The Outback Nurse

‘How long did you work there? I know it’s in your résumé, but I can’t remember offhand.’

‘Five years, three as Unit Manager. I’d just left all my family behind in England, so I was feeling horribly homesick and foreign.’

‘Had you been to Australia before?’

Olivia nodded. ‘Yes but just on a working holiday, which is when I met my...’ Olivia hesitated. ‘My ex-fiancé. He was an intern then. Anyway,’ Olivia added hastily, because the last thing she wanted to talk about was Jeremy, ‘Mr Dean started within a couple of weeks of me. We were the “new kids on the block” together.’

‘Why did you leave?’ His question was direct and he watched as her shoulders stiffened, her hands yet again tightening convulsively around the glass.

‘Personal reasons,’ she answered stiffly.

Thankfully, he thought better than to push it—there would be time for that later. Instead, he explained her new position.

‘A contrast to Casualty, but there are a lot of similarities. As well as the usual coughs, colds and blood pressures, we’re up against whatever they present themselves with at any hour of the day or night. From heart attacks to major farming accidents, we’re the front line. You need to keep your wits about you. They breed them tough out here and they don’t like a fuss. It takes a lot of skill to read between the lines. What may appear quite trivial can often be far more serious. Most tend to play down their symptoms.’ He noticed her suppress a yawn.

‘I’m not boring you, I hope?’ he asked sharply.

Olivia sat upright, taken back by the first glimpse of him being anything other than friendly. ‘Of course not.’

Clem stood up, and Olivia reluctantly admired his athletic build. ‘You must be tired. You’ve had a long journey and it’s almost midnight. I seem to think everyone else keeps my ridiculous hours. I’ll let you get some sleep and I’ll see you in the morning, Livvy.’

‘It’s Olivia, not Livvy,’ she corrected him, following him to the door. ‘And thank you for coming over, Dr Clemson. I’m looking forward to getting started.’

‘Good. Hopefully you’ll enjoy working here. And it’s Clem, remember?’

Olivia suddenly felt embarrassed at how prudish she must have sounded, but she hated her name being shortened.

She watched him depart in long deliberate strides.

‘Watch out for Betty and Ruby. Don’t believe a word they say about me,’ he shouted jokingly over his shoulder as he disappeared into the night.

As Olivia closed the door and firmly locked it, Clem rolled his eyes heavenwards. She wouldn’t last five minutes. She was obviously well qualified and extremely intelligent, but she was as jumpy as a cat, and he somehow couldn’t imagine her on a search and rescue. Sure, she looked stunning, he thought reluctantly then checked himself. She was probably anorexic—you didn’t get a figure like that on three good meals a day.

CHAPTER TWO

OLIVIA awoke an hour before her alarm, determined to get the day off to a good start. Dougie had been right—the house was freezing. Reluctant to light a fire, instead she pulled on a pair of socks and a large jumper over her skimpy silk nightie and turned on the tiny fan heater. Jeremy would have had a heart attack if he could have seen her. Not sure how or where she’d get lunch, Olivia took advantage of the well-stocked fridge and prepared an enormous breakfast of bacon, eggs and wild mushrooms.

Mopping up the creamy yolk with a third slice of toast, she tried to decide what to wear for her first day. The usual white uniform seemed so formal, and according to the forecast it was going to be too hot for trousers. Settling on a pair of navy culottes, teamed with a white blouse and navy jacket, Olivia finally felt happy with her selection—smart but casual. She was nervous. What if the patients hated her?

With shaking hands, somehow she managed to put on her make-up, carefully trying to create a natural look. It had been a standing joke between herself and Jessica, the effort Olivia took over her appearance.

‘Honestly, Olivia, you look smarter coming off duty than I do going on,’ she’d often joked and Olivia would laugh back.

But her appearance was important to her. It had mattered so much to Jeremy that eventually it had rubbed off. Somehow she felt so much more confident with her ‘face’ on. After smoothing the wild mass of Titian ringlets into a chic French roll, she was finally satisfied.

‘G’day. It’s only me, Ruby.’

Olivia walked into the hall and watched as a huge woman burst through the front door. She had a mass of keys in her hand, as well as an array of brushes, a bucket and mop.

‘Here let me help you with that,’ Olivia offered.

‘I’m right.’ Ruby deposited her burdens on the hall floor. ‘So you’re Livvy? Dougie said you were a beaut, he wasn’t wrong. I’ll fix us a nice cup of tea before I get started. Youse must be feeling a touch nervous but, no worries, I’ll take youse over and introduce you to everyone.’

