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‘I’m not sure,’ she replied. Her plans hadn’t evolved at all past getting on the plane and arriving in town.
‘What brings you here?’ He was frowning as he carried her bag into the terminal.
‘I’m visiting my cousin.’
‘Is that who’s running late?’
She nodded in reply.
‘How late?’ he asked.
Emma checked her watch and felt his eyes follow her movement. ‘About an hour. She sent me a message, something about the clinic running late.’
‘The clinic?’ he queried. ‘What does she do, this cousin of yours?’
‘Do you always ask this many questions?’ she countered, wondering if it was the country manner to be this direct or just his manner.
‘Yep,’ he answered, with a smile that made his blue eyes sparkle.
‘Sophie’s a physio at the hospital,’ she told him, realising she’d tell him just about anything he wanted to know provided he was smiling at her.
‘You’re not talking about Sophie Stewart, are you?’
‘Yes, do you know her?’
He was nodding.
Just exactly how small was this town? Emma wondered. First he’d known Lisa and now Sophie. But it was good news for her as it meant she was in the right place after all.
‘She’s out on a clinic run with the flying doctors,’ he said. ‘There’s a storm out over Innamincka that’s delayed their return.’
Emma remembered Sophie mentioning something about the allied health hospital staff sometimes working with the flying doctor service. Her eyes flicked to the logo on his shirt pocket, the wings of the flying doctors. Soph got to work with this man? No wonder she’d said she planned to stay in Broken Hill for a while.
‘I’m a pilot with the flying doctors,’ he said when he saw the direction of her gaze. ‘I’m Harry Connor …’ he extended his hand ‘… and it’s a pleasure to meet you, Sophie’s cousin.’
‘Emma. My name is Emma Matheson,’ she replied, as she reached for his hand.
And there it was again. That same tingle that made her catch her breath. The feeling that he was taking all her oxygen and causing her light-headedness. Only this time she couldn’t blame adrenalin. That had had plenty of time to settle while she’d been sitting waiting.
‘So, Emma Matheson, what do you plan to do now?’ he said as he released her hand.
She wasn’t big on plans but fortunately Harry hadn’t finished. He continued speaking and gave her some options. ‘Did you want to hang around here? Or you could wait at the flying doctor base or I could drop you off at Sophie’s place.’
‘I don’t have a key.’
He laughed. Out loud this time and it was such a pleasant sound, deep and full and it resonated through her. It was so genuine she couldn’t find it irritating, even though she knew it was at her expense. ‘I doubt the house is locked and if it is I know where the key is hidden.’
Did he and Sophie have history? And what about Lisa?
He read her mind. ‘Don’t look at me like that. It’s all perfectly innocent. And I promise I’m completely trustworthy.’
She doubted very much that he was innocent but she wanted to believe she could trust him. Jeremy’s behaviour had shaken her faith in men but she had a good association with men in uniforms. Besides, she’d seen how he treated Lisa and he knew Sophie. She wanted to think he was a man who could be trusted, and with a laugh like that, one that reached right into his bright blue eyes, how could he be anything but nice?
‘Now, where can I take you?’ he asked, obviously deciding she’d had enough time to make up her mind.
‘If it’s not too much trouble, I’d love to go to Sophie’s. I need a shower and a change of clothes.’
‘Done.’
‘But aren’t you supposed to be working?’
‘Nope. My shift’s over. I came across to the airport when I heard the distress call. I have clearance to be on the airport apron and I thought I might be needed. Turns out I am.’ He grinned and Emma’s insides skittered. She wasn’t about to complain about his presence. It did feel as though he’d been sent to help her.
‘Come with me,’ he invited. ‘Send Sophie a text and let her know I’ll drop you at her place—that way you know I’ll have to get you there safely,’ he added as Emma still hesitated.
‘That’s not …’ Emma was about to protest and say it wasn’t that she didn’t trust him but she knew that was exactly the issue. And Harry knew it too. She nodded—it was a good suggestion. She pulled her phone out and sent Sophie a message even as she decided to consider this one of those times when things were going to unfold without her input. A pilot, in uniform, who’d already helped her and Lisa. If she was going to learn to put her faith in people again, this was as good a place as any to start.
Harry waited for her to put her phone away before he headed for the exit. Emma had to hurry to keep up with his long strides as he walked through the terminal. Not even the weight of her bag, which he still had slung over his shoulder like a beach towel, slowed him down. Not that his strength should have surprised her considering how easily he’d lifted Lisa earlier.
Harry loaded her bag into the boot of a large four-wheel drive and held the passenger door open for her. As they left the airport he pointed out the sights as he drove across town.
Normally Emma would have debated whether what he was showing her qualified as ‘sights’ as in her opinion the best thing she could see was Harry and she was more than happy to keep him in her view. But she didn’t want to appear rude so she tried to look interested as he showed her another sight—a huge pile of dirt in the centre of town.
