Australian Bachelors: Outback Heroes: Top-Notch Doc, Outback Bride / A Wedding in Warragurra / The Outback Doctor's Surprise Bride. Fiona Lowe
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still way behind.’
Kellie connected both of the bottles Marty produced to the IV lines while Matt instructed Marty and his partner, Helen, to position the stretcher beside the patient. While Kellie took over ventilation, Matt supervised the transfer onto the trolley and into the back of the four-wheel drive.
‘He’s still bleeding internally. I want to get him to the plane and put in a right intercostal catheter to re-expand his right lung. Have you got underwater drainage?’ Matt asked.
‘Yes, we’ve got a full set of stuff for chest wounds on the aircraft,’ Helen said.
‘Let’s go, then,’ Matt said. Exchanging a quick glance with Kellie, he asked, ‘Are you OK to fly with me to Brisbane? I’ll need you to ventilate him while I manage his IV fluids and abdominal wound.’
‘Of course,’ she said, although she could feel her stomach already beginning to tighten in apprehension.
Once they reached the aircraft, the two ambulance personnel loaded the patient, while Kellie and Matt set up the intercostal tray.
Kellie helped Matt wash his hands with some sterile water and surgical scrub solution.
‘Thanks,’ he said, locking gazes with her momentarily before he donned sterile gloves.
She watched as Matt prepped the right side of the chest before performing the necessary procedure that would stem the flow of blood. Some tense minutes later when he unclamped the tube, about 300 ml of blood drained into the bottle, with a small ongoing leak of blood after that.
‘Hopefully his chest bleed will stop,’ Matt said as he fixed the tube to the skin with a heavy suture and sticky plaster.
‘You did an amazing job back there,’ Kellie said, meeting his eyes across the now relatively stable patient. ‘You stayed so calm and in control.’
Matt gave her a quick movement of his lips that could have almost passed for a smile. ‘You were a damned good assistant,’ he said. ‘It makes a huge difference when everyone knows what to do and when to do it.’
‘Thanks,’ she said, feeling a blush spreading over her cheeks. ‘But I was glad you were the one in charge.’
‘I’m sure you would have coped just as well,’ he said, checking the patient’s condition again. ‘Come on, Brayden, hold it together, mate. Not long now.’
Kellie heard the slight note of desperation in Matt’s voice. ‘Do you know him personally?’ she asked softly.
His eyes connected with hers before looking away again to focus on the young man lying between them. ‘I met him a few months ago. He came to see me about a plantar wart on his foot.’ His frown deepened as he continued, ‘He’s nineteen years old. He was a little undecided about what to do after he finished school, so rather than waste his parents’ money at university doing a course he might never use he came out to the bush for a gap year.’ He let out a ragged sigh as his eyes came back to hers. ‘He’s just a kid …’
Kellie put her hand on his arm. ‘He’ll make it, Matt,’ she said. ‘You’ve done everything possible to get him this far. He has to make it.’
Matt looked down at her smooth hand resting against the dark tan of his skin. She had pretty fingers, long and slender with short but neat nails. The skin of her palm was soft and warm, and he found himself wondering what it would feel like to have her massage the aching tension out of his neck.
He pulled his hand away as if by doing so he could tug himself away from where his thoughts were wandering. It had been so long since he had felt a woman’s touch. He had locked his physical needs away the day Madeleine had died. For six long lonely years he had ignored the natural and instinctive stirrings of his body, distracting himself with work until there hadn’t been time or energy to think about what he was missing.
No one in all that time had made his skin lift and tighten simultaneously at the merest touch. No one’s eyes had met his and seen more than he’d wanted them to see. No one’s smile had melted or even chipped at the stone of sadness that weighed down his soul.
But Dr Kellie Thorne with her feather-light touch and brown eyes and beautiful smile certainly came close.
Perhaps a little too close.
CHAPTER EIGHT
ONCE the patient was transferred in Brisbane to the nearest trauma centre, Matt looked up at the flight information board and frowned. ‘I hate to be the one to tell you this but it looks like we’re going to have to cool our heels here for a while.’
Kellie looked up at the screen. ‘Why?’
Brian King, the pilot who had flown the patient down, came over to where they were standing. ‘There are electrical storms all over the region,’ he explained. ‘Most of the regional flights have been grounded overnight.’
‘Overnight?’ Kellie blinked a couple of times. ‘But I’ve got nothing with me. Look at me.’
Both men turned and looked at her.
Kellie felt her face go red when Matt’s dark blue gaze lingered the longest. ‘I’m covered in blood and dust,’ she said, and added mentally, And I’m wearing a pair of ripped high-cut running shorts and a vest top, and I haven’t had a shower and I’ve never felt so unfeminine and unattractive in my life. ‘Anyway, where would we stay?’ she asked.
‘There’s a hotel close to the airport we use at times like this,’ Brian said. ‘They do a cheap rate for medical personnel. I’d offer you a bed at my place but we’re in the middle of renovations.
There’s barely room for the wife and kids.’ He turned to Matt. ‘Will you stay at your … er … fiancée’s parents’?’
‘No,’ Matt said, his expression as blank as a bare wall. ‘They’ve got relatives staying with them this week. I’ll be fine at the hotel with Dr Thorne.’
‘I reckon the flights will be back to normal in the morning,’ Brian said. ‘Are you guys right to get a taxi? I’ve got to go through a couple of checks with the safety crew.’
‘Sure,’ Matt said. Giving Kellie a follow-me nod, he led the way outside to the taxi rank.
Kellie could feel every person’s eyes on her as she stood beside Matt in the queue. An older couple in front had even made a point of stepping away from her, their wrinkled brows frowning in disapproval as they’d taken in her dishevelled appearance.
She felt Matt’s broad shoulder brush against her. ‘Ignore them,’ he said in a low voice.
She looked up at him and asked in an undertone, ‘Do I smell?’
His expression contained a hint of wryness. ‘I’ve smelt worse.’
‘Thanks,’ she said, rolling her eyes. ‘That’s very reassuring.’
A flicker of a smile lit his gaze. ‘Believe me, you’ll feel like a million dollars after a shower and something to eat,’ he said, as he led her to the next available taxi.
It was a short trip to the hotel, where the receptionist at the front desk smiled apologetically at Matt’s request for two rooms. ‘I’m terribly sorry, sir, but we only have one room available.’
Matt frowned. ‘One room?’
‘I’m afraid so,’ she answered. ‘With so many regional flights being cancelled at short notice, we filled up very quickly.’
‘I don’t mind sharing a room,’ Kellie piped up helpfully.
Matt’s frown brought his brows almost together as he looked down at her for a moment.
‘It’s only for one night,’ she said, conscious of the receptionist’s speculative look.
‘It’s a queen-sized suite,’