Ruby was truly amazing to watch. Without even pausing for breath, she had taken Olivia’s arm and seated her at the kitchen table then proceeded to fill the kettle.

‘How are you finding it—a bit bewildering?’

‘Just a bit,’ Olivia conceded.

‘Oh, we’re a strange lot, that’s for sure. The other nurses took one look and ran. Didn’t even see the week out.’ She eyed Olivia carefully.

‘Well, I’m here for a lot longer than that, I can assure you,’ Olivia responded with more conviction than she felt.

‘Yep, I reckon you are. But a word of advice from an old chook who’s been around the yard a while.’ She leant over the kitchen bench and, despite the fact there was only the two of them, spoke in a theatrical whisper. ‘Don’t go letting the doctor upset you. Clem’s bark is far worse than his bite.’

Although curious, Olivia felt she really shouldn’t be discussing her employer.

‘He seems very nice,’ she answered noncommittally, though she secretly hoped Ruby would elaborate. Olivia didn’t have to wait long!

‘Oh he’s golden. He snaps and snarls now and then but I just picture him as a spotty young teenager. I don’t tell him that, mind, I just say “Yes, Clem, no, Clem,” and wait for his mood to pass—it soon does.’

‘Everyone has their off days.’

‘Of course, but he’s got worse. It’s to be expected, mind, with all he’s been through. He’s far too busy, and now with this new hospital and everything. I just don’t know how he does it. He’s always had a temper, but since Kathy passed on...’ She blew her nose loudly on a hanky she’d fished from somewhere in her very ample bosom. ‘Tragic, there’s no other word for it.’

Olivia looked on, fascinated. This woman never stopped talking though she was busy all the while. The breakfast dishes were now washed and back in their various cupboards and the bench had been wiped down.

‘It must be difficult for him,’ Olivia agreed. ‘He’s very young to be a widower.’

‘Whoever said only the good die young wasn’t wrong. A real living angel was Kathy. And he’s not coping. I don’t care how many times he tells me he’s all right—I know he’s not.’

Olivia tried to steer the conversation. It really was getting too personal. ‘I hear it’s very busy at the surgery.’

‘Tragic,’ Ruby muttered, then, blowing her nose again, she stuffed the hanky back into her cleavage. ‘Oh, the surgery’s busy all right. Far too much work for the one doctor. It will be great when we get the hospital. A lot of the locals are opposed to it but they’ll soon come round. They’re just scared of change, and they’ll be wary of you, too,’ she added, ‘with that English accent and your city ways. But youse’ll soon win them over.’

‘I hope so,’ Olivia answered glumly.

‘Of course you will,’ Ruby reassured her. ‘Now, come on, sweetie, we can’t be here gossiping all day. You don’t want to go making a bad impression.’

Walking over to the surgery, Ruby linked her arm through Olivia’s. Really, Ruby was getting more maternal by the minute. Of course, just to add to Olivia’s nerves, the waiting room was full. As they entered the chattering stopped and Olivia felt every face turn to her. Smiling tentatively, painfully aware of a deep blush spreading over her cheeks, she wanted to turn and run. Sitting at the desk was a middle-aged, harassed-looking woman with frizzy grey hair that had never seen conditioner.

‘Thank goodness you’re here,’ she said as a welcome. ‘I’ll just let the doctor know.’

‘Now, just settle a minute, Betty.’ Ruby blocked her desk. ‘There’s always time for an introduction. This is Sister Olivia Morrell and, Sister, this is Betty. She’s the receptionist here and chief cook and bottle-washer.’

‘Isn’t that a fact?’ muttered Betty. ‘I’m sorry, Sister. It’s lovely to meet you, and not a moment too soon—the place is fit to burst as usual. Clem’s needed over at the Hudsons. Apparently the old boy had another turn,’ she added in low tones to a very attentive Ruby.

Olivia was sure that Betty shouldn’t be discussing the patients with the housekeeper, but she was obviously in for a few surprises. The bush telegraph would appear somewhat similar to the hospital grapevine, and that took some beating. Even the switchboard staff had apparently known about Jeremy and Lydia.

‘Anyway,’ said Betty with a smile, ‘we’ll get there.’ She nodded as a young woman came out of what appeared to be the consulting room. ‘I’ll take you through to Clem.’

