The Courage to Love Her Army Doc (2 page)

According to Peter, Emily had had a rough time of it lately but Joe knew how empowering these trips abroad could be. His time trekking in Nepal, island hopping in the Philippines and swimming on the Great Barrier Reef had kept him from focusing on all the negatives in his past. With any luck she'd return at the end of this mission equally as upbeat, not caring a jot about other people's perceptions of her.

Although how she could think she was anything other than stunning he didn't know. The second she'd stepped ashore he'd known he was in trouble.

His decision to volunteer as official island greeter had been born of curiosity. He'd seen the worn photographs of her and Peter as kids, the shy Emily always hiding behind her stepbrother, and he'd wondered about the woman she'd become. The doctor he was going to be working alongside for the foreseeable future.

In the four weeks he'd already spent in this island paradise she was the most beautiful sight he'd seen yet. With the golden waves of her hair shining in the sunlight, her turquoise eyes the colour of the water and her slender form draped in azure, she could've stepped out of a shampoo advert. It was too bad she was his mate's little sister and nursing a broken heart. Two things that immediately put her off limits. Even if hearing-impaired ex-army docs were her thing.

He'd let enough of his army buddies down without failing Peter too. Neither was he in the market for any sort of emotional entanglements. Emily was literally carrying more baggage than he was prepared to take on. He was more of a backpacking guy, travelling light with no intention of setting down roots. Although he helped out with these outreach programmes now and then when people were in dire need, he was better off on his own. It meant no long-term responsibility to anyone but himself.

The last time he'd been charged with the welfare of people close to him, it had cost two of his colleagues their lives. When the IED had knocked him to kingdom come he'd failed to be there for the men he'd had a duty of care for. Next to the young families left without fathers, his loss seemed insignificant. These days he preferred to keep his wits about him rather than become too complacent and safe in his surroundings.

‘Are we there yet?' Emily was smiling as she jogged to keep up with him.

At least when she was close he could hear her or interpret her facial expressions. He only had a six per cent loss of hearing but sometimes it meant he missed full conversations going on in the background. More often than not he chose to let people think he was an arrogant sod over revealing his weakness. He and Emily had their pride in common.

‘Very nearly. Now, there are a few protocols to be aware of before presenting the
yaqona
for the kava ceremony. You're dressed modestly enough so that shouldn't be a problem.' He took the opportunity for a more in-depth study of her form, though he wasn't likely to forget in a hurry how she looked today.

‘What's the kava ceremony?' She eyed him suspiciously, as if he might be luring her to the village as some sort of human sacrifice.

‘Basically, it's a welcoming ceremony with the most senior tribal members present. They grind the
yaqona
, or kava, and make it into a drink for you to take with them in a traditional ceremony. All visitors are invited to take part when they first arrive on the island.'

‘It's not one of those hallucinogenic substances you hear about, is it? I don't want to be seeing fairies dancing about all night in front of my eyes. I'm not even a big drinker because I don't enjoy that feeling of being out of control.' She was starting to get herself into a flap for no reason.

Joe hadn't even asked questions when he'd taken part in his first kava ceremony, he'd just gone with the flow. He embraced every new experience with gusto, whereas Emily seemed to fear it.

‘Don't worry. It's nothing sinister, although the taste leaves a lot to be desired. There shouldn't be any fairy visions keeping you awake. If anything, it's known to aid sleep, among other things.' He kept the claims of its aphrodisiac properties to himself rather than freak her out any further.

‘I don't think that's something I'm going to have a problem with tonight.' She set her case down and rubbed her palms on her dress before lifting it again. The heavy labour in less-than-ideal circumstances was something she was going to have to get used to and only time would tell if she was up to it.

He, on the other hand, had a feeling his peace of mind here had suddenly been thrown into chaos.

It was just as well he thrived on a challenge.

CHAPTER TWO

A
LL
E
MILY
WANTED
was a familiar face and familiar things around her. It wasn't a lot to ask for and the sooner she got her bags unpacked and her clinic in the sun set up the better. Then she might be able to finally relax. She'd had all the excitement she needed just getting here.

Her pulse skittered faster as the ramshackle buildings with their corrugated-iron roofs came into view. This was as far from her humdrum life as she could get and a definite two-fingered salute to her ex.

‘Can I refuse to take part in this kava thing?' She'd used up her quota of bravery already. Drinking unknown substances with strangers was the sort of thing that could make her the subject of one of those ‘disappearances unsolved' programmes.

Her idea of living dangerously was putting an extra spoonful of sugar in her cuppa at bedtime, not imbibing a local brew of origin unknown to her. It wasn't that she'd heard anything but good things about these people, she was just scared of all this
newness
. This would've been so much easier if Peter was here with her instead of the scowling Joe.

‘You have free will, of course you can refuse. It would, however, show a distinct lack of respect for your hosts.'

That would be a no, then. It was going to be difficult enough fitting in here, without incurring the wrath of the community from the get-go.