According to him, this was the old mine and the reason for Broken Hill’s existence. The town had been founded on the back of a mining boom when lead, zinc and silver had been found in the area, but Emma found it hard to get excited about a heap of dirt, although she did agree that it made a useful landmark.
Emma tried to remember what Sophie had told her about the town as Harry negotiated the streets. She knew it was first and foremost a mining town but there was also a thriving artists’ community and it was a popular location for movie-making. Looking around, Emma couldn’t imagine why but apparently the surrounding country was quite spectacular. Sophie had told her there wasn’t enough in the town itself to keep her occupied for the three months she planned to stay, which was why she’d spent the first month in Sydney with the rest of Sophie’s family. Soph had popped back for a weekend, which had given them time to catch up, but Emma was looking forward to spending more time with her cousin. Sophie was always like a breath of fresh air and Emma needed that.
Sophie’s house was on one side of the mine and the airport was on the other, but even so it took less than twenty minutes to arrive at the house. It was a large, old, single-level, double-fronted stone building with a wide veranda and iron roof, and Emma remembered that Sophie shared the house. It was much too big for one person.
‘Sophie shares with a girl called Grace, is that right?’ Emma asked, as she followed Harry along the driveway. She’d expected him to try the front door but instead he was walking down the side of the house and entering through the back. Just as he’d predicted, the door was unlocked.
‘Yes, she’s a flying doctor,’ Harry replied, as he led Emma through a casual living room and up the hall. ‘She was on the clinic run today with Sophie. This is their spare room,’ he said, as he opened a bedroom door and deposited her bag. ‘If you’re okay, I might call past the hospital and check on Lisa. Will you be all right here on your own?’
Lucky Lisa. Emma nodded. ‘I’ll be fine. I’ll have a shower and a cup of tea. Thanks for the lift.’
‘No worries.’ Harry’s responses were as easygoing as he appeared to be, and Emma was sorry to see him go. She was suddenly aware of how big and empty and quiet the house was now that she was alone so she headed for the bathroom and the comfort of a hot shower, wanting to keep busy until Sophie got home.
She had showered and changed into shorts and a strappy tank top and was sitting at the kitchen table with a pot of tea in front of her when Sophie exploded in through the back door. There was no other way to describe it, Soph only ever seemed to have one pace and that was full steam ahead.
‘You made it! I can’t believe you’re actually here,’ she squealed. ‘I heard about the plane trip. Thank God it didn’t crash.’
Emma didn’t know what else you’d call it when a plane dropped from the sky and slid along a runway on its belly instead of its wheels, but she agreed it could have been worse, much worse, so she wasn’t about to argue.
‘I’m so sorry I was late. Are you really okay?’ Sophie looked her up and down.
‘I’m fine.’
‘You’ve got a bit of a fat lip.’
Emma touched her lip self-consciously. It was tender but it was hardly a catastrophe. She started to stand but Sophie had enveloped her in a hug before she could get out of her seat. ‘I’m fine, really. All in one piece and delivered safe and sound to your door.’
‘I can’t believe you’ve met Harry already. How did he know who you were?’
‘He didn’t at first. He was on the landing strip when we were all evacuated from the plane. He sort of appeared from nowhere through the dust—’
‘Did you collapse into his arms and make him carry you to the terminal?’
Emma shot her cousin a withering glare. ‘No.’
‘Pity,’ Sophie said with an exaggerated sigh. ‘That would have been so romantic.’
Emma ignored that comment. She happened to agree with Sophie but it would have sounded ridiculous to say so. ‘He had his arms full already.’
‘With what?’ Sophie asked.
‘With a nurse called Lisa,’ Emma said, keen to see Sophie’s reaction to that bit of news.
‘A short, curvaceous, blonde?’
Emma nodded, unsurprised that Sophie knew her. She was fast realising that anonymity was hard to find in this town.
‘What happened to her?’
‘She broke her wrist. Harry carried her off to the ambulance. He asked if I was okay and sent me to the terminal by myself.’ Emma left out the part about the tingles and the light-headedness as in her opinion it was far better to play down the events of the afternoon. ‘But when I was waiting for you, and the terminal was just about empty, he came and helped me again.’
‘I still think it would have been better if he’d swept you off your feet instead of Lisa but never mind—isn’t he fabulous?’
Gorgeous, Emma thought, but she wasn’t going to say that until she had more information. She knew from experience that things were not always as they seemed. ‘He seems nice.’
‘Nice! He’s better than that. If I wasn’t madly in love with Mark, I’d chase after him.’
‘He’s single?’ That surprised her. In her experience men who looked like that weren’t often single. ‘What about Lisa?’
