The Nurse He Shouldn't Notice. Susan Carlisle

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СКАЧАТЬ giggled. A sense of rightness filled him—something he’d not felt in a long time.

      They reached the spot in the path where they’d separate to go to their respective bungalows.

      He touched her arm briefly to get her attention. “Hey, would you give me a crash course in Manprusi? It would sure make treating the patients easier if I learned a few basic words. Help put them at ease.”

      “I guess so.” She turned, starting down the path.

      In a couple of strides he caught up with her. “How about tomorrow afternoon? I understand the clinic’s closed,” he said. “I was wondering if you’d show me around the village, maybe give me a lesson then. I’d like to know more about the people. I don’t think the wild ride yesterday counted as a true visit.”

      She took longer than he would have liked to answer. “I guess so. I planned to get some fruit and other items at the market anyway.”

      “Aw, thanks for having compassion for the new guy in town.”

      That brought a slight curve to her lips. Court watched as she walked to her door a few steps away, rubbing the spot he’d touched.

      Maggie had been a little surprised when Court hadn’t balked at walking into the village when she’d suggested it. He acted like he made casual outings to a village regularly. While they moved along the crowded dusty road, she appreciated him matching his long-legged pace to her shorter one.

      He hadn’t struck her as someone who routinely took time for a stroll but she couldn’t miss a chance to have him see up close how the locals lived and why they needed the Armstrong Foundation’s help. Convincing him to use his influence to give the hospital the funds they required was her primary objective. Otherwise she would’ve turned him down flat when he’d asked her to show him around. Something about having him close made her think she wouldn’t be enjoying a few relaxing hours. Court set her nerves tingling.

      Court impressed her with his thoughtful and intelligent questions about the traditions and culture. Between his quizzing and her lectures on the area, they practiced simple words like “hello”, “pain”, “where”, “how long” in Mamprusi. He was a quick study, which by this time didn’t surprise her. He had a real aptitude for the difficult language. It wasn’t long before she expanded to using phases.

      Maggie glanced inside the doorways of the simple square, dirt-brick buildings facing each other creating a wide main road. She pointed to one group. “These are the well-to-do businesses. Most of the locals live humbly, working daily just to stay alive.”

      He seemed genuinely interested in the country’s history and the people. The closer they drew to the market, the more the number of people surrounding them increased. The sounds of bargaining filled the air, joining the ripe smell of fruit. “Stay close, I don’t want to lose you,” she said, turning a corner into a large open area filled with stalls. Colorful fruit, vegetables and a variety of meats were spread out in the open air on blankets with thin men squatting on their haunches beside their goods.

      “You don’t think a tall, white man dressed in American clothing is going to stand out?”

      With his piercing blue eyes, firm jaw and broad shoulders he’d stand out on the streets of New York City. The man was eye candy. “You have a point. Is there anything you’d like to look for while we’re here?”

      “No, but I would like to practice what I’ve learnt when I can. I’ll just stick by your side.”

      She wasn’t sure why the statement rattled her so much. “I’m not sure Where does it hurt? or Bandage it this way is going to work here.”

      “I was thinking, Hello, goodbye, how are you? might, though.”

      She stopped often as they made their way up and down the rows of vendors. She always gave Court a chance to speak to the merchant first. After he had done so, he seemed content to wait and listen from nearby. She couldn’t see those crystal-blue eyes for his sunglasses, but by the tilt of his head he watched what was happening intently.

      The crowd thinned at one point and Court stepped beside her. “So, tell me how you came to work at the hospital?”

      She bent to pick up a bunch of bananas, said a couple of words to the toothless man then handed him a coin and waited while Court said thank you. “I was working in a hospital ER. One of the traveling nurses told me about the Teligu Hospital and I was intrigued. I needed to make a change and decided to look into coming here.”

      They moved on to the next vendor.

      “Did you always want to work in a developing country?”

      A house with children’s toys in the yard and a minivan in the drive flashed into her mind. “Not exactly.” The words were said slowly. “I’ve always wanted to be a nurse, though.”

      He picked up a piece of corn still in its husk from the pile she studied.

      “Mealie.” Maggie supplied the word.

      Court repeated the word. “I wish they were all that easy.” Putting the ear back in the pile again, he asked, “Not exactly? What does that mean?”

      “Little nosy, aren’t you?” She focused on the vegetables on the ground before her.

      “Little touchy, aren’t you?”

      Concentrating on the produce, she tried not to let the hurt show in her eyes. “We all have dreams that don’t work out, don’t we?”

      “Yes.”

      Maggie glanced at him. The simple word hid more than he let on. Did the aggravating doctor have a secret?

      “What’s all this for?” He pointed toward the growing amount of food items stuffed into a woven basket she’d brought along.

      Relieved at his change of subject, she said, “Supplies for a meal.”

      “You cook?”

      She put a hand on her hip. “Yes, I cook.” She mustered as much indignation as she could but tempered the words with a smile.

      “I didn’t mean to imply …”

      “I know what you were implying.”

      “What I meant was where do you cook?”

      “I use the mess hall kitchen on Sunday afternoons. I wish I could use it more often.”

      “I’m a pretty fair cook myself.”

      Maggie looked sideways at him in disbelief.

      “I am. I learned to make meals on a one-eyed hot plate during medical school. I found cooking an excellent way to release stress after a long day.”

      With his family background he’d done his own cooking? She would have thought he’d have his own personal chef.

      “So who eats these meals you prepare?” Court asked.

      She looked at him. “Fishing for an invitation?”

      “Could СКАЧАТЬ