’ Paula Stiles, who worked in the gift shop, asked the question that was on everyone’s mind.

Patient confidentiality was a total nightmare, Kyla reflected as she gave as little information as possible while still providing the necessary reassurance.

Then she opened the door of her own room and switched on the computer. Interesting start to the day, she mused as she tapped a few keys and brought up her list for the morning. Not even nine o’clock and already she felt as though she’d done a day’s work.

And she didn’t want to think about how Ethan must feel. He’d travelled for most of the night to catch the first ferry and now she’d had to send him back to the mainland, and she knew from experience that he’d be lucky to make it back before lunch.

She hoped the new doctor had stamina because he was going to need it.

CHAPTER THREE

H
ER
first patient was the headmistress from the local primary school, who had been hoping to see Logan and be back in time for the start of the school day.

‘I’m sorry you’ve had a wait, Mrs Carne,’ Kyla said, her tone apologetic as she reached for a pen. ‘If it’s your asthma that’s bothering you, I could discuss it with you and then we could talk to Logan later.’

‘It is my asthma.’ Ann Carne put her bag on the floor and sat on the chair. ‘I’ve been having problems on the sports field. Can you imagine that? I’m dealing with six-year-olds and I’m getting out of breath.’

‘Six-year-olds are extremely energetic,’ Kyla said dryly. ‘Don’t underestimate the impact that can have on your breathing. I went to sports day last year and I was exhausted just watching. So what’s happening? Are you using an inhaler before you exercise?’

‘Sometimes.’ Ann looked uncomfortable. ‘I try to sneak off to the staffroom but it isn’t always possible.’

‘Why would you need to sneak?’

‘I don’t want the children knowing I have an inhaler.’

Kyla looked at her, trying to work out what the problem was so that she could tackle it in a sensitive way. ‘Are you worried about them or you?’

‘Both?’ Ann gave a rueful smile. ‘I hate admitting I’m ill and I don’t want the children worrying that I’m going to collapse in front of them.’

‘Would they think that?’ Kyla frowned and tapped her pen on the desk. ‘There are a couple of asthmatics in your school, as you well know. The children are used to seeing inhalers and spacers.’

‘But not in their teachers.’

Judging that the situation was more about Ann than the pupils, Kyla sat back in her chair. ‘It’s nearly a year since you were diagnosed, Ann. How do you feel about it all now?’

There was a long silence and then Ann breathed out heavily. ‘I still can’t believe it’s me,’ she said finally. ‘I mean, I’m fifty-two years of age. It’s ridiculous! How can I suddenly develop asthma out of nowhere?’

‘People do. It isn’t about age. There are many other factors involved.’

‘Well, I can’t get used to the idea.’

‘Is that why you don’t use the inhaler?’ Kyla’s voice was gentle. ‘If you don’t use the drugs then you can’t be ill?’

‘How did you come to be so wise?’ Ann gave a faint smile. ‘I remember you when you were six years old, Kyla MacNeil. You brought a frog into my class and hid it in your desk.’

‘I remember. It was my brother’s frog. He was pretty annoyed with me.’

‘And he came thundering in to steal it back.’ Ann sighed. ‘I still think of myself as young, you know. I don’t feel any different. It’s only when I look in the mirror that I realise how many years have passed. And when my body starts letting me down.’

‘Your body is still ready to work perfectly well if you give it the little bit of help it needs.’ Kyla reached into her drawer for a leaflet. ‘Read this. A bundle arrived last week and I think it’s good. It talks about living with a condition rather than being ruled by it. You wouldn’t dream of not using a toothbrush and toothpaste, would you? All part of body maintenance. Well, your inhalers are the same. Body maintenance.’

Ann took the leaflet and gave a thoughtful smile. ‘Body maintenance. That’s a nice idea, Kyla.’

‘For the next two weeks, promise me you’ll use your inhaler as we agreed. Then come and see me and we’ll discuss how things are. But don’t hide it from the children. We try and teach the children that it can become a normal part of life. Something they can live with. If they see you hiding it then it won’t do much for their own acceptance of asthma.’

‘I hadn’t thought of that but you’re right, of course.’ Ann stood up and gave her a grateful smile. ‘You’ve come a long way since you made a mess of your geography books, Kyla MacNeil. Can I ask how Doug is or will you tell me to mind my own business?’

‘I don’t think I’m ever going to be able to tell my old headmistress to mind her own business.’ Kyla laughed. ‘But the truth is that it’s too soon for us to say.’ The entire island had obviously noted the arrival of the helicopter. ‘Our new doctor went with him. Hopefully we’ll have good news when he arrives back. I’ll remind Ben to pin a bulletin to the door of the pub.’

