A Heart to Bear (Bear Creek Forever #4)

Chapter One – Tammy

Tammy stepped out of her car, the warm late-summer breeze carrying the sweet smell of hay from the barn along with jasmine from her uncle’s beloved garden. As she walked up the paved path toward the small farmhouse, she noted the lawn needed a cut and the rose bushes needed dead-heading. Unusual, her uncle normally kept on top of his yard work.

But then her eyes were drawn to the familiar fields stretching beyond the house toward the distant mountains. Her heart ached with memories. Memories of the carefree young woman who used to visit her uncle here in Bear Creek.

But that was the old Tammy, and those carefree memories seemed to belong to someone else. She pushed them aside and strode toward the house as her uncle appeared on the porch.

“Tammy, my girl!” His voice was as warm as sunshine, though it wavered ever so slightly, and Tammy had to swallow hard to keep her composure.

A welcome distraction, her mother had called it when Tammy broke the news that Uncle Gavin had asked her to come to Bear Creek and help him run his veterinarian practice since he had injured his ankle.

But she knew why her uncle had invited her here.

Tammy half expected the injured ankle to be a ruse. That her mom and uncle had invented the story just to get her here.

To get her away from…

No, she was done dwelling on what had happened. It was in the past. Now she had to face the future. Surely a few weeks in Bear Creek would give her time to heal. It sure would be easier than facing all her friends and family who knew she’d been dumped by her fiancé a week before their wedding.

Especially since, as far as she knew, no one in Bear Creek, except for Uncle Gavin, knew her business.

Although, Bear Creek was the kind of small town where gossip spread like wildfire, so it might not be long before she was the talk of the town.

“Uncle Gavin!” Tammy hurried to meet him, wrapping her arms around his stocky frame. She felt the solidness of him, and closed her eyes, clinging to him as her emotions threatened to overwhelm her.

“I’m so happy you are here.” He winced slightly as he shifted his weight on his injured leg.

“You’re really hurt,” she said, more of a statement than a question.

She was embarrassed by her initial thought he was faking an injury just to get her to come back to the farm, but the look of genuine pain on his face proved otherwise.

“Just a minor scrape, nothing to worry about,” he said, waving off her concern. “Come on inside. I’ve prepared lunch.”

Her stomach grumbled at the thought of food. A welcome change to the queasy sensation that robbed her of her appetite since her very public dumping.

“I hope you didn’t go to too much trouble.” Tammy followed her uncle inside, through the hallway filled with photos of family and friends, both human and animal.

Uncle Gavin seemed at home with those with or without fur or feathers. A friend to all, Tammy had heard him called on her previous visits.

“It’s no trouble,” her uncle insisted. “It’s given me something to do. And I’ve enjoyed it. I don’t usually make much of an effort when it’s just me. And you look as if you need feeding up a bit. You look pale.”

“As long as you haven’t overdone it,” Tammy said, sounding like her mother.

“No, I promise I haven’t.” Uncle Gavin chuckled. “Just some sandwiches and a bit of soup. Nothing too fancy.”

As they entered the kitchen, the aroma of homemade vegetable soup filled Tammy’s nostrils, making her mouth water. The familiar scent brought back memories of childhood summers spent here, helping her uncle tend to the animals and learning about nature. It was those long summer days that had inspired her to become a veterinarian.

“It smells wonderful.” Tammy scanned the table, which was laden with a selection of sandwiches, a quiche with a perfectly golden crust, and several sweet pies that made her mouth water instantly.

“I picked the vegetables fresh from the garden this morning,” Uncle Gavin said with pride as he ladled the soup into bowls.

“Here, let me.” Tammy gently took the ladle from her uncle’s hands, insisting he sit down while she served the soup. As she filled their bowls, she noted the slight tremor in Uncle Gavin’s hands. He was getting older, she realized with a pang of guilt. She should have visited more often.

“So, tell me about this injury,” Tammy said as they settled at the table. “What exactly happened?”

Uncle Gavin chuckled in that way, he had. That made everything seem less serious than it probably was. “Oh, it’s nothing too exciting. Just an overzealous bull,” Uncle Gavin explained, a wry smile playing on his lips. “I zigged when I should have zagged, and well...here we are.”

Tammy shook her head, picturing her uncle trying to dodge an angry bull. “It sounds as if you are lucky it’s only your ankle you injured.”

“Ah, I’ll be fine,” he said as he eased himself down onto a kitchen chair. “Anyway, enough about me. How are you holding up? After...well, you know.”

Tammy’s smile faltered for a moment, but she quickly composed herself as she set the soup down on the table. “I’m fine, Uncle Gavin. Really. It’s...it’s for the best, I suppose.”

Uncle Gavin reached across the table and patted her hand gently. “You don’t have to pretend with me, Tammy. It’s okay to not be okay.”

She felt tears prickling at the corners of her eyes, but blinked them away. “I know. It’s just... I thought I had it all figured out, you know? And now...” Tammy trailed off as she absently stirred her soup, her appetite fading.

Uncle Gavin nodded sympathetically. “Life has a way of throwing us curveballs when we least expect it. But you’re strong, Tammy. You always have been.”

Tammy managed a small smile, feeling anything but strong. “I’m just glad to be here, honestly. Away from all the whispers and pitying looks back home.”

“Well, you’re welcome here as long as you need,” Uncle Gavin said warmly. “And who knows what Bear Creek might have in store for you. I’ve always found this town has a way of surprising people.”

