Page 18 of Andrew’s Outback Love

Linda nodded. “Right, I’d better get myself to bed. Goodnight, Drew.”

I lowered my head and kissed her again before she unlocked the door and stepped inside. I smiled, blew her a kiss and headed down the hall to my room. I had a feeling it was going to be a very long night.

***

“GOOD MORNING.” LINDA looked fresh and wide awake, her voice perky.

I grunted a response. I’d been awake half the night, tossing and turning, wishing I had Linda in bed beside me. I have no idea what the fuck was wrong with me. I’d known the woman what....two days? You didn’t have weird feelings like I had after knowing someone for two days. I didn’t believe in love at first sight. Nope, that was only in fucking fairytales. My head was on board with what I believed, why wasn’t my body? My cock in particular.

“Not a morning person, huh?”

“Late night reading reports after I left you. How did you sleep?” I’d gone back to my room and read the files from Barry’s follow up visit to Barrawon. Everything was as it should be. All patients were following Ruby’s instructions - none had any sign of brewing infection following their surgery and those who were being treated for eye disease, were also doing well.

“Like a baby, must be the fresh air.”

“Yeah, must be.” It was obvious she hadn’t been kept awake thinking about me. It had been almost 2am when I’d crawled into bed, but sleep had eluded me. I hoped this wasn’t going to be an ongoing issue. Being tired and surgery in my field, in any field for that matter, were a long way from being compatible.

I gathered Linda’s bag in my free hand and started off down the hall. I nodded at Kylie who was on a telephone call in reception and led the way to the glass doors. I pushed one open with my hip and leaned on it, holding it open for Linda to step through.

“We don’t have to check out?”

“No, because we stay here so often, they email the bill through to RFDS once a month and they take care of it.”

“Makes sense. Your routine doesn’t change?”

“No. I’d like to be able to do more but time is limited and the funding doesn’t cover extra time spent here.”

“Better than nothing though.”

“Yes, it is.”

I stepped away, let the door whoosh closed and headed to the first in line of two vehicles which were waiting close by. Sandra and Madison - our drivers, stood chatting and sipping what appeared to be hot coffee. Steam rose from the mugs in the cool morning air. Sandra was the daughter of Marge and Rex. Madison, their niece. Both ladies worked as wranglers on the property and did the fortnightly run to collect us.

I lifted the back door of the car and placed our bags inside at the same time Ruby approached from down the street and Cam appeared through the doors of the motel.

“Morning, all,” Ruby said as she headed for the car parked behind the one I would ride in.

Cam was in the same frame of mind as I was, he grunted and threw his bag in the back of the car before joining us.

“Who the fuck wakes up at this time of morning?”

Sandra laughed and handed Cam a thermos of coffee and a cup. It was their usual routine. Cam poured some of the brew into the mug and handed the thermos to me. I offered it to Linda but she held up a bottle of water indicating she would pass. I thanked Sandra and passed it back.

“Sandra, Madison, this is Linda Freemont, our new nurse.”

The ladies all shook hands.

“Let’s get this show on the road and you can tell me where Ally is.” Sandra moved to the driver’s side of our vehicle while Madison headed for the one behind.

“I’ll fill Maddie in,” Cam said before following with Ruby.

I offered the front seat to Linda but she said she was happy to travel in the back. We climbed into the vehicle and snapped on our seatbelts, ready for the long ride ahead of us.

CHAPTER EIGHT

Marge and Rex waited by the doors to the building we used as our clinic at the rear of their home. It was situated on the banks of the river and I particularly loved it here. Sitting at my desk, speaking with patients, it was hard not to be distracted. The view of the Darling River through century old gum trees was spectacular. I often took the opportunity when I came here to relax in a chair on the verandah, cold drink in hand, quietly contemplating my future while soaking in nature. It wasn’t unusual to sight various species of lizard, native mice and other small critters. I’d even tried my hand at fishing with Rex. Murray Cod and Golden Perch were in good supply in these parts.

I climbed from the car and crossed the short distance to shake Rex’s hand and give Marge a hug. Like Viv and Gary, these people had become close friends.