As Olivia walked in, she noticed how much smarter Clem looked than on their first meeting. He was wearing beige trousers and a navy sports jacket, and a tie was sitting awkwardly on his thick neck. His black curls were smoother and she caught a whiff of cologne as he stood up and once again shook her hand warmly.

‘Good morning, Livvy. It’s good to have you on board.’

Olivia winced but Clem didn’t notice.

‘I did want to take some time to show you around but, as you can see from the waiting room, we’re pretty full on.’

‘That’s all right, I’ll manage,’ she replied in what she hoped was an enthusiastic voice.

‘Good girl.’

Olivia winced again as he nodded appreciatively. She didn’t have to be a genius to see that Clem wasn’t particularly politically correct.

‘I’m sorry to throw you in at the deep end but I see from your résumé that you can suture, which is an absolute luxury for me. I’ve never had a nurse here that can stitch and, frankly, I’ve never had the time to teach them.’

‘As long as the wound is examined by you before and after I suture, that’s fine.’

Clem nodded dismissively. ‘Well, in the treatment room I’ve got Alex Taylor. He’s gashed his hand on some barbed wire while mending a fence. I’ve had a look and there doesn’t appear to be any nerve or tendon damage, but the wound in itself is quite jagged and dirty and will need a lot of cleaning and debriding. If you could get started on him, that would be a great help. Buzz me when you’re finished or if you’ve any concerns.’

‘Right...’ Olivia hesitated. ‘I’ll get started, then.’

‘Good. He also needs a tetanus shot,’ Clem added, more as an afterthought, then, picking up his fountain pen, started to write on a patient’s file in a huge, untidy scrawl. Olivia stood there, not sure where to go. He hadn’t exactly given her a guided tour of the place.

‘Was there anything else?’ he asked, without bothering to look up.

‘Er, no,’ she replied hesitantly. He obviously wasn’t going to hold her hand. Perhaps Betty could show her where the treatment room and the equipment was. But back in the waiting room Betty was looking even more harassed than before. The phone was ringing incessantly, while she tried to force an uncooperative piece of paper into the fax machine. Oh, well, she’d just have to find her own way.

Alex was infinitely patient.

‘No worries, Sister,’ he said, adding reassuringly a little later, ‘Take your time, Sister, I’m in no hurry.’

Olivia bustled about, trying to find suture packs and local anaesthetic. Finally, with her trolley laid out and her hands scrubbed, she was ready to start.

‘Right, Alex, I’m with you now.’

‘Right you are, Sister.’ The elderly man nodded.

Olivia examined the wound carefully. Clem was right. It was indeed a nasty cut, very deep with untidy jagged edges and very dirty. After waiting for the local anaesthetic she had injected to take effect, Olivia once again inspected the wound, this time more thoroughly. The tendon and its sheath were visible, but thankfully intact.

‘Alex, everything looks all right in there. I’m just going to give it a good clean and then I’ll stitch it up. You shouldn’t feel any pain, but if it does start to hurt you be sure and tell me.’

‘Very good, Sister.’

Olivia was quite sure he wouldn’t. Alex hadn’t even let out a murmur while she’d injected the anaesthetic. ‘Dr Clemson said you were repairing a fence?’

‘Yep. The sheep were getting out and wandering off. I was gonna wait for me grandson to fix it, but he’s away at uni till the holidays and I can’t be doing chasing the stupid things. I’m too old for that.’ He went on to tell Olivia about his farm and how his grandson was studying agriculture. She encouraged the conversation to take Alex’s mind off his hand. Anyway, it was interesting to hear what he had to say.

‘He’s forever coming back from uni, full of new ideas and notions about what he wants to do with the land.’

‘And does that worry you?’

‘’Struth, no,’ Alex answered firmly. ‘I’m all for progress. Mind, I’m too set in me ways to be changing things myself. But as for the young fella, he can do what he likes as far as I’m concerned. Farming’s big business now it’s a science.’ He laughed. ‘It’ll all be his one day and I’m just glad he wants it. Not many young folk stay now. You just look at Clem. He wanted to stay in the city and carry on his work with the children.’

‘But he came back,’ Olivia ventured, curious despite herself at the insight into her boss. She had finished cleaning the hand and debriding the dead tissue. Aligning the edges, she started to suture.

‘Old Dr Clemson—Clem’s father—went to pieces after his wife died. His health started to fail. Clem came back to help out. He’s a good sort, not like his brother Joshua—he didn’t even make it in time for his own mother’s funeral. Anyway, then the old fella died, God rest him. By then, though, young Clem had fallen in love with Kathy, and she would never have considered leaving here. She loved Kirrijong and it loved her.’ Alex winced slightly and Olivia wasn’t sure whether it was from pain or emotion.

