AllFreeNovel
Share Us
*
Shay traipsed across Liberty, his heavy bags strapped across his shoulders.
He’d been out foraging. Must have walked over thirty miles in the last couple days. He got the itch to do that sometimes. Since arriving in Liberty, he hadn’t gotten out into the wilderness yet. Just him and a tent and a sack for foraging. As soon as he got out into the valley, he had kicked himself for not getting out sooner. This place was full of amazing sights and foods. Within just a few hours, Shay’s soul felt revitalized, and his mood lifted.
It wasn’t that Shay was depressed. He just needed to maintain his mental health more than either of his brothers. Over the years, he’d learned what he needed, and that was occasional solitude, fresh air, exercise, and, most important of all, to run his own kitchen.
As long as he got a healthy balance of all those things in his life, then things were all good.
During this trip, he’d had some amazing experiences. He’d come face to face with a wildcat while camping last night. Luckily his campfire got going just in time and scared it off. He’d climbed one of the nearby mountains most of the way to the top and seen the view over the whole valley. And the foraging had been first-class.
Purple deadnettles: herby and slightly bitter.
Winter oyster mushrooms: meaty and rich.
Young cleaver plants: fresh, herby, and medicinal.
Plus: field garlic, shepherd’s purse, chickweed.
It was late when Shay walked back through Liberty, and his muscles were aching. Now that The Den had finally got its hot water sorted, he couldn’t wait for a long soak in the bath.
As he walked back through the town, he was surprised to see a light on in the old surgery. Haze had been talking about getting a new doctor for the surgery for a long time, but Shay hadn’t heard anything about him finding one. That said, Shay was never really up on the gossip. He kept to himself so much, hidden away in a hot kitchen, that he didn’t get involved in local politics. Sometimes people misinterpreted that as rudeness. It wasn’t meant to be taken that way. Shay was just a lone wolf. A true introvert. Happy with his own company.
Anyway, if Haze had found a doctor, then it was good news for the town. Wasn’t right for people this cut off to not have help handy. If there was an accident or an emergency, they needed someone to call on. Just before Christmas, Nate had needed a vet to help with one of his cows. If that cow had been a person, and there had been nobody here to help, well… that didn’t bear thinking about.
As important as doctors were, though, Shay hated them. Always had done. Well, ever since one particular doctor he’d had when he was younger. Dr. Southey. A cruel, old-fashioned man with a cruel, old-fashioned way of conducting medicine. He once cut a verruca out of Shay’s foot with a scalpel without even letting him try medicated gel or cryotherapy first. Seemed to relish causing pain.
These days, fortunately, Shay was fit and healthy. Hopefully, he’d never get ill and never have to visit the doctor in Liberty. Haze had probably found some stern Daddy Dom to do it. Shay hated being bossed around by other men. That’s why he liked to run his own kitchen. There was only room for one Daddy Dom in his workspace. He never did take well to being yelled at by Head Chefs with big egos and tiny dicks. Good job he was working for himself these days.
When Shay got back to the bar, Conor and Finn were both there, looking serious. Uh oh. What had Shay done now? Forgotten to wash the dishes before he left? Put too much hot pepper in the chili for the Littles to handle?
It wasn’t that Conor and Finn were always ganging up on Shay. But if one of them was pissed about something, that meant they werebothpissed. Two men, one unit. It was pretty unfair. Shay had spent a lot of his youth wishinghehad a twin to be on his team. Shay took after his mom, one-hundred percent. Had her dark hair and brown eyes. Dealing with Conor and Finn sometimes felt just a tiny bit like dealing with two extra dads.
‘Shay, you’re gonna want to sit down for this one,’ said Conor, pointing to the empty chair at the table he and Finn were sitting at.
The bar was empty, save for those two, but there was a fire going, and if it wasn’t for his brothers’ grim expressions, it would be warm and welcoming in here.
‘Not sure I want to sit down with you two,’ said Shay. ‘You look kinda angry. Plus, I stink. Been living in the woods for three days. Need to take a bath.’
‘This will only take a minute,’ said Finn. ‘There’s something you need to know.’
OK, now Shay’s interest was piqued. He sat down, relieved to throw down his heavy bags and take the weight off his feet.
‘She’s back,’ said Conor.
Shay frowned. ‘Who…?’
At exactly the same time as one another, both brothers said: ‘Tammy.’
Immediately, Shay’s stomach did a backflip. And not in a good, fun, ticklish way. In a bad ‘fuck this’ kind of a way.
‘Back where?’ he asked. But he already knew the answer. Only had to put two and two together.
The light in the surgery.
The new doctor.
‘She’s started work already,’ said Conor. ‘Finn went to see her today.’
