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She tried not to flush as she thought of quite how she and, if she was being honest, a couple of the other nurses had taken the long route between the outpatient building and the wards a few too many times that day whilst Hayden and his men had been working.
‘Maybe you can repair some of the huts back at Jukrem? Though probably not the large one, which was once the kitchens area, I believe.’
‘No, that hut is definitely too far gone,’ Hayden agreed. ‘You’re better off staying in the temporary kitchens in the twelve-by-twelve for now.’
‘And the open stone barbecue, that’s a decent cooking set-up.’
His eyes held hers over the table, making her heart pound for no reason other than it reminded her it was just the two of them.
‘I’m not saying my guys will rebuild the entire tukul village, but I did think we might have a go at mud hut repairs before we go. Maybe get the army to fund us enough to employ some of the local builders, once we get back to camp, to teach everyone.’
‘That isn’t a bad idea,’ Bridget mused. ‘As long as you pick a new gang at the start of each week, you won’t fall foul of the local labour laws.’
His gaze turned more serious.
‘Good to know. I think the more we try to integrate and use locals, even in the construction of the roads, the better we’re going to integrate into the area, especially when we’ve got full brigades here for training. Before we left Jukrem I discovered a couple of very traditional builders who still know how to build the ancient way, and tukul construction is quite similar to traditional Celtic roundhouse builders.’
‘Isn’t it like a woven stick—walls packed with mud?’
‘It is, but they have a particular way to do it that ensures structural integrity. Enough to support the long conical poles that reach up to that crown in the centre. And the most intricate part is the stunning, handmade, local rope that binds it all together.’
‘Did you learn to thatch it too?’ she asked, Hayden’s enthusiasm beginning to infiltrate.
‘Not from the locals, although I have tried thatching before, back in the UK.’
‘I tried that once back home, too. Maybe one day we could learn together,’ she began, and then stopped.
What was she doing? It had been a throwaway comment that had made it sound like she was making plans for the future. Hayden must be cringing. They might have started to talk a little more, or it felt as though they had anyway—certainly recently—and things might seem good between them right at this moment, but that didn’t mean she wanted to go ruining it by sounding as though she was pressing him for more than they’d already agreed. Or by getting too personal.
Hadn’t he already told her that he didn’t envisage seeing her again once they’d left this country? He had never suggested that getting involved in a relationship had ever been part of his plans.
But was tonight a tiny hint that he just might be changing his mind? No, she was probably only fooling herself, if she believed that.
‘I meant the charity and the army could learn together,’ she clarified awkwardly. ‘Not just you and I.’
‘I understand that,’ he replied smoothly, much to her relief. ‘The point is, I figured that rather than trying to repair that kitchen tukul, which, as you said, is a bit far gone, I might just rebuild it altogether.’
‘Wow, that wou
ld be great.’ She blinked, trying to clear her head. That unwelcome awkwardness from her blunder still lingering in her mind. ‘Somewhere us charity workers can maybe eat together?’
‘A bit more of a social space,’ he agreed. ‘And if that project goes well I was considering contacting HQ whilst you guys contact your team back home to see if we can’t get the go-ahead to construct a small village in Jukrem. Once we’ve got in a few more fresh water stations, we’ll know how the dwellings could be arranged for the best.’
‘I think that’s a great idea.’ It was amazing how quickly he could make her start to feel at ease again. ‘Jukrem is growing a lot faster than we’d imagined. It was only meant to be temporary, a bit more than a mobile medical camp, but certainly not the main medical hub that it seems to be turning into.’
He nodded as she warmed to her topic.
‘But that’s hardly surprising with its proximity to that refugee camp. And with more and more people flooding in every day, it really is a good outreach site. Now it needs to be more.’
‘I agree.’ Hayd dipped his head gravely. ‘Now the rainy season is over, more displaced persons and refugees are going to start arriving en masse, by road and by river. If Mandy is on board as the charity’s project coordinator, she is best situated to contact your charity’s HQ.’
‘Yeah, she is.’ Happiness spread through Bridget and she couldn’t pretend it was just at the thought of Hayd’s team helping the charity. ‘And she’ll be delighted. So, these tukuls of yours, will they come complete with the wildlife?’
‘Say again?’
‘Well, mine came with a hedgehog, Lisa’s has a mouse, and Janet’s has a couple of lizards.’
‘Hedgehogs, lizards, and mice...’ He pretended to jot it down. ‘But no spiders or cockroaches, I’m guessing? I’ll see what I can do.’
