Six Sexy Doctors Part 2

She was interrupted from her wayward thoughts by the pilot announcing that they had found the missing fishing boat. Meagan peered through the rain but could see nothing except waves stretching as far as the eye could see. Cameron touched her shoulder and pointed slightly forward from where Meagan was looking. Eventually her eyes could just make out the shape of the stricken vessel beneath them. It wasn’t a particularly big boat. Probably just big enough for the four man crew and their catch. The fishing boat was listing to the side as if it had taken water on board. On the deck stood three of the fishermen, waving frantically. One was gesticulating at the deck, but apart from that they seemed unharmed. It seemed it was the only the fourth absent fisherman that they would have to worry about.

As the helicopter hovered, Cameron made his final preparations to be winched down.

‘I’ll send up the three men while I’m checking out the injured man,’ he reiterated. Hopefully it won’t take too long to get everyone on board.’ Then before Meagan had a chance to reply he was being lowered towards the boat.

She watched, her heart in her mouth, as the cable holding Cameron swayed in the wind. Underneath them the fishing vessel was also continuously moving, one minute rising towards them, then the next falling away. Meagan now knew that she had completely underestimated the risk Cameron was—they were all—taking. She knew if it weren’t for the skill of the crew the helicopter could crash or, and she shuddered at the thought, Cameron could be crushed against the moving boat. She could barely bring herself to watch until finally Cameron was on the boat and unhooking himself from the winch. ‘Thank God,’ she prayed under her breath. He’d made it.

But the danger wasn’t over yet. They still had to get everyone on board. A few heart-stopping minutes later the first fisherman appeared in the doorway of the chopper. Meagan and Jamie pulled him on board, where he lay gasping and shivering. Meagan had only enough time to satisfy herself that he was cold and shocked but otherwise unharmed before the next fisherman was pulled in.

As she examined the second man, she could feel the first man pulling at the sleeve of her jacket. He leant close, shouting in her ear.

‘It’s Jock who’s hurt. The rest of us are all right. But Jock was hit on the back of his head by the equipment we use to lift the fish. He’s in a bad way.’

‘Try not to worry.’ Meagan had to yell to make herself heard above the roar of the helicopter and the sound of the wind. ‘Dr Stuart will look after him.’

‘I don’t think he can move him,’ the man yelled back. ‘I think he’s hurt his spine. He hasn’t been able to move his arms or legs since.’

Meagan, satisfied that the second man was also essentially unhurt, moved on to the last man who by this time had been winched on board. At the same time she was thinking frantically about what she’d been told. What if Jock had sustained injuries to his spine? Could they take the risk of moving him? Even strapped to the stretcher, surely it was too much of a risk? But what else could they do? They couldn’t leave him there.

Once again Cameron’s voice crackled in her ear, this time confirming her worst fears.

‘I’m sorry, guys, but you’ll have to leave us here for the time being. I think Jock may have fractured his spine. I don’t want to take any chances trying to manoeuvre him onto the stretcher. Even with help it’s too much of a risk.’

‘Roger that,’ came the pilot’s reply. ‘Is the boat capable of staying afloat until we can get someone to tow you in?’

‘It had better be,’ came the grim reply, ‘otherwise you could say we are truly sunk. I’m going to take off my radio for a couple of minutes so I can listen to Jock’s chest. I’ll speak to you again when I’ve finished.’

The last man on board was shouting something at Jamie. Meagan couldn’t make out the words but she could tell Jamie was worried.

‘What is it?’ She asked.

‘He says Cameron hurt himself when he landed on the deck of the boat. He took a blow to his forehead.’

‘In that case, I’m going down. He’ll need help.’

‘Sorry, no can do,’ Jamie said. ‘It’s too dangerous for a woman. Besides, Cameron will have my guts for garters if I let you go down. And I’m not having that.’

Meagan pulled herself to her full height.

‘In this scenario, don’t think of me as a woman,’ she said through gritted teeth. ‘Think of me as a doctor. And if you don’t let me go down, I’ll have your guts for garters.’

Something in the look she gave him must have convinced him. ‘What do you think, Captain?’ he asked.

‘I don’t like it,’ came the reply, ‘but I don’t know what else we can do. He needs help and I need you on board. But if we are going to drop her down, we need to do it now.’

