Читать онлайн книгу «The Unexpected Father» автора Kathryn Ross

The Unexpected Father
Kathryn Ross


Title Page (#uba7470bc-6de3-5402-871f-5d23a81ea90f)CHAPTER ONE (#uc39be647-aa41-52b5-99e7-01d47dd82bee)CHAPTER TWO (#ub871c417-8cf4-5d62-92cd-f3d75acd93e1)CHAPTER THREE (#ue1dc67c5-f56f-5e6e-9084-49a38f9488ab)CHAPTER FOUR (#u61fb1fb4-936b-551b-bc4b-1c2f905dc845)CHAPTER FIVE (#litres_trial_promo)CHAPTER SIX (#litres_trial_promo)CHAPTER SEVEN (#litres_trial_promo)CHAPTER EIGHT (#litres_trial_promo)CHAPTER NINE (#litres_trial_promo)CHAPTER TEN (#litres_trial_promo)CHAPTER ELEVEN (#litres_trial_promo)CHAPTER TWELVE (#litres_trial_promo)CHAPTER THIRTEEN (#litres_trial_promo)Copyright (#litres_trial_promo)
“Josh!”
She tried to sit up, but as she moved she was struck with a pain deep down inside. She gasped, and instinctively her hand moved to her stomach.
“Sam, what is it?”
His voice seemed to be coming from a great distance away as another pain struck.
Her eyes lifted to his, filled with fear. “It’s the baby...Josh. I think I’m going into labor.”


Relax and enjoy our new series of stories about
spirited women and gorgeous men, whose
passion results in pregnancies...sometimes
unexpected! Of course, the birth of a baby is
always a joyful event, and we can guarantee that
our characters will become besotted moms and
dads—but what happened in those nine
months before?
Share the surprises, emotions, dramas and
suspense as our parents-to-be come to terms
with the prospect of bringing a new little life into
the world.... All will discover that the business of
making babies brings with it the most special
love of all....
The Unexpected Father

Kathryn Ross


www.millsandboon.co.uk (http://www.millsandboon.co.uk)
CHAPTER ONE
WHEN Samantha found out that she was pregnant she could hardly believe it. Once she had recovered from the shock, the delight and excitement set in. Although she knew a baby would change their lives radically, she never for one moment suspected that her husband would be anything other than ecstatic about the news.
Even now, as she lay in a hospital bed drifting between consciousness and the depths of darkness, his reaction haunted her. Their marriage had been a whirlwind affair, and their relationship tenuous at times. Yet even through all the insecurities of loving Ben she hadn’t been prepared for the truth. He just didn’t love her. It was a bitter twist of fate that she should find out now, when she was just six weeks pregnant.
Through a mist of confusion people were saying her name over and over again, but she was too tired to open her eyes; she just wanted to sleep and sleep into oblivion. The bomb blast that had hit the hospital might have bruised and battered her, but it was nothing compared with the ache deep in her heart.
She opened her eyes once and saw a man standing beside her; he was just a hazy, blurred shadow.
‘Ben?’ She murmured his name, her voice sounding strange to her ears. ‘Ben?’
Someone called for a nurse; it didn’t sound like Ben’s voice. She closed her eyes, too weak to think any more.
When she opened her eyes next it was like coming through a thick fog. Then gradually things became clearer and she could see Sister Roberts looking down at her, her expression concerned. ‘How are you feeling?’ she asked gently.
It took a moment even to be able to find her voice. ‘As if I’ve been run over by a steam train,’ she murmured at last. Her eyes moved past the nurse. She recognised the general care unit where she had worked for the last two years, though now she was viewing it from a very unfamiliar angle. She tried to sit up, and winced as pain shot through her body.
‘Don’t try to move.’ Sister Roberts put a gentle hand on her shoulder.
‘I don’t think I can.’ Samantha swallowed rawly. Then her eyes sought the nurse’s anxiously. ‘Am I still pregnant? Is...is my baby all right?’ She held her breath as she waited for the woman to answer.
The sister nodded. ‘Perfectly all right...you were very lucky.’
A wave of relief washed through Samantha’s body. If Ben had previously given her any doubts about whether or not she wanted this baby, they were gone for ever now. She wanted her baby with all her heart; that much was certain.
‘Try and get some rest,’ the sister urged as she watched a tear trickle down the girl’s cheek. ‘You are badly bruised but there is no permanent damage.’
Samantha shook her head restlessly. She could hear the distant sound of gunfire—not an unusual sound in the remote African township of Chuanga. For four years now civil war had torn the beautiful little country of Nuangar apart. Samantha had been here with the aid agency for two and a half years, but she still hadn’t got used to the tragic futility of it all.
‘What happened?’ Her voice was hoarse and strained as she remembered the direct attack on the hospital—the first of its kind. ‘I remember running through the ward and out into the corridor to see what was happening, then the explosion...’ Her voice wavered alarmingly at the memory. ‘Were many people killed...? Where’s Ben...is Ben all right?’
‘We’ll talk about Ben later...when you’re feeling stronger.’
Cold, clammy hands felt as if they were squeezing Samantha’s heart as she looked up at the woman. She had been a nurse for too long not to recognise the expression in her colleague’s eyes, in her voice.
Regardless of the pain, she hoisted herself up from the pillows. ‘Ben’s dead...isn’t he?’ Her voice wobbled precariously.
The sister hesitated before answering truthfully. ‘The ward he was working in got a direct hit, Sam... He wouldn’t have known any pain.’
For a moment Samantha seemed to take the news stoically, then she collapsed back against the bed.
Josh watched the sleeping woman with a deep, brooding gaze. Something about Samantha Walker got to him. He couldn’t have said what it was...the air of vulnerability... the fragile, almost ethereal beauty...just something about her.
His eyes moved over the pallor of her skin, made even paler by the mass of dark hair that framed the delicate oval of her face. She had incredibly long dark lashes, and soft lips that were tinged with gentle colour. In sleep she had a childlike, extremely vulnerable quality about her.
She moved in a fretful way and murmured something incoherently. Then suddenly she looked directly at him.
Her eyes were an unusual shade of deep hyacinth-blue, an arresting contrast with the darkness of her hair. There was confusion in the wide gaze. ‘Ben?’ she murmured, her voice husky with sleep.
‘It’s Josh.’ He corrected her gently. ‘Josh Hamilton.’
Her eyes closed and he thought she had drifted back to sleep again. He was surprised, therefore, when she spoke quite clearly to him after a moment’s silence, an edge of derision in her voice. ‘Oh, it’s you.’
‘There’s no need to sound quite so disappointed,’ he answered laconically.
‘You mean you want me to sound grateful?’ She couldn’t help the bitter note, though why she felt so strongly against this man she couldn’t have said. She had met him only once, just before the bomb blast that had destroyed part of the hospital. According to Sister Roberts, he had risked his life to save hers. She should say some words of thanks.
‘I’m not here for gratitude,’ he said abruptly. ‘I just wanted to see if you were all right. I thought I owed Ben that much at least.’
Guilt flooded through her. She lifted her eyes and looked up at him again. ‘I’m sorry...I do appreciate what you did.’
He waved her words aside impatiently. ‘I told you, I’m not here for that.’
Her gaze moved over the darkness of his hair and the tanned, rugged contours of his face. He had light green eyes, she noticed absently, and his lithe frame was powerfully built. He seemed to personify the outdoor, strongly masculine type. Perhaps it was that aura of strength that unnerved her so much.
‘Sister tells me that you have been in to see me nearly every day.’ She pushed her hair away from her face with a self-conscious hand. ‘Haven’t you anything better to do?’ She wondered if that had sounded rude. She hadn’t meant it to, it was just that she felt disconcerted by Josh Hamilton’s presence. The knowledge that he had sat next to her while she slept made her feel embarrassed; she didn’t like the thought that he might have watched her closely while her defences were down. ‘I thought you were a busy reporter who was in a hurry to get out of this place.’
