Free The Surgeon's Doorstep Baby by Marion Lennox

with them. Otherwise I’d be stuck with nothing.’
    ‘Stuck with your family?’
    ‘That’s it,’ she said quietly. ‘And it’s a quandary. The kids love me and need me, but they’re growing up. Gradually they’re making their way into the world, so I need to work out my own independence as well. I know I have eventual escape, but Liselle, Peter, Christopher and Susie are seventeen, fifteen, twelve and ten and too young to be left with the cot case that’s my mother. But I didn’t have a choice—until your father’s farm became available.’
    ‘You’re saying you left your family to take care of my father’s farm?’
    ‘I left my family for me,’ she said grimly, and there was a moment’s silence while she obviously decided whether to reveal more of herself. And came down on the yes side.
    ‘My dad left two years ago,’ she told him. ‘He’s as bad as my mum. Totally irresponsible. Six months ago, just as your dad was dying, he turned up with a new young partner in tow. Sashabelle. What sort of name is that? Anyway they giggled and mooned over each other and Sashabelle kept saying how cute Susie was and how she’d love to have a daughter—all in my mother’s hearing—and then Dad looked at me and grinned and said to her, “Yeah, sweetheart, you know I love travelling but if you really want a kid...if worst comes to worst we can always bring her home to Maggie.”’
    ‘And I thought that’s exactly what would happen. Just like Wendy’s dumped Ruby on you—only I’ve already cared for eight and I’m d— I’m darned if I’ll look after more. So I told him no more, ever, I was moving out. Then I had to find somewhere where I could reach the kids in a hurry when they need me, but my useless parents know that I’ve drawn a line and any more kids—no way. Once Susie’s left home, I’m out of it. Good ole Maggie... I love my brothers and sisters to bits but the end’s in sight.’
    ‘So that’s why you won’t take on Ruby?’
    Her face froze. ‘No,’ she said through gritted teeth. ‘It’s not why I won’t take on Ruby. I’m not taking on Ruby because she’s not my family, and it’s totally, crassly, cruelly irresponsible for you to ask it of me. I’m your tenant, Blake, but if
babies are involved you won’t see me for dust. Put that in your pipe and smoke it—and don’t forget it. And here we are.’
    They’d pulled into the grounds of the local hall. A dumpy little lady in her forties was tacking a banner to the fence.
    ‘ Medical Clinic, Temporary, Corella Valley East .’
    A sign hung on a nail in front of it.
    ‘ Maggie’s Not Here .’
    As Maggie swung into the gate the lady at the fence beamed, waved and swapped the sign over.
    ‘ Maggie’s Here. ’
    ‘Very professional,’ Blake said dryly, and Maggie cast him a wry look.
    ‘So how would you organise it, city boy?’
    ‘Regular hours?’
    ‘And when another kid falls off a roof I still stay here because I need to be regular? I’ll be here when I can.’ She climbed out of the car and hugged the lady doing the signs. ‘Ronnie, this looks great. Fantastic. And we have our first patient. Christopher.’
    Ronnie sighed and tugged away to look into the back seat. ‘Oh, Christopher, what have you done now?’ And then she paused as Blake emerged from the passenger seat. ‘Oh...’
    ‘This is Blake Samford,’ Maggie said briefly. ‘He’s Bob’s son—and a doctor. He’s offered to help. Blake, this is Veronica Mayes. Ronnie. She’s a schoolteacher, but the school’s on the other side of the river.’
    ‘You’re a doctor.’ Ronnie’s eyes grew huge. ‘A medical doctor—here? On this side. Oh, Maggie, that’s wonderful.’ She peered again into the back seat. ‘But Christopher...?’
    ‘Sliding on roof ended badly,’ Maggie said curtly. ‘Badly cut thigh. It needs stitching and Blake’s offered to help.’
    ‘And...the baby?’ She was still staring into the car.
    ‘Ruby,’ Maggie said.