‘OK, then, Doctor, let’s get you hooked up.’

When Meagan felt herself being lowered from the helicopter she felt truly scared for the first time. The rope swayed with the combined turbulence of the helicopter’s blades and the wind. She also knew with certainty that Cameron would be furious when he saw her. At that precise moment she didn’t know what she feared most—this awful sensation of being buffeted by the wind or Cameron’s anger.

Sure enough, when he reached out to pull her onto the deck he was livid. Meagan could see that he had sustained a nasty gash on his forehead which was bleeding profusely. He seemed oblivious to the rivulets of blood that streamed down his face.

‘What on earth are you thinking?’ he said. ‘I’m going to tell them to winch you right back up.’ Before he could act on his threat, Meagan had unhooked herself, just as Jamie had shown her, and was giving the helicopter a thumbs-up.

‘The men told me you had hurt your head. You can’t look after a patient properly if you’re hurt yourself,’ Meagan said firmly. ‘I want to take a look at it.’

She could see that Cameron wasn’t finished with her yet, but there was little he could do as the helicopter had already left.

‘Let’s get below out of the wind. Jock’s there already.’

Meagan watched anxiously as Cameron used the rails at the side of the steps to go below. She wanted to check Cameron’s injury, but she knew, for the time being, that keeping the boat afloat was the more urgent issue. It was listing to one side, rising with each wave and still taking on water. She knew she needed to keep the boat turned into the wind as best she could or there would be the danger of the boat taking on more water with every wave and capsizing. Now that she was actually on the boat she felt happier. The sea had never frightened her. Just as long as you treated it with respect and kept your cool.

She made her way to the wheelhouse to turn the stricken boat into the wind. She knew she would have to stay at the wheel until help reached them, hopefully before too long.

An irate Cameron appeared.

‘What are you doing here?’ he said.

‘I’m staying here,’ Meagan replied. ‘If you need me to help with Jock, that’s a different matter, but unless you do, this is where I’ll be.’

‘Jock’s stable for the moment. Why don’t I steer the boat and you keep an eye on Jock?’

‘Tell me, Cameron, can you do something about the wound on your head?’

Cameron touched his head gingerly. ‘It just needs a dressing—something to keep it from bleeding,’ he said.

‘It’s settled, then,’ Meagan said. ‘You go back below and sort your head out and keep an eye on Jock. You’re the one with more medical experience and I’m the one who knows how to keep a boat afloat. I’m staying here. If I need you, I’ll yell—I promise.’

The next two hours passed slowly. Meagan kept the boat headed into the wind, knowing that as long as she did that they should stay afloat. Every now and again Cameron would check to see that she was still all right. The second time he appeared he had bandaged his head—and not made a very good job of it either, Meagan thought perversely. She ignored his entreaties for her to change places with him. After a time the rain and wind began to ease and visibility improved. At last she made out the shape of the lifeboat coming towards them. She used the intercom to let Cameron know and as soon as the lifeboat was secured next to them she went below. Cameron was sitting beside Jock, explaining that soon they’d be moving him. Cameron looked exhausted, and from the lines around his mouth Meagan knew he must be in a great deal of pain.

She dropped to her knees to examine his head. It was, however, impossible to make a reliable assessment without undoing the bandage and that was likely to start the wound bleeding again.

‘You should have taken something for the pain,’ she said.

He smiled tiredly at her. ‘I needed to keep my wits about me. I’ll take something later.’

It took less than half an hour for them to get back to dry land. The air ambulance was standing by ready to transfer Jock to the specialist spinal unit in Glasgow, although to every one’s relief he was beginning to experience a return of feeling to his limbs. Cameron offered to travel with him, but the doctor from the other practice had already volunteered.

‘I’m rested,’ he told Cameron. ‘Besides, it looks as if you could do with a couple of stitches.’

Cameron reluctantly agreed to let Meagan suture his wound.

‘I could do it myself,’ he growled. ‘Just give me a mirror.’

‘Don’t be ridiculous,’ Meagan said. ‘Of course you can’t manage yourself. I’ll do it.’

‘I just hope you’re not seeing double with tiredness,’ he complained. ‘You need to get some sleep.’

