Gladioli in August (9 page)

There was a long pause. “Hi, Micah, good to hear your voice,” Jael replied. “We thought you'd gotten lost somewhere.”

“I wish. It's good to hear you too, honey. I had to wait for a couple passengers, but I'm about ready to take off now. How's it going?”

“Busy. It's a real mess here, especially now it's daylight. So many are hurt. So much damage done.”

“I'm bringing Kevin back. He reckons he's out of quarantine.”

“We need him, but I'll check with Danny.”

“There's no time.”

Kevin scrambled aboard the plane and shut the door. “Chocks away, old chap.” He sat next to Micah again. “Who's on the blower?”

“It's a radio,” Micah said, “and it's one of the nurses.”

“Goodo.” Kevin snatched the mic. “This is Dr. Melchester. Can I have a sit rep?”

“Nurse Stevens, speaking.”

Kevin tapped Micah. “Is that her?”

Micah nodded and went back to his pre-flight.

“…we're getting aftershocks every hour or so, but Danny says that's normal.”

“I meant the injuries.”

Micah got clearance from the tower and accelerated down the runway, not listening to Jael's reply.

“Enough of what Danny says,” Kevin snapped.

Micah snatched the mic off him. “Let me guess. Danny hasn't a hair out of place and says it's all perfectly normal,” he said in a mock American accent.

“Something like that,” Jael replied.

“Can I?” Dr. Delgado pointed to the mic.

“Be my guest.” Micah handed it over.

“Nurse Stevens, I'm Zeek Delgado, a volcanologist with the USGS. Has anyone reported any changes in the volcano yet?”

“I wouldn't know,” Jael replied. “We've been a tad busy with the result of the earthquake.”

“Can you tell? Has there been any change in the appearance? Any venting or gas emissions?”

“I have no idea. I don't want to be rude, Dr. Delgado, but why all this concern over an extinct volcano?”

“Not extinct. Gunung Berapi is dormant, but that earthquake might have been enough to have woken her up. I'll need to go and check things out when I arrive.”

“I'll let Danny know. The roads are pretty bad. Micah, are you still there?”

Micah grabbed the mic. “No, honey. I'm flying this thing from outside on the port wing.”

“That's what I thought. The runway took a big hit. Danny has a team out there repairing it, but it'll be a bumpy landing.”

“Thanks for the warning.”

“You're welcome. They'll clear off it when they see you come in. I gotta go. Out.”

“Can we fly over Gunung Berapi's crater?” Dr. Delgado asked.

“I need to get these supplies back to the base,” Kevin argued.

“And I need to check the volcano.”

Micah held up a hand. “Why? Do we have a problem?”

“That's what I'm here to find out. Can you please fly over it?”

“As you said please.” He hit the mic. “Achor base, be advised we'll be approaching from the east as the volcano bloke wants to go take a butchers.”

“He wants to do a what?” Danny asked.

“Butchers hook—look. Cockney rhyming slang. We're about twenty minutes out.” He banked the plane to the left.

“When did these trees die?” Dr. Delgado asked.

“It's been a dry summer,” Micah replied. “Several have fallen recently.”

“What about the local wildlife?”

“I wouldn't know, mate. You'd need to ask the plantation owners.” He flew the plane along the east rim of the volcano, then over the crater. “See, she's nice and quiet.”

“I need to come up here and take readings. Can you fly me over there?”

“You'd need to ask Danny. My priority is with the medics.” He banked right, and after ten minutes, lined up with the only flat area he could see. The team below scattered off the runway as he approached.

The landing was very bumpy. The plane hit a pothole and tipped.

Heart pounding and his breath catching in his throat, Micah ignored the swearing from beside him and wrestled the plane level again. He taxied to the end of the airstrip and brought the plane to a halt by the hanger.

Not bothering to make sure the others were OK, Micah leapt from the plane to check it over. One of the wheel struts was damaged. He groaned.

Danny came running over. “I saw. How bad?”

“Fixable, but it'll take a while.”

“I'll get a couple of the guys to help. We need the plane back in action before the day is out.”

