Ruby's Outback Love: Outback Australia Series, #2

By Susan Horsnell

Bourke, a small country town in outback Australia, home to the mighty Darling River.

Where skies are bluer than blue, and flies and mozzies abound.

Where wide open spaces and fresh country air regenerate the spirit.

It was this small town Ruby's heart led her back to after fifteen long years away.

The place where Ruby's heart had always belonged.

Securing a position with the Flying Doctor Service, and working for a local doctor was like a dream come true.

She was ready to give back to the people who had done so much to help her.

Her own home, a job she loved, a family and friends she adored.

Life was good, until.....

Phil was a man who had grown up with Ruby and he'd had his eye on her for years.

He'd intended to marry her as soon as he had qualified as a cop and she had qualified as a nurse.

So, what caused everything to go so horribly wrong?

Will a disaster bring them together?

Or will they forever be separated by mistakes from the past?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Lipstick Publishing
• Release date: Sep 21, 2023
• ISBN: 9798223398295

Susan Horsnell

I’m an Australian author who lives in Queensland when not travelling and I write in a variety of Romantic sub-genres, including Western,  Historical, Gay, Mafia, and Contemporary Romance.  I have published over 60 books and novellas, many of which feature strong, independent heroines and rugged, alpha male heroes. Some of my popular series include the Outback Australia series and The Carter Brothers series. My books are known for their well-researched historical details, vivid descriptions of the Australian landscape and real life experiences. My work has garnered praise from readers and critics alike, and I have been a Finalist in both the Rone Awards and Laramie Awards as well as being a multiple times International Bestselling Author and USA Today Bestselling Author. If you're interested in learning more about my books:  Linktree https://linktr.ee/SusanHorsnell   

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Copyright © 2019 by Susan Horsnell

The right of Susan Horsnell to be identified as the author of this work has been asserted by her under the Copyright Amendment (Moral Rights) Act 2000

All rights reserved. This publication (or any part of it) may not be reproduced or transmitted, copied, stored, distributed or otherwise made available by any person or entity (including Google, Amazon or similar organisations), in any form (electronic, digital, optical or mechanical) or by any means (photocopying, recording, scanning or otherwise) without prior written permission from the author.

This is a work of fiction. Similarities to real people are coincidental.

Written by Susan Horsnell

Edited: Redline Editing

Proofread: Leanne Rogers

Published by: Lipstick Publishing

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Prologue Notes

This book is purely fictional, a product of the author’s imagination and is written for the reader’s enjoyment. It is not intended to be used for Historical or Practical education.

Some characters, although real have been given fictional names, the towns and businesses mentioned are real and information has been sourced from notes after my visits. At the time of my visit, the information was accurate.

I would like to thank the people and businesses of Bourke NSW.

This book is written in Australian English.

Recommended Reading Order for Outback Australia Stories:

Andrew’s Outback Love

Ruby’s Outback Love

Information

The language in this book is Australian and spelling, Australian-English.

Station is the Australian equivalent of an American Ranch.

Mozzies is Australian slang for Mosquito.

Biscuits are known as cookies in the US.

Ngemba and Gamilaraay (Kamilaroi) are Aboriginal tribes local to the area around Bourke. More information can be found at—https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1111/j.1835-9310.1943.tb00171.x

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gamilaraay

Thank you to the NSW Aboriginal Service for their guidance.

The Royal Flying Doctor Service

The Royal Flying Doctor Service—a factual service which the FDS service is modelled on throughout the story, provides an invaluable service for the people of Outback Australia.

They not only deal with emergencies but also run clinics and provide services which would otherwise not be available to isolated communities.

2018 was a celebration of 90 years of service to this country.

For more on the history and origins of this amazing service goto:

https://www.flyingdoctor.org.au/about-the-rfds/history/

The use of FDS in this story involves dramatization for the purpose of the story and should not be considered factual. The FDS characters mentioned are a figment of the author’s imagination.

Prologue

ANDREW

Barrawon Station

One month earlier

What the hell?

On hearing Ruby’s voice, Cam, Linda, and I snapped our heads towards Ruby and followed her line of sight to find she was glaring at Sergeant Phil Thacker. Not for the first time, I wondered what the deal was between the two of them.

I hadn’t known Phil for long, he’d only been back in town for a couple of weeks, but I’d found him to be a pleasant young man. I guessed he was in his early thirties, probably around the same age as Ruby. He was tall and slim with coffee colored skin and large brown eyes which seemed to be shadowed in sadness whenever he glanced in Ruby’s direction.

Ruby stomped over to where he now stood beside Gary. She came to a stop in front of him and slammed her hands on her hips.

What the hell are you doing here? I’ve told you; I don’t want you anywhere near where I am. Hell, I don’t even want you on the same goddamn planet. You know we have a clinic today so get out of here.

When she spun to head into the clinic, Phil reached out and grabbed her wrist. Ruby fisted her hand and collected the officer square in the nose. He growled and released her, dragged a handkerchief from his pocket and attempted to stem the blood which now poured from his nostrils. I suspected Ruby may have broken his nose.

"Serves you right, don’t you ever lay a hand on me again."

It was time I interfered. Patients were gathering around us and watching with interest. I had never seen my nurse so angry; her eyes spat fire.

Ruby, please go and set up for theatre.

Gladly, just get that arsehole out of here.

We watched as she stomped to the clinic, pushed through the door and allowed it to slam closed behind her. I turned back to Phil who was gazing at the door she’d just disappeared through, sadness and—was it longing, clouded his eyes?