‘I am.’ His mouth twisted in a rueful smile. ‘I should have been out of Chuanga last week.’ He held up his left wrist, which was heavily bandaged. ‘Unfortunately this has put paid to my travelling for a while.’
‘How did you do that?’ She struggled to sit up further and he stretched across with his right hand and helped her adjust the pillow. The sudden closeness made her visibly flinch away from him before she could check the impulse.
‘All right now?’ He sat back as if he hadn’t noticed the awkward moment.
‘Yes, thank you.’ Her voice held a slight tremor, and for a second her eyes collided with his direct, steady gaze. Hurriedly she looked away. For some reason Josh made her feel completely ill at ease. ‘You... you were about to tell me how you hurt your arm. Did it happen during the raid on the hospital?’ she forced herself to continue lightly.
He hesitated. He could have told her that it had happened when he had gone down into the debris of the hospital corridor to drag her out. Instead he shrugged. ‘No—got out of the war without a scratch.’ He grinned. ‘Got this arm-wrestling with Sister Roberts...she’s some lady.’
Samantha didn’t smile; there was a part of her that felt she would never laugh at anything again. She shuddered. ‘I still can’t believe that anyone could be so evil as to attack a hospital.’
‘It’s beyond comprehension.’ He hesitated before continuing gently, ‘Ben will be a sad loss.’
Dark lashes closed over her eyes. She wasn’t able to talk about Ben, not yet...and certainly not to Josh Hamilton.
‘Samantha?’ His voice was gentle.
Her eyes opened, their beauty lit by an inner light, an inner pain. ‘It’s OK,’ she told him awkwardly, then changed the subject abruptly. ‘If I hadn’t delayed you that evening in the ward you would probably be back in Salanga now.’
‘Maybe.’ His lips curved in a wry grin. ‘I knew you were trouble the minute I set eyes on you. I should have heeded my instincts.’
For a moment Samantha’s mind veered back to the nightmare of that evening.
Josh had been just another patient in her ward. He had been injured on the way in to Chuanga when the supply convoy he had been travelling with had come under attack. Luckily he had escaped with just a minor wound to the side of his head.
She remembered that she had found him extremely infuriating. He had sat on the edge of his bed fully dressed, and had made it plain that he was in a hurry to get out of the place because he had a deadline to meet for a story. Samantha couldn’t have cared less and had told him so in no uncertain terms.
She had been stretched to the limits of her endurance, with a full ward, a shortage of staff and a feeling of sickness curling around in her stomach. She hadn’t been sure if that feeling had been due to pregnancy or the fact that her husband had told her that morning that their marriage was definitely over. Whatever it had been, she had felt that Josh Hamilton was the final weight to tip the balance of her temper.
The other nurse who had been on duty with her had had no such reservations. She had fluttered around him, flirting with him flagrantly.
Even now the memory made Samantha cringe with embarrassment. Joanne had made it very clear that she was attracted to him and Josh had looked lazily amused, as if he was used to women throwing themselves at him.
Samantha had stopped next to them and told them in a clear, icy tone that if there had been such a thing as a bucket of cold water in Chuanga she would have thrown it over them.
Joanne had looked totally disconcerted. Josh had merely laughed, and his eyes had moved in an assessing way over Sam’s slender figure with a gleam of male approval that had completely thrown her.
‘Anyone ever tell you that frosty manner of yours is sexy as hell?’ he had drawled outrageously.
She had known he was deliberately taunting her, and her cheeks had flared with furious colour.
‘Did anyone ever tell you that there is such a thing as a common line of decency, and you have just crossed it?’
‘You mean I’ve offended you.’ He was totally unperturbed. ‘Tell you what—the sooner you check the stitches on my forehead, the sooner I can be out of here and out of your way.’ He gave her an exaggerated salacious wink. ‘How about it?’
‘I’m sorry, but no matter how outrageous you are I am not going to let you jump the queue. I have other people to attend to and so has Joanne.’ She gave her colleague a meaningful look. ‘Mr Hamilton will just have to wait his turn—’
‘Mr Hamilton is out of here.’ Josh interrupted decisively. ‘I’ve never liked waiting in queues anyway.’
She watched him gathering up his things with a feeling of intense annoyance.
‘I want to go across and have a word with Ben Walker before I leave, anyway.’
Samantha had been in the process of turning away from him.
She swung back with a frown marring her smooth features. ‘What do you want to see Dr Walker for?’
‘We’re old friends.’ He bent to put his shoes on. ‘Don’t worry, I’m not putting in a complaint about you,’ he added with a tinge of humour.
‘I’m not in the slightest bit worried.’ She glared at the top of his dark head, hardly able to believe that she could feel such strong antagonism towards a total stranger. ‘For one thing I’m doing my job well, for another Dr Walker is my husband.’
He straightened then, his expression incredulous. ‘You are Ben Walker’s wife?’
‘Yes.’ She met his gaze steadily.
He looked down at the wedding band on her finger as if noting it for the first time. ‘He never mentioned a thing about being married,’ he said after a moment. ‘I spoke to him this morning for about half an hour and he didn’t mention you once.’
Ordinarily Samantha would just have laughed. She had a sunny nature, and usually a smile came readily to her lips. The situation with her husband, however, had changed all that.
She couldn’t say she was surprised that Ben hadn’t mentioned her, but nevertheless it still hurt. ‘Well, he’s never mentioned you either,’ she muttered sharply.
His eyes swept over her in a long, leisurely appraisal. ‘Ben always did have good taste in women,’ he remarked reflectively. ‘Never thought he would get married, though. Didn’t think he was the marrying kind.’
Those words rang hollowly inside her now. She was overwhelmed by a sudden urge to cry. Ridiculous to cry now, she told herself sternly. She hadn’t cried when Ben had made his feelings clear to her. She hadn’t cried when the sister had told her that Ben was dead. Now, remembering Josh Hamilton’s words, she wanted to break down.
She breathed deeply. She had to get a grip, think logically. She had decisions to make—decisions that were painful.
Her head turned towards the table next to her, searching for a glass of water.
‘Would you like a drink?’ Josh asked immediately, stretching to pick up the glass for her.
‘Thank you.’ Her throat cracked slightly as she controlled the emotional storm inside.
Her fingers brushed against his as she took the glass he held out to her. Their eyes locked for a moment, then Samantha looked hastily away.
Josh was a total enigma to her. She couldn’t work him out at all Obviously he was being nice to her now because he felt sorry for her, because Ben had been his friend.
She didn’t want anybody’s sympathy; she certainly didn’t want Josh Hamilton’s. Her hand trembled badly as she held the glass. He didn’t let go of it, helping her as an adult would help a child. Annoyance mixed with gratitude. She wished to hell she could understand the way she was feeling.
After a few sips she lay back against her pillow again.
A young nurse walked past them and smiled provocatively at Josh. She noticed that he returned the smile in a warm, lazy kind of way.
Samantha looked away from him. ‘Don’t let me detain you here.’ She muttered the words abrasively. ‘I’m sure you must have better things to do.’
‘Am I to take it that’s your way of telling me to go?’ he asked sardonically.
‘If you like.’
‘Fine.’ He stood up. He seemed to tower over her bedside. He was tall—well over six feet. ‘I hope you feel better soon.’
Her reply was interrupted by Sister Roberts as she came to check up on Samantha, her trained eye moving over the girl’s pallor with concern.
‘Well, how is my favourite patient today?’ she asked light-heartedly.
