The Midwife and the Millionaire by Fiona McArthur Read Free Book Online

Odette?’
    His sister grimaced. ‘I only started it—Steve finished it.’
    Levi’s face stilled. ‘It’s not your fault.’ He spoke very quietly, and Sophie frowned as she tried to gather the thread of undertones and make sense of it, but for some reason the hairs on her arms prickled and stood and she lifted her arms across her chest to rub them.
    Levi was muttering. ‘I can’t believe I didn’t do myown pre-flight check as well. You should never do anything last minute when flying. No excuses. First rule of flight.’
    He glanced at the sky. ‘We’re baking in the sun. We need more shade and definitely water. I’ll go up the gorge to see if there’s a creek or a pool.’
    Levi to the rescue? She didn’t think so. ‘Let me. As soon as I’ve checked—’ she glanced at Odette and corrected herself ‘—William.’
    Levi looked pale; a purple bruise had begun on his temple, and she could see him blaming himself when he’d saved them all. Sophie went on. ‘You’ve been knocked out. You should move to the shade and I’ll find the water.’ She’d avoided his eyes while she spoke and flicked a glance back to see how he took her suggestion. Not well, judging by the scowl he directed at her.
    He straightened, until he loomed over her, but the effect was spoilt when he swayed slightly. ‘Who died and elected you captain? I can make my own decisions. Thanks.’
    Sophie shrugged. He didn’t intimidate her. Grumpy sod. ‘It’s a small job. As I’m the only medical person and you look like death warmed up, I say you need to rest after your heroics earlier. You’re still the captain, just concussed, so that’s what you’ll do.’
    He blinked, didn’t quite drop his mouth open, but she knew she’d surprised him. He looked about to say something but didn’t and she glanced at Odette and lowered her voice. ‘Someone needs to keep an eye onyour sister and give me a yell if she complains of any pain too, though I won’t be long.’
    She looked at her brother. ‘But Smiley first.’
    Levi hovered while she examined Smiley and it was hard to ignore him. She’d have liked to tell him to sit again but didn’t want to push her luck. She doubted anyone had tried to tell him what to do since he was in school. It would do him good. Actually, thinking of him as a scrubby school boy did a lot for her confidence.
    She spoke to Smiley. ‘How’s the head?’ She ran her fingers lightly over the swelling under his right eye and then palpated the bulge over his ear. ‘You’ve given it a good whack. Close your eyes for a couple of seconds and then open them.’
    He did so and she watched his pupils constrict at the light. They looked equal as much as she could tell.
    She checked his ears for discharge but there was none, and it made her think she should do the same for Levi. She looked at him.
    â€˜My ears are fine,’ he said quickly. ‘And I’m sure my pupils are too.’
    Sophie shrugged. ‘Your choice,’ she said, not eager for another clash of wills, and looked back at Smiley.
    â€˜So you’ve dislocated the shoulder again?’ A sister’s tone.
    Smiley grimaced. ‘I’d say.’
    â€˜We can fix that. We’ve done it before.’ But she really didn’t want to think about doing that. ‘And the ankle?’
    â€˜Pretty sore.’ They all looked at it, swollen already, and she ran her hands over it but couldn’t feel any blatant deviations of line.
    Poor Smiley. ‘That’s gotta hurt. We’ll splint it, get you a walking stick and at least you’ll be independent for short walks. You still wear your knife?’
    He nodded and patted his hip with his good hand. ‘Good,’ she said, and looked at him with sympathy for the impending pain. ‘You want to do the