‘You do that.’ Ann gave a brisk nod. ‘We all care, you know.’

‘I do know,’ Kyla said with a soft smile. ‘That’s why I choose to live on Glenmore, Mrs Carne. Have a good day, now. And don’t let any of those little monsters bring frogs into the classroom.’

Ethan arrived back towards the end of her surgery, about an hour after her brother had returned from seeing Janet’s mother.

Kyla showed him into his consulting room and together the three of them swiftly cleared the remaining patients in the waiting room while Evanna played the role of receptionist.

‘Any house calls?’ Logan stifled a yawn as they finally collapsed at the reception desk.

‘Just the one. Helen McNair. Had some bad news from the hospital and wondered if you’d call.’ Evanna picked up the book. ‘I managed to persuade the rest of them to come to surgery this afternoon to save you going out again. I thought you’d need some time to show Dr Walker around.’

‘You talked someone out of a house call?’ Logan’s drawl was tinged with humour. ‘Evanna, consider yourself promoted, my angel. From now on you’re officially our receptionist and my favourite woman.’

Kyla noticed the betraying pink of Evanna’s cheeks and glanced towards her brother with sudden interest, but he’d picked up the latest copy of a medical journal and was flicking through the pages, apparently oblivious to the effect that his endearment had had on her friend.

Shaking her head with frustration, Kyla resisted the temptation to hit him over the head with a blunt object. Didn’t the entire Island population praise Logan for his amazing sensitivity? Didn’t everyone think her brother knew everything about everything and everyone?

Well, there were some things that he was totally dense about, Kyla thought wearily as she tucked a set of notes back into the cabinet. It had been almost a year since Catherine had died. Long enough. Sooner or later she was going to have to interfere.

Looking at the wistful expression in Evanna’s kind eyes, Kyla decided that it might just be sooner. ‘I had a visit from Ann Carne this morning.’ Dragging her mind back to the job in hand, she handed a set of results to her brother.

‘Did you, now?’ Logan leaned back in his chair, his long legs stretched out in front of him. ‘And how was our favourite headmistress?’

‘Still in denial. If she doesn’t learn to use those inhalers, she’s going to find herself in trouble.’

Logan nodded thoughtfully. ‘And did you speak to her about it?’

Kyla lifted an eyebrow. ‘What am I—stupid?’

‘You want me to answer that?’

‘Don’t start, you two,’ Evanna said hastily, sending an apologetic glance towards Ethan. ‘You mustn’t mind them. It’s just brother-sister stuff. They’re always the same. They bicker and needle. You get used to it after a time. They adore each other really.’

There was no answering smile on Ethan’s face and Kyla frowned slightly as she noticed the grim set of his mouth and the tension in his broad shoulders. Oops, she thought to herself. Trouble there. There was a bleakness and a shadow in his eyes that made her wonder and want to ask questions. Did he object to humour in the work-place? Surely not.

She caught Logan’s eye and he shot her a warning look. ‘Mind your own business,’ he murmured softly in Gaelic, and she smiled and replied in the same tongue.

‘Perhaps I’m wondering whether to make him my business.’

Logan rolled his eyes and stood up, switching to English. ‘Women. I’ll never understand them.’

‘Well, that’s perfectly obvious,’ Kyla muttered, her eyes sliding to Evanna. ‘But don’t give up trying. Believe me, you need the practice.’

‘I’m practising on my daughter. Talking of which, if we’ve finished here I’m going to spend an hour with the girl in my life who should be just about waking up from her nap and ready to dress herself in her lunch. Ethan, I’d invite you to join us but you’d end up covered in puréed vegetables. Take some time to settle in. My sister will show you the cottage we’ve arranged for you. I hope it suits. It’s only a short drive from here. If you need anything, you’ve only to ask.’

Kyla watched as some of the wariness left Ethan’s handsome face. ‘Do you want me to do the house call so you can spend more time with the baby?’

‘No need.’ Logan shook his head. ‘I’ll take her with me. Helen McNair has been asking to see her.’

Kyla gave a soft smile. ‘That’s a clever idea, Logan MacNeil. Give her something else to focus on.’

‘She’s had a hard time lately. It will be good to spend some time with her. And she makes the best chocolate cake on the island.’ Logan strode across the reception area towards the door that separated the surgery from his house.

Kyla turned to Ethan with a smile. ‘Are you ready for another trip in my car?’

‘That was an exciting morning.’ Ethan unravelled himself from the car and followed Kyla down a path that led towards a pair of cottages. The sea stretched ahead of them and he breathed in deeply, enjoying the cool, salty breeze and the freshness of the air. ‘Is it always like that?’

