Hamilton is out of here.’ Josh interrupted decisively. ‘I’ve never liked waiting in queues anyway.’
She watched him gathering up his things with a feeling of intense annoyance.
‘I want to go across and have a word with Ben Walker before I leave, anyway.’
Samantha had been in the process of turning away from him.
She swung back with a frown marring her smooth features. ‘What do you want to see Dr Walker for?’
‘We’re old friends.’ He bent to put his shoes on. ‘Don’t worry, I’m not putting in a complaint about you,’ he added with a tinge of humour.
‘I’m not in the slightest bit worried.’ She glared at the top of his dark head, hardly able to believe that she could feel such strong antagonism towards a total stranger. ‘For one thing I’m doing my job well, for another Dr Walker is my husband.’
He straightened then, his expression incredulous. ‘You are Ben Walker’s wife?’
‘Yes.’ She met his gaze steadily.
He looked down at the wedding band on her finger as if noting it for the first time. ‘He never mentioned a thing about being married,’ he said after a moment. ‘I spoke to him this morning for about half an hour and he didn’t mention you once.’
Ordinarily Samantha would just have laughed. She had a sunny nature, and usually a smile came readily to her lips. The situation with her husband, however, had changed all that.
She couldn’t say she was surprised that Ben hadn’t mentioned her, but nevertheless it still hurt. ‘Well, he’s never mentioned you either,’ she muttered sharply.
His eyes swept over her in a long, leisurely appraisal. ‘Ben always did have good taste in women,’ he remarked reflectively. ‘Never thought he would get married, though. Didn’t think he was the marrying kind.’
Those words rang hollowly inside her now. She was overwhelmed by a sudden urge to cry. Ridiculous to cry now, she told herself sternly. She hadn’t cried when Ben had made his feelings clear to her. She hadn’t cried when the sister had told her that Ben was dead. Now, remembering Josh Hamilton’s words, she wanted to break down.
She breathed deeply. She had to get a grip, think logically. She had decisions to make—decisions that were painful.
Her head turned towards the table next to her, searching for a glass of water.
‘Would you like a drink?’ Josh asked immediately, stretching to pick up the glass for her.
‘Thank you.’ Her throat cracked slightly as she controlled the emotional storm inside.
Her fingers brushed against his as she took the glass he held out to her. Their eyes locked for a moment, then Samantha looked hastily away.
Josh was a total enigma to her. She couldn’t work him out at all Obviously he was being nice to her now because he felt sorry for her, because Ben had been his friend.
She didn’t want anybody’s sympathy; she certainly didn’t want Josh Hamilton’s. Her hand trembled badly as she held the glass. He didn’t let go of it, helping her as an adult would help a child. Annoyance mixed with gratitude. She wished to hell she could understand the way she was feeling.
After a few sips she lay back against her pillow again.
A young nurse walked past them and smiled provocatively at Josh. She noticed that he returned the smile in a warm, lazy kind of way.
Samantha looked away from him. ‘Don’t let me detain you here.’ She muttered the words abrasively. ‘I’m sure you must have better things to do.’
‘Am I to take it that’s your way of telling me to go?’ he asked sardonically.
‘If you like.’
‘Fine.’ He stood up. He seemed to tower over her bedside. He was tall—well over six feet. ‘I hope you feel better soon.’
Her reply was interrupted by Sister Roberts as she came to check up on Samantha, her trained eye moving over the girl’s pallor with concern.
‘Well, how is my favourite patient today?’ she asked light-heartedly.
‘Not bad.’ Samantha shrugged. ‘When can I get up from here? I’m starting to feel as if I’m taking root in this bed.’
‘You’ve only been there a few days,’ the sister said with a shake of her head. ‘You need the rest, Sam.’
‘I need to get back to work...that’s what I need,’ Samantha said bleakly. ‘You must be really short-staffed.’
‘We are managing,’ the sister assured her quickly.
Josh moved from the bedside. ‘Well, I’ll leave you two ladies to talk.’ His eyes moved over Samantha’s face, then he smiled. ‘See you later.’
‘Nice man.’ Sister Roberts sat down in the chair he had vacated. ‘He must have nerves of steel the way he was able to run into the hospital corridor to get you out. Parts of the roof were still falling in.’
‘Was that when he hurt his arm?’
The sister nodded.
Out of the side of her eye she could see Josh speaking to the nurse who had smiled at him. Then Nurse Joanne Kelly walked over to him as well. Josh said something to them and they both laughed.
‘He certainly seems to be a hit with the staff,’ she said, and for some reason couldn’t get rid of the asperity in her tone.
‘I suppose.’ Sister Roberts darted a glance over at her two members of staff. ‘Anyway, I haven’t come to talk about Josh Hamilton. I thought maybe you were ready to discuss what you want to do.’
‘Do?’ Samantha swallowed nervously.
‘You are going to have to return home, Sam.’ The woman’s voice was gentle. ‘You are in no fit state to continue working here. You are in shock and—’
‘Pregnant. Dreadful combination,’ Samantha said with dry humour.
‘I was about to say you need peace and quiet for a while,’ the sister finished with a small smile. ‘Have you a home, a family you can go to in England?’
‘You mean you’re kicking me out of Chuanga?’ Samantha’s voice was light, almost jovial. ‘And I thought I was indispensable.’
‘Come on, Sam!’ The sister shook her head. ‘You have a baby to consider. You know you can’t stay. We’ve already discussed that. You were already making plans to leave us...weren’t you?’
‘Yes.’ Samantha closed her eyes. If the truth were known she hadn’t really got around to the point of making plans; she had been too busy thinking about her husband, about the fact that he didn’t want their baby.
‘You...you haven’t told anyone that I’m pregnant,
