The thirty-minute gap became a ten-minute one because Kellie was held up with another young single mother who was finding it difficult to cope with her three young children. Kellie spent most of the consultation handing over tissues as Gracie Young told her of her woes, but it made her all the more determined to try and sort out something for these unfortunate girls.

‘I’m sorry I’m late,’ Kellie said as she came into the clinic kitchen after seeing Gracie out.

Matt looked up from the paper he was reading. ‘That’s fine. Trish told me you’ve seen some of our more difficult patients.’

Kellie frowned as she flicked on the still warm kettle. ‘Where is Trish now?’ she asked.

‘I think she said something about going to the general store for something,’ he answered. ‘Why?’

She leaned her hips back against the counter and faced him. ‘She made a comment about a patient that I thought was a little inappropriate,’ she said. ‘The waiting room was full and anyone could have heard. The patient hinted that she had heard it as apparently it’s quite a common occurrence.’

‘Which patient was it?’

‘Angela Baker.’

‘Do you want me to have a word with Trish about it?’ he asked.

She let out a sigh as the kettle clicked off. ‘I probably need to talk to her myself.’

‘Angela is a hard case, Kellie,’ he said. ‘Gracie Young is even worse. They both have pretty sad backgrounds, lots of violence and drinking while they were growing up.

‘She told me she’s stopped drinking.’

His expression took on a cynical edge. ‘And you believed her?’

Kellie stood up straighter. ‘Yes, I did, as a matter of fact,’ she said. ‘She loves those kids. She’s doing the best she can. It’s not easy for her, you know.’

‘You won’t be able to fix anything in the short time you’re here,’ he said, lifting his cup to drain its contents.

‘As far as I can see, no one is doing anything to turn things around.’ She threw back.

Matt stood up and pushed in his chair. ‘Listen, Kellie,’ he said. ‘You’re not a social worker or a psychologist or indeed a drug and alcohol counsellor. You’re a GP. Your job is to diagnose and treat illness. You’ll end up doing more harm than good.’

‘I want to start a support group for the young mothers,’ she said with a defiant jut of her chin. ‘Once or twice a week for just a couple of hours for them to have a cup of tea or coffee together and chat, sort of like a playgroup. I can do some workshops on parenting or cooking classes even. Anything will be better than nothing.’

‘I don’t want to rain on your campaign to save the world but you really would be wasting your time,’ he said. ‘Before you’re in the air on your way home they will go back to what they’re familiar with.’

‘How can you be so cynical?’ she asked. ‘You’ve lived out here for this long—surely you realise the issues they face?’

‘Of course I do, and I do what I can when I can,’ he said as he went to the sink to rinse his cup. ‘It’s heartbreaking to see the destruction of so many young lives.’

‘Is there a community centre I could use?’

Matt turned to look at her. ‘You really are serious about this, aren’t you?’

Her brown eyes glinted with determination. ‘Yes.’

He shoved his hands in his pockets, to stop himself from reaching to brush back a wayward strand of her hair off her face. She looked strong and determined but that chestnut strand lying across her left eyebrow gave her a look of endearing vulnerability. Even the pillowed softness of her mouth made him want to bend his head to press his lips against hers. ‘All right, I’ll see what I can do,’ he said, but somehow his voice came out a little croaky.

She smiled and before he could do anything to stop it—even if he had wanted to—she reached up on tiptoe and pressed a little soft-as-a-summer-breeze kiss to his cheek. ‘Thank you, Matt.’

His eyes locked on hers, the silence stretching and stretching until Matt thought the room would burst. He knew he should say something but he couldn’t get his mind into gear. He was standing too close to her. Her perfume had bewitched him. He could feel the drugging of his senses as each pulsing second passed.

‘I hope I’m not interrupting anything,’ Trish said in a singsong tone as she came in carrying a packet of tea bags.

‘No, not at all,’ Matt said brusquely, stepping away from Kellie. ‘We were just discussing Angie Baker.’

Trish’s gaze flicked to Kellie’s before returning to Matt’s. ‘Oh?’

‘I know you’ve had some run-ins with Angie in the past, but I would prefer it if you’d refrain from making your opinions of her public,’ he said. ‘That’s not how this practice is run.’

Trish’s mouth tightened for a moment before she released it on a sigh. ‘I’m sorry,’ she said. ‘You’re right, of course. I just get so frustrated. David and I spent years trying to have a child and it never happened. She just seems to fall pregnant just looking at a man.’