‘Not bad.’ Samantha shrugged. ‘When can I get up from here? I’m starting to feel as if I’m taking root in this bed.’
‘You’ve only been there a few days,’ the sister said with a shake of her head. ‘You need the rest, Sam.’
‘I need to get back to work...that’s what I need,’ Samantha said bleakly. ‘You must be really short-staffed.’
‘We are managing,’ the sister assured her quickly.
Josh moved from the bedside. ‘Well, I’ll leave you two ladies to talk.’ His eyes moved over Samantha’s face, then he smiled. ‘See you later.’
‘Nice man.’ Sister Roberts sat down in the chair he had vacated. ‘He must have nerves of steel the way he was able to run into the hospital corridor to get you out. Parts of the roof were still falling in.’
‘Was that when he hurt his arm?’
The sister nodded.
Out of the side of her eye she could see Josh speaking to the nurse who had smiled at him. Then Nurse Joanne Kelly walked over to him as well. Josh said something to them and they both laughed.
‘He certainly seems to be a hit with the staff,’ she said, and for some reason couldn’t get rid of the asperity in her tone.
‘I suppose.’ Sister Roberts darted a glance over at her two members of staff. ‘Anyway, I haven’t come to talk about Josh Hamilton. I thought maybe you were ready to discuss what you want to do.’
‘Do?’ Samantha swallowed nervously.
‘You are going to have to return home, Sam.’ The woman’s voice was gentle. ‘You are in no fit state to continue working here. You are in shock and—’
‘Pregnant. Dreadful combination,’ Samantha said with dry humour.
‘I was about to say you need peace and quiet for a while,’ the sister finished with a small smile. ‘Have you a home, a family you can go to in England?’
‘You mean you’re kicking me out of Chuanga?’ Samantha’s voice was light, almost jovial. ‘And I thought I was indispensable.’
‘Come on, Sam!’ The sister shook her head. ‘You have a baby to consider. You know you can’t stay. We’ve already discussed that. You were already making plans to leave us...weren’t you?’
‘Yes.’ Samantha closed her eyes. If the truth were known she hadn’t really got around to the point of making plans; she had been too busy thinking about her husband, about the fact that he didn’t want their baby.
‘You...you haven’t told anyone that I’m pregnant, have you?’ she asked suddenly, her eyes flicking open anxiously.
‘Just your doctor... I’ll have to fill in a report for headquarters, though, Sam.’
That was to be expected, but even so her heart sank.
‘Shall I make some enquiries about getting you back to civilisation?’ the sister asked gently now.
‘I suppose you should.’ Samantha nodded. ‘As you say, I can’t stay here.’
She watched as the sister walked away across the ward. At least her baby was all right, she told herself positively. Ben—had he been here—would probably have been disappointed by that news.
Across the ward she could see Josh leaning indolently against the doorway, listening intently to something Joanne was telling him.
He was very handsome. His very presence seemed to dominate the small ward, radiating powerful, vital waves of strength.
What was Joanne talking so earnestly to him about? Samantha wondered. Josh seemed very interested, his eyes serious, watching her with complete absorption.
She sighed and turned on her side, away from them. She was grateful to Josh for rescuing her but she still didn’t like him. He was too arrogantly sure of himself. He was probably a womaniser into the bargain. A man who enjoyed breaking hearts.
Ben had broken her heart. She stared at the wall and tried not to think about her husband. There was no point in analysing their relationship any further. If the truth were known their marriage had been a terrible mistake from the beginning. She had tried very hard to make it work, but Ben had killed her feelings for him with his cold, almost indifferent attitude.
She remembered his reaction when she had told him she was pregnant. ‘Get rid of it,’ he had said stonily, with no hesitation. The memory made her shudder.
Ben was dead, and she grieved for the tragic waste of his life. But her respect for him had gone. Now her priority was her unborn child.
CHAPTER TWO
A WEEK later they let Samantha out of hospital. In one way she was relieved to be out of the ward. It had been frustrating to have to lie there when she knew the nurses around her could use some help. However, going back to the room she had shared with Ben would be hard.
She was making her way out of the hospital when she saw Josh Hamilton walking towards her.
‘Almost didn’t recognise you with your clothes on.’ He grinned as he stopped beside her. ‘I’ve only ever seen you in a uniform or a white nightshirt.’
Samantha tried not to look embarrassed by the remark, or by the way his eyes were assessing her in a light-hearted manner. She was wearing a cotton summer dress which had a faded floral print in blues and pinks. It was not a sophisticated dress but it was pretty, or rather it had looked pretty before she had lost so much weight. Now it hung on her slender frame in a way that was not exactly flattering. Not that she cared about her looks, and she certainly didn’t give a damn what Josh Hamilton thought of her.
‘I thought you might have left by now,’ she said crisply, pointedly ignoring his remarks.
‘If you can’t drive, getting out of here is not so easy,’ he said, indicating his wrist, which was still bandaged. ‘Believe me, I’ve explored all the options.’
‘I know what you mean.’ Samantha nodded. ‘I was hoping to be able to catch a plane to Salanga, but unfortunately none of the air relief has been able to get in.’
She turned to continue walking and he fell into step beside her. ‘You’re leaving?’ He sounded surprised.
‘Yes... I’ve been given my orders to go home. Apparently I need peace and quiet so as to heal my emotionally traumatised body.’ She made a joke of the subject, her lips curved in a smile that didn’t quite reach her eyes. ‘What about you? Are you going back to England?’
‘No, I’m not due to leave Nuangar for a while yet.’
They walked out into the heat of the day. The sky was a perfect dazzling blue which contrasted sharply against the brown mud huts and the dusty red earth. People were going about their work as usual. The sound of children’s singing drifted up from the school at the far end of the compound.
The hospital was the only brick building among a collection of mud huts huddled together at the edge of the African bush. Chuanga had once been a thriving little community, but since the war conditions had become unbearable. They were surrounded by hostile terrain, where the warring factions allowed very little to come in or out. Except for the radio, they were cut off from the outside world.
It was early afternoon, and quiet for once. She realised suddenly that the gunfire had stopped. The calm, tranquil sound of silence was like a blessed balm to her stretched nerves.
‘It amazes me how the people of Chuanga seem to remain so cheerful, even under the worst of conditions,’ Josh remarked idly.
‘Yes, I know,’ Samantha agreed. ‘I used to wander down to the school sometimes and talk to some of the children who had lost their parents. When I heard about some of the hardships they have had to endure before getting here, it made me think my own childhood was paradise. People in the West forget how well off they are sometimes... We tend to take things for granted.’
‘I presume you are talking about little things—like food, running water and medical aid?’ Josh enquired, raking a hand through the thickness of his hair and grinning. ‘Let me assure you that I will never take a juicy steak, a hot shower or a beautiful nurse for granted again.’
Samantha felt her cheeks growing pink at the seductive, drawling words. ‘Being out here certainly changes your perspective on things,’ she agreed, injecting a prim, disapproving note in her voice.
‘It does indeed.’ He watched as she came to a halt beside a large thatched rondavel—the name given to the mud huts which served as living quarters.
There was a look of uncertainty on her face as she paused by the door, then she looked up at him. ‘Well, it was nice talking to you, Mr Hamilton,’ she said briskly.
‘Josh,’ he corrected her quietly, his eyes never leaving the pallor of her skin, the darkness of her eyes. ‘I feel we know each other well enough to leave formalities behind... don’t you?’
‘Well...’ She struggled for some polite answer, but could find none. The truth was that she didn’t want to drop formalities where this man was concerned. For some reason she wanted to keep every single barrier she possessed well and truly in position.
‘Can you drive, Samantha?’ he asked suddenly.
She frowned, flicking her hair out of her eyes to look up at him with curiosity. ‘Well...yes... Why do you ask?’
