Page 28 of Wandering Souls

The boss didn’t look altogether convinced. “She’s wild and unpredictable, Ray. The sooner I can get her transferred back to Melbourne, the better. This town isn’t built to withstand Cyclone Quinn.”

“Well then, I might just have an answer for you.”

Chapter Six

Aknock at the doorwoke Abi from a dreamless nap. She sat up, rubbed her eyes and was amazed to see late afternoon had shrouded the cottage in a dull, muted light. Perhaps her nap hadn’t been quite as brief as she’d planned.

The knock came again and she grumbled as she got to her feet. She swayed for a moment, a combination of deep sleep and her unstable thigh forcing her to steady herself. Leaving the sofa, she crossed the floor to peer out of the narrow window beside the door. Hollywood smiled through the glass and waved.

“This is a lovely surprise,” she said in welcome.

His cheeks turned pink. “Did I wake you?”

Abi waved away his concern. “No harm done.”

“Mia and I were wondering if you’d like to join us for dinner tonight? We’d hoped to do it when you arrived, but you got here quite late and we thought a rest was in order.”

The hopeful glimmer in his eye encouraged her. “That’s not necessary, you’re already doing so much for me.”

“Oh.” He clasped his hands together, looking a little lost. “It’s our pleasure, Abi. I actually wish there was more we could do but time will do its thing. Please say you’ll join us? Mia will come and fetch you herself if you make me go back to the house without you.”

The thought of Mia marching down to the cottage made her smile. The woman was a firecracker and impossible to deny.Redheads.Abi decided to save her the trip and nodded. Relief brightened Hollywood’s face as he sighed. Abi stepped back and invited him in.

“Let me just put on a coat.”

He looked around the living area. “I take it you’re enjoying your stay?”

Abi retrieved her coat from the back of a chair. Hollywood saw the X-ray film on the table and moved closer to inspect the image. He picked up the large film by the corner and held it up to the light, worry filling his eyes. After a minute, he set it back on the table and faced her.

“This has today’s date on it.”

She zipped her coat up. “I asked Colt at the hospital.”

“Is there something to worry about?”

She pointed to the solid white objects in the image that threatened her life. “These are very close to a main artery. If they nick it, I could bleed out internally and not know until it was too late.”

---