Doc Featherstone's Return by Stephani Hecht Read Free Book Online

of his patient.”
    “I hate to break it to you, but we needed his help. We were up to our asses in alligators, and he helped us out of the mess. You know it as well as I do.”
    “Maybe so, but that doesn’t mean it was good for him. Take a look at him for God’s sake.”
    Joshua gestured toward Ash. “He looks like crap right now.”
    “He’ll be fine. He just needs some rest.”
    “We all better hope so.”
    Joshua went over and began to make a fuss over Ash, taking his vitals and checking him over.
    When Ash slept through the whole process, it didn’t make Joshua feel any better. It showed how tired his little Hawk was.
    His little Hawk? No, he can’t be yours, and the sooner you remember that the better for both of you. “See, I told you, he’s fine. Just a bit tired,” Jacyn said.
    “His blood pressure is a bit low,” Joshua argued.
    “Sure, but it’s nothing to be concerned about.”
    Joshua gave Ash one more concerned glance before he turned away and glanced back at Jacyn.
    “If he tries a stunt like that again, I want you to tie him down to the bed.”
    “No.”
    Joshua gave a slight shake of his head. “I’m sorry, but did you just tell me no ?”
    “Yes, I know it’s a word you don’t hear very often, but in this case, get used to it, because I’m not going to budge on it. I don’t know what’s going on with you and Ash, but when it comes to things like this, I have to put my foot down.”
    “I’m the one in charge of the infirmary, you little brat. I don’t care who your older brother is.”
    “And I’m the one who is seeing an old friend making irrational decisions. You can deny it all you want, but there is something going on between you and Ash, and it has you all twisted up in knots. You need to figure out a way to handle it, and by that, I don’t mean running away from the problem again, like you did before.”
    “I didn’t run away.”
    “Like hell you didn’t,” Ash said from behind them.
They turned to see Ash sitting up in the bed, his eyes blazing with anger. Jacyn let out a wicked chuckle before he patted Joshua on the back and said, “I’m going to let you handle this one on your own. From where I’m standing, you’ve had it coming for a long time. All I can say is good luck.”
    Going by the angry look on Ash’s face, Joshua was going to need it. The Hawk looked mad enough to spit fire and then some. The worst part of all, that fury was directed solely at him. For some reason, that scared Joshua more than ten Shanes put together.
    “Did you really mean it when you said that you would tie me to the bed?” Ash demanded.
    “It was only for your own good,” Joshua assured him.
    “Fuck that,” Ash spat. “I am so sick of hearing that that I could puke. Just like I’m sick of you saying you left because you didn’t want to be a burden on the infirmary staff. We all know you left because of me, so why don’t you just man up and tell the truth for once?”
    Joshua took a deep breath. “You were part of the reason.”
    Ash let out a trembling sigh. “Do you really hate me that much?”
    Joshua pulled the privacy curtain closed, then sat on the edge of the mattress and took Ash’s hand. “No, I don’t hate you at all.”
Ash gazed up with those beautiful eyes of his.
    “Then why?”
    “It’s because I cared too much for you.”
    Ash’s brow creased in confusion. “I don’t understand.”
    “I was having feelings for you that I have no right to have.”
    “But why not?”
    “Well, for one thing, you’re way younger than me.”
    “So, what? It’s only ten years. That’s no big deal.”
    “That’s not the only reason,” Joshua admitted, dreading having to say the next part, knowing how much it was going to hurt Ash.
    “Tell me everything. It’s the least you owe me.”
    “My parents have made it clear that they expect me to marry another Bobcat and that it’s supposed to be a female.”
    The devastation on Ash’s face was like a kick