A Fresh Start for the Country Nurse by Kate Eastham

Author:Kate Eastham [Eastham, Kate]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Boldwood Books

‘Are you off to the dance tonight, Nurse Flynn?’ Daniel asked as she prepared to check his pulse and blood pressure, but instead found herself gazing out through the open shutters to the green field beyond.

‘Yes, I think so,’ she murmured dreamily, soothed by the brown cows munching their grass and swishing their tails as they wandered lazily to the shade of a large oak tree. The warm air with its hint of hay time was becoming very familiar. And here, with Daniel, she felt that calm, that instinct to take things slowly that had struck her right away on her first visit.

Once she’d finished making her recordings, he drew a slow breath. ‘Those dances have been going on since before I was born. And that’s a heck of a long time ago.’

‘Well, it’ll be my first. So can you give me any advice?’

‘Not really,’ he chuckled, ‘except to stay away from the drunken men… I shouldn’t be saying that really because I’d always had too much when I went there; all the lads had. I’m amazed my Martha even gave me a chance after seeing me in that state.’

‘She did though, didn’t she… so there must have been something special,’ she replied, straightening his bedsheet then carefully pushing the sphyg back into its damaged case.

He was gazing out of the window now, a faraway look in his eyes. Then he sighed, shook his head. ‘It was my Martha who was special.’

‘Well, she must have thought the same about you,’ she said gently.

‘I suppose you’re right,’ he replied with a slow smile. ‘After all, you women are usually right on most things.’

‘Maybe,’ she offered quietly, her gaze following his back out to the field. Then drawing a breath, she said, ‘I felt a bit scared of those cows at first, but I think I’m getting used to them now.’

‘Aye, I can tell you are, lass… and this place will hook you in; it’ll get under your skin if you let it.’

He smiled at her then as she stepped away from the bed and raised a hand in farewell. ‘I’ll be seeing you again soon, Mr Makepeace. Now you take care.’

‘Have a good time tonight, Nurse Flynn… and if any of those ruffians give you any trouble, report them back to me.’

‘I will,’ she called as she exited the room, leaving him resting against his pillows, gazing out to the cows in the field.

As she walked back up towards the surgery, she prayed there wouldn’t be a flock of sheep descending on her today. Thankfully, all was quiet, just the tinkle of the post office bell as an elderly woman emerged. She barely noticed her but when a voice called from behind, she instantly clicked it was Miss Frobisher.

‘Hello again, Nurse. I didn’t get a chance to chat to you earlier when I was up at the surgery seeing Dr Bingham, but I was just wondering how you’re settling in?’

She turned, surprised at the woman’s gentle tone; quite rightly, she’d maintained

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