Something I should know, Phil?

He shook his head. I deserved it. Can you tell her I was here because Gary and Viv had a problem with a couple of young shooters trespassing on their property? I’ll try not to get in her way again.

He turned to leave but I placed a hand on his arm. You need to let me take a look at your nose.

I’ll get Barry to take a look when I get back to town. I’m sure it’ll be fine until then and I don’t want to upset Ruby more than she already is.

I nodded, knowing he was probably right, and it appeared the bleeding was easing.

I’ll talk to Ruby; she can’t go around punching you.

Leave her be, Drew, she has good reason.

The conversation was obviously done. Phil headed to his police vehicle, climbed behind the wheel and we all watched as he drove off.

What the hell just happened? Viv asked. I have never seen Ruby react so violently towards anyone.

No idea, but I aim to find out.

Snarling at Phil in town was one thing but punching him in the nose was another. Ruby had stepped over the line.

Many in town thought something had happened out at the settlement where they’d both lived many years ago, but no one seemed to know the facts. I was determined to make sure it got sorted out before my nurse and good friend found herself locked up on assault charges.

Linda threaded her arm through mine.

C’mon, Dr Drew, you have surgery. Interfering will have to wait.

We excused ourselves from Gary and Viv with a promise to catch up over lunch and bring them up to date with details of our new home, the clinic in town and future plans.

Chapter One

RUBY

Bourke NSW

Present Day

I sat at the small table in the kitchen of my home and sipped at a steaming cup of tea. The past month had been difficult and no matter how many hours I worked; it didn’t help.

I still couldn’t put my encounter with Sargeant Phil Thacker at Barrawon Station, behind me. The team had been at the station for a clinic and surgery. Phil had been there to check out a report of two trespassing shooters. As the man in charge of the station, I’d assumed he would keep company with a desk. Apparently, that wasn’t the case and on this particular day, he’d felt the need to get a dose of fresh air out in the field.

Our encounter hadn’t been friendly and Drew, the head of our team, had been chewing me out over it ever since. Now, Linda wanted to meet with me over breakfast and ‘chat.’

Let me explain about the team I was a member of—

The man in charge was Dr Andrew Lowman, a brilliant and compassionate eye surgeon who had been head of Ophthalmology at a major Sydney hospital. He’d been in charge of our team for six months when I’d joined just over a year ago.

Every second week, on a Monday, he would fly from Sydney to Dubbo. From there, the FDS King Airplane would transport him, Cameron O’Brien, an anaesthetist and Linda Freemont, a nurse—who were both from Dubbo Hospital—to Barrawon Station which was around three hours southeast of Bourke. I’d meet them both there, completing our team.

First up after our arrival would be surgeries, which had been scheduled two weeks before, followed by a clinic and scheduling of surgeries for the week after next. The routine didn’t change much. We’d all stay the night and catch up on the local gossip with Viv, Gary and their station hands, over a barbeque.

The following day, we’d be taken to Bourke via two four-wheel drive vehicles. Barry drove out to the station from town to take care of the post-op appointments. His assistance helped our schedule to work.

James, or Finn—depending on who the pilot was for that day, would remain in case one of our patients needed to be flown out urgently. If all was okay, they would stay the night and return to Dubbo the following morning with the plane.

We’d spend two days in Bourke where we had a mix of post-op consults, new patients, and surgeries. Drew would catch up with Barry, who also took care of the eye patients in town while he was gone. After a couple of days, on Thursday, two four-wheel drive vehicles would transport us to Tarara Station. It ran both cattle and emus and was situated around four hours northeast of Bourke.

Either Finn or James would meet us at the station on Thursday afternoon, spend the night and fly us back to Dubbo on Friday after post-op consults had been taken care of.

Around three months ago, this routine had changed. Andrew had bought a beautiful old homestead a few kilometres from Bourke. The property ran cattle and would supplement his income. He’d kept the foreman and men from the previous owners, quit his prestigious job down in Sydney and sold his apartment.

Now he no longer needed to commute, our schedule had changed. Every second week, on Monday, we left Bourke before dawn to drive out to Barrawon Station. Drew operated all morning, consulted in the afternoon, and did post-op consultations early on Tuesday morning.

We no longer needed to spend Tuesday and Wednesday in Bourke now Drew was a resident of the town, so we included Rossmore Station, two hours northeast of Brewarrina, to our schedule.

Diane and Zane Bugden owned Rossmore Station, around three hundred thousand acres of cattle country and they employed eight staff. They had been more than happy to make accommodation available for our overnight stays and two rooms for consulting and surgery. They were what my aunt called, ‘salt of the earth’ people, always happy to pitch in and do what they could for their community.

After post-op appointments on Wednesday morning, we headed to Tarara Station. Surgery took place on Wednesday afternoon, post-op and regular appointments filled Thursday and after staying overnight, we’d drive back to Bourke while Cam caught the FDS plane back to Dubbo. It was an excellent schedule, and we were able to make a real difference to the expanding communities.

Drew would spend the week we weren’t travelling, consulting, and operating at the hospital until a new clinic being built in partnership with Dr Barry Bright—the only GP in town, was completed. The clinic would be state of the art with an operating theatre, three consulting rooms, large treatment room and full-time blood collection facility. Necessary scanning and x-ray would continue to be done at the hospital. The new building was ideally situated in Oxley Street and was well under way. Once it was ready, Barry and Drew would leave their current practice locations and move in.

Kerry Williams, an anaesthetist at the hospital had been helping out on the weeks we were in town, but