Marion Lennox - Stormbound Surgeon

2004

Dear Reader,

We have our summer holidays at a remote little fishermans cottage where only a tiny strip of land connects us to the mainland. While snoozing on the beach (my major holiday occupation), I thought, wouldnt it be fun to wipe out the road and lock two completely disparate people together? Before I knew it, I wasnt on holiday anymore-I was plotting like crazy. Joss and Amy are the result.

I hope you enjoy the outcome of my snoozing!

Id love your feedback. Contact me through my Web site at www.marionlennox.com.

Happy reading!

Marion Lennox

THE lawyer cleared his throat and looked miserable. This was nothing short of blackmail, and the girl before him deserved so much better.

But the old man finally had her where he wanted her. Robert Fleming had manipulated people all his life. The only person whod broken free had been his stepdaughter, and now he was controlling her from the grave.

The will was watertight. Fleming would succeed and there wasnt a thing the lawyer could do about it.

Just read it, Amy said, stony-faced. The lawyer collected himself. And read.

To my stepdaughter, Amy Freye, I leave my home, White-Breakers. I also leave her the land on Shipwreck Bluff and sufficient funds to build a forty-bed nursing home. The home is to be built in the style of a resort, to ensure resale is possible, and I set aside the following to be invested for maintenance

The above bequest is conditional on Amy living permanently in Iluka for at least ten years from the time of my death. If she doesnt fulfill this condition, White-Breakers and the nursing home are to be sold and my entire estate is to be divided evenly between my nephews. The nursing home is to be sold as a resort for holiday-makers wholl appreciate Iluka. As Amy never has.

IF IT doesnt stop raining soon Ill brain someone. Amy put her nose against the window and groaned. Outside it was raining so hard she could barely see waves breaking on the shoreline fifty yards away.

Great idea. Brain Mrs Craddock first. Kitty, Amys receptionist, was entirely sympathetic. If I hear Silver Threads one more time Ill do the deed myself.

It was too late. From the sitting room came the sound of the piano, badly played, and Mrs Craddocks warbling old voice drowned out the television.

Darling, we are getting old,

Silver threads among the gold

Murder was looking distinctly appealing, Amy decided. Can you taste arsenic in cocoa? she muttered. And just what are the grounds for justifiable homicide?

Whatever they are, it cant be more justifiable than this. A week of rain and this lot

It was the limit. Nothing ever happened in Iluka, and this week even less than nothing was happening. The locals jokingly called Iluka Gods Waiting Room and at times like this Amy could only agree.

It did have some things going for it. Iluka was a beautiful seaside promontory with a climate that was second to none-apart from this week, of course, when the heavens were threatening another Great Flood. It had two golf courses, three bowling greens, magnificent beaches and wonderful walking trails.

On the cliff out of town was Millionaires Row-a strip of outlandishly expensive real estate. At the height of summer the town buzzed with ostentatious wealth.

But the rest of the time it didnt buzz at all. Iluka was a retirees dream. The average age of Ilukas residents seemed about ninety, and when the rain set in there was nothing to do at all.

Nothing, nothing and nothing.

Card games. Scrabble. Hobbies.

Lionel Waveny had made five kites this month and he hadnt flown any of them. The sitting room was crowded at the best of times, and if he made one more kite theyd have to sit on them.

From the sitting room came excited twittering. Amy Berts won.

Great. Excitement plus! Summoning a smile Amy headed into the sitting room to congratulate Bert on his latest triumph in mah-jong. She stepped over Lionels kites and sighed. She really should stop him making them but she didnt have the heart. They were making him happy. Someone should be happy. So

Great kite, she told Lionel, and added, Hooray, to the mah-jong winner. Bert, if you win any more matchsticks you can start a bushfire.

Despite her smile, her bleak mood stayed.

Oh, for heavens sake, what was wrong with her? she wondered. What was a little rain? This was a decent sort of life-wasnt it? The nursing home shed set up was second to none. Her geriatric residents were more than content with the care she provided. She could start a cottage industry in knitwear and kites, she had a fantastic home-and she had Malcolm.

What more could a girl want?

Shops, she thought suddenly, and a decent salary so she could enjoy them. She stared down in distaste at the dress shed had for years. What else? Restaurants. A cinema or two, and maybe a florist where she could buy herself a huge bunch of flowers to cheer herself up.

Yeah, right. As if shed ever have any money to buy such things.

She looked out the window at the driving rain and thought

What?

Anything. Please

Amy wasnt the only one to be criticizing Iluka. Five miles out of town Joss Braden was headed for the highway and he couldnt escape the town fast enough.

Its the most fantastic place, his father had told him over the phone. Theres three separate bowling greens. Can you believe that?

Yes, but-

Now, I know bowling doesnt interest you, boy, but the beaches are wonderful. Youll be able to swim, catch lobster right off the beach and sail that new windsurfer of yours. Go on, Joss-give us a few days. Get to know your new stepmother and have a break from your damned high-powered medicine into the bargain.

Hed needed a break, Joss thought, but five days of rain had been enough to drive him back to Sydney so fast you couldnt see him for mud. For the whole week his windsurfer had stayed roped to the car roof. The seas had been huge-it would have been suicidal to try windsurfing. His father and Daisy had wanted him to spend every waking minute with them; theyd been blissfully and nauseatingly in love, and medicine was starting to look very, very good in comparison.

So this morning, when the newsreaders were warning of floods and road blockage, his decision to leave had bordered on panic. Now he steered his little sports car carefully through the rain and crossed his fingers that the flooding wasnt as severe as predicted.

Ten minutes and were on the highway and out of here, he told his dog. His ancient red setter, Bertram the Magnificent, was belted into the passenger seat beside him, staring through the windscreen with an expression that was almost as worried as his masters. If they were stuck here

Well be right.

They werent.

Amy, love, we need a fourth at bridge.

Im sorry, Mrs Cooper, but Im busy.

Nonsense, child. We know you always go for a walk on the beach mid-morning. You cant walk anywhere now, so come and join us.

But I cant play.

Well give you hints as we go along. Youll be an expert in no time.

Aargh

Once they reached the highway itd be easier.

The road into Iluka from the highway twisted around cliffs along the river. It was a breathtakingly scenic route but it was dangerous at the best of times, and now was the worst possible time to be driving.

Josss hands gripped white on the steering-wheel. He leaned forward, trying to see through the driving rain, and his dog leaned forward with him. Bertrams breath fogged the windscreen and Joss hauled him back.