Trust and respect were vital components between a doctor and her patients. It had taken her a long time to gain both from her colleagues and the locals when she'd first joined the GP practice at home. Only years of hard work, building her reputation, had moved her from being last option to first choice for her patients.

With only two weeks to re-create that success here she'd have to take every opportunity available to ingratiate herself. Even if she was breaking out in a cold sweat at what that meant she could be walking into.

They passed a white building, larger than the rest, which her tour guide informed her was the village school. Although lessons were surely over for the day, the children were congregated on the patch of green surrounding it, playing ball games. There was a chorus of ‘
Bula!
' as the youngsters waved in their direction.

Unfortunately, one boy by the volleyball net was too distracted by their arrival to see the ball coming straight for him. The loud smack as it connected full in his face even made Emily flinch. As the child crumpled to the ground, for a split second she wondered if there was some sort of protocol she should follow as she hadn't been officially introduced. Common sense quickly overrode her worry and she dropped her bags to run to him. It was only when she was battling through the throng of children to reach him that she realised Joe had followed too. They knelt on either side of the boy, who was thankfully still conscious but clearly winded.

‘If you could just stay still for us, sweetheart, we want to give you a check over. That was quite a hit you took there.' She couldn't see any blood or bruising as yet but she wanted him to stay flat until they'd given him a quick examination.

‘Hi, Joni. This is Emily, the new doctor. You know, Pastor Peter's sister?' Joe made the introduction she'd omitted to do herself, and was already checking the boy's pupils with a small torch he'd retrieved from one of his pockets.

She'd bet her life he had a Swiss Army knife and a compass somewhere in those cargo shorts too. He was the type of guy who was always prepared, like a rugged, muscly Boy Scout. The only survival essentials she carried were make-up, teabags and chocolate biscuits, none of which were particularly useful at present. The few medical supplies she had with her were packed somewhere in her abandoned luggage.

Life as an island doctor certainly wasn't going to run to the office hours she was used to. She was going to be permanently on call and if she didn't come equipped, deferring to her army medic colleague was going to become the norm. That feeling of inadequacy could defeat the purpose of her personal journey here if she didn't get with the programme. This trip was primarily to bring medical relief to the people of the island and she could do without uncovering any new flaws to obsess over.

‘Do you know where you are, Joni? Or what happened?' She wrestled back some control, determined not to let the issue of a pocket torch spiral into a major meltdown in her neurotic brain.

That earned her an
Are you serious?
glare. ‘I'm lying on the ground because you two won't let me get up after I got hit in the face with a ball.'

Joe snickered as she was educated by her first patient.

‘Dr Emily's making sure the bump on the head hasn't caused any serious damage, smart guy.' He ruffled the boy's hair, clearly already acquainted with the child.

She figured he was using her first name to break the ice a little because she was a stranger. Either that or he didn't know what surname she was currently going under.

It was a subject she hadn't fully resolved herself. Greg Clifford was going to be someone else's husband soon. She no longer had any claim over his name, or anything else. Yet reverting back to her maiden name of Jackson was confirmation that her marriage had failed. She'd been returned unwanted for a second time, like a mangy stray dog. The idea of going back on the singles market felt very much like waiting for someone to take pity on her and find her a forever home.

She tried to refocus her attention back from her ex to the present. He didn't deserve any more of her time since all the years she'd given him had apparently meant so little.

‘Do you have any pain in your neck?'

Her choice of words had her patient sniggering at her again.

‘Come on, Joni. We're trying to help you here. We need to know if you're hurting anywhere before we get you back on your feet.'

It was comforting to find Joe had her back this time, even if his apparent seniority here was irksome.

‘I'm okay.' As if to try to prove their fears unwarranted, Joni jumped to his feet, only to have to reach out and steady himself by grabbing Joe's arm.

If Emily was honest, she'd have made a grab for the strong and sturdy desert island doc too in similar circumstances.

‘Really?' Joe arched a dark eyebrow as he glanced down at his new small-child accessory.

Joni shrugged but made no further wisecracks.

‘We should really get him checked out properly.' Although he bore no immediate signs of concussion, it didn't mean they should rule it out altogether.

As well as getting a cold compress to prevent swelling, she'd prefer to keep him under observation in case of headaches or vomiting. He'd taken quite a wallop and although the skull was there to protect the brain there was always a chance the knock could cause the brain to swell or bleed. She didn't like taking unnecessary chances.

‘The best option for now is to get him to Miriama's.' Joe crouched down for the patient to jump on his back. A piggyback was apparently the equivalent of an ambulance around here.

‘Isn't there a medical centre we can take him to?' A small bird of panic fluttered its wings in her chest. She'd been led to believe there'd be some sort of facility for her to practise from. He might be used to treating people in the field but she certainly wasn't.

‘Of sorts, but Miriama is his grandmother and the closest thing they have to a medic. She can keep an eye on him until you make
sevusevu
and if his condition changes we'll only be a few minutes away.'

It didn't slip her attention that he intended coming with her. In the absence of her brother she supposed he was going to have to do as backup. At least this incident showed he could be a calming influence when the need arose and she trusted he would keep her grounded until she tracked down her sibling.

