Free The Midwife and the Millionaire by Fiona McArthur

‘Who wants to go to the shop for a treat?’
    Sophie spread her arms. ‘There’s plenty to eat around here.’
    Levi dropped the last of the sticks for the night fire. ‘Spare me from Pollyanna with bush tucker,’ Levi said. ‘Not witchetty grubs, I hope.’
    Sophie refused to be downcast by the lack of enthusiasm. ‘Must admit I’ve never been a fan of the old grub. Though they say ten grubs a day is enough for survival.’ Levi didn’t look convinced, so Sophie pushed on. ‘And I did find a Gubinge tree up one of the gullies. I’ll show you where, before dark, in case you want some tomorrow, Odette.’ She held up the small greenish-yellow fruit which looked more like a pale pecan nut than a fruit. ‘Known also as a Kakadu plum, it’s easy to eat.’
    Smiley sat quietly amused during her lecture and declined to sample the fruit. She frowned at him for notoffering support but forgave him for the discomfort he was still in. No doubt he still felt sick and sore but he wasn’t complaining. He never did. Actually, nobody was, so maybe she should revise her opinion a little about some city people.
    She directed her attention to Levi and Odette and bit bravely into the skin. The tanginess twisted on her tongue and she fought to keep her face straight as she chewed and swallowed. ‘Food for indigenous people for thousands of years and apparently has a hundred times more vitamin C than an orange.’ She licked her lips and tried to define the taste. ‘The juice crosses between a pear and an apple. There’s a zing which I think is from the vitamin C but see what you think.’ She tossed one each to Odette and Levi. ‘Either way, it’s the perfect refreshment if we’re right out of grocery shops.’
    â€˜Bush tucker.’ Levi looked at her from under his brows as if to say, Are you having us on? When she nodded encouragingly he bit into the fruit, and then finished it off. ‘Not addictive, but not bad.’
    Sophie nodded. ‘We’ll take some with us when we walk out.’
    â€˜Awesome.’ He rubbed his hands together facetiously. So he did have a sense of humour. Now that was something Brad never had, and why she should think of Brad and Levi in the same minute sent a tiny flicker of fear into her belly which she was determined to ignore.

CHAPTER SIX
    J UST before dawn the next morning, when the night birds were settling and the morning budgerigars shared their chatter, Levi and Sophie prepared to leave camp. The gentle breeze lifted the bumps on Sophie’s arms and the ground crackled cold and hard beneath her socks. She tucked her chin into her collar as she pulled on her boots.
    She glanced across to where Levi wore Smiley’s broad Akubra and looked disturbingly like a country man rather than the city slicker she didn’t trust. Much more dependable and much more dangerous to her peace of mind.
    Sophie could smile at the image of her brother scowling uncomfortably in a baseball cap as he’d handed over his prized possession but not at the image of Levi. What was she doing heading off into the bush with a man she barely knew and didn’t even trust?
    Then again, there wasn’t a lot she could do about it, except be constantly alert for any suspicious behaviour on his part.
    Sophie jammed on her own Akubra, and thanked the last fading stars of the night she’d worn sturdy walking shoes, something she needed most places in the Kimberley.
    During the night they’d all managed to sleep in snatches after the emotional trauma of the day, and even Odette, apart from the indigestion and backache she normally suffered from, didn’t seem any worse for the experiences of the day before.
    â€˜Your baby must be one tough little munchkin, Odette,’ Sophie said, as she finished her weak tea from the one shared tea bag discovered at the bottom of her bag and boiled over the