She increased their speed as they left the airfield, weaving her way around the potholes that peppered the road, and felt Jude’s grip on her tighten.
‘You really know how to reassure a guy, don’t you?’
‘I try,’ Claire retorted.
She skirted around a particularly large hole, grinning to herself when she heard his breath hiss out as the rear wheel clipped the edge. Maybe it wasn’t a kind thing to do but she had to admit that it felt good to be in control. She had a feeling that Jude Slater rarely allowed other people to order him about and she may as well make the most of it while she could. Once they were back at the hospital, she was going to do as she had said and steer well clear of him. It wouldn’t be a hardship. From what she had seen so far, he was more trouble than he was worth!
THEY DROVE FOR almost a quarter of an hour in silence. Claire suspected that it was a combination of the noise from the engine plus a fear of her driving which was keeping Jude quiet, not that she was sorry, of course. When he suddenly leant forward she had to steel herself not to react as she felt the solid length of his body pressing against her back.
‘What’s that over there? Is it the missing truck?’
Claire slowed so that she could look at where he was pointing and felt her stomach sink when she spotted the truck partly hidden by some trees. All their vehicles were old and riddled with rust which was why the truck had blended so perfectly into the background; in fact, she wouldn’t have noticed it if Jude hadn’t pointed it out.
‘It looks like it,’ she agreed, bringing the motorbike to a halt at the side of the road. She kept the engine idling while she looked around, but there was no sign of movement from what she could see. The area appeared to be deserted, although she wasn’t about to take that as proof there was nobody about. It could be a trap set by the rebel fighters and she needed to be on her guard. Switching off the engine, she climbed off the bike, nodding to Jude to indicate that he should get off as well. Opening the seat, she took out the pistol.
‘You carry a gun?’
The shock in his voice would have been comical in other circumstances but not right then. Claire was starting to get a bad feeling about this and she didn’t need him kicking up a fuss.
‘This isn’t Mayfair, Dr Slater. This is the middle of Africa and there are rebel factions active in the area.’ She nodded at the bike. ‘Stay here while I go and see what’s happened.’
She didn’t wait to check that he was following instructions. She just headed towards the truck, sure in her own mind that the handsome Dr Slater would prefer not to risk his oh-so-handsome skin. Anyway, she needed to keep her wits about her instead of worrying about him...
‘Shouldn’t we find some cover? We’re sitting ducks out here in the open.’
Claire spun round when she heard him hiss the question at her and glared at him. ‘I thought I told you to stay with the bike!’
‘You did,’ he said shortly, staring past her. His hand shot out when she went to walk away. ‘Wait! I thought I saw something move— Yes! There! Just to the left of the truck—did you see it?’
Claire screwed up her eyes against the glare from the sun as she stared towards the truck. ‘I can’t see anything.’
‘It could have been a bird, I suppose.’ He turned to her and she could tell from the set of his mouth that it would be a waste of time ordering him to go back to the bike. ‘OK. Shall we do this, then?’
‘Yes, but stay behind me.’ She gave him a grim little smile. ‘I wouldn’t like you to get between me and any potential target.’
‘And here was I thinking that you would love the chance to put a bullet in my back.’
He gave her a mocking smile then set off, ignoring her instructions as he led the way towards the trees. Claire muttered something uncomplimentary under her breath as she hurried after him. Why, for two pins, she would haul him straight back to the plane and have the crew lock him in the hold! Didn’t he understand how dangerous the situation was and that they were both at risk of walking into a trap? Yet he had to get all gung-ho about it, playing the big, tough hero protecting the helpless little woman...
‘If you’re going to curse me then may I suggest you wait until later?’ He stopped so suddenly that Claire cannoned into his back. Muscles rippled as he absorbed the impact and she hastily disentangled herself, not wanting to run the risk of storing away the memory of all that warm, hard flesh.
‘All that hissing and spitting under your breath is going to be a real problem when we reach those trees.’ He glowered at her. ‘I need to be able to hear if there’s anyone moving about and your mutterings and mumblings will only hamper things.’
‘Oh, well, excuse me! I didn’t realise you were such an expert in these matters. Maybe you’d like me to walk downwind so I don’t interfere with your olfactory processes?’
‘Funny. If you’re as good with that gun as you are with your tongue, lady, then we should be safe enough.’ He treated her to a smile that was all flashing white teeth and very little warmth. ‘However, from the way you’re holding it—like a freshly skinned rabbit—I very much doubt it. So no more muttering until we know for certain there are no bogeymen lurking in the woods, eh?’
With that he started walking again, ignoring her as he headed towards the trees. Claire glared after his retreating back before she forced herself to follow him. If they hadn’t been in such desperate need of another surgeon at the hospital then she would have left him here and to hell with the consequences. So far as she was concerned, the rebel fighters were welcome to him!
They reached the outer rim of the trees and stopped. Jude cocked his head to the side, obviously listening for any sound of movement. Claire held her breath because even though the rebels might be welcome to him in theory, she didn’t really want him to come to any harm. He glanced at her and there was no trace of laughter on his face this time. He seemed completely focused on the possible dangers and for some reason, she felt almost ridiculously pleased that he was taking her concerns seriously.
‘I’m going to skirt round towards the truck through those trees,’ he explained in a whisper, pointing out the route he planned to take. ‘I want to see if the driver’s still in the cab.’
‘I’ll keep you covered,’ she replied equally quietly, quelling a shiver as she looked around. The thought that someone could be hiding in the scrub, watching them, wasn’t a pleasant one.
‘You do that.’ He gave her a quick grin. ‘But if you do see anything untoward then make sure it isn’t me in your sights, will you? I don’t fancy taking a bullet home as a souvenir.’
‘I’ll do my very best to miss you,’ she agreed sweetly, and he laughed.
‘Promises, promises—sounds like the story of my life!’
He slipped away before she could say anything, not that she could have come up with anything apposite. Claire sighed because it was the story of her life that she could never come up with a witty response when she needed it. She waited in silence, wondering how she would know when he had reached the truck. He was hardly going to holler, Yoo-hoo, I’m here, was he?
Was he?
Her heart sank at the thought that he might not be taking this as seriously as she had thought. After all, Dr Slater knew nothing about the dangers of working in this country. Although the majority of the Mwurandans were kindly, God-fearing people, the rebel fighters stopped at nothing to achieve their aims. In the past two months they had stepped up their campaign of terror and everyone working in the country had been warned to be on their guard.
Claire