Free The Midwife and the Millionaire by Fiona McArthur Page B

he’d failed dismally.
    But he couldn’t send Sophie off on her own, even though he suspected she’d be tougher in the outback than him.
    He did have faith in William though—not quite sure how that happened—and they’d be as quick as they could, but there was no use waiting for a rescue that might never happen before they tried to walk out.
    They left without looking back and he felt like a deserter as he followed Sophie down a natural trail. Initially he tried to choose the direction but his feet seemed to find the ground more uneven than Sophie did, and eventually he fell in behind her because it was easier going. It felt strange to let another person lead, let alone a woman.
    The rocks shifted under his feet as his ankles threatened to twist on the uneven path. It made sense if the whole place was the result of erosion but it made walking fraught for injury.
    When he thought about it they’d taken a lot for granted to head off into the hills. He caught up with Sophie and walked beside her. ‘I’ve just had a nasty thought. Actually, we’re relying on William’s memory of a nomad’s camp, from a muster that happened over a year ago?’
    She glanced across at him. ‘That’s what we all decided on.’
    He pushed aside a branch that reached across their path. ‘What if the camp moved on, which I imagine is likely.’
    She raised her eyebrows. ‘We can hope the camp moved closer, then, and not further away.’
    That was simple, he thought wryly. ‘I love the way your mind works.’ He bent down and picked up a walking-stick-size branch, tested it and then used it to part the grass in front.
    She grinned at him and he found himself grinning back. ‘Optimism is the code of the Kimberley.’
    Was this woman for real? ‘Spare me, Pollyanna. You just made that up.’
    â€˜Yep. But you can’t change what you can’t change.’ She glanced around as the first rays of light warned of sunrise. ‘More likely a hunter will find us than we’ll find them anyway.’
    He hadn’t thought of that. ‘Do they do that? I thought it was all in movies and fiction.’
    â€˜The medicine man knows if someone who shouldn’t be there is around. I’m just hoping they find us sooner rather than later.’
    The growing light allowed them to see the ground in front of them more clearly as the sun crept closer to rising. He’d be interested to see the pace she’d keep up when she could see properly. ‘Can we do this? Walk out safely?’
    She stopped and looked at him. ‘We can be sensible, yes, and cut down the risks, but it’s a big land under a bigger sun.’ She glanced at the imminent sunrise. ‘We should move faster while we can.’
    The morning blurred into a fast-paced bushwalk.Sophie pointed out another Gubinge tree and he began to see others now that he recognised them.
    She showed him the low-growing, wide-leafed bush tomatoes, which looked more like brown raisins. ‘But you have to eat the ripe ones. The green ones are toxic like green potatoes.’
    She picked a few and offered him one. When he didn’t look inspired she ate one herself and grimaced. ‘They’re talking about growing these commercially for a savoury spice. They’re pretty pungent but you never know when you’ll need them.’
    He was over bush tucker. It was pretty hard to be the protective male when she held all the cards. A very novel experience for a man who’d always been the one people came to for help. ‘Have you ever been to Sydney?’ he said.
    She didn’t even look at him. ‘No.’
    â€˜Maybe one day I’ll show you my favourite restaurant. The chef is one of the top three in Australia.’ He’d actually quite like that.
    She looked at him as if he’d offered a space shuttle to the moon. ‘You think?’
    Apparently it