The Doctor Claims His Bride Read Free Page B

himself of his cast-iron immunity, the one that Brooke had activated.
    ‘Flynn, I got a bush saw.’ Walter ran up holding a bright orange-handled saw.
    ‘Thanks, Walter, excellent work.’ Flynn took the proffered saw.
    Mia immediately opened a sterile pack and covered the gauze she’d placed around the spear entry point with a small theatre towel. ‘We don’t need wood shavings in there as well. I hope you’re as good with a bush saw as you are with a scalpel.’ She gripped the spear firmly at the entry point and glanced up at him, giving a quiet, companionable smile.
    A completely unexpected smile.
    He found himself smiling back. ‘I’ve improved with practice.’ He tapped the back of his hand where a long, jagged scar ran across three knuckles.
    ‘Ouch.’
    ‘My seven stitches were a badge of honour but Dad didn’t let me loose in the carving shed after that. Right, holding tight.’ The large bush saw seemed ludicrous against the narrow width of the spear but it was all they had. And he was used to making do. Medicine in remote rural communities was as much about improvisation as it was about modern medicine. He placed the bush saw a couple of centimetres above her hand.
    Her hand tightened on the spear. ‘You need to leave more room.’
    He tamped down his frustration at her tone. ‘I know what I’m doing, your knuckles will be safe.’
    ‘I’ll hold you to that.’ She spoke softly and flicked her gaze to his, sea-blue irises sparkling at him like sunshine on water.
    His heart rate unexpectedly kicked up for the first time in a very long time, pushing delicious languid heat through him, warming places that had been cold since Brooke’s betrayal.
    His hand instantly gripped the saw harder, willing the sensation away. He refused to accept the feeling, hating that it could even happen after two years of self-imposed celibacy. Forcing his attention to the spear and the saw, he spoke slowly. ‘Jimmy, I’m going to cut the spear. I need you to keep as still as possible.’
    He carefully pulled the serrated silver blade through the wood and five quick cuts later, the spear was in two pieces.
    Mia checked Jimmy’s pulse and stroked his head. ‘You’re doing really well.’
    The boy whimpered.
    Flynn touched the boy’s shoulder. ‘Jimmy, we’re going to slide you onto a trolley and take you inside.’
    ‘I’ll steady his hips, you take his shoulders and, Walter, you can take the feet.’ Mia raised herself from kneeling to a low squat, ready to move, and gave Flynn an expectant look. ‘On your count, Flynn, when you’re ready.’
    She’d taken over again. ‘Thanks for that.’ He couldn’t stop the sarcasm leaking into his voice.
    Mia blinked against a flash of confusion and a slight frown creased her forehead.
    You’re being petty . He shut his ears to the voice and crawled around behind Jimmy’s head, putting his arms under the boy’s left shoulder. ‘One, two, three.’
    The young boy bit his lip as he was carefully slid down the tray on his side and then lifted onto the trolley.
    ‘We need you to lie very still on your front.’ Their voices collided, deep resonance tumbling with gentle softness.
    Mia shrugged her shoulders, a wry smile hovering around her mouth. ‘What can I say? I’m a firstborn and we always tend to take charge.’
    His mouth twitched despite him wanting to keep a straight face, the truth of her comment hitting home. ‘You and me both.’
    A trickle of laughter sprinkled her words. ‘Oh, dear, we could be in strife, then. All chiefs and no Indians.’ Her smile expanded, dancing down into the deep creases that formed around her plump mouth.
    Irrational disappointment streaked through him when she looked away and spoke to Jimmy.
    ‘Are you OK?’
    ‘Just OK.’ Jimmy’s scared voice was barely audible.
    ‘Walter, go and get Ruby.’ Flynn knew the father wouldn’t want to be in the clinic and the boy needed his mother.
    ‘I’ll bring her.’ The stressed