Tammy raised an eyebrow. “What do you mean by that?”

Uncle Gavin shrugged, but a small smile curved the corners of his lips. “Oh, nothing in particular. Just that Bear Creek has its own kind of magic. You never know who—or what—you might encounter here.”

Tammy shook her head. “You sound like you’re trying to set me up already. I’m not ready for that.”

“I’m not going to interfere,” he promised. “But I do want you to be open to what fate might have in store for you. Remember, love comes in all shapes and sizes.”

As if to confirm his statement, Pumpkin, the ginger cat Uncle Gavin had found under a pumpkin patch five years ago, strolled into the kitchen and rubbed his head against Gavin’s leg. Sick and scrawny, Pumpkin had been nursed back to health by the older veterinarian, and the two shared a bond like nothing Tammy had ever seen.

“Okay, so maybe I might have room in my life for a pet,” Tammy admitted.

“Animals do have a way of healing our hearts,” Uncle Gavin replied. “But don’t close yourself off from human companionship, either.”

“Says the man whose best friend is a ginger cat,” Tammy replied, keeping her voice light.

“Well, we never know where companionship is going to come from, and this little fella has been a good friend these last few years.” He reached down and tickled Pumpkin behind the ears.

Tammy smiled wistfully as she watched the man and cat interact. Maybe she’d have been better off if she’d stuck with animals instead of trusting her heart to a man.

She focused on her soup, swallowing down the lump of emotion that swelled in her throat. “This soup is delicious. Thank you.”

“You are most welcome,” Uncle Gavin said. “Both to the soup and the spare room.”

They ate in comfortable silence for a few minutes, the only sounds the clink of spoons against bowls and the distant lowing of cattle. Tammy finally began to relax, the tension in her shoulders easing.

Her uncle was right. There was magic at work here. But it stemmed from her uncle’s unwavering love.

Things were so much simpler here. And simple was what she needed while her heart healed. If it ever healed.

As they finished their meal, Uncle Gavin cleared his throat. “Now, about the practice. I hate to throw you in at the deep end, but we’ve got a busy afternoon ahead of us.”

Tammy straightened, eager for the distraction of work. “I’m ready. What’s on the agenda?”

“Well, we’ve got a few routine check-ups, and then we’re heading out to the Thornberg ranch. They’ve got a pregnant mare that’s due any day now, and I want to make sure everything’s progressing smoothly.”

Tammy nodded, her mind already shifting into work mode. “Sounds good. I’ll just need to freshen up and change into some work clothes.”

“Hold on a second there,” Uncle Gavin said. “First, we need to eat some of these sandwiches, and then you have to taste Camille’s pies.”

“Camille’s pies?” Tammy asked, raising an eyebrow. Did Uncle Gavin share his company on an evening with someone other than Pumpkin?

“They’re the best I’ve ever tasted,” Uncle Gavin said, rubbing his hands together with exaggerated enthusiasm. “She’s a marvel, that woman. Ezra’s one lucky man.”

“Ezra...” Tammy echoed softly, a ghost of a smile flitting across her lips before being replaced by a more somber expression.

It seemed as if she’d been wrong in hoping Uncle Gavin might have found love at last. Was that her fate? To be alone for the rest of her life?

“Here, try this one,” Uncle Gavin cut a generous slice of pie after they’d eaten a couple of sandwiches.

“What flavor?” Tammy asked, as the smell of sweet fruit wafted up to her nose.

“Peach and blackberry,” Uncle Gavin said, as he cut himself a slice, too. “Camille’s specialty.”

“Interesting.” Tammy took a bite, and her eyes widened in surprise. The flavors exploded on her tongue—sweet peaches mingling with tart blackberries, all encased in a perfectly flaky crust.

“Oh my goodness,” she mumbled around the mouthful. “This is incredible.”

Uncle Gavin chuckled. “Told you. Camille’s pies are legendary around these parts.”

“You’re a legend yourself,” Tammy reminded her uncle, who had worked in his practice for as long as Tammy could remember and was well-liked and respected.

“Ah, I used to be. But I’m getting a bit too long in the tooth.” He stretched his leg out in front of him. “In my younger days, I’d have dodged that bull and stayed on two feet.”

He tensed his jaw and looked at her, and for a moment she thought he was going to say more. Perhaps tell her he planned to retire.

She’d always thought Uncle Gavin’s career as a veterinarian would last forever. Just like her relationship with Peter.

But it seemed nothing stayed the same.

However, if this was her last chance to work alongside her uncle, then she was going to enjoy every moment. Just like she was going to enjoy every mouthful of Camille’s peach and blackberry pie. Then she would get to work, helping Uncle Gavin in any way she could. Because helping animals, just like helping people, had a way of healing the soul.

And her soul needed healing.

Just like her heart. But as the days since Peter dropped his bombshell had passed, and the pain refused to fade, Tammy wondered if her heart would ever truly heal.

She pushed the thought aside as she finished her slice of pie. “Well, I suppose we should get ready for our afternoon appointments,” she said, standing to clear the dishes.

“Leave those,” Uncle Gavin waved her off. “I’ll take care of them later. You go get changed and I’ll meet you out by the truck.”

Tammy nodded. Work was what she needed, and work was why she was here.

Perhaps an afternoon of hard work coupled with fresh mountain air might be just what she needed to finally get her first good night’s sleep since her world turned upside down.