Free Flight to Coorah Creek by Janet Gover Page B

of place beautiful women came. He’d love to ask her. But he wouldn’t. If he asked her about her past, then she would probably ask about his, and that was something he wanted to avoid.
    Jess finished her inspection of the hospital’s exterior and walked through the front door. Once out of the bright daylight, she spotted him instantly.
    â€˜Hello,’ she said.
    She looked relaxed and refreshed. The stress of the past couple of days seemed to have dropped from her body, and from her voice.
    â€˜Hi,’ he said.
    â€˜I was supposed to report to the hospital administrator,’ Jess hurried on. ‘Do you know where I might find him?’
    â€˜You have. I guess I should have told you. I am the hospital administrator, chief resident, head of surgery, obstetrics and anything else you can think of.’
    â€˜You’re the only doctor?’
    â€˜That’s right. I can’t claim to be the receptionist and bookkeeper. Sister Luke does that.’
    â€˜There’s just the two of you?’ Jess seemed shocked.
    â€˜Most of the time. There are no other doctors in town. One of the RFDS guys drops by if we need help.’
    â€˜RFDS?’
    â€˜Royal Flying Doctor Service. They’re great guys. You’ll meet them soon.’
    Jess nodded, then smiled tentatively. ‘Well, I guess that I’ve reported for duty.’
    â€˜I guess you have.’
    â€˜I was hoping we could sort out this business of my accommodation. And there’s also the matter of a car.’
    Adam felt a twinge of guilt. ‘I can give you some good news about the car,’ he said. ‘The pilot’s car has been at the garage since the last pilot left. It’s had some work done and is ready for you whenever you want to pick it up.’
    â€˜That’s good news.’ Jess almost smiled. ‘And the house?’
    â€˜Come with me.’ Adam led the way towards the rear of the hospital.
    â€˜There is a doctor’s residence as part of the complex,’ Adam said, pointing across the baked earth to the nearest building. ‘That should suit you.’
    Jess halted in her tracks. ‘But, I can’t live with you … I mean. I can’t impose on your house.’
    â€˜No. No. I didn’t mean that.’ Adam was equally shocked. It was so long since he’d shared a home with anyone, he honestly had not even considered she might misunderstand. ‘I don’t live there. I use the resident’s quarters here at the hospital. I like to be close to the patients.’
    â€˜Oh.’
    â€˜So I thought you could have the doctor’s residence. It’s been empty for a while, but Jack is over there now fixing a few things.’
    â€˜Can I go and take a look?’ Jess asked.
    Adam wanted to say no. If she saw it now, she might turn tail and leave, and he needed a pilot!
    â€˜Well. I really want to let Jack do his thing first,’ he said quickly. ‘Get it cleaned up for you. It’s been empty a while and needs some new furniture and stuff.’
    â€˜Still, I would like to see it.’
    Something about the way she said it reminded him of Sister Luke. The nun could be a stubborn woman when the mood took her. Adam gave in as graciously as he could and they set out across the hospital yard. There was no garden worth speaking of, and the lawn, if that’s what it was supposed to be, was just a few clumps of burnt brown grass on a pan of cracked dry earth. The house, like most of the others in the town, was wooden and raised on stumps.
    â€˜It’s probably a stupid question …’ Jess began, ‘but why are all the houses on stumps?’
    â€˜It allows cool air to flow underneath in the summer,’ Adam replied, ‘and it keeps the snakes out, of course.’
    â€˜Of course, the snakes.’ Jess didn’t look happy at the thought.
    She looked even less happy when he opened the door and ushered her into