Matt gave her shoulder a little pat. ‘Don’t be too hard on yourself, Trish. You’re doing a great job. Thanks for rescheduling all those patients yesterday. I owe you.’

‘Then promise you’ll come to this year’s bachelors’ and spinsters’ ball,’ Trish said. ‘You never been to one before and it’s about time you did.’

‘I’ll think about it,’ he said.

‘Will you come too, Kellie?’ Trish asked with a broad smile. ‘You’d have a great time, I’m sure. People come in from miles around.’

‘It sounds like fun,’ Kellie said. ‘When is it?’

‘It’s next month,’ Trish said, ‘I’ll give you an invitation with all the details on. You’ll have a great time and, you never know, you might even meet the love of your life. Believe me, it’s happened before. We’ve had four marriages in four years so you never know whose turn it will be next.’

Kellie carefully avoided looking at Matt in case he saw the blush she could feel creeping along her cheeks. ‘I can’t see that happening,’ she said. ‘Besides, I’m not intending to stay out here any longer than six months.’

Trish’s hazel eyes began to twinkle as she bustled out to answer the phone. ‘You’ll have to change her mind, Matt,’ she said over her shoulder. ‘I’m sure if you put your mind to it, you could do it.’

There was a flicker of irritation in Matt’s gaze as it met Kellie’s. ‘Don’t take any notice of her,’ he said. ‘She, along with just about everybody else in town thinks it’s time I found myself a wife. I’m sorry if you were embarrassed by her—she means well in spite of her rather obvious and clumsy attempt to matchmake.’

‘It’s all right,’ Kellie said. ‘I understand. I have heaps of friends and colleagues who do the same thing to me. I’ve been on so many blind dates over the past few years I reckon I could almost qualify for a guide dog.’

The smile that pulled at his mouth made Kellie’s heart skip in her chest. It made his dark blue eyes soften and the tight set to his jaw disappear completely.

He held her gaze for a moment or two before turning away, his smile gradually fading. ‘I have patients to see,’ he said in a gruff tone.

Kellie drew in a breath and let it out in a long unsteady exhalation as the door clicked shut on his exit. You’re in deep trouble, my girl, she thought as she tipped her undrunk tea down the sink.

CHAPTER ELEVEN

AFTER she had finished at the clinic Kellie called in at the general store to pay for the things Ruth had bought on her behalf.

Cheryl Yates introduced herself and showed her around the store. ‘Of course, it’s not up to your city standards, but if you want anything special I can order it in,’ she said. ‘We’re not flash but we’re friendly.’

‘Thanks, Cheryl.’

Cheryl narrowed her gaze as she looked in the mirror positioned above the cash register. ‘Would you excuse me for a moment, Dr Thorne?’

‘Sure,’ Kellie said, and watched as Cheryl sternly approached a youth of about fifteen who was lingering near the back of the store.

‘OK, Ty Smithton,’ Cheryl’s broad twang bounced off the walls. ‘What have you got in your pockets this time?’

‘Nuffin’, Mrs Yates. I got nuffin.’

‘You want me to call the cops or do you want to deal directly with me?’ she asked, placing her hands on her hips in a don’t-mess-with-me manner.

Kellie couldn’t help feeling a carload of burly cops might be preferable to facing the ire of the large-framed woman. The youth scowled and emptied his pockets just as someone came into the store.

‘What’s going on, Cheryl?’ Matt asked.

‘Ty here decided he wanted to borrow a few items but he’s since changed his mind,’ Cheryl said as she escorted the boy to the front door. ‘Haven’t you, Ty?’

Ty’s expression was all brooding surly teenager but Kellie could see beyond it to the lost little boy inside. He reminded her of her brother Nick who had often wound up in trouble in an effort to draw attention to himself.

‘How’s it going with Mrs Williams looking after you guys?’ Matt asked Ty.

‘All right, I s’pose,’ the boy mumbled.

He gave Ty’s shoulder a quick squeeze. ‘Go easy on her, mate,’ he said. ‘She’s not as young as your mum, you know.’

‘I know …’

Kellie stepped forward. ‘Hi, Ty, I’m Kellie Thorne, the new doctor in town. I was thinking about coming to visit Ruth at your place. I can give you a lift if you like then you can show me the way.’

‘All right,’ Ty said in a grudging tone. ‘But it’s not far. I can easily walk.’