‘Is that sore, Alex? The anaesthetic is starting to wear off, but I’m just about finished now.’

‘I’m all right,’ he said, then continued his tale. ‘Kathy belonged here, and for a while so did Clem.’

‘What do you mean?’

‘Well, he’s busy with building the hospital and he’s flat out here, but I don’t reckon his heart’s in it. I know he’s grieving and I reckon the place has just got too many painful memories for him. I reckon we’ll be lucky if he stays.’

Olivia’s eyes suddenly misted over. Poor Clem. She knew all about painful memories and being alone. But if Jeremy had died? To totally lose someone... She wondered how Clem even managed to get up in the morning. At that moment she heard Clem walk into the room. He stood over her as she tied the last knot, surveying her work. The bitter tang of his cologne was a heady contrast to the chlorhexidine solution she was using on Alex’s wound. Acutely aware of his closeness, her hand trembled slightly as she snipped the silk thread. Clem let out a low whistle and shook his head.

‘You’ve made a rod for your own back Livvy. I couldn’t have done a better job myself. You’ll be doing all the suturing now. Right you are, then, Alex. Keep it clean and dry, and I’ll see you again in a week. Here’s a script for some antibiotics—that’s a nasty cut and we don’t want it getting infected. Any problems in the meantime and you’re to come straight back.’

Alex rolled up his sleeve as Olivia approached with his tetanus shot. ‘Right you are, Clem.’ He got up from the trolley and added, ‘I hope you don’t go scaring this one off—she’s a diamond.’

Olivia blushed but Clem laughed.

‘I’ll try not to.’ He shook Alex’s good hand and reminded him once again to return if needed.

‘Bye, then, Sister. Thanks very much.’

‘No, thank you Alex, for being so patient.’ She smiled warmly at him and hoped all her patients would be as pleasant.

The rest of the morning passed in a whirl of dressings, recording ECGs and taking blood. An old lady eyed Olivia dubiously as she sat her down and produced a tourniquet.

‘Clem normally takes my blood. I’ve got very difficult veins, you know.’

Taking a deep breath, Olivia forced a smile and assured the woman she knew what she was doing, adding, ‘Dr Clemson is so busy this morning he didn’t want to keep you sitting around, waiting for him, when you’ve probably got far better things to do.’

This seemed to appease her and grudgingly the woman offered her arm. Thankfully the needle went straight in.

Finally the last of the patients had been dealt with. Despite this, Betty still had to shepherd out a group of ladies from the waiting room who were conducting an impromptu mothers’ meeting. Firmly closing the door, Betty let out an exaggerated sigh. ‘They’ll be wanting me to serve them tea and biscuits next. Come on, Sister, it’s time for lunch.’

Leading Olivia through the surgery to the private part of the house she took her into the lounge room. Again, it was beautifully furnished, the walls lined with books, heavy drapes blocking out the harsh midday sun. Kathy must have used her talents in here as well. In one of the huge jade leather chairs, which clashed ravishingly with the dark crimson rug, sat a fat ginger cat. In the other chair, looking equally relaxed, sat Clem. His tie loosened, he was working his way through a large pile of sandwiches.

‘Come in, come in. Ruby’s done us proud as always— help yourself,’ he said, offering her a plate. ‘Don’t wait to be asked or there won’t be anything left. Isn’t that right, Betty?’

Always conscious of eating in front of strangers and still full from her large breakfast, Olivia picked gingerly at a huge roast beef sandwich Betty had cheerfully put on her plate.

‘Coffee, Sister?’

‘Thank you, Betty, and, please, it’s Olivia, remember.’

‘Cream and sugar, Sister?’ she asked, completely ignoring her request.

Didn’t anybody here use the right name?

‘No, just black will be fine.’

Clem raised his eyebrows. ‘I’d suggest you tuck in, Livvy, we’ve got a busy afternoon ahead of us. I don’t know what time we’ll finish.’

‘But I had a huge breakfast,’ Olivia protested, then, seeing the expression on their faces, she hastily took a bite.

A talk show was on television, wives confronting their husbands’ mistresses. That was all she needed.

Betty was lecturing her on the benefits of thermal underwear for night calls. ‘It can be cold at night if you have to go out in a hurry,’ she said, looking disapprovingly at Olivia’s skinny legs. A psychologist on the television show was banging on about how wives often let themselves go after they got married. Jeremy had certainly accused her of that and they hadn’t even made it up the aisle!

