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T he gossip circulating around the clinic when Tiffany showed up for work the next morning was all over the map.

And extreme enough that she felt compelled to go into her private office and call Timber right away.

“I just stepped in the door, and everybody is talking about something happening at your place last night. Are you okay?”

“Yeah,” he said, the fatigue and worry evident in his tone, “but it was definitely a rough night.”

“That kid again?”

“The kid was part of it,” he noted, “but his father is now about to become a much bigger part of it.”

“His father?… Hang on a minute, we must not be talking about the same kid. I know we hadn’t confirmed his identity for sure, the one I was thinking about, Brian,… well, I thought his dad was dead.”

“Yeah,… Max is not dead. As it turns out, it’s all drama in the same family. Andy is the kid’s grandpa and has been hiding the deranged dad out at his place.”

“Hiding him out?”

“Yes, that’s because, if he’s not dead, he’s most definitely wanted on military investigations,” Timber explained. “And according to Richard, various civil criminal warrants are out on him too. And Max is the kind who will be racking up more by the day, so, yeah, it was a rough night.”

“Good God, are you okay?”

“I am,” he repeated.

His tone was surprisingly strong, but she wasn’t so sure. She heard how off he sounded, so something had hit him pretty hard. “That’s hardly what you needed right now.”

“No, it sure isn’t what I needed,” he agreed, with a laugh, “but there is no good time for this.”

“What about Brian?”

“Still alive and kicking and still a problem. I proposed a solution to his grandfather last night, so we’ll see what happens there,” he added.

“And the doe?” she asked anxiously.

He laughed. “She’s nowhere nearby, so I’m hoping she’s playing it smart.”

“I hope so too,” she muttered.

“I’m coming into town later today,” he shared. “I’ll need to stock up on some medicine. I have a list I’m hoping to get from you.”

“Sure,” she said, then hesitated. “Are you expecting more trouble?”

“I’m never expecting trouble, but now I have to at least consider the fact that I may not get in and out of here as often as I want.”

“ Uh-oh ,” she muttered. “Sounds to me as if you’re considering holing up and staying that way for a while.”

“For a little bit anyway,” he admitted wearily. “The man in question, Max, made it fairly clear how he feels about his current situation.”

“But that’s not your fault,” she cried out.

“No, but he’s pretty pissed about my buying this land from Andy.”

“Also not your fault.”

He laughed. “No, and it looks as if I’ll buy some more, which will just add fuel to the fire. Regardless, I’m sure Andy is happy to be dealing with it in a similar manner, and it will set me up with just what I need for the future.”

“I don’t know what any of that means, but I’ve got to get to my patients,” she said. “Come on by when you get to town, and you’re welcome to whatever I have on hand, and I can order anything else you need.”

“Good enough,” he replied. “I should be there in a few hours.” With that, he rang off.

She sat here, wondering just what his night might have looked like and how he could be so calm and then realized it wasn’t even that he was calm.

He sounded more determined, as if he’d been through shit like this before, and he wouldn’t let it come back and ruin his life.

She also didn’t know whether he had told Badger or not.

With that, she picked up the phone and called Kat, who was shocked when she heard what little details Tiffany even knew.

“Good God.”

“I know. I didn’t get any real details, but I definitely got the impression that Timber’s expecting big trouble ahead.”

“He did have a phone call in to Badger this morning, but we haven’t got back to him,” Kat shared. “I’ll get Badger to call him back now.”

“Timber did say he was coming into town today, so I don’t know whether he’ll respond or not.”

“Yeah, but he shouldn’t be out there alone if he’s got that kind of trouble.”

“Is there anybody who could help him though?” Tiffany asked anxiously. “I don’t know him all that well, but I sure don’t want to think that he’s up against somebody who was discharged from the military and up for investigations for his actions while in the military.”

“Is that what he is?” Kat asked.

“There was some talk of it. I really shouldn’t even be talking about it, since I could be speaking out of turn, and maybe these are rumors, not necessarily facts,” Tiffany clarified.

“I don’t know the real deal, and I don’t know how to find out, but Max is bad news from everything I hear.

Everybody around here thought he was dead, but it seems he suddenly showed up at Andy’s place. ”

“And he let him back in the house?”

“He may not have had any choice, so keep that in mind. People have thought that Andy has taken a more negative turn recently, and now I’m wondering if it could be that Max was there, putting pressure on Andy.”

