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He gave her another glance. He thought he knew what the next answer would be. ‘You haven’t included anything in the filming, have you?’
Kristie shook her head. ‘Absolutely not. It’s mainly just footage from the immunisation clinic and the baby clinic.’
He gave a nod and then changed tack. ‘So, what are you and Gerry going to do tonight about food?’
She blinked. ‘What do you mean?’
‘The place you’ve booked into after the mix up—they didn’t tell you, did they? Their kitchen is out of order. Something to do with an electricity short.’
Kristie let out a big sigh. ‘Darn it. I never even asked. We just said we needed beds for the next few days after the mix-up at the other place.’
She nudged him as they kept walking. ‘Okay, so give me the lowdown on all the local places.’ She wrinkled her nose. ‘Though I’m not sure about Gerry. He’s been really tired. I think the jet-lag is hitting him hard this time.’
Rhuaridh gave her a cheeky kind of grin. ‘Well, if you can promise me that you actually eat, I’ll show you my favourite place in town.’
‘What do you mean—if I actually eat?’
He laughed. ‘You’re from LA. Don’t you all just eat green leaves and the occasional bit of kale or spinach?’
Now she laughed too. ‘You heard about that new diet?’ She shuddered. ‘Oh, no. Not for me. Anyhow, I’m a steak kind of girl.’
‘You are?’ He actually stopped walking and looked at her in surprise.
She pointed to her chest. ‘What? I don’t look like a steak girl?’
He couldn’t help but give her an appreciative gaze. ‘If steak’s what you like, I know just the place.’
She glanced around. They were right in the heart of Brodick now. There were a number of shops on the high street, a sprinkling of coffee shops and a few pubs.
‘Cool. Which one is it?’
He turned the pram around. ‘It’s back this way.’
Quick as a flash, Kristie came alongside and bumped him out of the way with her hip, taking his place at pushing the pram. ‘Don’t try and steal my turn. You got the way out. I get the way back.’ She bent over the pram and stroked the side of Alice’s face. ‘She’s just a little jewel, isn’t she?’
He was surprised at the affection in her voice. ‘You like kids?’
‘I love kids.’ She shrugged. ‘Not all of them like me, right enough.’
He stopped walking. ‘Where did you pick that up?’
‘What?’ There was a gleam in her eye.
‘“Right enough”. It’s a distinctly Scottish expression.’
She lifted one hand from the pram and counted off on her fingers. ‘I was trying it out for size. Everyone uses it in the surgery. I’m also looking for opportunities to use drookit, minging and...’ She wrinkled her brow. ‘What’s the one that Mr McLean who comes to the surgery always uses?’
Rhuaridh burst out laughing. ‘Wheesht?’
‘That’s it!’ she said, pointing her finger at him. ‘Wheesht.’
It sounded strange in her American accent. But he liked it. He liked it a lot.
She started walking again. ‘There’s another one I’ve heard. It might even be used to describe you sometimes.’ She gave him a nod of her head.
‘I dread to think. Hit me with it.’
This time the glance she gave him was part mysterious, part superior. ‘Crabbit,’ she said triumphantly.
Part of him was indignant, part of him wanted to laugh. ‘Crabbit? Me?’ He pointed to his chest. ‘No way. No way could I ever be described as crabbit. I’m the nice guy. The fun-loving squishy kind of guy.’ He gestured down to Alice. ‘The kind of guy who takes his goddaughter for a walk to give his friend a break.’ He raised his eyebrows at her. ‘Beat that one, LA girl.’
She folded her arms across her chest, letting momentum carry the pram for a few seconds. ‘That sounds like a challenge.’
‘It is.’ He’d never been one to back down from a challenge.
He swooped in and grabbed the pram handle. ‘Ms Nelson, I believe you just neglected your duty. I think I should take over again.’
Before she could protest he nodded towards the pub at the other side of the road. ‘Billy’s Bar. Best steaks in town. They even do a special sauce for me.’
‘What kind of sauce?’
‘I could tell you. But I’d have to kill you. It’s a secret I’ll take to my grave. But if you come along with me tonight, I’ll let you have some.’ The words were out before he really had a chance to think about them.
‘Dinner with the doctor,’ she mused out loud. ‘Just exactly how good are these steaks?’
‘Better than you’ve ever tasted. The cows bred in the Arran hills are special. More tender.’
There was a smile dancing across her lips. ‘Okay, then.’ She gave him a cheeky wink. ‘But only because I might want to put the steak on film.’
Part of him was elated. Part of him was put out. It had been a casual, not-really-thought-about invitation. But things had seemed to be heading in this direction. But now, had she only said yes because she wanted to film their dinner? Was this something to try and get more viewing figures?
Because that hadn’t even crossed his mind.
Kristie kept chatting again. It seemed she had a gift for chat. And she didn’t seem to slow down for a second. They were almost back at Magda’s house when Rhuaridh’s page sounded.
He took one glance and grabbed his phone. ‘Something wrong?’ she asked, taking over the pram-pushing again.
He nodded. Listened carefully to the person at the end of the phone before cutting the call. In the blink of an eye he swooped up little Alice, dropping a kiss on her forehead before running inside with her. Kristie was still fumbling with the pram in the doorway as he came back outside.
‘Leave it,’ he said, running past her. ‘And phone Gerry. Tell him to meet us at the wilderness centre.’
Kristie’s head flicked one way then the other, as if she should work out what to do next. He was in the car already and, reaching over, flung open the passenger door. ‘Now, Kristie!’ he yelled.
* * *
Her hands were refusing to do what they were told as she tried to phone Gerry. It took three attempts to finally press the correct button. Rhuaridh was driving quicker than she’d ever seen him. He’d already phoned the cottage hospital and given some instructions to the staff.
It seemed that there was only one ambulance on Arran and it was on its way too.
‘What’s the wilderness centre?’
‘It’s an experiential learning place. Adults and kids come and learn to mountain climb, hike, swim, canoe, camp, fish and a whole host of other things.’
‘So...’ She was almost scared to ask. ‘What’s happened?’
‘There’s been an accident. There’s a waterfall in the hills. One of the instructors and one of the kids have been hurt.’
He turned up a track that led up one of the nearby hills. Now she understood why he had a four-wheel drive. The terrain was rugged. ‘Will the ambulance get up here?’
He nodded. ‘You haven’t seen it yet, have you?’
She shook her head.
‘It’s not a regular ambulance because of the terrain it has to cover, well, that and the fact a high number of our injuries are around the foot of Goat Fell—’
‘Goat Fell?’ she interrupted.
He pointed off to the side. ‘Arran’s highest mountain, more than eight hundred metres tall. Really, really popular with climbers, and it is a real climb. Especially at the end. Some people don’t really come equipped for it and end up injuring themselves.’
‘Okay,’ she murmured. She looked to where he pointed. She couldn’t even see the top of the mountain as it was covered with low-hanging clouds.
They were climbing higher, going through trees and bushes. ‘Where is this place?’
‘Another few minutes.’ He gave her an anxious kind of glance, his voice steady. ‘Until the ambulance gets here you might need to give me a hand. Are you okay with that?’
Her response was quicker than he expected. ‘It’s only hospitals that spook me.’