‘Open that door, invite me in and I’ll tell you,’ he said firmly.
She hesitated. Part of her wanted to invite him inside, but she didn’t want to give this man the wrong idea...she didn’t want him to think she might be interested in him, because she certainly wasn’t.
‘I’m not going to take advantage of you,’ he drawled impatiently. ‘For one thing you’re not my type...for another I might look like a chauvinistic, insensitive brute but I’m not really. It’s a disguise I’ve had to adopt over the years.’
‘You’ve certainly perfected the technique,’ she said archly, wondering whether to be angered by his words or amused by them. Then curiosity overtook caution. ‘Well, you had better come in, then.’ She opened the door and led the way into the room.
It was stark inside—just a bed covered with a mosquito net, a rough-hewn table and a small cupboard. The only decoration was two photographs on the table. Josh glanced around at the spartan furnishings, his eyes lingering for a moment on the photographs. One was of her parents; it was faded, and in black and white, but it was the only reminder she had of the parents she had barely known. Next to it was her wedding photograph, with Ben smiling down at her in a tender way.
Samantha pulled out the one and only chair by the table. ‘Make yourself comfortable,’ she invited a trifle self-consciously. She noticed with gratitude that some kind person had left some soft drinks for her in a cool-box by the bed.
She picked up a bottle and held it out towards him. ‘Would you like a drink?’
‘I don’t suppose you have a cold beer in there?’
‘I’m a nurse, not a magician,’ she said stiffly.
He grinned at her look of disapproval. ‘An orange juice, or whatever it is, would be great—thanks.’
She took the tops off the bottles and handed him one. ‘I’m afraid I haven’t got any glasses.’
‘Beggars can’t be choosers.’ He held up the bottle in a salute before taking a long, thirsty drink.
For a second she found herself watching him curiously. He looked incongruous in the small chair. He was very tall, very powerfully built, with wide shoulders tapering to lithe hips. His long legs were stretched out in front of him in a manner that suggested he was very relaxed, yet Samantha sensed that for all his laid-back manner he was taking in his surroundings with a trained, observant eye. Perhaps a keen journalist never relaxed and always noticed everything.
He was looking again at her wedding photograph, and Samantha’s nerves stretched painfully as she followed his gaze. She sat down on the side of the bed.
‘How long were you and Ben married?’
‘Nearly two years.’ Her voice was stilted.
‘Strange.’ Josh shook his head. ‘I saw his parents when I was in London last October. They never mentioned anything about you.’
For the briefest moment Samantha hesitated. She and Ben had met through their work in Chuanga and had married there. She had only met Edward and Sarah Walker once, when she and Ben had been granted leave after their wedding to go back to England for two weeks.
‘They didn’t approve of the match.’ She was proud of the way she kept her voice so cool, and her expression didn’t falter. The hurt and the disappointment she had experienced where Ben’s family were concerned was buried deep.
‘Why ever not?’ He frowned.
‘Something to do with the fact that I wasn’t Helen.’
‘Ah...’ His voice trailed off knowingly.
‘You knew her?’ Samantha’s interest was immediately piqued. She had heard so much about the beautiful, clever Helen Roland from Ben’s mother that it had been embarrassing—especially as Ben had never before mentioned the woman’s name to her. Afterwards, when Samantha had questioned him about Helen, he had been infuriatingly vague, saying she was just an old girlfriend.
‘Yes, I knew her,’ Josh replied.
‘You are quite close to the Walker family, then?’ For some reason she had thought that Josh was merely an acquaintance.
‘I saw a lot of them as I was growing up. Ben’s father and mine were partners in a law firm.’
‘So you know how much Sarah thought of Helen?’
‘Oh, yes.’ Josh nodded, his manner relaxed. ‘Helen was a medical student, very clever. Ben went out with her for three years and Sarah took it very much for granted that they would get married. But then I suppose you know all the details?’
‘Not really.’ Samantha shrugged and met Josh’s steady gaze. She wondered what he would say if she told him that Ben had married her on the rebound... that he had still been in love with Helen Roland.
Not that it mattered any more. She sighed. ‘Poor Sarah. She will be absolutely devastated. It will be especially hard for her as Ben was an only child.’
For a moment a picture of Ben rose in her mind. Medium build, sandy blond hair. She took a deep breath. He had been so badly injured in the bomb blast that he had been virtually unidentifiable.
‘He was a good doctor.’ She looked up at Josh, unaware of the deep sadness in her eyes. It was awful, but it was the one complimentary thing she could think of to say about him. ‘Very dedicated to his work.’
‘That’s something I would have thought you both had in common,’ Josh answered gently as he put his drink down on the table. ‘Will you come back to work in Chuanga, Sam, after your enforced rest?’
‘I...I don’t know.’ She shrugged vaguely. She couldn’t tell him that it would be impossible for her to return. She couldn’t bring herself even to mention that she was pregnant.
‘I suppose it might be considered a waste of a good nurse if you don’t?’ he ventured casually.
‘Probably, but there are other worthwhile posts.’ Samantha’s voice was brittle. That theory of Josh’s was certainly one her husband had favoured. He had been horrified when she had suggested giving up her career for her baby.
Her eyes clashed directly with Josh’s watchful gaze. ‘So why did you ask if I could drive?’ She went straight to the point before he could start asking any more questions about her life and about Ben. She felt Josh Hamilton wasn’t the reticent type when it came to asking questions, but then she supposed that went with the type of job he did. He obviously wasn’t afraid to talk to her about Ben—unlike Samantha’s colleagues, who had all skirted around the subject in a nervous way for fear of upsetting her.
‘Because it suddenly struck me that I have a Jeep outside but can’t drive it and that you can drive but have no form of transport.’ He spread his hands. ‘The sensible thing would be for us to pool our resources, don’t you think?’
‘You mean that I should drive you back through the bush to Salanga?’ She sounded as surprised as she felt.
‘Why not?’ He shrugged. ‘Don’t you think you could do it?’
‘Of course I could do it.’ Her reply was instant, and then she hesitated. ‘But isn’t it very dangerous to drive through the bush without some form of protective escort?’
‘It’s very dangerous to stay here,’ he pointed out laconically. ‘Either way you’re taking a calculated risk.’
That much was true. At one time, Samantha wouldn’t have hesitated. She had never lacked courage and had never been frightened to take a chance, but that had been before she had found out she was pregnant. Now she had to consider the risks, weigh up the danger she would face with regard to her child. ‘I’ll have to think about it,’ she said cautiously.
He looked surprised. ‘I would have thought it the ideal solution. You know that even catching a plane out of here has a risk attached to it.’
‘Yes, I realise that,’ she muttered impatiently. ‘But I can’t leave immediately anyway. There’s a memorial service the day after tomorrow for Ben.’
‘Well, we could leave the day after that’ He shrugged. ‘I can drive some of the way,’ he continued blithely. ‘It’s only certain sections of road that I would need you to take the wheel.’
‘How long would it take?’ she ventured cautiously.
‘Anything up to forty-eight hours.’ He shrugged again. ‘Depends on conditions.’
‘You mean it depends if there is a land-mine on the road...or an ambush.’
‘You could get shot just crossing over towards the hospital,’ Josh pointed out grimly. ‘Your husband didn’t even leave the hospital.’
He watched the shadows flickering across her expressive face. ‘I didn’t mean to upset you,’ he said more gently. ‘I just wanted to point out that danger surrounds us here every day.’
‘Obviously I realise that,’ she told him stiffly.
‘I know the road between here and Salanga and I think our chances for making it through are pretty high.’ He went on as if she hadn’t spoken. ‘Otherwise I wouldn’t have suggested it.’
‘Well, I’ll still have to think about it.’
