Hired: GP and Wife. Judy Campbell

      He shook his head dismissively. ‘It doesn’t matter—you were tired.’ He gave a rueful grin. ‘I’m sorry about the lack of food. Isobel’s just been giving me a hard time about that. I’d no time to shop as I was up at the crack of dawn meeting some man from the local health authority who wants us to provide a room for some alternative medicine clinic.’

      Terry gathered from his tone that he was totally against that request. She smiled. ‘You can buy me a sandwich at lunchtime if you like.’

      ‘I’ll do better than that. I’ve got to take some gear over to the outward bound place before lunch. If you come with me you can meet Pete, his wife and the boys. I’ll bring some food and we’ll have it on the way back. The quicker you get to know the area the better.’

      ‘Sounds great.’

      He bent forward to switch on the computer and said, ‘Before I show you the ropes as far as the software we use is concerned, there’s a reporter here to speak to you.’

      Terry looked surprised. ‘Whatever for? What can I have to say to him?’

      Atholl smiled. ‘It’s about your sterling work yesterday in the car accident. It’ll make good copy. “New young doctor on Scuola saves baby in car accident.”’

      ‘It certainly wasn’t just me involved—you were as well. What paper is this?’

      ‘The Scuola Recorder—it’s just a weekly newssheet about local happenings.’

      ‘I…I don’t know if I really want to be featured,’ Terry said doubtfully.

      He shrugged. ‘I know it’s a bit of a bore, but they don’t have much to talk about here and that’s a happy storyline.’

      ‘I suppose…if people are interested.’

      ‘I can assure you that a heart-warming article about a new doctor ensures the patients will be very keen to be seen by you! They’re normally a very conservative lot and don’t like change.’

      Let’s hope the story won’t spread much further than Scuola, thought Terry. Then shook herself mentally. She’d nothing to fear now, had she? She just had to relax and enjoy her new life.

      A few seconds later Atholl ushered in a young gangling lad with red hair and freckles and an eager manner, like a young puppy. He strode towards Terry with his hand held out.

      ‘Hello, there! Ian Brown, Scuola Recorder. I just wanted a few moments of your time to get the lowdown on the accident yesterday. I believe you were the heroine of the hour, rescuing a baby from a car?’

      Terry flicked a look of embarrassment at Atholl, who was watching the interview leaning against the wall with his long legs crossed. ‘There was nothing heroic about it—and, of course, Dr Brodie was very much involved.’

      ‘It was very dangerous, though. The car could have exploded at any second, isn’t that right?’ persisted Ian.

      ‘Fortunately all was well.’ Terry smiled. ‘There really isn’t much more to tell. The main thing was that Maisie and little Amy weren’t hurt despite the car being badly crushed.’

      ‘Of course, of course…but could I just get a little background info? Where you come from, why you’re here…you know the sort of thing?’

      Terry smiled brightly. ‘Well, I’m from the South of England.’ She kept it vague. ‘I wanted a change of scene away from the city, somewhere more remote, and Scuola is a beautiful place.’

      ‘So you you’ve never been here before?’

      ‘No, but it sounded just perfect.’

      Ian’s cheery face raised a sceptical eyebrow. ‘Bit of a risk isn’t it? Coming to live here without viewing the place first? Jumping into untested waters, as it were…’

      ‘I’m sure it will work out,’ said Terry firmly. She didn’t want to answer any more probing questions, because they seemed to bring back with startling clarity the reasons that had forced her to come up to Scotland. She sat down behind her desk. ‘Look, I’m afraid I really must get on now. I’m already late for my first day and I know Dr Brodie’s very busy.’

      The young man looked disappointed. ‘Well, at least let me take a photo of you both, perhaps with Dr Brodie welcoming his new colleague to the practice…you know the sort of thing.’

      Reluctantly Terry allowed Ian to manoeuvre her beside Atholl, and he took several photos of them shaking hands and looking rather self-consciously towards the mobile phone on which he’d taken the pictures.

      ‘Good!’ he said with satisfaction. ‘You’re very photogenic, Dr Younger—they seem to get smashing-looking lady doctors here! That Dr Grahame who was here before was one bonny lass!’

      Atholl scowled, not remarking on Ian’s observations, and snapped, ‘Have you finished, then?’

      Terry flicked a glance at Atholl, noting his abrupt change of mood. It had probably been brought on by the cheeky attitude of the young reporter.

      ‘Would you like to see the photo?’ enquired Ian, holding up his mobile to her. ‘Look, you have to agree, you make a really handsome couple!’

      Atholl’s expression became even more surly. ‘For God’s sake, don’t start making things up now,’ he warned him tersely.

      Ian Brown grinned, completely unfazed by Atholl’s irritation. ‘Don’t worry. I’ll send you a copy of the article—it’ll be a lovely human-interest story! “Doctors to the rescue!” Sounds good, doesn’t it?’

      Atholl and Terry looked at each other dubiously as Ian gave them a cheery wave and went out of the room.

      ‘Let’s hope he doesn’t allow his imagination to run away with him,’ growled Atholl drily. ‘Give the folk round here a little information and they’ll have us engaged! It doesn’t take much for them to leap to the wrong conclusion.’

      ‘Rumours can fly around on practically no evidence,’ agreed Terry. ‘It must be hard to keep one’s private life to oneself in a small community, I imagine.’