Page 38 of Ruby’s Outback Love

I spoke to Mick. “I’ll go to the hospital with Ruby. I’ll see you on Monday. Tell the weekend staff to call me only if something urgent comes up, otherwise, it can wait.”

“Will do.”

The ambulances came to a stop and while one crew spoke with Ruby, the other loaded Kirra into an ambulance. It wasn’t long before we were all headed back towards town. I removed my mobile phone and put a call in to Ruby’s parents.

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

Bourke

PHIL

Ruby faded in and out of consciousness during the short drive to the hospital. Isobel sat by my side on a bench seat, keeping a close eye on her patient. To my untrained eye, Ruby appeared comfortable. I gripped her hand, unwilling to let go. I inwardly vowed never to let go again.

At the hospital, Ruby was wheeled into a large, open plan room near the emergency entrance. Numerous beds lined the walls, all manner of equipment near each one. Only four of the beds had people in them, if closed curtains were an indication.

Ruby was transferred onto a bed and covered with a sheet by a nurse. When the ambulance crew left, the nurse pulled the curtains to give her patient privacy before taking her obs. They would monitor her for twenty-four hours if what Isobel said was correct and I suspected it was.

Two men stepped into the cubicle and advised they were taking Ruby for scans and I could wait where I was – she wouldn’t be very long.

After the nurse and the two men wheeled my girl away in the bed, I sat in a chair nearby and waited. Around twenty minutes later, Ruby was back and once the bed was secured in place, I gathered her hand.

“You don’t have to stay.” Her voice was thick with sleep.

“I’m not going anywhere until you’re released and I can take you home.”

We’d spent enough time apart and come Hell or high water – unlikely considering the current drought, I was going to win my lady back.

“Has someone let mum and dad know?”

“I called from the ambulance, they said they would be straight down. They should be here any time now.”

“Thank you.”

A man wearing a knee length white coat which was presently unbuttoned revealing blue scrubs beneath, stepped through the curtain, accompanied by a nurse wheeling a trolley and approached the bed. Recognition poked at me.

“Phil, it’s been a long time.” He thrust his hand out to me, I stood and shook.

He moved to Ruby’s side, pulled a small torch from one of the coat pockets and started the checking procedure which had already occurred a few times. I didn’t care how often they studied her as long as she was okay. While he checked Ruby’s heart and pulse, recognition finally dawned.

“Carl Rigon, mate, you grew up.”

Carl had been a skinny, pimply, nerdy runt who had worn coke bottle thick glasses when we were at school. He was a brilliant academic and hell of a nice guy. It didn’t surprise me he’d chosen to go into the medical field.

Studying him now, I was amazed at the changes in him. He was tall, not much shorter than me. The pimples were gone, as were the glasses. He was a good looking man. I noted his broad chest and muscular arms and wondered if he worked out. The change in him was unbelievable and probably why I hadn’t known who he was at first.

Carl laughed at my statement. “I wondered how long it would take.”

“It’s damn good to see you.” I meant what I’d said.

Carl and I hadn’t been close friends at school but I did regard him as a friend and we often spoke. We had also hung out and worked on a couple of school projects together. Where I was sports obsessed, he was rarely seen without a book in his hands.

I’d forgotten how many good people I’d turned my back on when Francine and I had made the decision to marry.

“You too, how about catching up for a beer and chat?”

“I’d like that. I have every night free, so I’ll fit in with your schedule.”

“I’m rostered off on Monday and Tuesday. How about I meet you at the Riverside Hotel around eight?”