The Doctor's Sleigh Bell Proposal

“So, what did you think about the work today?” Michael asked.

“It was different, I have to give you that. But I loved it.” She glanced toward the end of the table where Dr. Freeman was sitting.

“You might feel differently after a few days of hot, unending work,” Dr. Freeman drawled.

“Aw, come on, Chance, don’t scare her.” Michael smiled at her. “Don’t worry about him. The great Chance Freeman has seen so many people come and go here he’s a little cynical about all the new ones. Many don’t stay the full six weeks. Some have only lasted days. It’s made him a little jaded.”

“That’s enough, Michael.”

The doctor’s snap didn’t seem to faze Michael. He just grinned. Ellen looked at Dr. Freeman. “I don’t plan to be leaving anytime soon, Dr. Freeman.”

“Dr. Freeman?” Michael chuckled. “We’re a casual bunch around here. First names work just fine. Especially after hours. Isn’t that right, Chance?”

He leaned back in his chair. “Sure.”

After that Michael turned his attention to Pete and Karen, asking them about themselves.

Ellen concentrated on her dinner and was glad to have Dr. Freeman...uh, Chance’s attention off her. When everyone had finished laughing at a story Michael told, Chance tapped on the table with the back of his fork to gain their attention.

“Okay, we need to talk about tomorrow. We’ll be in the Tooca area. Near the river. This is our first time there so let’s be on our toes. We’ll need to be at the trucks at four a.m., ready to roll. Get some sleep and be ready for a really long day.”

Ellen shuffled out of the dining room with the rest of the group. It turned out that Karen was housed not far from her so they walked back toward their huts together. After leaving Karen, Ellen continued along the path lit only by lights in the vegetation. Thankfully the porch lights were on at her and Chance’s huts. One of the staff at the resort must have come by while she’d been at dinner.

Ellen had just crawled under the covers when the light flicked on inside Chance’s hut. His silhouette crossed in front of the window. His passion for what he did was a major factor in why she’d come to Honduras. It was obvious he needed nurses and doctors to help him. So what was his problem with welcoming her?

CHAPTER TWO (#ulink_dee81a77-76d5-5e1c-9397-4db11959b180)

THE SUN WAS SLOWLY topping the nearest palm tree when the caravan of three vehicles pulled into a clearing near the River Sico. Chance climbed out of the Jeep that had been leading the caravan and walked over to speak to the local village leader, who was there to greet him. Returning to his staff, who were already beginning to set up the tent, he searched for Ellen. To his surprise she was all smiles and asking what she could do to help. The early hour didn’t seem to bother her. Did nothing faze the woman?

She’d traveled for over ten hours the day before, put in five hours of work, and had had to wake up at four a.m. and ride in the back of an uncomfortable truck, and she was still chipper. He was afraid her fall would be hard. No one could keep up that positive attitude for long.

Still, he was having a hard time not liking her. And she was certainly nice to look at. Too much so.

Marco and his crew had the tent erected in no time and were working on setting up tables as Chance directed the van driver into place.

Ellen came to stand beside him. “Good morning. Michael said I should see you about my duties.”

“Did you sleep well?”

Her brows drew together as if she was unsure of his motive for asking. “Actually, I did. Thanks for asking.”

“You’re going to need that rest because we have a long, full day ahead of us. We all kind of do what’s needed when needed. The lines are blurred between the doctors and nurses here. So you’ll know what supplies we have and where they are stored. Why don’t you supply each station with bandages, suture kits, saline bottles and antiseptic? Any basic working supplies you are familiar with.”

“Will do.”

“Under no circumstances do you open the locked box behind the seat of the van without permission. There’s a prevalent drug problem here and we have to be careful drugs are not stolen. There’s only one key and I have it. If you need something you must see me.”

“I understand.”

“When you’re finished putting out supplies you’ll be needed to work triage. People are already lining up.”

* * *

A steady stream of patients entered the tent over the next four hours. Karen worked with him and she seemed comfortable with all he’d asked her to do. He’d had little time to check on Ellen. When he had, she’d been either leaning over, intently listening to a patient, or in a squatting position, speaking to the mother of a child.

At noon the patients dwindled to nothing. Chance stepped outside the tent, hoping for a breeze. Ellen walked toward him.

“Are we done here?”

Chance let out a dry chuckle and waved his hand to discourage a fly. “Not by a long shot. Everyone stops for lunch. We’ll start over with twice the number in an hour. Marco should have our food ready. Get something to eat and drink then take a moment to rest.”

With the back of her hand Ellen pushed away the strand of hair sticking to her forehead. Some of it remained and Chance was tempted to reach out and help her. He resisted the urge. Getting involved on a personal level even with something as benign as moving her hair wasn’t going to happen.

“You can wash up behind the tent. Remember what I said about not straying from the area.” He turned and walked off toward Michael, who had just exited the clinic. Watching out of the corner of his eye, he saw Ellen headed round the tent.

“The new crew is really working out,” Michael said when Chance reached him.

“Yeah.”

“Ellen seems especially capable.”

“She won’t last long.”

“Why? Because she’s blonde and beautiful?” Michael said drily.

“That has nothing to do with it.”

“Sure it does. They aren’t all Alissa. I have a feeling this one might surprise you.”

Chance huffed. “It won’t matter. She’ll do her six weeks and we’ll have to train someone else. Just see to it you don’t get too attached.”

Michael grinned and raised his brows. “Me? Get attached? But there’s nothing wrong with a little fun.”

“Just don’t let it affect the clinic work.” Michael was a good guy but Chance didn’t need any personal relationship getting in the way of work. He knew first-hand how emotional upheaval could make the working situation difficult. It had been his own issue with his wife and the affair that she had been having with his colleague that had done it last time. He’d lost all the staff and had almost had to give up the clinic altogether. The only way he had survived had been to push forward and devote all his off time to finding new funding for the clinic.

“Have I ever?” Michael said, his grin growing to a smile.

They both knew it had. Michael was known for showing the young female members a good time while they were in Honduras. For some reason Chance didn’t like the idea of him doing so with Ellen. “Let’s get some lunch before patients start lining up again. I noticed they are coming in by the canoe load now. In the future we need to think about setting up near rivers so that more people will have access.”

Michael’s look sobered. “We need to think about where we’re going to get some major support so that we can build a permanent building to work out of.”

“I know. I’m going to have to go to the States soon and start doing some fund-raising.” Chance didn’t like the dog and pony show he seemed to have to put on for all the wealthy potential donors to get money but understood the necessity. Give them a good time and they would give was the motto. Still, it was so little in the face of so much need.

Sympathy filled Michael’s voice. “But you hate the idea.”

“I’m more about the work and less about begging for money.”

“Maybe it’s time to find someone who’ll handle fundraising full time.”