‘What about my things?' As they followed the dirt trail further into the village she fretted over her worldly possessions abandoned on the hillside.

‘No one's going to steal them. We'll come back for the
yaqona
and send someone to take the rest back to Miriama's later.' He strode on ahead, unconcerned with her petty worries or the weight strapped around his neck.

She could picture him in his army gear, bravely heading into battle with his kit on his back, and it gave her chills. The idea of her brother in a war zone had always freaked her out and there'd been no greater relief than when he'd left the army. She was glad he was no longer in danger. Joe too. Life here might be more unconventional than she was used to but she didn't have to worry about anyone getting shot or blown up.

With her imagination slowing her down, she was forced to run and catch up again. The sandals slapping against her bare feet really weren't suitable footwear for chasing fit men in a hurry.

‘Why should my luggage end up at Miriama's?' That obscure snippet of information hadn't passed her by.

‘That's where you're going to be staying for the next fortnight. Miriama's your host.'

Although she hadn't expected the luxury of last night's five-star resort, she'd imagined she'd be staying with her brother rather than another stranger.

‘Peter's staying with the village chief. He's earned a great deal of respect from the community for his endeavours here.' Joe headed off her next question before she could ask it. She couldn't help but wonder what his own arrangements were.

‘And you? Where do you lay your head at night?' Only when the words left her lips did she realise how nosy that sounded. She hadn't intended prying into his personal life but this was all new to her. She didn't know if he was presented with pretty young virgins and his own house to thank him for his services. It would certainly explain her brother's reluctance to leave the village.

He cocked his head to one side, his mouth twitching as he fought a smile. ‘Well, there's a new arrival in my bed tonight—'

She held her hand up before he went into graphic detail. ‘I shouldn't have asked. It's none of my business.'

‘So I'm moving from Miriama's into the clinic.'

It took a second for the image of Joe cavorting with exotic beauties to clear and let his words sink in.

‘I'm taking your bed? Honestly, that's not necessary. I'm more than willing to take your place at the clinic.' She didn't know what that entailed but she'd take it over the lack of privacy in someone else's house.

Joe shook his head. ‘The clinic's a glorified hut with two camp beds and a supply cupboard. You'll find no comfort there. I, on the other hand, am used to kipping in ditches, or worse. It's no hardship for me. Besides, you'll be doing me a favour.' He gave a furtive glance back at his charge to make sure he wasn't listening. ‘I don't want to offend Miriama but I prefer the peace and quiet of being alone. I'm not used to domesticity.'

Perhaps it was because he was the first man to get so close to her in well over a year or the picture he painted of himself as some wild creature who couldn't be tamed but the shivers were back, causing havoc along her spine and the back of her neck.

Okay, she wasn't happy with the arrangements made on her behalf but she couldn't deny him his bed choice when he'd gone so far out of his way for her already. She couldn't form a logical argument anyway when her brain was still stuck on a freeze frame of caveman Joe.

* * *

The smiling Miriama was as welcoming as anyone could hope for. Until she found out Emily had yet to meet with the tribal elders and shooed them both back out of the door. She'd unhitched her grandson with the promise of getting some ice for the bump on his forehead and accepted some paracetamol, which Joe had produced from his shorts of many pockets. This new informal approach to treatment would take some getting used to. Just like her new co-worker would.

They retrieved her gifts for the community on the way back to the chief's house and dispatched the rest of her belongings back to her temporary lodgings with the children. Trust didn't come easily to her any more but she was willing to take a leap of faith safe in the knowledge there were few places on the island to hide. She'd found that out the minute she'd set foot on the beach.

Now she was standing on the doorstep of the most important man on Yasi as Joe entered into a dialogue she assumed involved her arrival. It was hard to tell because they were conversing in Fijian, another skill he'd apparently acquired in his short time here and one more advantage over her. Languages had never been her strong point. Along with keeping a husband.

She was hanging back as the menfolk discussed her business, still hoping for a way out, when a hand clamped down on her shoulder.

‘Hey, sis. Long time no see.'

In her desire to be accepted she thought she'd imagined her stepbrother standing beside her in a garish pink hibiscus shirt but there was no mistaking the bear hug as anything but the real deal as the breath was almost squeezed out of her.

‘Peter?' The tears were already welling in her eyes with relief to have finally found some comfort.

‘I wouldn't miss this for the world. Now, Joe will be acting as our “chief” since he's the eldest of our group, or temporary tribe. It's his job to present the kava root to the elders. We'll talk you through everything else once we're inside.'

He instructed her to remove her sandals before they entered. Sandwiched between her brother and Joe was the safest she'd felt in an age. They sat down on woven mats strewn across the floor of the main room, surrounded by those she assumed were the elders of the village.

‘I take it everything met with their approval?' She leaned over to whisper to her unofficial leader sitting cross-legged beside her.

Joe kept his gaze straight ahead, completely ignoring her. She didn't know if pretending she didn't exist was part of the process until she was accepted into the community or if he was completely relinquishing all responsibility for her now Peter had appeared. Either way, it hurt.