Wild and Willing! by Kim Lawrence

said stiffly. Panic rose because she did want him to come; she wanted it quite badly. Weak and helpless doesn’t suit you, Anna, she told herself severely.
    ‘No, it won’t; I’ll go with Anna,’ Simon announced, with a belligerent expression on his normally good-natured face.
    ‘Thank you, Simon.’ She smiled her gratitude. She wasn’t up to being with Adam in the close confines of the ambulance; she wasn’t up to being with him anywhere!
    ‘I have to deliver the patient to my colleague, give a medical history—’
    ‘I’m not dumb,’ Anna interrupted.
    ‘It’s a courtesy,’ he said tersely. ‘Perhaps your friend —’ Anna put a restraining hand on Simon’s arm as he bristled at the sneer in Adam’s voice ‘—might be better employed telling your parents what has happened.’ He tossed the car keys to Jake, who had reappeared. ‘Drive back to the hotel. I’ll see you there later.’
    ‘Jessie has a meeting first thing in the morning; she won’t be happy,’ his nephew observed.
    ‘She’ll have to catch a train up to town,’ Adam said impatiently. ‘Where is she, Kate?’ he asked as his niece reappeared with the twins in tow.
    ‘The boys couldn’t wait for a toilet. I’m afraid she’s overcome by the social stigma of it and has sought refuge in the Range Rover.’
    ‘It’s locked,’ Jake said. A faint grin touched his lips as he imagined scarlet fingernails hammering on the paintwork.
    ‘Too late,’ one of the cherubs said cheerfully. ‘She won’t die like Mummy, will she?’ His round eyes were on Anna, now made comfortable on the stretcher.
    ‘She won’t,’ Adam said calmly.
    Anna could see the child accepted his word as something indisputable in his turbulent young life. She found she was deeply moved by this small display of faith, and found herself wistfully imagining how nice it would be to feel that way.
    ‘I shall be back later,’ Adam said, catching Kate wiping a tear from the corner of her eye. ‘We’ll drive back to Granny’s in the morning. You do as Jake says.’
    ‘Anna?’ Simon hung on, determined not to be so easily dismissed.
    ‘I’ll be fine,’ she said, grinning to offer proof of this claim. ‘Tell Mum and Dad for me, but don’t let them panic,’ she pleaded as the stretcher was lifted.
    ‘I don’t need you, Adam.’ Anna’s voice carriedclearly on the breeze as they moved towards the ambulance.
    ‘Temporarily, you’re stuck with me,’ came the intransigent reply. ‘So give your mouth a rest.’
    ‘Don’t you ever listen to anyone?’ she asked wrathfully. ‘And if you think I’m being treated by you…’
    ‘I’ve no more wish to be your doctor than you have to be my patient,’ he assured her from between gritted teeth.
    ‘I suppose you think I should be grateful.’
    ‘I never have had much faith in miracles. That’s more your field, isn’t it? Shall I sprinkle you with sweet-smelling oils and pour some herbal remedy down your throat? Would that make you happy?’
    ‘Thank God not all doctors are narrow-minded bigots,’ Anna hissed as the ambulance door closed.
    Kate looked at her brother, a speculative smile playing about her lips. ‘Are you thinking what I’m thinking?’
    ‘When Adam is mad he’s always devastatingly polite—he’s never rude,’ Jake reflected. An expression of pure pleasure spread over his face. ‘Did you hear him with her?’ he said wonderingly. ‘I’ve never seen anyone get under his skin like that before, have you?’
    Kate shook her head. ‘He never yells at Jessica. Did you see her face back there when he just snapped at her?’
    ‘All that well-bred civility gives me a headache,’ Jake confided with an expression of disgust. ‘Who is she?’ he asked curiously.
    ‘She’s definitely the toothbrush lady; I recognised her voice.’ Kate gave her brother a slow smile. ‘Maybe she’s also the answer to our prayers.’
    ‘Don’t pin your hopes on it, sis,’ Jake advised soberly. ‘She