Anne Fraser - The Wife He Never Forgot

She hid a smile. She hadn’t known she could smile and run at the same time. He turned round so that he was running backwards. He was shirtless and his combat trousers were so low on his hips she couldn’t help but notice his six-pack. She averted her eyes, pretending an interest in a passing Jeep.

‘How many circuits?’ he asked.

‘This is my last.’ She wasn’t about to tell him it was also her first. One circuit was torture enough and she was determined to wait until she got to the safety of her quarters before she collapsed.

‘I’m impressed.’ His toffee-coloured eyes crinkled at the corners.

‘Don’t you have lives to save or something?’ She indicated the hospital tent with her arm.

‘Not right at the moment.’ Even running backwards, he managed to look her up and down. ‘I saw you come out for your run and the thought struck me that I might have to save yours. Looks like exercise hasn’t exactly been high on your agenda until now.’

Was he implying she looked like a couch potato?

‘Although you clearly do something to keep in shape,’ he added.

Oh, please. Despite everything, the look of frank admiration in his eyes made her heart skip a beat.

Come on, Tiggy. Get a grip. This man is out of bounds and even if he wasn’t, he is so not your type.

But it was as if her mouth had a mind of its own. ‘Been watching me, huh?’ A stitch had started somewhere below her ribs and the last word came out more as a cry of anguish than the casual reference she’d meant it to be. How long could one kilometre be? It could be the damned end of the world as far as she was concerned.

She gasped for air, trying to ignore the increasing pain in her side.

His eyes flickered over her and he frowned. ‘You all right?’

‘Never been better—or at least I will be when you leave...me...alone...’ She managed another couple of strides and then had to stop. She bent over, clutching her knees, as a wave of pain slammed into her. Dear God, was she having a heart attack?

Before she knew it she was being lifted over his shoulder.

‘Put me down,’ she yelled into his back—a back that she couldn’t help noticing, even from her upside-down position, was ridged with muscle.

‘I will as soon as I find some shade. Don’t you know better than to exercise in this heat? Are you crazy, woman? You should have started earlier, or there’s a decent air-conditioned gym on the other side of the camp that’s better suited for someone who’s not used to exercise.’

There was a gym? An air-conditioned gym? Why on earth had no one told her? Why hadn’t she asked?

Then she was inside her tent and he was laying her on the bed. Sue rushed over, concern furrowing her brow. ‘What happened? Is she okay? Tiggy, speak to me.’

‘I’m fine. Just need some water.’ Sue held a bottle to her lips and she gulped thirstily.

‘What have you been doing to the poor girl, Nick?’ Sue demanded.

‘Hey, don’t blame me. I was just an innocent bystander.’

‘Come off it! You’ve never been innocent or a bystander in your life!’

Nick laughed. ‘Make sure she cools down before she goes on duty.’ He leaned over and ruffled her hair. ‘Stick to the gym in future.’

* * *

Later that afternoon, Tiggy studied the cards in her hand and suppressed a smile. Although every muscle ached, including some she hadn’t known she had, her mood was improving.

She tossed a matchstick onto those already on the table. ‘I’ll raise you ten.’

Nick lifted an eyebrow. He counted out some matchsticks from his pile and added them to hers. They’d no casualties that day and Tiggy had spent most of her day with Hadiya, re-dressing her burns and being taught some words of Pashto by the little girl and her giggling mother. When the patients had all been seen to they’d set up a temporary poker table, at Nick’s suggestion, in an empty cubicle. Some of the nurses and technicians had started off playing, too, but after two hours Nick and Tiggy were the only ones left in the game.

The rest of the team was either watching them play, flicking through magazines or answering the occasional call from the patients.

Nick wasn’t to know, of course, that she played most nights with her father and her brothers whenever they were at home.

‘Twenty and I’ll see you.’

Nick leaned back in his chair and grinned. He placed his hand face up on the table. ‘A flush! Beat that!’

Tiggy pretended to look dismayed, studying his cards as if she couldn’t quite believe her bad luck. Then she allowed herself a small smile before laying hers down. ‘Think my four aces beats your flush.’

Nick laughed. ‘Beaten by a girl! Who would have thought? You have some poker face there, Red.’

She glared at him but before she could say anything he smiled and corrected himself. ‘Apologies. Not Red, Tiggy.’

She blushed. She wished she managed her poker face as well in her private life.

At that moment the siren sounded.

‘Two men down and possibly civilian injuries forty klicks away,’ Sue interpreted the cackle from the radio. ‘They’re requesting a rapid medical response team to go in and bring them out.’

Nick had stood and was shrugging himself into his flak jacket. ‘I need a nurse—any volunteers?’

‘I’ll go,’ Tiggy said.

‘No way,’ Nick replied tersely. ‘Anyone else?’

Irritated and relieved in equal measure, Tiggy glared at him. He didn’t even seem to notice.

There was a show of hands and Nick picked an older man. ‘Okay, Scotty, you’re with me. The rest of you prepare to receive the casualties. I’ll let you know what to expect as soon as I’ve made an assessment. Those who aren’t needed and haven’t donated recently, please give blood—just in case. Sue, turf out anyone from the wards who doesn’t absolutely have to be there.’ He grabbed his helmet and strode out of the room.

Instantaneously, everyone exploded into action. Sue, remembering Tiggy was there, propelled her towards the resus room. ‘We need to make sure we have everything ready. At this stage we don’t know what to expect or how much blood we’ll need. What group are you?’

‘O positive.’

‘Perfect. One of the medics will get you started on a line.’

‘Can’t I help prepare for the casualties?’

Sue hesitated. ‘We need your blood more than we need you right now. Don’t worry, you’ll get your fair share of action before your time here is up. In the meantime, watch and learn.’

When Sue was satisfied everything was ready for the incoming casualties, she came to check up on Tiggy.

She eyed the bag of blood. ‘Another ten minutes max.’

While she’d been waiting for the bag to fill with her blood, Tiggy had been thinking about the little Afghan girl. She hoped Nick hadn’t included her in his instructions to clear the ward.

‘What about Hadiya?’ she asked Sue. ‘We’re not going to discharge her too?’

Sue shook her head. ‘Nick wants to keep her in for a bit.’

‘But are we really going to send her away without further surgery?’

‘It can’t be helped.’

‘Surely Nick can make an exception?’

Sue sighed. ‘Believe me, if he could he would. And I haven’t given up hope that he won’t. If anyone can make a miracle happen, it’s Nick. Now, I’d better get on. You just relax.’

* * *

Tiggy had finished giving blood, although Sue had insisted that she stay lying down afterwards. Frustrated, she watched as everyone double-checked that everything was ready. The radio crackled again and the staff paused to listen.

‘We have two soldiers with shrapnel wounds. One has an injury to his left arm, the other abdominal wounds.’ Nick’s voice was calm over the roar of the helicopter’s engines. ‘ETA five minutes.’