Micah sighed. “Good job I know a miracle worker then.”

7

Jael finished restacking the last of the boxes in the dispensary. She was exhausted, having only grabbed a couple of hours sleep overnight. Fortunately the never-ending supply of coffee was working wonderfully. She and Danny had joked about setting up a caffeine IV to see them through the day. But she'd found the next best thing—caffeine tablets. That combined with the coffee had her buzzing and awake enough to keep going. For now at least.

Plus the constant stream of prayers for Micah. She'd been so relieved when she'd finally spoken to him on the radio after he'd been gone hours. He'd sounded his usual abrupt self, but she'd realized that was part of what she loved about him. His curt way of doing things actually got stuff done a lot faster at times.

Finally his plane came into land and it was all she could do not to run out to greet him. Part of her longed to be in his arms, to have him kiss her again the way he had after the earthquake. But the other part of her—her common sense and sense of duty—prevailed. Perhaps he'd come and find her instead.

She headed back into the clinic and sighed. She'd been gone two minutes and the number of injured had quadrupled in that time. Just as well she hadn't gone to find Micah. She grabbed the clipboard to call the next patient in.

Approaching footsteps from behind made her turn. An older man—mid-forties, middle age spread, and a touch of grey around his temples—stood there. His clothes were creased and his shirt stained with who-knew-what. He stuck his hand out. “I'm Dr. Melchester. And you are?”

“Jael Stevens. I'm the—”

“Temporary Red Cross nurse. Yes, I've heard your praises sung endlessly by everyone I've spoken to. But I'd rather have one of the full-time staff hand over the current medical situation, if it's all the same to you.”

Jael shivered as his hand lingered a little too long, and his intense, dark gaze seemed to bore deep into her. She pulled off her apron. “Fine. The patients on the left have been seen. Those on the right are still waiting. If you decide you do need me, I'll be in the medical records room.”

She walked down to the records room, which doubled as her office, closed the door, and groaned in frustration.

Micah stuck his head through the open window. “You met Kevin, then.”

“Did I ever,” Jael huffed.

“What did he do?”

“Nothing that would be bad if I hadn't been working for twenty hours straight. Normally I'd love a break, but he's just waltzed in and ordered me out because I'm not a full-time member of staff.” She studied his oil-stained hands and the filthy rag he clutched. “Have you got a problem with the plane?”

Micah rubbed a hand over his face, leaving a smear of oil across his brow. “Yeah—hit a pothole coming in to land. It caused some damage to the landing gear, but it's fixed now.”

“That's good.”

Danny came in through the door, clipboard in hand. He stopped short and raised an eyebrow. “Jael, what are you doing in here?”

“I'm not full time,” she explained, “and not needed per Dr. Melchester. So I'm tidying up in here.”

“Micah, is the plane fixed?” As Micah nodded, Danny continued. “Good. In that case you can take Jael over to the Wapiti ranch. Mrs. Wapiti is sick.”

****

An hour later Jael oversaw Mrs. Wapiti's transfer to the base. Then she went to find Dr. Melchester hoping his mood had changed for the better. “I have a patient for you.” She informed as she approached the man.

“And I'm busy. I have several patients here already.”

“This is an emergency admission.”

“They all are.” He turned his back to her giving an unspoken message –‘Go away.'

She shoved her hands into her pockets. “I just flew her in.”

“Well bully for you. Patch her up. I'm sure you can put a plaster on.”

“Dr. Melchester, she needs—”

“Don't you presume to tell me how to do my job, young lady. I'll decide what the patients need, not you.”

“Jael, can you come here just a moment?” Danny's loud voice echoed through the packed room. “My office. Now.”

Jael spun around, pleading her case. “Danny, we just brought Mrs. Wapiti in. It looks like a ruptured appendix. She needs surgery and—”

“Why didn't you say?” Kevin demanded.

“Why didn't you let me say?” she shot back. She sighed as he ran past her and out of the room.

“Go and assist.” Danny motioned.

She shook her head. “No way.”