“I hadn’t considered that, but you’re right,” Kat noted, “and that would not be easy on Andy.”

“No, whenever it comes to family,” Tiffany pointed out, “there’s really nothing easy about it.”

“I’ll talk to Badger and get back to you.” Kat quickly disconnected.

Tiffany wondered if she was causing Timber more trouble by involving them. But, if somebody could help, it was them, and she thought Timber needed it, hoping that he wouldn’t be so prideful that he wouldn’t accept their help. Yet she wasn’t so sure of that either.

She got right to work, aware she was keeping clients waiting, which wasn’t an ideal way to start her day. At one point, she turned around to see her receptionist, Kelly, telling her that Timber was asking to see her.

As she headed out, he looked over at her and smirked. “You just can’t help yourself, can you?”

She winced. “I didn’t really know what was going on and just didn’t want to think of you out there all alone with no backup.

I wasn’t even sure that Kat and Badger had anybody or any way to get you some help, but they might at least find out what was happening and assess the risk,” she explained, firming up her chin.

He noted the chin lift and nodded. “I am fine, you know?”

“Good,” she stated, with a little more spirit, “and I want to keep it that way.”

His eyebrows lifted, right before he studied her with a more narrowed gaze. Then a genuine smile broke through. “Thank you,” he muttered. “I can’t think of the last time anybody cared enough to make such a call on my behalf.”

She looked at him, felt herself flushing, then shrugged.

She didn’t know what to say, but she walked over to where she had boxed up the items from the list he had texted her and quickly handed it over to him.

“A fair bit of what you need is in here,” she shared, “and a few items need to be kept cool, so you’ll need to sort through it. ”

“Thank you. It should be good,” he replied, as he accepted the box.

When he hesitated, she added, “I put it on your account.”

He smiled and nodded. “Perfect, thanks.” And, with that, he quickly headed out, walking out to his vehicle.

She watched as he left, wondering whether she should have done something or said more. But it seemed as if she had already interfered in a way that might be considered too much. Yet how could she help someone too much ? She didn’t know the answer to that.

As she walked back inside, Kelly frowned at her and asked, “Do you really know him?”

She turned to her and frowned. “I know him to some degree. Why?”

She flushed and then said, “I’m just not sure if he’s somebody you should be talking to and hanging out with.”

Tiffany’s eyebrows shot up at that. “Maybe not,” she replied, a bit indignant, “but I can’t say I’m too worried about it.”

“Maybe you should be. I mean,… he might not be all he’s supposed to be.”

“What are you talking about?” Tiffany asked, looking at her in confusion. “He came in to pick up the medication we’d discussed earlier, that’s it.” When Kelly shrugged, Tiffany prodded her. “Come on. What’s this all about? Out with it.”

“It’s just that people are talking, saying that he’s caused all kinds of trouble since he arrived in town.”

She stared at her. “And I suppose you are friends with the young man causing all the trouble out at Timber’s place?”

“He didn’t cause any trouble, and it’s his grandfather’s land.”

“His grandfather sold the land to Timber. So, I guess, you’re okay with Brian cutting up a donkey just to be cruel?”

The other woman flushed bright red and declared, “He didn’t do that.”

Tiffany’s tone was hot and fierce. “I hate to burst your bubble, Kelly, but Brian admitted to it. That’s what part of that medicine is for.”

Kelly looked at her in shock and shook her head.

“Brian wouldn’t do that.” And with that, she turned and walked back to the front desk.

Tiffany wasn’t sure if she was about to lose a receptionist but had to consider that it might be for the best, if that was the kind of company Kelly was keeping and the attitude she would have regarding animals.

When she turned around, she saw Kelly collecting her things.

Kelly shot her a look, saying, “I’m done.” And, with that, she walked out.

Tiffany sighed. The last thing she needed was people quitting, but she also didn’t need someone who was okay with cruelty to animals out of temper or some mental disease or something else. And, with that, she quickly called Timber back.

When he answered, she said, “I forgot to ask you about the donkey.”

“He’s okay,” he relied. “He bled some, but I’ve cleaned him up. He’s limping, but I’ll get the farrier over to take a look.”

“What? You called for help? You can’t do that yourself?” she teased.

He snorted. “I probably could. I’m just a little on the busy side right now. Sparky is about due for a trim anyway.”

“Right,” she murmured. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to joke about it.”