But eventually, seeing that Meagan was determined, he let her close the wound. He hardly flinched when she injected some local anaesthesia. As she cleaned the gash, he grabbed her hand. ‘You did well out there,’ he said. ‘You’re a very brave woman, but I wish you hadn’t put yourself in danger.’ His eyes glinted as he held her gaze. Meagan felt her spine tingle.

‘Why? Were you worried about me?’ she teased.

‘You’re my responsibility,’ he said. ‘I promised Colin I would look after you. How would the practice cope if both of us had been lost?’

Meagan felt an irrational stab of disappointment. Was that how he saw her? His responsibility? Was that all? But, of course, she was forgetting about Rachel. No doubt he was still in love with her and hoping for a reconciliation. Meagan dismissed the slice of pain she felt at the thought. He had chosen Rachel over her once before, and would probably do so again. She of all people could never—would never—come between two people if there was even the smallest chance they could patch things up, especially when there was a child involved. She began to stitch, resisting the urge to stab him with her needle.

‘It seems to me that you are the one needing to be looked after. You’re the one who’s hurt after all. There’s not a scratch on me.’

He grinned and the tiredness left his features.

‘Ah, Meagan, why was our timing all wrong?’

She wasn’t sure what he was saying. Did he mean he wished he’d met her before Rachel? And if so how, did she feel about that? Her heart gave another flip. She knew how she felt. She knew deep in her bones that she and Cameron were meant for each other. She had known it the first time she had met him and she knew it now. She could love this man. She could love him with every fibre of her being. But it was too late. Much too late.

By the time Cameron and Meagan left the hospital, the sun was beginning to climb in the sky. The wind had almost dropped completely and it looked as if the day would turn out fine. Meagan guessed she wouldn’t be seeing most of it. A warm bath, something to eat then bed, she promised herself. Then she fell asleep.

She woke to the sensation of being lifted gently out of the car. She knew she should resist, but she felt so comfortable held against Cameron’s chest. He kicked her front door open and with her still in his arms climbed the stairs two at a time. She felt herself being lowered onto the bed. She wanted to open her eyes and say something, but they felt too heavy. For once she was unable to resist being taken care of. Besides, she didn’t have the energy to fight this man all the time.

Just before she gave in to sleep once more, she felt lips as light as a feather brush her temple. She thought she heard him murmur her name, but when she opened her eyes he had gone.

CHAPTER SIX

MEAGAN slept until lunchtime. After dressing, she checked the phone and was relieved to find the lines had been restored. The nurse at the hospital told her that all the patients from the night before were doing fine and not to worry about coming in as Dr Stuart had already done rounds a few hours earlier and was expected back shortly.

Did the man never sleep? Meagan wondered.

Conceding that there was little point in her going to the hospital, she decided to take a walk up to the big house to see Jessie. It would do her good to stretch her aching legs, she thought. It felt as if every bone in her body had been attacked with a hammer.

Jessie opened the door to her. She seemed delighted to see her. ‘Come on in,’ she said. ‘I’ll just put on the kettle and then you can tell me all about last night’s excitement. Goodness, Meagan, ever since you arrived, it’s been all go.’

Meagan collapsed into a comfy chair and related the night’s events, interrupted only by Jessie’s oohs and aahs.

‘He’s something else, our Cameron, isn’t he?’ Jessie said, giving Meagan a coy look from her lively green eyes.

Meagan realised she must have being going on a bit about Cameron. But anyone who had seen him in action the night before would have told the same tale.

‘C’mon, Jessie. You can stop looking at me like that. As I told you before, I’m not looking for a relationship.’

‘But,’ Jessie said, glancing at Meagan’s ringless left hand, ‘you’re not married. Or have you left someone back home?’

‘I was married, Jessie,’ Meagan said, surprised that she could say the words without flinching inside, ‘but he was killed in a car crash a couple of years ago.’

Jessie reached for Meagan’s hand. ‘I’m so sorry.’ She paused. ‘I lost my husband too. He died of a brain aneurysm not long after Effie was born.’ She shook her head and offered Meagan a small smile. ‘It seems we have more in common than we thought. You think you’ll never get over it then one day you wake up and life seems bearable again. It might seem right now as if that’ll never happen but it does.’

‘At least you had Effie,’ Meagan said, trying to keep the envy from her voice.

‘Yes. To a large degree, having her to look after is what saw me through those first awful weeks and months. Obviously you and your husband didn’t have any.’