‘Because you’re frightened of being alone with me, or frightened of being out in the bush?’
‘I’m not afraid of you.’ Her cheeks flushed with annoyance at the suggestion. ‘But I want to weigh up the dangers and think sensibly about it, that’s all.’
‘Fair enough.’ For a moment his eyes moved over the long length of her dark hair and then the delicate curve of her face in a way that made her heart suddenly miss a beat.
Suddenly she found herself wondering if she was after all just a little bit afraid of being out in the wilds alone with such a man.
‘I will look after you, Sam. You’re Ben’s widow and I have enough respect for an old friend not to take advantage of the situation.’
‘That’s apart from my not being your type, I suppose?’ she said drily.
He laughed at that. ‘There’s no need to sound quite so disappointed.’
‘Don’t be ridiculous!’ For a moment she was outraged. What was it with this man? Did he think that every women he met was attracted to him?’
He got to his feet, his manner insouciant. ‘You are allowed to laugh, you know... even when you are m mourning. Sometimes it even helps.’
‘Say something funny and I’ll oblige.’ She glared at him, her eyes bright with dislike. The man was damned infuriating. ‘And I wouldn’t bother trying to convince me that your arrogant manner is just a front either,’ she couldn’t help tossing in for good measure. ‘Because I don’t believe a word of it.’
To her annoyance he seemed to find her words amusing. ‘Well, you can take comfort from the fact that it will be better to be out in the wilds of the bush with an arrogant chauvinist than a timid wimp,’ he said with a grin as he turned for the door. ‘You know where I am when you make up your mind.’
She was left alone then, her eyes glaring into the back of the door as it closed behind him. She didn’t like Josh Hamilton, she told herself for the hundredth time. The thought of spending forty-eight hours driving alone through the bush with him was not a pleasant prospect.
She got up and put her drink down on the table. Then her eyes moved to the photographs beside her and she took a long, shuddering breath.
She had to get out of here—away from the memories of the lie she had been living with Ben. Back to safety and a new life, for her sake...for her baby’s sake. In that moment she knew she would accept Josh’s offer. The alternative, of staying here in this room, was too bleak to contemplate.
CHAPTER THREE
THE iridescent pearly light of dawn was streaking the African sky as Josh and Samantha loaded the truck for their journey.
The morning air was fresh and still cool. Samantha shivered slightly as she watched Josh putting a first-aid kit and large water and petrol cans safely in the Jeep. She pulled her cardigan closer around her slender figure, glad that she had decided to wear lightweight jeans for this journey—a journey that was making her feel more nervous by the minute.
She felt she had made a momentous decision in deciding to travel with Josh. She just hoped it wasn’t a decision she would have cause to regret.
Josh leaned into the car and opened the glove compartment. A cool flicker of light reflected on the cold steel of a hand-gun for just a moment before he closed the door on it again.
‘We don’t need that...surely?’ she asked breathlessly.
‘Probably not.’ He shrugged, then, turning, met her wide, horrified stare with calm eyes. ‘I don’t intend to use it.’
‘Then why have it?’
‘Because it might mean the difference between life and death,’ he said in a cursory tone. ‘Sometimes it pays to have a deterrent, something that will buy you time.’
Samantha wasn’t convinced; that much showed on her expressive face. Josh bent to pick up the suitcase that was sitting on the ground next to her and changed the subject.
‘Is this all you’re taking?’ he asked as he tossed the small case into the back of the Jeep.
‘That’s it.’ She shrugged a trifle self-consciously. ‘You don’t tend to collect a lot of belongings living out here.’
He smiled at that. ‘My ex-wife never travelled anywhere without three large suitcases—two for her clothes, the other for her fashion accessories.’
Samantha digested this piece of information silently. Josh was divorced...or rather he had been divorced... maybe he had remarried by now. It struck her at that moment that she knew very little about this man—a man she would be entrusting her life to for two days out in the middle of nowhere. She swallowed down the apprehensive thoughts.
Josh had been a friend of Ben’s; he must be all right. Besides, if it hadn’t been for Josh she would probably not be alive today, she told herself rationally. ‘Was your ex-wife a fashion model?’ she asked drily after a moment.
‘As a matter of fact, she was.’ He grinned at her.
Samantha wasn’t sure whether he was teasing her or not. ‘Well, she certainly wasn’t a nurse at Chuanga Hospital,’ she said with a shrug. ‘The only accessories you can lay your hands on here are bandages, and we’re fast running out of them.’
He laughed at that and slammed the back of the car shut. ‘On that happy note, perhaps we should hit the road and get out of here now?’
She nodded, her heart starting to beat a rapid, nervous tattoo again. It wasn’t just the thought of the danger that lay ahead of them on the road that made her nervous, it was the thought that she was leaving her job, the place that had been her home for over two years, and she was leaving to face an unknown destiny.
A door opened behind them and Sister Roberts came out with Nurse Kelly and several of Samantha’s work colleagues.
‘We thought we would give you a royal send-off.’ Joanne Kelly grinned at Samantha. ‘We’re going to miss you.’
‘Not too much, I hope,’ Samantha said honestly, her gaze moving to the sister anxiously. ‘I must admit that I feel incredibly guilty about this—as if I’m running out on you, that I’m letting you down by leaving.’
Sister Roberts shook her head. ‘You’re a fine nurse, Samantha and you have worked well for us over the years. We are grateful for that.’
The two women embraced. ‘Take care,’ the sister whispered as they pulled apart.
When Samantha turned to get into the Jeep she saw Joanne reaching to kiss Josh full on the lips. ‘Good luck,’ she was saying softly. ‘And if you ever come back this way, look me up.’
Samantha swung herself up behind the wheel. ‘When you are ready, Mr Hamilton,’ she said as she started the engine.
He grinned at that, but didn’t exactly hurry himself. ‘Thanks for looking after me so well, Joanne,’ he said, touching the nurse’s face with a gentle hand.
Samantha revved the engine and he turned and got in beside her. ‘What’s the matter, Sam?’ he asked derisively. ‘Anybody would think you were jealous.’
Irritation flitted briefly through Samantha as she put her foot down on the accelerator. ‘Of what?’ she grated sardonically. ‘You do like to flatter yourself, don’t you?’
He laughed at that, his laugh warm and attractive in the early-morning air.
Then she turned to wave to her colleagues and her irritation with Josh Hamilton was forgotten. She drove slowly out of the hospital compound, past the church where just a couple of days ago she had said a final goodbye to her husband, then down the narrow village street. A few schoolchildren standing along the roadside waved to them happily and shouted goodbye, their faces bright and smiling, their clothes shabby but well washed. Their laughing, playful voices drifted in the early-morning stillness.
As they left the village of Chuanga the sun was lifting higher in the sky, turning it from gold to crimson. Ahead the road was straight and undulating through the scrubland. Even though it was still early, heat shimmered against the horizon, like a molten wave of water.
The road was uneven and they bounced against the suspension as Samantha crunched through the gears.
Josh grimaced. ‘You may as well keep the Jeep in top,’ he advised drily. ‘You don’t have to worry about traffic lights or junctions, just a few wild animals who might decide to cross your path.’
She pushed her long hair back from her face and flicked him an impatient look. ‘I’m not completely stupid,’ she told him brusquely.
‘I hope not,’ he said laconically. ‘Otherwise I would never have asked you to drive.’ He picked up a pair of binoculars and trained them on the road ahead for a moment.
He’s so arrogant, she thought angrily. Joanne must be completely off her rocker to find such a man attractive.
Then the surface of the road changed to what amounted to a mere dirt track. ‘Keep your foot down,’ he directed her curtly as they hit the rough patch and she instinctively started to ease up on the gas.
‘Who is driving this car?’ Her tone was sarcastic.