‘I’m quite sure Olivia wouldn’t be seen dead in thermals. Isn’t that right?’ Clem teased.

Olivia thought glumly of the small fortune she had spent on sexy underwear in an attempt to resuscitate her and Jeremy’s dying sex life. All to no avail. ‘Dr Clemson— Clem,’ Olivia said curtly, ‘as friendly as you’ve all been, I’m sure you wouldn’t expect me to discuss my underwear—or was there something in my job description I didn’t read?’

Betty coughed nervously; the television blared out the merits of keeping an air of mystery in the bedroom. Clem merely threw his head back and laughed loudly.

‘Good for you. We’re far too familiar here. Come on, we’ve got work to do.’ And picking up the half-eaten sandwich left on her plate, he took a huge bite. Olivia watched distastefully and stood up.

‘And if I’m not being too personal,’ Clem said with more than a hint of sarcasm, ‘may I suggest you go and put on some sunscreen and a hat? Half my house calls seem to be done in the middle of a field. Some insect repellent might be useful, too.’

Outside, he handed her the keys to a large black four-wheel-drive.

‘This is yours, but I’ll drive today, give you a chance to get your bearings. Just put the petrol on my account at the garage.’

‘Wonderful.’ That was a relief. She had been beginning to wonder if ‘transport provided’ might mean a bus pass.

‘Before we head off I’ll just show you the set-up.’ He opened the back door. ‘As you can see, I’ve got all the back seats down. It’s better to keep it like that so if the need arises you can transfer someone supine. There’s a camp-bed mattress rolled up in the corner there, with a pillow and some blankets.’ He opened up a large medical emergency box. ‘I’ll run through the box. Pay attention— you don’t know when you might need it.’

Olivia bristled. She was only too aware of the importance of the equipment Clem was showing her—he hardly needed to tell her to listen.

‘All the usual emergency drugs and intravenous solutions, all clearly labelled—giving sets, needles, syringes.’ He took out each piece of equipment in turn, gave her a short lecture on its use and then replaced it. Olivia stood there, silently fuming. While she appreciated him showing her the contents, he was talking to her as if she were a first-year nursing student. ‘An intubation kit,’ Clem stated as he held up a plastic box clearly marked INTUBATION KIT.

‘Is it?’

Clem chose to ignore her, instead painstakingly going through the various tube sizes and the appropriate ages they would be used on. Olivia automatically picked up the laryngoscope and checked that the bulb was working—it would be no fun attempting to put an intubation tube down an unconscious patient’s throat if the light didn’t work.

‘There’s spare bulbs here, but check it weekly. Have you ever intubated a patient before?’ Clem enquired.

‘Yes, several, but only in a controlled setting. Mr Dean insisted his senior nursing staff knew how, just in case. Anyway, it helps assisting doctors if you’ve done it yourself.’ She thought for a moment. ‘But I’ve never intubated anyone without supervision.’ Clem heard the note of tension creep into her voice.

‘And hopefully you won’t have to. You can always bag them until help arrives, but who knows what can happen? At least you know your way around the kit. You can have a go, that’s got to be better than doing nothing and watching someone die.’ Olivia nodded glumly, not for the first time wondering just what she had taken on.

‘Now the defibrillator. It’s pretty standard, you can run a three-channel ECG off this model—’

‘I’ve used that type before,’ Olivia interrupted.

‘Here’s the on-off switch,’ Clem continued, blatantly ignoring her again. ‘Keep it plugged in overnight to charge it, but just run the cord through the Jeep window into the garage wall. Are you listening? I hope you’re taking all this in,’ he snapped rudely.

‘I’ve used a defibrillator before—this model, in fact. I know what I’m doing.’

‘I’m sure you do,’ he said through gritted teeth, ‘but when I ring you at one in the morning to come and assist me in an emergency, I need to be sure you know exactly where all the equipment is and how it works. It’s no good you driving off in a hurry and leaving the bloody defibrillator still charging on the garage floor.’

‘Obviously not,’ Olivia retorted. She was nervous enough about her new responsibilities, without him treating her like the village idiot. ‘I’m grateful to you for showing me things, but I really don’t need a total re-train. If I don’t know or understand something then I’ll ask.’ She stood there resolutely, staring defiantly into his angry, haughty face, awaiting his wrath, but it never came.