An Egyptian Summer (Adventures of the Heart Book 2) by Mindy Lawrence

Author:Mindy Lawrence [Lawrence, Mindy]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Silver Thistle Publishing
Published: 2023-08-10T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter 22

At dawn they loaded their packs into the smallest of the Jeeps. “We’re only taking one car?” Jenny asked, warily observing the narrow bench. A full day of being crowded next to Miss Hastings wasn’t exactly the holiday she’d had in mind.

“Now that Miss Hastings is staying behind, we should all fit,” said Ahmir.

Daniel looked up from the pack he was fastening. “She’s not coming?”

“No.” Ahmir hopped into the car with a grunt. “Apparently, she’s been taken ill. She asked us to go on without her.”

Jenny and Daniel exchanged a dark look.

“I’ll just go check on her,” said Jenny, jogging to the semi-circle of tents.

Dawn was breaking, yet no one was stirring. The men were taking full advantage of their day off. Given how hard they had been working, it wouldn’t surprise Jenny if they slept till noon. She arrived at a rather small, lopsided tent. Breaking her stride, she knocked brusquely on the center post.

“Miss Hastings? Are you all right? I heard you were ill.”

“Oh, go away,” the woman groaned from within.

Jenny entered and quickly swallowed her reprimand. The inside of the tent was dark and close, and the air reeked of sick. A very pale Miss Hastings was prostrated upon her cot with a tin bowl propped near her elbow. Her unkempt hair was streaked across her wide, sweaty brow. A pile of soiled towels lay heaped in the corner, telling the story of a long night of illness. Jenny swallowed a dry heave before stepping forward with genuine concern.

“What happened?” she asked.

“I told you those beans were no good.” Miss Hastings retched into the bowl. Sick spilled from her lips, and she let out a miserable cough.

“You really are ill,” said Jenny quietly.

The woman rolled her eyes. “Oh, well done you. Where did you go to nursing school again? Must have been a first-rate establishment, given your powers of diagnosis.”

“Are you feverish?” said Jenny, reaching for her forehead.

Miss Hastings jerked irritably away. “I’ve never been ill a day in my life. It’s not a fever. I’ve got a wretched case of food poisoning, that’s all.”

“Perhaps it’s the work of the curse.”

Miss Hastings shot her a nasty look.

“Sorry,” Jenny murmured. “Couldn’t resist. What can I get you?”

“Nothing.”

“Have you had anything to drink?”

“All the water I could keep down,” she groaned. “I know what I’m doing. This isn’t my first round with ol’ uncle upset. All I need is a nap and some quiet, and I’ll be right as rain. Now please, get out of my tent.” The journalist rolled over in bed without another word.

“Very well,” said Jenny doubtfully. “Try and drink a little every hour if you can.”

She retreated, her mind still brimming with questions. Daniel met her on her way back to the Jeep.

“So?” he prompted, eager for a report.

“Miss Hastings really is ill. She’s not faking it.”

“The curse strikes again.”

“Don’t you start,” she laughed.

“You’re certain she’s not making it up?” Daniel asked. “It would be the perfect excuse to stay here and cause trouble.”

“Trust me.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.