Gladioli in August (3 page)

Jael took the clipboard. “OK, thanks.”

“Micah will show you where the dispensary is so you can pick up what you'll need.”

Micah raised an eyebrow. “I will?”

“You will.”

“Isn't that the doc's job?”

“Kevin won't be back for at least two weeks. He's in quarantine for smallpox, so yes, you'll be showing Jael where things are. I need you both back here by three as Jael has a clinic scheduled at that time. Have fun now.”

Micah pulled a face at Danny's retreating back. “Fine. This way, then.” He led her swiftly to the clinic, mentally working out how long each visit could be in order to get back in time for clinic.

Jael wandered around the room, looking in cupboards, drawers, and shelves.

He tapped his foot. “We don't have time for this. Just pack what you need and let's go.”

“OK.” Jael packed a couple of bags and boxes. “That should do it.” She picked up the clipboard and started scribbling on the sheets.

“What are you doing?”

“Flight order.”

He frowned. “Huh?”

“Putting the visits in order of medical priority.”

He shook his head. “Oh no, you don't. It doesn't work like that. My plane, my route.” He looked her up and down. She looked downright pretty in that dress and her legs were amazing, but it was the most impractical outfit he'd ever seen. “And you might want to change into something else.”

Her face was a picture. “Why? This is my uniform.”

“It's a dress. And are those tights or stockings?”

“Never you mind.” She stuck her hands on her hips. “Why?”

Micah rolled his eyes, forbidding his mind to show him the images stockings produced. “Let me get this straight. You're going out in a dress, stockings, and…” He broke off, raised an eyebrow and pointed. “And heels?”

“And?”

He shrugged. “Don't say I didn't warn you, honey. Are you ready?”

“Yeah. And don't call me that. It's what my brother calls his wife.”

“Good.” He shoved the clipboard on top of the boxes and grabbed them. “Take the bags and let's go.” He headed off, hearing her heels clicking on the floor tiles as she struggled to keep up with him. He wasn't going to make this easy for her. She'd have to learn the hard way.

****

Jael pored over the map in front of her as Micah did the final pre-flight checks. “Why don't we go this way?” she asked, tracing the line with her finger.

He gave her that really irritating stare over the top of his glasses. “Because we're going the other way.”

“But look.” She pointed to the map. “It's quicker and makes more sense to go this way because we can do a visit on the way.”

“Are you a pilot too?” There was a definite edge to his voice now.

“No, but…”

“Then let me handle the flying and the route. You stick to the medical stuff.” He picked up the radio. “Achor base this is Mike Romeo November, come in, over.”

“Hey, Micah, why are you still here? How's it going?” Danny sounded way chirpier than anyone had a right to sound.

“Swimmingly.”

On the cusp of losing her temper, Jael growled. “Look, this should go in the order of patient priority if nothing else.”

“No.”

“Why?” she demanded.

“Because I already filed the flight plan. Now, shut up.”

She raised an eyebrow. “Shut up?”

“As in do not speak. Be silent.”

“I know what it means.” She pushed back into her seat and folded her arms.

“Good. Danny, we're sticking to the usual east-west route.”

Danny laughed. “Roger that. You kids play nicely, now. Out.”

Micah put down the mic and took off much faster than Jael anticipated, the sudden acceleration forcing her back into the seat.

She looked out of the window. “How long have you been flying?”

“I got my license when I was nineteen, so about eight or nine years now. I love it.”

“You don't fancy jet liners or the military?”

He shook his head. “And be responsible for hundreds of lives or follow orders? Nah. I'd rather be my own boss. How long have you been nursing?”

“Six years.”

“Always general nursing?”

She twisted in her chair to look at him. “No. I'm on a six-month break from the ITU unit I'm a sister on.”

He raised an eyebrow. “So the machines do all the hard work?”

“No. It's just as hands on as any other nursing, just a different kind. I fancied a change which is why I'm doing this.”