‘You are.’ He grinned at her, his eyes moving over the soft curves of her body. ‘And may I say you are doing so beautifully?’
‘Don’t patronise me,’ she told him crossly. Then she found the car wheels spinning ineffectually as they became momentarily stuck in deep ruts in the road.
‘I hate to say, I told you so,’ Josh drawled. ‘But if you don’t keep your foot down that’s going to happen again and again.’
‘Did anyone ever tell you that you’re a know-it-all?’
‘I’ve been called worse.’
Gritting her teeth, she did as he said and the vehicle jerked along obligingly. As they drove, it felt as if the car was walking over the terrain, first one side then the other, negotiating small hillocks and deep gouges in the earth.
As the hours passed and the sun climbed higher in the sky the heat became more and more intense. Dust flying in through the open top of the Jeep caught on Samantha’s throat until it felt like sandpaper.
‘It’s like an oven out here,’ she commented rawly, unfastening the top buttons on her T-shirt in a vain attempt to let some cool air flood over her body.
Josh glanced at his watch. ‘Nearly midday,’ he murmured almost to himself. ‘We haven’t done bad.’
‘Thanks.’ She cast a sardonic glance in his direction at the grudging compliment. She was the one who ‘hadn’t done bad’.
Josh grinned, leaned over into the back of the Jeep and brought out a can of cola. ‘Can I tempt you to something refreshing?’
Samantha’s eyebrows shot up in surprise. ‘Where did you get that?’
‘Corner shop,’ he answered drolly.
She frowned. ‘You know what I mean. Cans of that particular drink are like gold-dust these days in Chuanga.’
‘Strange how the most ordinary, mundane things assume enormous desirability when you can’t get them, isn’t it?’ He smiled. ‘This was a parting gift from Joanne. She really is quite a girl.’ He held the can out to her.
Was there an innuendo in those words somewhere? she wondered grimly. Did he mean that his laid-back, devilmay-care indifference was what made Joanne so keen...or was the heat making her read things into an innocent remark? Despite the fact that her throat felt parched and on fire, she had a moment of hesitation before accepting the drink. Something about Joanne Kelly’s blantant desire for this man irritated her immensely.
‘Are you referring, in your own modest way, to the fact that Joanne found you attractive?’ she murmured caustically as she tipped the can to her lips. The liquid wasn’t as cold as she would have liked it, but it was nectar to her parched throat.
A gleam of amusement lit his eyes. ‘Well, actually, I would never describe myself as ordinary or mundane, but...’ He shrugged. ‘As they say, beauty is in the eye of the beholder.’
‘Yes, there’s no accounting for taste.’ She handed the can back to him. ‘Do women usually throw themselves at you like that?’
‘Only on days with a Y in them,’ he said with a mischievous glint in his green eyes.
‘Very funny.’ She turned her attention firmly back to the road in front of them. ‘What does your wife think about it?’ she asked nonchalantly.
‘She’s my ex-wife. I thought I’d already mentioned that fact.’
‘I’m surprised you haven’t married again, what with all these women chasing you.’ Samantha’s mouth slanted in a wry smile.
‘The idea doesn’t appeal,’ he said, lifting his binoculars and scanning the horizon again. ‘Some men just aren’t cut out for marriage.’
Was he like Ben? she wondered suddenly.
‘Want me to take over while you get something to eat?’ Josh’s voice brought her attention winging back with a jolt.
‘Are you up to driving?’ she asked hesitantly.
‘I’ll manage. The road is pretty good here.’
If Josh described this road as good, she wasn’t looking forward to the bad bits. Driving here had been like driving across a motorbike assault course.
She pulled the Jeep to a halt and got out to change places with him. It felt good to stretch her legs; she hadn’t realised just how stiff she had got behind that wheel.
The air was hot and still, and a few grazing impala nearby turned to watch them warily, ready for flight at the first sign of danger.
‘It’s so beautiful out here,’ Samantha sighed as she settled herself in the passenger seat. ‘Hard to believe that there is so much fighting.’
‘Hard to believe man’s stupidity, you mean?’ Josh eased the Jeep forward again, his voice grim.
His tone of voice startled Samantha. ‘You sound angrey. ’
‘You bet I’m bloody angry, but what good does it do?’ He was silent for a moment. ‘All I can do is report on the atrocities I see and hope that a small seed of sanity will grow.’
The words surprised Samantha. She hadn’t pegged Josh Hamilton as the type who gave a damn. Suddenly she found herself wondering if that assessment had been unjustly harsh. ‘My experience of your colleagues has led me to believe that most reporters here are only interested in getting a sensational story,’ she murmured lightly.
‘Not wishing to sound rude, but you don’t strike me as the type of person to be experienced in very much except for what goes on at Chuanga Hospital,’ he quipped tersely. For a second he took his eyes off the road to let his gaze rake over the pallor of her skin, the soft, vulnerable slant of her mouth.
‘Like life and death, you mean?’ Her eyes shimmered frostily. ‘Mr Hamilton, I’ve lived in the middle of a civil war for over two years. Take my word for it when I say that I’ve learnt a few things along the way.’
‘I’m sure you have, but it hasn’t toughened you up, has it?’
She frowned. ‘I’m not sure I understand the significance of that question. Have you got to be tough to be worldlywise?’
He shrugged nonchalantly. ‘Put it this way—you don’t look very streetwise. There’s something about you that suggests softness, vulnerability. You look as if you need looking after.’
Samantha was totally outraged at those words. ‘I can look after myself.’ Her voice shook slightly with the force of her emotion. ‘I can assure you that I’m a past master at it.’
He cast a speculative glance at her. ‘So Ben wasn’t the protective type?’
She looked away from him out towards the vast empty plains. ‘I didn’t get married to have a protector.’
‘No, of course not.’ His voice was cool and steady. ‘Why did you get married?’
Her head turned swiftly, her eyes cutting into his with furious intent. How had they managed to skate onto the thin ice of the subject of her marriage? She was damned if she was going to discuss such personal matters with a complete stranger. ‘The usual reasons.’ She bit the words out sharply. ‘Not that it’s any of your business.’
‘Of course not.’ He sounded totally unperturbed by her anger.
For a moment there was silence, and she thought that the conversation was at an end. Her heart was beating uncomfortably hard against her ribs.
‘By “usual reasons” I presume you are talking about love?’ he said after a minute or two, flicking those cool green eyes over her once more.
‘For heaven’s sake!’ she flared heatedly. ‘Of course I mean love!’ She swallowed hard, trying desperately to quell the rush of emotion flooding through her. She would rather die than admit to Josh Hamilton that Ben had never loved her, that their marriage had been a hollow sham. She had her pride. ‘You knew Ben. Do you think he would have married someone he didn’t love?’ She glared at him with the full force of her feelings.
Josh shrugged. ‘I suppose not.’ Then his voice changed and became surprisingly gentle as he met the shimmer in her eyes. ‘I’m sorry, Sam...I didn’t mean to upset you. That was crass of me.’
‘Doesn’t matter.’ Her voice was brittle as for a moment she had to fight against the tears that wanted to fall.
Conversation stopped for a while. Then Josh said kindly, ‘I put the food in the cooler unit behind you; why don’t you help yourself to something?’
The last thing she felt like doing was eating. ‘Maybe a little later.’ She leaned her head back against the car seat, trying to appear nonchalant, trying to hide the fact that her emotions were racing around in circles. ‘I’ll just rest for a while,’ she said lightly, and closed her eyes against the glare of the sun.
Inside, her mind was whirling around and around over Josh’s words. ‘Why did you get married?’ ‘Usual reasons... usual reasons...’ The words played over and over like a parody in her head. What would Josh have said if she had turned around and told him the truth—that she had married out of a desperate need for warmth and affection? He would probably have found that terribly amusing.
