They landed and loaded the patient into the ambulance when Leonie came out to the meet them.
"We are going out for drinks and bingo at the Palace at 6.30," Leonie said as they watched Mira put the propeller restraints on and chocks behind the wheels. They all looked at her waiting for a response.
Mira looked up and caught them staring with smiles on their faces, "Oh you were talking to me, sorry I'd love to." Everyone laughed and it wasn't long before Mira joined in.
That night Mira walked into the Palace and walk into the "Lounge" to find the whole team playing bingo and two teens playing on their phones in the corner.
"Glad to see you could make it," Leonie said giving Mira hug and leading her towards the table they were all sitting at.
"Thank you for inviting me, didn't realise I had to wear a dress or that there was a particular dress code," Mira said running her hands up and down her jeans that she had on with short sleeved flannel shirt.
"Oh gosh don't worry, as long as you're comfortable. And why wouldn't we invite you, you're family now," Leonie said handing her a glass of vodka and lemonade.
"Hey Mira! Wanna play a game of pool against Wayne and Darren?" Pete asked slinging his arm around her shoulders and pulling her in to a side hug.
"Sure, why not. We will kick arse," She replied as a table became available for them to play. It was the quickest game they boys had ever had. Within 10 minutes Pete and Mira had indeed kicked their arses.
"You're on my team next time," Wayne laughed as the lights dimmed and they took a seat at their table. "Oh also Mira this is my son Darren, Darren this is Mira our new pilot at work."
"So nice to meet you," Darren said forgoing the handshake for a hug instead. Mira was shocked at how much hugging happened with this team and realised it's true, they are a family. Family hug. She hugged him back, "I'll see you at home Dad," and with that Darren left.
"Good evening everybody! And a special welcome to our flying doctors who are in the house!" Dolly said as a loud round of applause went up. "And if I heard the rumours correctly we have a new pilot! They have a very special job these guys, if we didn't have Graham or our new girl Mira, we wouldn't have our lives saved by Dr Yates or nurses Pete and Matty. So welcome Mira, and if you need anything at all I have all the goss on everyone in this town!"
The team all threw an arm around Mira as they watched Dolly perform her new routine up on stage.
"Hi, I'm Rhiannon Emerson, seems like they forgot to introduce use. If you need a woman other than Leonie to talk to, then I'm here. Seems like Wayne can't stop staring at you," Rhiannon said, sidling up next to Mira with two vodka lemonades.
"It's really nice to meet you and thank you I do appreciate it. I've lived here my whole life but not a whole lot of girlfriends, and I haven't noticed." Mira said taking a sip as she caught Wayne's eye across the table, he quickly looked away back to Pete who was going on about some sheila he met the other night.
"I've noticed, since Darren's mum passed away a few years ago he hasn't looked at another woman until now. You're a special one Mira to get Wayne looking like that," Rhiannon said, giving her a nudge before wandering off leaving Mira to her thoughts.
It was 11 o'clock when everybody bidded each other goodnight. Mira waved and turned to walk home. As she turned she bumped into Wayne.
"Oops sorry," Mira apologised taking a step back and smiling at him.
"All good, where did you park?" Wayne asked as they walked up the street together.
"Oh no, I walked. It isn't far from home," Mira said as they fell into step. "How about you?"
"Walked as well, so if you don't mind the company we are heading in the same direction," Wayne said as they turned the corner.
It was a further five minutes of walking and chatting when Mira stopped in front of her house.
"You bought this place? I was wondering who had bought it," Wayne said looking up at the house. "I live two doors up."
"Small world. Well neighbour, goodnight and I'll see you tomorrow," Mira said, kissing his cheek before climbing her stairs onto the front deck and unlocked her door. Wayne waited until she had gone inside and locked the door.
Wayne smiled to himself as he walked two doors down to his own home and unlocked his front door and walked in. 'I want to get to know her.' He hadn't had these kind of feelings since Darren's mum had passed away. Mira was different.
Inside Mira's house, Mira was smiling as she had a shower, 'he's different. I want to get to know him.'
