Kathryn Ross - The Unexpected Father

‘I...I don’t know.’ She shrugged vaguely. She couldn’t tell him that it would be impossible for her to return. She couldn’t bring herself even to mention that she was pregnant.

‘I suppose it might be considered a waste of a good nurse if you don’t?’ he ventured casually.

‘Probably, but there are other worthwhile posts.’ Samantha’s voice was brittle. That theory of Josh’s was certainly one her husband had favoured. He had been horrified when she had suggested giving up her career for her baby.

Her eyes clashed directly with Josh’s watchful gaze. ‘So why did you ask if I could drive?’ She went straight to the point before he could start asking any more questions about her life and about Ben. She felt Josh Hamilton wasn’t the reticent type when it came to asking questions, but then she supposed that went with the type of job he did. He obviously wasn’t afraid to talk to her about Ben—unlike Samantha’s colleagues, who had all skirted around the subject in a nervous way for fear of upsetting her.

‘Because it suddenly struck me that I have a Jeep outside but can’t drive it and that you can drive but have no form of transport.’ He spread his hands. ‘The sensible thing would be for us to pool our resources, don’t you think?’

‘You mean that I should drive you back through the bush to Salanga?’ She sounded as surprised as she felt.

‘Why not?’ He shrugged. ‘Don’t you think you could do it?’

‘Of course I could do it.’ Her reply was instant, and then she hesitated. ‘But isn’t it very dangerous to drive through the bush without some form of protective escort?’

‘It’s very dangerous to stay here,’ he pointed out laconically. ‘Either way you’re taking a calculated risk.’

That much was true. At one time, Samantha wouldn’t have hesitated. She had never lacked courage and had never been frightened to take a chance, but that had been before she had found out she was pregnant. Now she had to consider the risks, weigh up the danger she would face with regard to her child. ‘I’ll have to think about it,’ she said cautiously.

He looked surprised. ‘I would have thought it the ideal solution. You know that even catching a plane out of here has a risk attached to it.’

‘Yes, I realise that,’ she muttered impatiently. ‘But I can’t leave immediately anyway. There’s a memorial service the day after tomorrow for Ben.’

‘Well, we could leave the day after that’ He shrugged. ‘I can drive some of the way,’ he continued blithely. ‘It’s only certain sections of road that I would need you to take the wheel.’

‘How long would it take?’ she ventured cautiously.

‘Anything up to forty-eight hours.’ He shrugged again. ‘Depends on conditions.’

‘You mean it depends if there is a land-mine on the road...or an ambush.’

‘You could get shot just crossing over towards the hospital,’ Josh pointed out grimly. ‘Your husband didn’t even leave the hospital.’

He watched the shadows flickering across her expressive face. ‘I didn’t mean to upset you,’ he said more gently. ‘I just wanted to point out that danger surrounds us here every day.’

‘Obviously I realise that,’ she told him stiffly.

‘I know the road between here and Salanga and I think our chances for making it through are pretty high.’ He went on as if she hadn’t spoken. ‘Otherwise I wouldn’t have suggested it.’

‘Well, I’ll still have to think about it.’

‘Because you’re frightened of being alone with me, or frightened of being out in the bush?’

‘I’m not afraid of you.’ Her cheeks flushed with annoyance at the suggestion. ‘But I want to weigh up the dangers and think sensibly about it, that’s all.’

‘Fair enough.’ For a moment his eyes moved over the long length of her dark hair and then the delicate curve of her face in a way that made her heart suddenly miss a beat.

Suddenly she found herself wondering if she was after all just a little bit afraid of being out in the wilds alone with such a man.

‘I will look after you, Sam. You’re Ben’s widow and I have enough respect for an old friend not to take advantage of the situation.’

‘That’s apart from my not being your type, I suppose?’ she said drily.

He laughed at that. ‘There’s no need to sound quite so disappointed.’

‘Don’t be ridiculous!’ For a moment she was outraged. What was it with this man? Did he think that every women he met was attracted to him?’

He got to his feet, his manner insouciant. ‘You are allowed to laugh, you know... even when you are m mourning. Sometimes it even helps.’

‘Say something funny and I’ll oblige.’ She glared at him, her eyes bright with dislike. The man was damned infuriating. ‘And I wouldn’t bother trying to convince me that your arrogant manner is just a front either,’ she couldn’t help tossing in for good measure. ‘Because I don’t believe a word of it.’

To her annoyance he seemed to find her words amusing. ‘Well, you can take comfort from the fact that it will be better to be out in the wilds of the bush with an arrogant chauvinist than a timid wimp,’ he said with a grin as he turned for the door. ‘You know where I am when you make up your mind.’

She was left alone then, her eyes glaring into the back of the door as it closed behind him. She didn’t like Josh Hamilton, she told herself for the hundredth time. The thought of spending forty-eight hours driving alone through the bush with him was not a pleasant prospect.

She got up and put her drink down on the table. Then her eyes moved to the photographs beside her and she took a long, shuddering breath.

She had to get out of here—away from the memories of the lie she had been living with Ben. Back to safety and a new life, for her sake...for her baby’s sake. In that moment she knew she would accept Josh’s offer. The alternative, of staying here in this room, was too bleak to contemplate.

CHAPTER THREE

THE iridescent pearly light of dawn was streaking the African sky as Josh and Samantha loaded the truck for their journey.

The morning air was fresh and still cool. Samantha shivered slightly as she watched Josh putting a first-aid kit and large water and petrol cans safely in the Jeep. She pulled her cardigan closer around her slender figure, glad that she had decided to wear lightweight jeans for this journey—a journey that was making her feel more nervous by the minute.

She felt she had made a momentous decision in deciding to travel with Josh. She just hoped it wasn’t a decision she would have cause to regret.

Josh leaned into the car and opened the glove compartment. A cool flicker of light reflected on the cold steel of a hand-gun for just a moment before he closed the door on it again.

‘We don’t need that...surely?’ she asked breathlessly.

‘Probably not.’ He shrugged, then, turning, met her wide, horrified stare with calm eyes. ‘I don’t intend to use it.’

‘Then why have it?’

‘Because it might mean the difference between life and death,’ he said in a cursory tone. ‘Sometimes it pays to have a deterrent, something that will buy you time.’

Samantha wasn’t convinced; that much showed on her expressive face. Josh bent to pick up the suitcase that was sitting on the ground next to her and changed the subject.

‘Is this all you’re taking?’ he asked as he tossed the small case into the back of the Jeep.

‘That’s it.’ She shrugged a trifle self-consciously. ‘You don’t tend to collect a lot of belongings living out here.’

He smiled at that. ‘My ex-wife never travelled anywhere without three large suitcases—two for her clothes, the other for her fashion accessories.’