Nurse In The Outback

KATE pulled down the shutters and flung herself on to the bed, kicking off her sandals. The motherly auxiliary had just left after showing her to her small flat, which was situated in a block about five minutes’ walk away from the theatre suite.

She felt indescribably gloomy. She had not exactly hit it off with Tessa Hetherington. Grant Kershaw seemed to despise her for no reason as far as she could see, and now it sounded as though she would not be able to use her wide experience of scrubbing.

Her head throbbed alarmingly. She hadn’t eaten since breakfast. She glanced at the slim gold watch on her wrist; it was four o’clock and she was far too late for lunch now. She closed her eyes and tried to relax, but the welcome oblivion of sleep evaded her.

It was going to be a pity if Tessa Hetherington insisted on regarding her as a rival. It would have been nice, thought Kate, if the two of them could have worked together side by side, perhaps have become friends. She sighed deeply. Fat chance of that now! She wondered if she would be able to convince the other girl that she had no intention of trying to poach Grant Kershaw. Bother the man—he seemed to put her back up every time they met! She turned on to her side and snuggled up to the pillow, and eventually she slept.

When she awoke it was six o’clock and she felt vastly refreshed. Stripping off her cotton frock, she stepped into the small bathroom and stood beneath a cool shower. The icy jets of water hit her skin with a welcome shock.

Clad only in a towel, she opened up her one suitcase and took out underwear, blue jeans and a bright yellow T-shirt. She would have to let her aunt know which clothes to send, she decided as she quickly dressed—although she doubted that much happened in Dampland in the way of social life.

The auxiliary had shown her the hospital canteen and told her that it opened at seven. She would just grab a light meal and have an early night.

She was startled from her reverie by a loud rap on the door. She swiftly glanced in the wall mirror before answering. The simple outfit emphasised her slender curves and her hair lay like wet seaweed down her back giving her an ethereal quality.

She peered round the door and immediately recognised the cheerful face of Craig Anderson. He had removed his white coat and looked casual in blue checked shirt and white linen slacks. His fair hair gleamed in the light from the setting sun, which was slowly slipping down behind distant mountain peaks.

The vivid scenery reminded Kate that essentially she was on a working holiday, and she felt her mood lift.

‘Hi,’ he said, ‘I didn’t know if you’d be busy?’ He looked at her anxiously. ‘I was just thinking you might be lonely, not knowing anyone yet, so I wondered if you’d like to drive into Dampland tonight. I could show you the Port itself, and then we could grab a bite to eat.’ He crinkled up his face expressively. ‘It sure beats eating in the staff canteen! What do you say?’

‘I’d love to,’ replied Kate, smiling up at him. ‘But only if you can give me twenty minutes to dry my hair and change.’

‘No problem,’ he answered. ‘Although I think you look fine just the way you are now!’ He glanced at her admiringly. ‘Listen, do you realise that thanks to our fierce Sister Hetherington, I don’t even know your christian name, and I’m far too much of an Aussie to call you ‘Miss Carpenter’ all evening!’

‘It’s Kate!’ she laughed, liking this congenial young man enormously.

‘Pleased to meet you, Kate! I only live round the other side of the hospital. Past the Social Club,’ he pointed. ‘I’ll pick you up here in my car, in about thirty minutes, if that’s OK?’

‘That’ll be great.’

‘Right, see you later.’ He tossed his white coat over his shoulder and walked off in the direction of his flat with a final wave.

Kate was waiting outside her flat exactly thirty minutes later, sitting on the grass and making the most of the last of the day’s sun, when a shiny black sports car screeched to a halt beside her.

‘Why it’s an MG!’ she exclaimed delightedly.

‘Sure is,’ Craig replied proudly as he opened the passenger door for her. “You’re not worried about your hair, are you! I can always put the roof up.’

‘No fear,’ said Kate firmly. She scrabbled around in her bag and produce an elastic band. ‘I can easily tie my hair back with this. Personally, I can’t think of anything nicer than driving with the roof down on such a warm evening.’

‘I agree,’ said Craig. ‘It took a lot of time and trouble to get this little gem shipped out all the way from England—but she’s been worth every penny.’

The powerful car roared off. They drove at speed along the wide, straight roads until they reached the outskirts of Dampland. Darkness was falling as they came into sight of the sea.

