Free Harvest Moon (Brook Haven Romance Book 1) by Charlene Bright Page A

such
a young doctor. Unfortunately, some of them are still a little on the fence
about her being female, too. It’s just not what they’re used to, you know? She
has a booth here and I was just wondering if maybe you’d let her look at your
ankle.”
    Brenda had a knowing
smile on her face as she said, “And how does that help your friend?”
    “Well, I’m not sure it
will, but so far today no one has stopped to take advantage of her services. You
could be the first. It would at least make her feel better.”
    “Are you trying to
manipulate me into having a doctor look at my ankle, Drake?”
    “Is it working?”
    “I’ll let her look at
it.”
    “Then yes ma’am, that
was exactly what I was trying to do.”
    Brenda laughed and he
held his arm out to her. She took it, and he escorted her over to the booth
where Brooke sat with her medical assistant, looking bored out of her mind.
    ****
    “It’s broken?” Sophie
said, slightly indignant that her mother had been walking around on it for over
two weeks.
    “She doesn’t know that
for sure. She wants me to go have it x-rayed at the clinic tomorrow.”
    “But she told you that
you shouldn’t be walking on it.”
    “Yes, she told me to
try and stay off of it. I wasn’t planning a marathon tonight.”
    “You invited Drake and
his uncle to dinner though. I’m cooking—”
    “No, you’re not. I
invited them, I’ll cook.”
    “How do you plan on
doing that without standing up?” Sophie asked her as she turned off the main
road and onto the road leading up to the house.
    “I can sit on one of
the stools if I need to. I’ll be fine. You worry way too much.”
    Sophie shook her head
at her stubborn mother. She knew that it wouldn’t do any good to argue with
her. When they got to the house, Sophie helped her out of the SUV and said,
“Drake says they have an old walker at his place from when his uncle had
physical therapy. I’m going to run over there and pick it up.”
    “He can just bring it
when he comes for dinner.”
    “He’s not even sure his
uncle will come, Mom. It’s ten minutes from here, he said. I’ll be right back.”
She helped Brenda into the house and issued more orders she knew her mother
wouldn’t follow. Then she called Drake to let him know she was dropping by
before she got back in the car. She followed the road from her place up toward
the mountains and turned off on the one he told her to. The road narrowed and
was surrounded on all sides by thick patches of trees that seemed to lead
higher up into the mountains.
    The view was gorgeous and
Sophie almost missed her turnoff because she was so engrossed by it. When she
saw the little dirt road, she nearly had to slam on her breaks. She smiled at
the little handmade sign that read “Tanner Stead” near the mailbox at the end
of the road. A bunch of lilac bushes seemed to grow wild there and she caught
their sweet, subtle scent as the air wafted through her open window.
    She saw Drake’s house
as she got a little closer. It was built up on a gentle rise that sloped away
on either side, and the property was dotted with massive oak trees and a maple
tree here and there. His house was so white that it actually gleamed in the
center of all that brown and green. The little yard in front and the vegetable
garden off to the side were as well-kept as she imagined they would be.
    There was a gravel and
dirt road that led from his house up to another, smaller one that she assumed
was his uncle’s. Behind that house was a large shop, and off to the side of
that looked like a big barn. As she parked and stepped out of the car, Hooter
ran up to greet her. Drake came out of the house behind him.
    “Hooter, get off of her.
This is why we never have company.” Sophie laughed and petted the rambunctious
old dog. Something else caught his attention and he scampered off toward the
garden. “Come on in,” Drake told her. “What does your mother say about using
the walker?” he asked as he led