“It's not up to him.” Danny adopted a stern look and fierce tone. “I'm giving you an order, Jael. Go and assist.”

Micah appeared at her shoulder and his light touch calmed her. How could someone she'd only just allowed herself to feel anything for do that? Was Kyle right about opening herself to love? Was what she felt for Micah love?

“Danny, can I have a word? In your office?” he asked.

Danny nodded. “Sure.”

Micah turned Jael to face him and took both her hands in his. “You're the bigger person here, honey. What does the Bible say you should do?”

She sucked in a deep breath. “Turn the other cheek, heap burning coals on his head…” She paused. “Go assist him like Danny wants.”

He kissed her gently. “Yes. Just keep front and center the thought that you're doing the right thing and annoying him at the same time.”

She giggled slightly.

“Now go. I'll see you afterwards. I still owe you that coffee we never had after dinner last night.”

“You're on.” She headed down the hallway to the small OR.

“What are you doing here?” Kevin demanded as she entered the room. He struck an imposing figure in his blue scrubs, hat and mask.

“Assisting you. Danny's orders.”

“I don't want some Red Cross—”

“Actually,” Jael said, pulling scrubs from the shelf. “I'm a highly experienced theatre and ITU nurse, but if you don't want me to help, I'll just stand here and watch you struggle alone. I'm here and I'll stay here because Danny told me to help you.” She ducked into a corner, pulled the privacy curtain, and removed her shirt before quickly changing into a scrub shirt.

“Fine. Prep her for me while I finish scrubbing.”

Jael pulled a face at the wall, sliding on the scrub trousers. “Yes, doctor.” She prayed for the patience she'd need as she washed her hands.

She had to admit, Kevin was a good surgeon. But there was something about him, and she didn't just mean his attitude. Jael shook her head and brought herself up short. Just because she didn't instantly like the bloke didn't give her the right to think bad of him. All she had to do was work with him. She'd just pray for patience to do that.

Surgery finished, she stood at the sinks and washed her hands. Kevin entered the room and walked over to stand next to her. Her heart sank.

He smirked at her. “Not bad.”

As Jael turned off the tap and reached for the paper towels, his hand covered hers. She jerked away as if burned.

He turned her around, his eyes boring into hers. “I apologize if you felt I was rude earlier. I hate these six-month assignments. I was just getting used to the last nurse. But I can already tell you're going to be more of a help than she was, especially in theatre. I think we could work well together…especially if we get to know each other a little better.” His fingers moved against her arms, his meaning obvious.

“I don't think so.” She tried to pull away but his grip was too strong.

****

Micah flew over the volcano, trying to ignore the scientific chatter going on over the radio as Zeek Delgado conferred with someone on the other end about the readings he was getting.

“Well?” he asked.

“Carbon dioxide is up, the earthquakes are starting to swarm, and the pH readings in the water are dropping. That means the acidity is high enough to start killing the fish and other wildlife. Trees are also starting to die. I assume you noticed that if nothing else.”

“We kinda noticed the earthquakes as well,” Micah said. “But are they the kind we need to worry about?” He grinned at Zeek's quizzical look. “Hey I've seen enough disaster movies to know that only harmonic tremors are the ones that precede a volcanic eruption.”

“Not yet, but we're keeping a close eye. I'm done here.”

Micah nodded and banked away from the volcano back towards the base. The unsettled feeling he'd had ever since he left was growing in intensity. Something was wrong. He keyed the mic. “Achor base, this is Micah.”

“Hey, are you on your way back?” Danny's voice was tight.

“Yeah, what's up?”

“Just report to my office as soon as you get here. We got a problem.”

“OK. Be there in ten minutes.” Concern flicked immediately to full-blown worry. Was something wrong with Jael? Was that why he'd been on edge ever since he left? She affected him like no woman ever had—not that he'd ever let anyone get close before—but now that he had…it was like he'd lost control over part of his life, but he wasn't that upset about it. Was this love? How had that happened?

He brought the plane into land and taxied to the hanger. Not waiting for the scientist, he leapt from the aircraft and hightailed it to the office.