She opened her eyes, and to her embarrassment found her gaze colliding with his.
‘Aren’t you hungry?’ he asked gently. ‘You should really eat something.’
‘I suppose so.’ Her voice was unenthusiastic. It was only the thought of her baby that made her reach into the back to comply.
She held out some of the meagre rations to him but he shook his head. ‘You go ahead; I’ll have something later.’
Samantha ate mechanically, her eyes fixed on the far horizon. A herd of zebra caught her attention as they ran across the plains, their black and white stripes made hazy by the dancing heat so that they seemed to merge with the landscape as if they were a growing part of it. Slowly she started to relax.
She shouldn’t really have snapped at Josh the way she had, she thought with contrition. Since she had become pregnant her emotions had seemed to see-saw dramatically, making her feel things acutely. These days she was never quite sure if her feelings could be trusted or if they were merely distorted by hormones. Sometimes she wondered if this whole episode in her life was merely a bad dream...one that she would wake up from at any minute.
She glanced back at Josh. He was a tough-looking man, his features etched in a hard-boned face, his jaw square and determined. There was nothing dream-like about him; he was a rugged, vital male from the tip of his unruly dark head of hair down over his lithe, well-toned body. Dominant was the word that sprang to mind as she looked at him. Dominant and powerful—a man who was always in charge of a situation, who invariably got what he wanted.
Why had he got married? she wondered idly. Had he been wildly in love? For some reason she suspected that with Josh Hamilton there would be no half-feelings. He was the type of man to feel something totally.
‘Feel better now?’ he asked, turning to meet her eyes.
She nodded. ‘Sorry if I was a bit sharp before,’ she said huskily.
‘Don’t worry about it. It was my fault anyway. I guess asking awkward questions is one of those idiosyncrasies that a reporter never loses—even when he isn’t working.’
‘Well, let’s just forget it anyway,’ she said brightly, then changed the subject. ‘Would you like me to take over the driving again?’
‘I thought you would never ask,’ he said with a laugh.
After that they travelled in a companionable silence. The road wound higher as they reached the mountainous region of Charracana. At one point the dirt track was just wide enough for one car, and the drop on the left-hand side of the Jeep was sheer, giving dizzying glimpses of the dry river basin hundreds of feet below.
‘I’m glad this isn’t a busy thoroughfare,’ Samantha joked nervously as she negotiated the twists in the road with extreme care.
‘I’m just glad you’re a competent driver,’ Josh said with a gleam of humour in his voice. ‘Because I’m the one staring down at the drop.’
When the road dipped into the valley on the other side the sun was starting to go down in a blazing ball of violent orange. Josh suggested that they pull the car off the road and call it a night.
‘The road is worse a little further on,’ he said seriously. ‘I think we need to negotiate it in daylight.’
Samantha nodded. She had no wish to travel along roads like these in the dark. ‘Where do you think we should stop?’
He pointed ahead towards where the undergrowth was thicker. ‘Up by the trees. Pull it well off the road—that way it will be hidden if anything happens to pass in the night.’
A shiver of apprehension darted through Samantha at those words. She knew very well that he was referring to rebel guerilla forces. They were in very dangerous territory now. No man’s land.
As soon as she had pulled the Jeep to a halt, Josh got out and started to gather pieces of branches and greenery to drape over the bonnet of the vehicle.
‘May as well minimise the risk of being seen,’ he said as she got out to help him. ‘That way we can sleep a little easier.’
By the time the sun had gone down the Jeep was festooned with branches and leaves.
‘Pretty good handiwork,’ Josh remarked as he stood further back on the road to survey their efforts. ‘Shall we break out the dinner rations before putting our heads down?’
Samantha nodded and then glanced around at the dark undergrowth that surrounded them. ‘I’m going to have to pay a visit to the little girls’ room first.’
He grinned and held out a torch towards her. ‘Better take this and watch out for snakes. We have all the mod cons out here.’
Her heart skipped a beat at the thought. ‘I think I’ve just gone off the idea.’
‘Go on.’ He waved her towards the bushes and then added jokingly, ‘Don’t be long or your dinner will be ruined.’
‘Well, we can always reheat it in the microwave,’ she said, joining in the spirit of things as she turned away. Her smile faded a little as she moved carefully into the lush vegetation behind her. The thought of snakes and God knew what else made her decide not to go too far. She was back to the relative safety of the car in a few seconds.
At first she couldn’t see Josh, just the vague, camouflaged shape of the Jeep. Then he peered up over the branches. ‘I decided to book a table for two in here,’ he said cheerfully. ‘Can you climb in so as not to disturb our handiwork?’
‘I might just manage that.’ It took her a moment to hoist herself up and then swing her legs over the door. ‘Don’t leave the waiter a tip,’ she panted as she slid into her seat. ‘Damn bad table he’s given us.’
‘Good view of the conservatory, though.’ Josh handed her the dry biscuits that had become part of their staple diet at Chuanga since the supply trucks hadn’t been getting through.
‘Definitely no tip for the waiter,’ Samantha said as she bit into one. ‘The food here is terrible.’
‘I can’t understand it—I ordered us both a steak,’ Josh said with a shake of his head. ‘And, believe it or not, this place came highly recommended.’
‘Who by? Kermit the Frog?’ Samantha smiled.
‘Actually it was Fozzie Bear.’ Josh crunched into another biscuit and washed it down with water. ‘Hell, these are awful. Soon as we get back to civilisation I’m going to treat you to a good meal.’
‘Is that a promise?’
For a moment their eyes met and held.
Why had she said that? she wondered, her heart jumping nervously.
‘I believe it is.’ He reached out a hand and touched her cheek. It was a curiously tender gesture and it sent a shiver racing through her.
‘Of course, the offer is subject to availability,’ he said, moving away from her again.
Then Samantha just smiled. He was joking, of course. When they got back to civilisation they would just say goodbye and their ways would part for ever.
She leaned her head back to look up at the sky, her dark hair falling away from her face, leaving its youthful, classical features exposed to the silvery moonlight.
The night was incredibly beautiful—the stars were big and bright and clear, and the moon looked almost like a piece of costume jewellery, sparkling and too large to be real.
For a moment she found herself remembering how she had looked out at the sky the night of the mortar attack on the hospital. She had wondered that night which direction she should take next...what to do about Ben’s rejection of their baby.
It seemed that fate had decided those things for her. One direct hit on the hospital and her life had veered sharply on a path for home, in the company of a stranger she barely knew.
Who decided these things...? Had Ben’s death been written down in some book up in heaven? Was her fate written there too? She shivered at that thought. Of course her fate wasn’t written; life was what you made it. She remembered her mother saying that to her many years ago.
‘Are you cold?’ Josh reached into the back of the Jeep and pulled out one of the blankets to throw it over her legs. ‘The nights are colder up in the mountains.’
‘Thanks.’ Her voice held the edge of a tremor.
‘Eat up,’ he urged gently. ‘The management have sent a good dessert to make up for the main course.’ He held up a squashed chocolate bar.
She laughed. ‘You are full of surprises, Mr Hamilton.’
‘The surprise is that it hasn’t melted completely. At least the cold night air is good for something.’
Samantha smiled. She liked the way Josh could turn a dreadful meal, a dangerous situation into something light-hearted. She was about to reply when he suddenly moved, and his hand clamped firmly down over her mouth.
A wave of surprise flooded through her. If this was Josh’s idea of a joke she didn’t think it at all funny. She was about to struggle, make her discomfort and annoyance at such an action clear, when Josh whispered for her to be quiet in a tone that held no hint of a joke.
Cold fear trickled down her spine in that moment as she heard what he must have heard seconds before her: the distant sounds of voices.