Huge cargo boats, like great hulking animals, lay in the dock, waiting for their loads of iron-ore from the local mine. Lights glittered along the quayside. The air was warm with the tangy scent of salt, and Kate chuckled with the delight of it all.

Craig parked the car and helped her out.

‘We’re going to a little restaurant a few streets away,’ he explained. ‘It’s a fairly basic place but, believe me, they do the fattest, juiciest prawns in the State, and you won’t eat a better steak anywhere else in the world!’

‘Good! I’m absolutely starving,’ said Kate fervently.

They made their way past the small modern shops which mostly contained goods relating to the port and fishing industry.’

The restaurant was tiny and named The Witches’ Cauldron. Inside, it was dark but cosy with small wooden tables, each lit by a candle. Netting was festooned over the ceiling and walls and a replica Jolly Roger flag hung over the small bar.

A young waitress showed them to a table for two at the back of the restaurant right beside a gaudily painted pillar. Kate looked around the corner at the other tables. It was still early and there was only one other couple, apart from themsleves.

‘It gets packed out later,’ said Craig as he handed her the menu. ‘Half the hospital seem to eat in here. Would you like to try a glass of our superb Australian wine, Kate?’

‘Yes, I’d love to,’ she replied. ‘And I’ll accept your recommendations on the food too.’

‘Good,’ He grinned disarmingly at her. ‘In that case we’ll start with the garlic prawns, followed by a pepper steak and salad. If you’ve any room left after that, which I doubt, you can have your pick of the dessert trolley.’

‘That sounds wonderful,’ she said enthusiastically.

Craig gave the waitress their order and she brought over a bottle of white wine in an ice-bucket, which she placed on their table. When he had poured them both a glass, and Kate had given her approval of the chilled, fruity wine, Craig leaned back in his chair and looked at her speculatively.

‘So what brings a nice English girl like you to a place like Dampland, or musn’t I ask?

‘Oh, you can ask, all right,’ she teased him. ‘But I don’t have to tell you!’ She certainly wasn’t going to be accused of husband hunting again! ‘Seriously though, I needed a break, let’s just say from a number of things.’ She twirled the stem of the glass between her fingers. ‘I have relatives in Perth and it seemed an ideal time to pay them a visit. I’m specifically here in Dampland because I fancied a change from the city, and because I want to see some of the Australian bush.’

‘And boyfriends?’ he queried.

‘Straight to the point, aren’t you?’ laughed Kate. ‘I’m young free and single at the moment.’ She saw his eyes light up. ‘But that’s precisely how I want it to stay just now. Hard work and sight seeing is what I’m after.’

‘Well, we’ll have to see about that,’ he replied. ‘We Andersons respond well to a challenge.’

At that moment the waitress appeared with two steaming bowls, which she placed in front of them.

‘Dip your bread in the sauce,’ advised Craig. ‘It’s delicious.’

‘Thank heavens I shall be wearing a mask in theatres tomorrow,’ giggled Kate, as she speared a gigantic prawn. ‘All this garlic wouldn’t make me very popular with the other staff!’ She took a sip of wine. ‘How long have you worked at Dampland, Craig?’

‘Only six months,’ he replied. ‘It’s like a year’s sabbatical for me really, while I make up my mind what I want to do. My father wants me to join him in general practice in the city, which would guarantee me a secure future, but I have a hankering to do paediatrics. I love kids. I’ve been using my time here to study for the paediatric membership.’ He smiled at her. ‘It’s quite a friendly little hospital, really. Although in theatres you’re fairly cut off from the rest of the world, of course. There’s a good little staff club with a games room. About twice a month they organise a treasure hunt in the late afternoon, which is set by one of the doctors. Afterwards there’s usually a party. It’s good fun.’

‘It sounds it,’ said Kate, mopping up the last of the sauce with a hunk of bread.

The waitress replaced the empty bowls with two steaks.

‘My goodness!’ exclaimed Kate. ‘There’s hardly enough room on the plate—I’ll never manage all this!’

‘Just wait until you try it,’ promised Craig.

Presently, warm and replete, Kate sat back in her chair. ‘That was absolutely delicious, Craig. I couldn’t eat another mouthful.’

She smiled at him and, on impulse, he reached forward and took her hand.