‘Then why don’t we do that?’ she suggested. ‘I need the exercise. I’ve been cooped up inside all day. A walk in the fresh air is just what I need, and I have no idea where your house is. Ruth did tell me but I’ve completely forgotten.’

The boy gave an indifferent shrug, which Kellie took to be an affirmative. She turned to Cheryl and snatched up three chocolate bars from the counter. ‘I’ll take these as well,’ she said with a little smile as she handed over some money.

Cheryl turned to Matt once Kellie had left the store with the boy at her side. ‘Pretty little thing, isn’t she?’ she commented.

‘Stop it, Cheryl,’ he growled. ‘You’re starting to sound like Trish. I’m sure Tim and Claire have colluded with her about appointing Dr Thorne. In fact, I think the whole town’s been in on it. Everywhere I go people give me a knowing look.’

‘But she is very pretty,’ she said. ‘And it’s well and truly time you moved on. You’re young, Matt. Too young to be denying yourself a bit of fun. Why don’t you ask her out to your place for a meal?’

Matt schooled his features into a blank mask. ‘I’m not interested.’

Cheryl chuckled as she handed him the groceries she had got ready for him earlier. ‘You can’t fool me, Matt, any more than Ty Smithton or his wayward brothers can. You’re interested all right, it’s just your head hasn’t caught up with your body and your heart.’

Matt frowned as he made his way back to his car. He didn’t want to be interested but he just couldn’t help it. Kellie was like a magnet he couldn’t resist. He felt himself being drawn towards her in spite of his efforts to keep his distance. She exuded life and hope and joy. He had never met someone with such an exuberant boots-and-all mentality before. She went at everything like a bull at a gate, which made him realise how much he had shut himself away over the years. He was lonely, there was no point denying it. He craved the easy companionship of a secure relationship, having been denied it during his formative years.

Madeleine had been so stable, so dependable and reliable.

But totally predictable, a little voice piped up, seemingly from nowhere.

He got behind the wheel and gripped it with both hands until his knuckles turned white.

He liked predictable, at least in his private life. He liked knowing what was going to happen next.

Matt couldn’t imagine Kellie being predictable, or at least not from what he had seen from her so far. She was impulsive, for one thing. Her scheme to bring the single mothers together was well meaning but fraught with disaster. She was new to the community. She had no idea of how things worked out here. She would no doubt go in with all her social-conscience guns blazing and end up with some of her bullets ricocheting back to hurt her.

He gunned the engine and put the car into gear. It wasn’t his problem if she got hurt. What did he care? He had only met her a couple of days ago. She was a city chick who was here for six months and six months only.

But somehow as he drove towards his property he couldn’t quite rid himself of the image of Kellie walking alongside the spotty-faced, scowling Ty Smithton. She had taken the time to stop and speak in a respectful way to a troubled young boy who was hell bent on ruining his life. She hadn’t turned up her nose or shrunk away in fear. She had faced the young boy as an equal and asked him to help her.

The least Matt could do was support her during the time she was here, which reminded him he had promised to organise for someone to fix that sticking window.

No reason why it couldn’t be him.

Kellie couldn’t believe the chaos at the Smithtons’ house. Ruth had clearly made some headway but there was still a lot to be done. There was a roomful of clothes that had been washed and dried but not sorted. Kellie had never seen such a mould-ridden bathroom and the boys’ rooms were like war zones.

Ruth was clearly finding it harder than she had expected and communicated that once the boys had retreated to their rooms. ‘I can’t believe how messy they are,’ she said as she wiped the benchtops yet again. ‘I no sooner clean up after them and they’re at it again. And eat! I can’t believe what they can put away.’

‘They’re boys and they’re fully loaded with testosterone,’ Kellie said, ‘It’s entirely normal for them to eat like gannets, believe me.’

Ruth gave a sigh. ‘Tegan was the opposite. She hardly ate a thing, especially after I married Dirk. I often wonder if things would have been different … you know, if I hadn’t gone ahead with the marriage. Tegan missed her father—he died when she was eight. I was lonely and then Dirk came along and we got along quite well. I hadn’t worked since before Tegan was born so I think I might have been looking for security more than anything. It was a disaster from the word go.’

‘Stepparenting is a difficult task for most people,’ Kellie offered.