Her eyes, wide and horrified, met his as those voices came closer and she recognised the native dialect of one of the fiercest warring tribes.
She knew that if they were found now, their time was up.
CHAPTER FOUR
HER breath froze inside her and her heart slammed against her chest as the voices came nearer.
Josh took his hand from her mouth and pulled her down towards the floor, his finger going to her lips in a caution to keep absolutely silent. He needn’t have worried; Samantha couldn’t have made a sound even if he had wanted her to.
Petrified, she could only stare at Josh’s face as they crouched together on the floor. The voices stopped and for a moment there was just the sound of the insects in the undergrowth. Samantha hadn’t realised before what a racket they made; the noise filled her eardrums as she strained to hear any movement from the people outside.
The sound of a match striking nearby made her heart leap wildly. It sounded as if someone was standing right next to the Jeep.
There was a low murmur of voices again.
Samantha didn’t think she had ever been as frightened. Her hand moved instinctively towards her stomach, her thoughts for a moment veering to her baby. All sorts of weird thoughts spun around her mind in a terrifying couple of seconds. Then the voices seemed to move away from them just a little.
Josh moved back from her with the stealth of a cat and cautiously climbed a little way up on the seat to risk a look over the branches that had hidden them. He dropped back beside her a second later and came close to whisper against her ear.
‘Just six of them.’
His voice was so low that she had to strain every muscle to hear.
‘Looks like they’re going to make camp here.’
Samantha’s eyes widened. If the group stayed until morning they would definitely be found. The Jeep’s camouflage might work at night, but as soon as daylight broke she felt sure they would be easily spotted.
He saw the panic in her eyes, the nervous pulse that beat in her throat, and he reached out a hand to stroke the smooth curve of her cheek in an instinctively reassuring gesture. ‘We’ll be all right.’ Then he pulled her in close against the warmth of his body and held her tightly.
She didn’t try to pull back from him. Strangely, the close human contact was just what she needed at this moment. It was reassuring, comforting. She buried her head against him, listening like a frightened animal for any sounds outside. The only sound that she could hear was the steady beat of Josh Hamilton’s heart.
How long they stayed like that she didn’t know; it felt like hours, but it could have been minutes. When Josh pulled away from her she felt cold, bereft. She watched as he chanced looking out over the top of the door again.
‘They’re asleep,’ he whispered as he sank back down to her.
‘What will we do?’ Her voice was faint.
‘Try and do likewise.’ He smiled at her look of consternation. ‘Don’t worry. I’ll keep watch on the situation.’ He glanced at his watch. ‘Approximately seven hours to dawn. We’ll stay put for six hours; if they are still here then we’ll leave.’
‘Leave the Jeep?’
‘We’ll have no choice. As soon as the sun comes up they’ll see it.’
Samantha swallowed hard.
‘Come on, try and get some sleep.’ He reached for the blanket that was lying beside them and put it carefully around her. ‘Use my knee as a pillow.’
‘I can’t sleep,’ she hissed softly.
‘Try.’ He put a hand at her back and pushed her firmly down towards him. ‘It’s important, Sam,’ he whispered urgently. ‘You’ll need all your strength if we have to walk tomorrow.’
She hesitated for a moment and then did as he asked, curling down beside him and putting her head on his lap. It wasn’t very comfortable, and she was sure she would never sleep, but she closed her eyes to please him.
An animal howled in the distance, its cry unearthly, like a soul in torment. Samantha huddled closer to Josh. His arms went around her, his hand stroking the silky softness of her hair. For what seemed like a very long time she was tense and frightened, listening to every sound outside with bated breath. Josh continued to stroke her hair. The touch of his hand was soothingly hypnotic, and after a while she felt her heartbeats slowing, felt her eyes beginning to close as exhaustion started to overtake her best efforts to keep awake.
When she next opened her eyes daylight filtered down on her through the leafy branches draped over the Jeep. She was alone in the vehicle and fear rushed back as she remembered last night and the danger that had surrounded them. Where was Josh? She sat up cautiously, her heart slamming against her chest, and abruptly a wave of nausea swept over her.
She swallowed hard on the awful feeling. Morning sickness was something she had been plagued with since the beginning of her pregnancy. Desperately she fought against it; she couldn’t afford to be ill now.
Josh was standing next to a camp fire, his hands on his hips as he stared down at a pan boiling on it He turned sharply as she moved.
‘Well, good morning.’ His face lit with a smile as he saw her. Then his eyes narrowed on the deathly pallor of her skin.
‘Are you OK?’
‘Yes...yes, fine.’ Thankfully the feeling was starting to subside. Perhaps it wasn’t morning sickness, just apprehension and nerves. ‘What happened?’
‘Well, there are two pieces of good news and one bad,’ he said easily.
She started to relax at his laid-back manner. Relief was heady, like a good wine running through her body. Josh was smiling, so nothing could be that bad. ‘What are they?’ She pushed her hair back from her face, feeling groggy and only half-awake, but gratefully not ill.
‘Our neighbours left about two hours ago, and they were heading back the way we have come so we don’t need to worry about bumping into them again.’
‘Thank heavens for that.’ Her voice was fervent. ‘What’s the bad news?’
‘There’s no bacon and eggs on the menu.’ His teeth flashed white against his tanned skin. ‘Will black coffee suffice?’
The mere thought made Samantha’s stomach protest. ‘I think I’d just like some water, please,’ she said, trying to push at the branches against the door of the Jeep to get out.
He came across to help her. As he opened the door he held out his hand to assist her in climbing out. It was fortunate that he did because she stumbled as she tried to move, her limbs stiff from the cramped position she had slept in.
His arms were strong as they caught her, and for a moment she allowed herself to lean against him. Then she bent to rub her legs.
‘Pins and needles?’ He didn’t let go of her immediately.
She nodded. ‘Must have been the way I was lying.’
Josh laughed and bent to rub her legs with brisk movements. For a moment she was just relieved by the firm massage as he made the pain start to subside. Then she became aware of the touch of his hands in a different way—a way that made her heart stop beating for a second. Abruptly she pulled away from him. ‘That’s fine now,’ she told him crisply.
He straightened and looked at her. For a moment there was a tension between them that she didn’t dare to examine too closely.
‘I’ll get you some water.’ He moved away from her towards the fire.
She watched as he lifted the canister and carefully poured her a cup.
‘Come on.’ He looked round at her as she just stood watching him. ‘If I put this down on the ground the ants will drink it before you get a chance to even sip it.’
She tried to smile and moved closer to accept the plastic cup he held out towards her. Carefully she avoided looking at him as she did so. Had Josh noticed how she had just reacted to the touch of his hands? She cringed with embarrassment as she thought about the charged silence of a moment ago. Of course he had noticed. Josh Hamilton didn’t miss anything.
Her senses reeled. She was shocked by the flare of desire that had started to uncurl inside her at the touch of his hands. No...it wasn’t desire, she told herself forcefully. She just wasn’t awake properly. If Josh imagined otherwise that was his mistake.
‘Would you like a biscuit or some fruit?’ Josh sat down next to a rucksack that he had taken from the back of the Jeep.
‘No, I’m not hungry, thanks.’ She watched as he helped himself to a piece of fruit from the bag. On second thoughts, maybe he hadn’t noticed anything, she told herself as she started to feel a bit better. Knowing Josh, he would have made some sarcastic comment if he had.
He looked remarkably fresh, considering the way they had spent the night. His dark hair sat smoothly back from his face; his denim jeans and shirt were not even slightly creased. The only thing different about him was the dark stubble on his face, but strangely that just seemed to enhance his dark good looks even further. She had to admit grudgingly that she could see why Joanne Kelly had been so smitten with him. He was very attractive.

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