‘Sometimes.’ She pushed open a gate and held it while he followed her through. ‘It’s often all or nothing. You were good.’

‘Was it a test?’

‘No. But if it had been, you would have passed.’ She let the gate swing shut and tilted her head to one side as she studied him. ‘Don’t be angry with me. Working on this island isn’t for everyone. We see everything here, and we’re the first line of defence. Does that worry you?’

‘No.’ What worried him was the hot flare of lust he felt whenever he looked at her. Gritting his teeth, he concentrated on the view of the bay. ‘It’s spectacular. Who lives here usually?’

‘Holiday let. The cottage is usually rented out for the whole of the summer season but Nick Hillier who owns it had a bad experience last year.’ Kyla fumbled for the keys and opened the front door. ‘A group from London had a bit of a wild party and left the place wrecked. So he decided that this summer he’d let it to the locum doctor. He’s assuming that, with all those letters after your name, you’ll know how to behave yourself.’

‘I’ll do my best.’ Ethan strolled into the cottage behind her, trying to ignore her delicious scent and the incredible shine of her honey-blonde hair. ‘Who’s Nick Hillier?’

‘Our policeman. I went to school with him. He used to tie my plaits together.’

For some reason that he couldn’t identify, this piece of news simply racked up the tension inside him and Ethan drew in a breath and rolled his shoulders. He needed a swim. A run. Anything to drive the unwanted thoughts and images from his head.

He watched as she threw open doors and windows, letting in light and air. She was obviously an outdoor sort of person. ‘Did you go to school with everyone on the island?’

‘Not everyone, but most of the people of around my age who were born here. It’s a small community. Mind you, that can be a disadvantage. I sometimes think Ann Carne still sees me as the little horror who led the strike against school dinners.’ She turned and smiled and he felt a vicious kick of lust deep inside him.

Her pretty smile faded and was replaced by something entirely different as they stared at each other.

Back off,
Ethan, he warned himself grimly. Not now.
And not this woman.

That wasn’t why he was there.

‘You led a strike against school dinners?’ He saw from the slightly questioning look in her eyes that she’d picked up on the rough tone of his voice.

‘I was a fussy eater. I protested loudly about everything they put in front of me and I expected everyone else to protest, too. I told all the other children to fold their arms and refuse to eat until they produced something decent.’

He could imagine her doing it. Imagine her with those sapphire-blue eyes flashing and that chin lifted in defiance. ‘And how old were you?’

‘Five.’ She smiled without a trace of apology. ‘My mother said she’d never been so embarrassed. They called her down to the school. I was given such a talking-to.’

Ethan found himself smiling, too. ‘And did you eat your dinner after that?’

‘No. I used to scrape it into my napkin and then hide the evidence.’

‘And they never found out?’

‘Sadly, they did.’ Kyla opened a door and walked ahead of him into a beautiful glass-fronted living room, her feet echoing on the pale wooden floor. ‘But only because I was stupid enough to slide it into Miss Carne’s handbag on one occasion. I think it was lasagne or something really sloppy. Vile. I’m surprised I wasn’t expelled. After that, they watched me eat.’

‘I don’t blame them.’ He glanced around him in surprise. ‘This is nice.’

‘You should have seen it two years ago. Complete wreck. It had been lived in by the same man for about ninety years. After he bought it, Nick spent every weekend doing it up. We all helped.’ She walked over to the window and stared out across the sea. ‘He was lucky to get it. There was a lot of competition because this is one of the best spots on the island.’

‘So why didn’t you try and buy it?’

‘I didn’t need to.’ She turned to look at him, amusement in her eyes. ‘I own the place next door. You might want to remember that before you run naked into the waves for your morning swim, Dr Walker. Or are you southerners too wimpy to take a plunge into the Atlantic?’

Was she challenging him? He held her gaze with his own. ‘I swim well.’

Her eyes slid to his shoulders, as if she were assessing the truth of his quiet statement and suddenly the tension in the air snapped as tight as a bow and Ethan felt something dangerous stir inside him.

‘So this place is mine for the duration of my stay?’ His voice was hoarse and he cursed himself.
Could she feel it, too?
Was she aware of the sudden change in the atmosphere?

‘It’s yours for as long as you want it. When you leave it will be winter and no one but the locals brave this island come November.’ She watched him for a moment and then walked over to the French doors, her movements as smooth and graceful as those of a dancer. But then she lifted a hand to touch a switch and he saw that her fingers were shaking. ‘Flick this to the right and the doors open. The garden leads down to the beach. Just make sure you close the doors if there’s a storm or you’ll be sweeping the sand from your living room for weeks.’