Meagan bit her lip. She hardly knew Jessie, but already it felt as if they were good friends. She had never really talked to anyone before about what had happened.

‘About twelve months before Charlie died, I discovered I was pregnant. At first I wasn’t happy—I thought we were too young and that a baby would ruin my career plans—but after a day or two I got used to the idea. Then, as it became more real to me, I decided to hell with a career, a baby was more important.’

‘What happened?’

‘I had an ectopic pregnancy. The embryo lodged in one of my Fallopian tubes. They had to operate and remove my tube. While they were operating, they discovered that the other tube was damaged. It’s impossible for me to get pregnant naturally. Odd, huh? Losing the baby made me realise how much I wanted children. Now all that’s gone for good.’ Her voice cracked slightly. Losing the baby and the chance to have children still hurt.

‘Poor you.’ Jessie looked into the distance. ‘I don’t know if I could have borne Hamish’s death if I hadn’t had Effie,’ she said softly, before reaching out and taking Meagan’s hand. ‘Could you try IVF? A friend of mine got pregnant that way.’

‘I don’t think it would be for me. Anyway, I have no intention of marrying again, so the question of having children is moot. Do you mind if we talk about something else?’

Jessie looked at her sympathetically, before changing the subject.

‘About last night,’ she said. ‘Weren’t you scared at all?’

The question took Meagan by surprise. Probably because she hadn’t thought about it. She supposed she should have been but somehow, working alongside Cameron, she hadn’t been scared at all. At least, not for herself. There had been moments when she had been worried about the patients and more than one moment when she had been terrified on Cameron’s behalf, as any colleague would have been, but no she hadn’t been truly scared.

‘That’s just it, Jessie—I loved every moment!’ she said. ‘Instead of being frightened, I was exhilarated. Funny to think that when I came here, it was for a quiet life.’

‘In that case, you and Cameron have a lot in common. He’s always thrived on danger. Perhaps that’s why he married Rachel,’ she added sourly.

‘You don’t like her, then?’ Meagan knew she shouldn’t encourage gossip, but she was intensely curious about Cameron’s relationship with Rachel. A natural curiosity, she told herself, and anyway she knew she could trust Jessie.

‘It’s not that I don’t like her. But I can’t say I approve of the way she’s treated Cameron and little Ian…’ Jessie stopped, seemingly aware she had said more than she should.

Meagan leaned closer. ‘What do you mean?’

‘She had an affair—that’s why she and Cameron divorced. She met someone wealthier than Cameron. I imagine being Lady Rachel and living up here wasn’t what she had expected it to be, and I guess she thought her lover could provide the jet-set life she thought she was getting when she married Cameron.’

‘Cameron must have been devastated,’ Meagan responded, wondering how a man like Cameron would feel about being betrayed by someone he loved. Perhaps they had more in common than she’d thought.

‘I think it was her abandonment of Ian that hurt him most. Cameron would never put his own needs above that of his child, and he couldn’t understand how Rachel could risk losing her son. On the other hand, he was happy that she handed over custody of Ian to him.’

How could any woman give up her family? Meagan was thinking. How she would have loved to be in Rachel’s shoes, with an adorable son and a husband who loved her. It seemed that now Jessie had started, she was determined to go on.

‘Rachel doesn’t seem to care for her son. Not the way most mothers do. As far as I can tell, she uses him simply as a way to Cameron.’ Then she looked aghast. ‘I’m sorry, Meagan. Please, forgive me. I have no business discussing the family’s affairs. Just forget I said anything. Its just—’

‘Go on,’ said a quiet voice behind them. The two women whirled round. Engrossed, neither of them had heard Cameron come in. Meagan felt herself go red. What on earth must he be thinking? she wondered. Finding the pair of them discussing him and his relationship with his ex-wife.

‘Just what is it, Jessie, that you have no business telling Meagan?’ Cameron persisted. He narrowed his eyes.

Jessie sprang to her feet.

‘Rachel. She shouldn’t be living apart from her son,’ she said fiercely. ‘That child needs a mother.’

‘What Rachel chooses to do is up to her. But—’ his gaze softened ‘—you are right. Every child deserves two parents. And it’s up to the parents to make that happen—both parents.’

‘But if she won’t live here?’ Jessie persisted.