The next morning came round quickly and Mira had just finished breakfast and her cup of coffee when there was a knock on her door. She opened it to find Wayne on the otherside holding two cups of coffee.
"Good morning, I thought seeing as we're neighbours we could carpool, will make it easier and cheaper." Wayne said as Mira laughed as she locked her front door and sat down on her front step to pull on her boots.
"That sounds great, my turn tomorrow," Mira said taking the coffee from him and shouldering her messenger bag as they approached his car and got in. Wayne had already picked up coffee for the rest of the team.
They soon arrived at the base and got out. They walked in and Rhiannon took Mira by the arm and whisked her off to the locker room. "Out Pete, don't complain Wayne has coffee." Rhiannon said, kicking him out and closing the door. "Spill."
"Spill what?" Mira laughed putting her bag away and sitting on the bench facing Rhiannon.
"You and Wayne walk in together this morning, really?" She said putting her hands on her knees and giving Mira a look.
"Oh god Rhi, no. Nothing happened. He walked me home and turns out he lives 2 doors up. We carpooled this morning," Mira said, finally understanding where she was getting with this.
"That's how it starts. That's how it started with my husband. We will be married 15 years this year," Rhiannon said as she took a sip of her coffee.
"We will see what happens. What's Leonie's views on in house relationships?" Mira asked as Leonie walked through the doors.
"Leonie's views are if they don't interfere with work then she doesn't care. Work is work, home is home." Leonie said, sitting down with the girls. "He's a catch, and you're about the only woman he has looked at."
"So I've heard. We're just talking, if something happens it happens." Mira said as Graham walked in with Matty the other flight nurse.
"What is this, a CWA meeting?" Graham asked opening his locker and putting his stuff away.
"CWA meetings don't include you walking in Graham," Rhiannon retorted as they all burst out laughing.
"Oh Matty, this is Mira our new pilot." Graham said making a quick introduction.
"Oh my god, I wasn't expecting you," He exclaimed as everyone laughed and Mira looked shocked. "Oh I'm sorry, that sounded better in my head. It's great to meet you, really."
"Nice to meet you too," Mira laughed as she got over her shock as the rest of the team walked in.
"You ready Mira?" Wayne asked as she put his bag away, as Pete pulled out his jacket and relocked his locker.
"Sure am, what have we got?" she asked standing up and shrugging on her jacket and grabbing her iPad.
"Rhino at McCartha Station. Harriette says she has the sweats and chest pains. He's had heart troubles before but I'm not ruling out possible heart attack," Wayne said as they shouldered their backpacks and walk out into the hangar and onto the tarmac.
"Good ol' Rhino. I can have us up in thirty, weather is looking clear all day," Mira said as she checked the weather.
"Too easy," Wayne replied as himself and Matty boarded the plane as Mira took the restraints off and took away the chocks from the wheels. She spun each of the propellers a couple of times to make sure they didn't stick and ran her hands along the wings to check for any nicks.
Mira boarded the plane and began to draw up the stairs and locked it securely.
"Cabin is secure for take off," Matty said as Mira passed him and Wayne and took her seat and buckled in. She put on her headset and began her start-up procedure.
"Copy that. Cockpit close. All traffic in the Broken Hill area, Centre flight op 257 IFR King Air 3 POB taxiing Broken Hill runway 2-3 for McCartha Station." Mira called as she began her taxi to take off.
As soon as they had taken off they were soon beginning their descent onto the air strip of McCartha station. It had been a quiet and uneventful flight over. It was roughly an hour flight out.
"I'm isolating you now. McCartha Station, this is Mike Quebec Delta. Do you have a copy Harriette?" Mira called as she turned the plane to line up with the runway.
"Hi Mira, roo run has been complete. You're cleared to land," Harriette replied, watching as the plane descended and landed on the air strip.
"You're free to move about," Mira said, standing up while taking her headset off and moving to the back of the plane to open the door. Both Rhino and Harriette were standing there with their son. Mira's face blanched, she quickly turned bumping into Wayne. "Look's like you're patient came to you fellas."
To be continued...Does Mira have a past that is going to catch up with her? Who is Rhino and Harriette's son to Mira?
RNR xx