Page 42 of Cabin Fever

"Yeah, physically."

Thoughts of Carter and his arm popped in my head. Unlike Tyler, Carter ate the opposite of healthy. Everything was fried in a pan. Carter was like my dad when it came to food. Both men liked to indulge on a regular basis in all the things that should only be eaten in moderation. For my dad it’s cakes and desserts. For Carter it’s anything salty, fatty and fried.

It made me worry about what would happen to Carter over time. While the arm was temporary, if he kept eating that way and was all alone, who would take care of him as he got older?

At least my father had people around him and could afford the best doctors, but Carter didn’t have that.

"Is there a grocery store close by?"

Tyler nodded, putting down his fork and wiping his mouth with a napkin. He pointed out the window. "When you leave here, make a right and two blocks down, across the street is a small grocery store, Town Grocery. Not the cleverest of names, but no one ever got confused as to what the shop sold."

I made a mental note to go there after breakfast to pick up some fruits and vegetables to bring back to the cabin. Perhaps eating better might make Carter less grumpy . . . though, he'd been in a better mood since I'd helped out.

"You never said what was wrong with Carter?" Tyler's lips curled as if he could read my mind.

"It's how he's been acting. Usual. But I've only known him for a little over two weeks. Maybe you would know better than me. How long have you known Carter?"

Tyler sat back and rubbed his chin. There was a bit of brown scruff as if he hadn't shaved in a few days. I began to notice the lines on his face. The pretty boy doctor that I met several days ago didn't have the same gleam he once did.

"I'd say over twenty years. I was born and raised here, but Carter moved here from DC"

My smile faded. I shook my head, wondering if I was hearing things. "You mean Washington, DC?"

"Yes. I remember because my dad recognized his father immediately. Went up to Carter's dad when they first moved here. But after that meeting, my father took me aside and told me to never mention who Carter or Carter's dad were to anyone. That I was to explain to anyone who asked that Carter and his dad were regular folk who moved here from down south."

I tried to swallow but it stuck in my throat. Faint pieces to an unsolved puzzle from my youth were falling into place. Pieces I wanted to solve, that everyone I knew wanted to figure out. But from what I'd seen the past few weeks, I was beginning to realize that some puzzles were best left unsolved.

"I'm sure he's told you about moving here. What happened to his mother and sister . . . Tragic."

We both stared at the table. Both of us knew the truth. Only Tyler knew one half of the puzzle, as did I, with Carter being the only person who could fill in the other half.

"Yes, tragic."

But was Tyler thinking of the same person I was? As I thought about Carter and what he might have been like as a little boy, I came to a decision. I didn't want to know the answer. That it wasn't Tyler's answer to give, and I knew if I brought the question up to Carter, he would never tell me.

Therefore, I wasn't to know. Carter was just a farmer who moved up here with his dad from the south when he was young.

I needed to change the subject. Something light, happy, and nothing involving the past.

"Got a big day at the vet?"

Not the savviest change of topic but it had to do.

"Have to travel to the Daly's farm to check on their cows. I'm going to be overworked next week and might have to give up breakfast at the diner for a while. My assistant goes on maternity leave next week, and I haven't had time to find a temp to replace her."

I bet I could learn about sheep from Tyler. If I helped him with whatever an assistant did, maybe he would teach me about sheep.

"I could help you out. Most of the things I have to help Carter with are early in the morning. If you need someone, perhaps I could come in the afternoons to help."

His eyes widened. "Really? You would be the answer to my prayers, Olivia. Are you sure Carter wouldn't mind?"

Oh, he'd absolutely mind. I can almost hear him now, grumbling about how I could barely hack it as a sheep farmer, how was I supposed to help a vet. But I didn't care. I wanted to learn about sheep and animals and work toward my recently unearthed dream of becoming a sheep farmer.

"I'm sure he'd be happy to be rid of me."

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