‘Then perhaps I’ll have to move back to London,’ Cameron said. ‘But whatever Rachel and I decide to do, it’s up to us. For the time being, please don’t bore Meagan with my problems.’

Meagan could still feel the heat in her face. At the same time she was dismayed at the thought of Cameron returning to London. Why she should, she had no idea. It would be far better that they live miles apart. Maybe then she’d get him out of her system. Horrified at the direction her thoughts were taking, she stood up.

‘Thanks for the tea, Jessie, but I should let you get on.’

‘You’re welcome,’ Jessie said. ‘You haven’t forgotten the ball? Simon—Cameron’s younger brother—and a few of his friends are arriving the Friday before.’ And Meagan caught her small smile and dreamy look.

So that’s the way the land lay. She hoped her new friend wasn’t laying herself open to have her heart broken. Of course, Meagan hadn’t met this Simon, but if he was anything like his brother, Meagan worried for Jessie.

‘I’m looking forward to it,’ Meagan said. ‘Although I’m still not sure what to wear.’

‘Rachel offered you something,’ Cameron said, sweeping his eyes over Meagan like a pro. ‘You’re about the same size, although I think you’re about an inch or two shorter.’

‘I would lend you something,’ Jessie said, eyeing Meagan’s figure enviously, ‘but I doubt I have anything that’ll fit. No, I’m afraid Rachel is your best bet.’

‘Rachel left this morning,’ Cameron said. ‘She won’t be back until the day of the ball. However, I’m sure she won’t mind if you help yourself to something from her wardrobe.’

Meagan was aghast. ‘I couldn’t possibly,’ she said, shaking her head firmly. It was bad enough that she coveted Rachel’s ex-husband, without borrowing her clothes too.

‘Tell you what,’ Jessie said thoughtfully. ‘There’s a lovely little boutique in Stornoway—I know you have a few weeks but we could take a trip up there this afternoon.’ Jessie brightened at the thought. ‘I could do with getting myself some bits and pieces, and it would be nice to have a day out. We could take Ian and Effie.’

‘Sounds like a good idea,’ Cameron said. ‘While you two are organising that, I’m off to check on the fences. Someone phoned to say there was a break near the east perimeter. And Simon’s weekend guests are hoping for some shooting, aren’t they, Jessie?’

‘Mmm, and fishing too. I expect you’ll be joining them?’

‘Too right,’ said Cameron. ‘Apart from the fishing I’m looking forward to seeing Simon again. How long is it since he was last here?’

Jessie blushed. ‘Five weeks.’ She attempted an airy wave that fooled no one. ‘But who’s counting?’

In the end, Jessie, Meagan, Effie and Ian all clambered into Meagan’s Land Rover for the short ferry trip and drive into town. The children were excited at the prospect of a day out, but had promised to be on their best behaviour, which would be rewarded with ice cream sundaes in a café. True to their word, they sat patiently in the dress shop, albeit giggling at Meagan as she tried on numerous totally unsuitable dresses.

Jessie was searching through a row of gowns. Every so often she would pull one out, hold it up against Meagan then with a click of her tongue return it to the rail. Eventually she pulled out a floor-length dress of shimmering deep green silk.

‘This is it!’ she said excitedly. ‘This one matches your eyes perfectly. Go on. Try it on.’

Meagan eyed the gown suspiciously. It looked a little too low cut for her liking, but to keep Jessie happy she tried the dress on. The silk fabric fell about her body and she could feel the fabric cling to her body. Jessie was right—it did match her eyes. And she did feel like a million dollars. Jessie wolf whistled.

‘You look stunning,’ she said. ‘Every eye on the room will be on you.’ Casting a look back at the children to make sure they couldn’t hear her, she added. ‘That will annoy Rachel no end. Sorry, sorry,’ she said as she caught Meagan’s warning look. ‘No more bitchiness—I promise.’

Meagan resisted the urge to pick up their discussion where they had left it earlier that day.

She twirled, enjoying the sensuous feel of the fabric against her skin.

‘Now all we need to do,’ Jessie said smugly, ‘is find matching shoes and a bag.’

Meagan looked over at the two children, who had begun to wriggle with boredom.

‘After we have that ice cream we promised, I think,’ she said.

Ian skipped over to her and wrapped his small arms around her legs.

‘I like you being here,’ he said simply. Meagan swallowed the lump in her throat.