‘Yes,’ Ruth said, sighing again. ‘Dirk wasn’t the most patient of men and he had rather strict ideas on what girls should and shouldn’t do. There have been rumours over the years that he had something to do with her disappearance but I wouldn’t have thought him capable of something like that. But even now I lie awake at night and wonder if I missed something somewhere.’

‘I really don’t know how you’ve remained so strong,’ Kellie said.

‘The first few years were the worst,’ Ruth said. ‘Dirk passed away eighteen months after Tegan disappeared. He had a massive heart attack. I had to keep myself together in case Tegan came back. I kept thinking what if she had run away and then came back only to find her mother had given up on life? I could so easily have ended it all. I wanted to end the torture of not knowing but I think I’m finally coming to terms with the fact that I might never know the truth.’

‘I think it’s amazing how you help people in spite of your own suffering,’ Kellie said. ‘Look at what you’ve done for Julie and the boys for instance.’

‘I spoke to Julie this afternoon and her hand is recovering well,’ Ruth said. ‘She is being released the day after tomorrow.’

After she had helped Ruth bring some sort of order to the house and spent a few minutes helping the youngest boy, Cade, with his homework, Kellie asked if the three boys were interested in doing some yard work for her.

Ty, the oldest at fifteen, grunted something unintelligible but fourteen-year-old Rowan and twelve-year-old Cade showed a bit of interest, although it was somewhat guarded.

‘I thought it might be nice for when Dr and Mrs Montgomery come back if the garden was spruced up a bit.’ Kellie explained her plan. ‘I know the drought makes things difficult, but if we start now there are still things that can be done to make the place look neat and tidy by the time they return.’

‘Are you going to pay us, Dr Thorne?’ Cade asked with a wary expression.

‘Of course!’ Kellie said. ‘There’s no such thing as a free lunch, right?’

She told them how much she was prepared to pay them and arranged to meet them at the Montgomerys’ house on Saturday morning.

Driving into the Montgomerys’ driveway a few minutes later, she caught sight of a slinking shape near the rainwater tank at the side of the house. At first she thought it might have been a fox or even a dingo, but when it moved away into the shadows of the night she could see its tail was long and thin not bushy and the colour not golden but more like a patchwork of brown and black and white.

She turned on the back light once she got inside and looked out over the yard but there was no sign of any movement.

A few minutes later her mobile phone rang just as she had taken her last mouthful of her daily allowance of chocolate. ‘Hello?’ she answered from a full mouth.

‘Kellie, it’s Matt …’ He paused for moment. ‘Have I caught you having dinner?’

‘No, I had a snatch-and-grab meal with Ruth and the boys. That was my chocolate hit for the day. What can I do for you?’

There was a little silence.

She heard him draw in a deep breath before he spoke. ‘I promised to fix that window for you. When would be a convenient time?’

‘I thought you were going to get someone else to fix it. I didn’t realise you were going to do it yourself.’

‘I had to do the same to one of the windows at my place a while back,’ he said. ‘It’s no trouble really.’

‘What about tomorrow after work?’ she suggested. ‘That way I can cook you dinner in payment.’

‘I don’t expect to be paid,’ he said quickly.

‘Nevertheless, I insist on cooking you a meal. Besides, you’ll be doing me a favour by keeping me company for a few hours. I’m not used to being on my own in such a quiet house. It’s sort of creeping me out.’

‘Perhaps a dog might be a good idea after all,’ he said. ‘I’ve heard there’s one hanging about the school, looking for scraps.’

‘I think it was here when I got home a while ago. I saw it slink around the back of the tank.’

‘You could leave out some food for it and see if it’s friendly,’ he said. ‘But don’t approach it unless you’re sure. It might take a nip at you.’

‘I’ll be careful,’ she promised.

There was another silence.

‘Well …’ he said. ‘I’d better let you get some sleep. It’s been a rough couple of days for you. You must be totally wiped out.’

‘I’m pretty used to hard work.’

‘You’ll certainly get plenty of it out here. You’ll have to run the clinic singlehandedly tomorrow as I’m flying out to do the clinic at Warradunga Crossing.’

‘You don’t need me to come with you?’ she asked.

‘Although the appointment book isn’t full, I thought you’d be better to stay in town in case there’s anything urgent,’ he said. ‘The clinic at the Crossing isn’t a big one.’

‘And I don’t suppose the plane is either, right?’

Matt felt a smile tug at his mouth. ‘Not as big as the ones you’re used to but it does the job.’