‘They’re just friends. Harry’s single but he’s never single for long. He has a bit of a reputation as a ladies’ man. Luckily for him, Broken Hill is a very transient place, which means lots of the women with broken hearts are just passing through and don’t stay around to cause him grief. It seems to suit Harry. I’m sure his motto is “plenty more fish in the sea”. I bet he’d be happy to help you get over Jeremy.’
‘I don’t need help. Distance is all I need. I think I’m done with dating for a while.’
‘We’ll see.’ Sophie laughed.
‘What’s that supposed to mean?’
‘I’ve never known you to be without a boyfriend for more than a few months and it’s been, what? Four months now?’
‘Five.’ Not that she was counting. But Sophie was right. She was never single for long and didn’t actually like being on her own. She’d spent too much time on her own as a child and because of her nomadic upbringing she’d never really had a chance to form close female friendships that stood the test of time so boyfriends had filled that gap. But Emma did intend to take a break from dating.
She needed time to find out who she was and what she wanted, without any complications. ‘I’m not looking for a boyfriend.’
‘That’s okay,’ Sophie said, refusing to be put off. ‘I doubt Harry’s looking for a girlfriend but if you have an itch that needs scratching, he’d probably be happy to help you out.’
‘I’ll keep that in mind,’ Emma replied, even though she knew she had no intention of getting romantically involved with anyone for a long time, no matter how gorgeous they were.
Not even if his touch had sent her hormones into overdrive?
Surely that was only because it had been so long since she’d had sex. Five months was a very long time so was it any wonder her hormones were a little crazy? But before Sophie could make any more helpful suggestions, their discussion was interrupted by the arrival of Sophie’s housemate.
Grace was a petite woman, short and fine boned with jet-black hair cut in a bob. She was almost the perfect opposite of tall, blonde, Nordic-looking Sophie, and seeing them standing side by side as Sophie introduced her made Emma smile.
Grace’s arrival was closely followed by Harry’s reappearance and as he let himself in through the back door and despite her vows of celibacy, Emma found herself wishing she’d changed into a slightly more attractive outfit. She had an enormous bag stuffed with pretty clothes and she’d gone for comfort over style. But at least her hair was freshly washed and blow-dried and she was no longer covered in red dust.
Not that Harry even seemed to notice, he was too busy regaling Grace with his version of the drama of the plane crash while Sophie played hostess. Somehow Harry managed to make the plane crash sound almost exciting and if Emma hadn’t been intimately acquainted with the events of the day she would certainly now feel as though she’d lived through it. He was an entertaining storyteller and Emma imagined that anyone listening to his version would be sorry they hadn’t seen it for themselves, Harry made it sound as though it had been something not to be missed.
Grace asked Emma a few questions and Emma added her comments as best she could, but she was no match for Harry’s engaging style and she preferred listening to him while they waited for delivery of the take-away pizza Sophie had ordered.
‘Lisa’s broken wrist is a complication we don’t need at the moment,’ Harry said as he munched his fourth piece of pizza. Emma wasn’t surprised that a man of his size had a hearty appetite.
‘Why is that?’ Sophie asked.
‘She’s supposed to be taking a locum position with the flying doctor service while Kerri is on maternity leave. She was due to start next week but she’ll be out of action now.’
‘Why don’t you do it, Em?’ Sophie said. ‘Emma’s a nurse,’ she added for Harry and Grace’s benefit.
‘A hospital nurse,’ Emma clarified.
‘You’re trained in emergency work, though,’ Sophie added.
‘Are you?’ Grace asked, and when Emma nodded her face lit up. ‘Do you think you’d be interested?’
‘What, in working with the flying doctor service?’
‘Yes,’ Grace replied.
‘I’m here on a tourist visa. I’m not allowed to work,’ Emma said, thinking that surely Grace’s comment was just one of those off-the-cuff remarks people made without any real intent behind it.
‘I think you can do volunteer work,’ Grace said.
Emma shrugged. ‘I’m not sure I’m qualified to work with the flying doctors.’
‘If you’ve got emergency training, you’ll be fine.’
‘Yes, but I’m trained to work in a hospital, not out in a field in the middle of nowhere,’ she protested. She didn’t know the first thing about nursing outside a hospital environment and she hadn’t even done that for four months. Grace must be mad to think it was something she could do.
‘Technically it won’t be a field.’ Sophie laughed. ‘Out here we call them paddocks and the chances are you’ll just be in the dirt in the middle of nowhere, but it’s a once-in-a-lifetime experience. You couldn’t get enough of that flying doctors show when we were teenagers; imagine getting to do the real thing.’
‘I’m sure it’s hardly the same.’ She had loved that television series but to hear Sophie say it, in front of people who actually did it for a living, made her sound like a crazy groupie.
But Sophie wasn’t going to give up. ‘Are you kidding? It’s brilliant! I reckon you’d love it.’
Harry caught Emma’s eye. He was grinning at her and suddenly the proposition seemed quite appealing. Maybe it would be fun.