Micah landed the plane on a field next to the house. A rather bumpy field. He turned off the engine. “This is the Blanchet's place.”

“Blanchet…” Jael ran her finger down her list. “OK…dressing change.” She unbuckled her straps, pausing when he didn't move. “Aren't you coming with me?”

“Nope,” he said. “I'm not an escort.”

“I don't know these people. I have no idea where to go from here.”

“Fine.” He undid his harness and leapt from the plane. “Well, come on then…”

Jael grabbed her pack and followed his long strides four-hundred meters across the field to the house. The uneven ground and her heels meant her ankles twisted several times.

Micah tapped loudly on the wooden screen door. “Mrs. Blanchet?” There was no answer. He called again.

“Maybe she's hurt.” Jael gripped the screen door to open it.

Micah stilled her arm. “You don't just walk into people's houses. I don't know what you consider normal where you come from, but here we wait until we're invited in. If there is no one else in and they want the doc to go straight in, then they leave a note on the door frame.” He banged harder. “Mrs. Blanchet. It's the flying medics.”

Finally, the door opened and a young girl stood there. Jael reckoned she must be about ten.

“Hi,” Micah said.

The child spoke rapidly in what sounded like double Dutch.

Jael frowned. She turned to Micah. “I didn't understand a word of that.”

Micah rolled his eyes. “She says Momma has gone to town in the cart. Papa is inside waiting for you, but he can't come to the door.”

Jael took a deep breath and spoke hesitantly in Malay, hoping the child would understand her.

The child nodded and opened the door. “Come on in.”

“Go on,” Micah said, as Jael hesitated. “I'll wait here. Me pilot, you medic, remember?” To emphasize his point, he folded his arms and leaned against the decking wall.

Jael tightened her grip on the box and followed the child inside the building. It was dark inside, and it took her eyes a moment to adjust. Her patient sat on the couch. “Hi. I'm the nurse from the Achor medical base. My name is Jael.” Her Malay didn't sound right to her, and for all she knew she could have told him she was a Martian come to kidnap him.

The man on the couch smiled. “Symon Blanchet,” he replied. He pointed to his leg. “Cows need tending to. I need you to be quick.”

“Sure.” She dropped to her knees beside him, snapped on a pair of gloves, and began to remove the old dressing. “How did you do this?”

“I thought you were here to work, not to chat.”

Her face burned, and she buried her discomfort by working swiftly.

“This time isn't convenient,” he told her. “Can you make it later tomorrow?”

“Sure.” She finished up. “What time would you prefer?”

“Eleven. I will have finished with the cattle by then. They need tending to early.”

Jael stood. “Sure. Is there somewhere I can wash my hands?”

“Water pump outside.”

She gathered her things and fled as quickly as decently possible. She brushed past Micah and headed to the pump in the middle of the yard. Dumping the box by her feet, she tried to get the rusty handle to produce water. It wouldn't. Frustration and disappointment built, making her eyes sting.

What was she doing here? Maybe Kyle was right and she was making the biggest mistake of her career.

A strong firm hand covered hers, sending sparks shooting up her arm. “Let me,” Micah said gently. “There's a knack to it.”

She moved back as he swiftly jerked the handle a couple of times to send water gushing from the pump. Gratefully, she shoved her hands under the clear, cold water. Maybe it would bring her to her senses. That was not attraction she just felt. No way. No how. “Thanks.”

He picked up the box. “How does it feel to have your first patient under your belt?”

“He wants us to come later tomorrow. Around eleven.”

“Not possible.”

“That's what Mr. Blanchet wants. He was pretty insistent.”

“No way.” Micah stomped back to the plane, his mood changing in an instant.

Jael scrambled after him and wrote on the clipboard. “We just need to redo the schedule a little and—”

“I said no,” he snapped.

“He said it isn't an option.”

Micah scowled as he took off. He didn't say another word until they landed again. He simply pointed to the house and sat back in his seat.

Jael sighed and taking the box, exited the plane. She walked up the steps onto the porch only to find a woman in an apron brandishing a broom. Jael retreated down the steps.