‘So what time will you get back?’

‘About five,’ he said. ‘I’ll go home, have a shower and get back to your place at about seven, unless you want me to come later?’

‘No, that will be fine.’

‘Good. I’ll look forward to it.’

Not as much as I will, Kellie thought as she placed her phone back on the kitchen bench.

Her skin lifted in a faint shiver of anticipation. She knew the old adage about the way to a man’s heart being through his stomach might not apply to someone like Matt McNaught, but she was going to have a damn good try.

CHAPTER TWELVE

KELLIE was putting the last-minute touches to her make-up when she heard the sound of Matt knocking on the front door. She put the pot of lipgloss down and quickly slipped on her high heels and click-clacked her way down the hall.

She opened the door wide and smiled. ‘Hi.’

Matt felt as if he had been zapped with a stun gun. He stood there for several seconds, trying to keep his jaw from dropping at the vision of loveliness in front of him. She was wearing a red-and-white sundress with shoestring straps, nipped in at the waist with a shiny patent-leather belt, emphasising her trim body. Her hair was loose about her shoulders; she had done something to enhance the slight wave in it, the cascade of bouncy curls framing her heart-shaped face giving her a casual but elegant look. She smelt of summer, the delicate notes of honeysuckle—or was it orange blossom?—danced around his nostrils like invisible sprites.

‘Um … won’t you come in?’ she asked.

‘Er … right,’ he said, stepping over the threshold and thrusting a bottle of wine at her. ‘I don’t know if you like red or white but this is from the Roma vineyard. I thought you might like to try it. It’s the oldest vineyard in Queensland. It began in 1863.’

‘I’ve heard of it,’ she said, and closed the door. ‘I’ll open the wine while you play handyman with the window. I got the bedroom one open the other night but it’s still a little stiff.’

Yeah, well, it’s not the only thing feeling that way, Matt thought as she brushed past him. He was glad he was holding his toolkit so he could hide his physical reaction to her.

He went through the house and checked each window, listening to her singing along to the CD player. She had a nice voice, light and pure and enthusiastic as she was about seemingly everything.

I wonder what she’s like in bed.

The thought was like an intruder inside his head. He tried to evict it but it wouldn’t leave. It made it even worse when the last window he had to check was in her bedroom. The intoxicating fragrance of her permeated everything. Even the lightweight curtains smelt of her as he pulled them aside to work the latch.

‘How’s it going?’ she asked from just behind him.

Matt hadn’t heard her approach and nicked his finger on the blade of the chisel. ‘Er … fine,’ he said. ‘I’m just about done.’

Kellie frowned when he turned around and began to wind his finger around his handkerchief. ‘Have you cut yourself?’ she asked.

‘It’s just a scratch.’

‘Let me see.’

‘It’s nothing,’ he said. ‘I told you, it’s just a little scratch. It will stop bleeding in a second.’

Kellie gave him a reproving look as she reached for his hand. ‘You don’t need to go all macho on me, Matt,’ she said. ‘If I can handle what Julie Smithton did to her finger, I think I’ll cope with what you’ve done with yours.’

She unpeeled the handkerchief and inspected the flesh wound. ‘Mmm,’ she said. ‘It looks like it needs some pressure for a bit longer. I’ll cleanse it for you and put on a sticky plaster.’

‘There’s really no need …’

Her eyes met his. ‘Why are you being so stubborn about such a little thing?’ she asked. ‘When was the last time you allowed someone to help you for a change?’

He held her gaze for a moment or two. ‘All right,’ he said, blowing out of sigh of resignation. ‘Do what you need to do. I won’t put up a struggle.’

Kellie led him by the hand to the bathroom and making him sit on a small stool, attended to his finger with meticulous care. She was acutely aware of his long legs, she had to step around them a couple of times to reach the first-aid cupboard. She was also intensely aware of his hand in hers as she cleansed and dressed the wound. She imagined how it would feel to have those strong, long-fingered hands on her body, touching her face, tilting her head to claim her mouth with his own …

Matt met her brown gaze on a level. She was wearing mascara, which made her long eyelashes even more lustrous. His eyes went to her mouth. This close he could see the tiny sparkles in her lipgloss, making her lips all the more tempting to taste. He watched as the point of her tongue sneaked out to paste a film of moisture on top of the gloss and his insides gave a sudden kick of reaction. It would be so easy to lean forward and—

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