Dianne Drake - Revealing The Real Dr Robinson

“Not particularly. There are differences, but you get used to them.”

“I hope so…” Straightening, she started down the path again and had almost caught up with Ben when he turned and continued his own trek, but even at his much slower pace she couldn’t keep up. So she didn’t even try. Instead, she lagged back and watched him walk. Man with a purpose, she thought, noting his long, deliberate strides. He calculates everything about his life. Evidenced by his squared shoulders. Not a movement in him without a specific intent. Maybe that was good, all things considered. But she couldn’t help wondering if it was also lonely.

Another couple of dozen steps forward, and Ben was totally out of sight, which was just as well because a little cleared patch beside the road called her name. She wanted to sit down. In fact, she dropped her backpack to the ground with that intent, but thought about Ines and the snake then wondered about what other animals might be lurking in the dark, ready to get her.

“Jaguars,” Ben said, stepping up behind her. “Cougars, and the occasional boar. Plus the snakes, which you already know about.”

Gasping, Shanna spun to face him. “Where did you come from?”

“You weren’t keeping up so I rounded back. Saw you contemplating a little rest by the side of the road and figured that if you were as smart as you seem, you were probably wondering what kinds of animals out here might get you if you sat down. Oh, and I originally came from California, if that’s what you’re asking.”

“It’s not funny,” she snapped. Her heart was pounding so hard it hurt, and she was barely able to breathe, he’d scared her so bad.

“No, being out here alone at night is never funny. It’s one of those differences you have to adjust to.”

“Do you routinely take all your volunteers to the jungle at night and scare them to death?”

He chuckled. “Hadn’t ever considered it, but it does sound like a good indoctrination idea, doesn’t it? Especially since you’ll never come this way at night again without being cautious.”

He’d actually laughed. Attempted a little humor then laughed. She’d heard it in his voice, wished she could have seen it on his face. “I know I told you you’re a hard man, Ben. But I’d like to add cruel to that, as well. You’re a hard and cruel man. Has anybody ever told you that?”

“Once or twice. But I like to think of myself as a man who doesn’t want to see his volunteers get eaten. Which probably wouldn’t have happened to you as there hasn’t been a sighting of a jaguar near here in years. Still, better to be safe than sorry. Right?”

Not only was he laughing, he was sounding quite chipper. Was this Ben in his element? she wondered. Ben synonymous with the night? Happy in his separation? That analysis didn’t seem right. He might put on that dark front—a psychologist would probably say it was meant to keep people away. Yet she saw something else, something behind it, and it wasn’t dark at all. In fact, it was quite the opposite. “Did you ever consider that it might be better to warn me rather than scare me?”

“And you’re the type who’ll listen to a warning? Because you seem just the opposite. You know, the one who has to find out on her own. Learn her lessons the hard way. Confront the jaguar head on to prove there’s really a jaguar there.”

He was right about that, but she didn’t have to admit it to him. “In other words, learn my lesson by getting myself eaten?”

“Why are you really here, Shanna? And don’t tell me it’s because you want to be like me, because nobody who knows me wants to be like me.”

“But I don’t know you. All that time we spent together in Tuscany and I really don’t know any more than what I see when I look at you.”

“That’s not why you came to Argentina, to get to know me. And maybe you’re here because of that crossroad you’ve come to. But this is a drastic change from your life, as well as a drastic change from the way you practice medicine. There’s nothing here that’s easy. Not even the village path.”

“Maybe I’m looking for drastic and difficult.”

“I’m not buying it. What you’re telling me may be partial reasons, but in total I’m not buying it.”

“You don’t have to. As long as you let me work here, we’ll both get what we need. Why complicate it with anything else?”

He shrugged. “Guess we don’t have to, do we?” Taking a few steps closer, he bent and picked up her backpack. “Look, it’s getting late. I have a couple of patients I want to check on before I grab a of couple hours’ sleep, so we need to hurry this along.” Then he slid his arm around her waist, clearly for support rather than anything else. “Lean on me and we’ll be back at the hospital in a few minutes.”

“I’m sorry, Ben. Normally, I have more stamina than this. I really didn’t expect to get this tired as I haven’t done much of anything for a while now.”

“Nothing to be sorry about.”

That was all he said. For the rest of the way back they walked in silence. She was glad for the assistance. Snuggling into his side maybe a bit more than she needed to as they walked, she was glad the assistance was coming from Ben.

“MY BROTHER thought I should look in on you, and I wanted to meet you… considering what I’ve heard.” Amanda sat a tray of coffee and pastries on the nightstand next to Shanna’s bed. “I’m Amanda Kenner, by the way. Part-owner of the hospital and resident pediatrician. And impressed as all get-out that you followed Ben from Italy to Argentina.”

“What time is it?” Shanna responded groggily, pushing herself part way to a sitting position. Last night was a blur. Ben had helped her back to the hospital, then she’d practically fallen through the door to her room, and right this moment she didn’t have any recollection of tumbling into bed or anything else past the door. Yet here she was, dressed in yesterday’s clothes, stretched out in bed and feeling rested. And her only concession to undressing was that her boots and socks were off. Had Ben done that? Had he actually removed them for her?

“It’s a little after noon. I’d thought about waking you for breakfast earlier because you missed supper last night, but Ben said you needed sleep more than you needed food, so I waited as long as I could. The thing is, if you’re going to volunteer here, I really need you on the work schedule for this afternoon. Normally, we like to give our volunteers a couple of days to acclimatize, but we’re in a pinch.”

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