Micah laughed from where he sat.

Jael's face burned with humiliation. What was it with these people? “Are you going to help or just stand there?” she yelled at Micah.

He grinned at her and got out of the plane. He crossed the small space and went over to the woman, speaking rapid Tiampian. Then, he beckoned Jael over.

She slowly headed back, although she really just wanted to go home.

Micah grinned. “You got dirt all over her clean porch. They believe that to be bad luck.”

“Tell her I'm sorry.”

Micah turned back to the woman and had another rapid-fire conversation with her. “She says leave your shoes at the bottom of the steps and you can come in. She also doesn't believe you're a nurse, because you're wearing a dress.”

Beginning to wish she'd never left England, Jael bent and unfastened her shoes. She slowly went up the steps and followed the woman into the house. At least Micah followed her this time and translated for her.

The next six visits were all in the same vein. All of them were dressing changes involving semi-irate patients, who didn't like the time of the visit, or her clothes, or her lack of language skills, or a combination of all three. Totally dejected, Jael leaned back in her seat as Micah took off. She closed her eyes. Maybe this wasn't what God wanted her to do after all. Maybe she should just contact head office and have them send someone else. Or ring the hospital and see if they needed her back there, because then she'd have an excuse to go home without losing face.

Micah glanced at her. “Not what you imagined, huh?”

“No,” she whispered.

“You ain't seen nothing yet. Wait until the next visit. Mr. Finch. His wife is bedridden. They live on a plantation to the north, and its something different to what you've done so far.”

“Oh?” She looked at him.

“Bedsores and a dressing change.”

“Great,” she whispered.

Micah brought the plane into land hard and fast. “There's a tree fallen across the end of the runway. We had to come in a bit short. Might be hard taking off, we'll have to see. I'll turn her around while you're inside, but I'll get your stuff over the tree for you first.”

She nodded slowly. Taking the pack, she climbed from the plane and followed him to the tree. It was huge, but Micah made short work clambering over it.

“Toss me the pack and come on over.”

She threw the pack and gazed at the tree. “I don't know that I can.”

“Why not?”

“In a dress?”

He gave a short laugh. “And? You wanted to wear a dress and heels.”

She hitched up her skirt, just grateful Micah didn't comment as he got a good glimpse of her legs and stockings, but still she couldn't do it.

A whistle came from the other side of the tree and Jael's face burned. Someone else was there. She turned away, tears filling her eyes. Could today possibly get any worse? “Forget it,” she said. “We'll come back tomorrow. Once the tree is cleared.”

Micah climbed back over the tree. “Hey, I'll speak to him, tell him that's inappropriate. He's just a kid, didn't know any better.” He tucked her hair back behind her ears. “Don't let something like this scare you off. I know we don't know each other well yet, but you don't strike me as the type of person to quit at the first hurdle. Well, as trees go, it's a pretty big hurdle, but even so. I have spare clothes in the locker at the back of the plane. Go put them on. I'll wait here for you. We're here now and you can be in and out in ten minutes, just like the others.”

“Thanks…” She all but ran back to the plane. Hopefully it'd be scrubs, but she doubted it. The clothes turned out to be shorts and shirt belonging to Micah.

There was no room on the plane to change, so she reluctantly stood behind the wing, hoping it'd shield her. Glancing at the two men she yelled, “Turn around.” She waited until they had before turning her back on them. She changed into the shorts and did them up before tugging off her dress and stockings. The shorts were way too big, as was the shirt. A couple of safety pins from the first aid kit inserted into the waist band solved the short problem.

Jael rolled the shirt sleeves up to her elbows and knotted the fabric firmly around her waist. She slid her feet back into her shoes, regretting the heels now. Tomorrow she'd dress differently. Turning, she made her way back to the tree.

Micah grinned. “Wow, looks so much better on you than on me, honey.”

She pulled a face. “Thanks.”

“Any time. Now try.”