When district nurse Octavia Berry arrives to start her new
job on a remote Scottish island, the last person she expects to see is her
estranged husband. With a population of seventy-two and at the mercy of the
elements, the island offers the peace and fresh start she longs for, but
considerably more complications than she anticipated.
Pastor Ulysses Pine finds the island the perfect spot to
assuage the sins of his youth. He spends his days tending many of the island
sheep, as well as pastoring his human flock. The arrival of Octavia, the woman
he abandoned on their wedding day, turns his ordered life upside down.
As Christmas approaches, Octavia and Ulysses face a
collision course with the past, whilst they try to navigate through the
present.
Extract
Ulysses Pine leapt out of his truck as soon as he tugged the
keys free from the ignition. He pocketed them as he trotted up to the small
building that served as air traffic control, arrivals, departures, and airport
fire station. He grinned at the man already on the porch, dressed in firefighter
gear.
Not that they’d ever had a plane crash…yet. But it was
better to be prepared.
“Hi, Joe.”
“Cutting it fine, Uel.”
Ulysses shrugged. “At least I made it. I’ve spent the last
hour pulling a sheep out of the well.”
“Again?” Joe’s voice followed him into the building. “Maybe
you should put a cover over the hole before the whole herd take it into their
heads to follow suit.”
Ulysses chuckled as he pulled the fire-resistant outfit over
his own clothes. “I intend to as soon as I get home. You have the passenger
list?”
Joe held out a clipboard. “Yep. Edgar radioed before he took
off.”
Ulysses read the sheet. Six passengers, a full complement.
Ray and Stephanie Baxter were returning along with their nephew, Sammy Stead.
Rosie and Jason Drinkwater, who ran the island’s pub/hotel, ironically called
the Drinking Hole, were returning from visiting family in England.
His breath caught as his gaze hit the last name on the
sheet. He read it slowly, five times, stomach pitting in shock. Octavia Berry,
district nurse. It couldn’t be the same woman. Could it? He really hoped there
were a dozen women with the same name in the country.
Because he couldn’t see her again. Not now, not ever.
He swallowed hard several times, unable to find his voice.
“I...is this right? The new nurse is Octavia Berry?”
“According to Edgar she’s on the flight. Just as well Nance
and I set the medics house up for her this morning. Lovely name, albeit an
unusual one. Never heard the name Octavia before.”
“Yea…” Ulysses tried to breathe and swallow at the same
time. It didn’t work. He choked and bent over, coughing hard.
Joe thumped him on the back. “Are you OK?”
His eyes streamed. With frantic coughs wracking his body,
Ulysses couldn’t respond with anything other than a nod. Finally, he straightened
and took the glass of water Joe offered. “Thanks,” he managed. “Just choking on
air.”
“Good thing there’s a nurse coming in on the flight today
then. We’ve been fortunate nothing happened since Bella left last week.
Especially with Elspeth getting close to term.”
Ulysses nodded, not trusting his voice just yet. He drank
the entire glassful and set it down on the window sill as the plane came into
view. He fastened his firefighter jacket and headed to the fence that separated
the small runway from the building. Another fence lined the entire airfield.
The plane circled, banking hard before lining up with the
small tarmac landing strip. It landed smoothly.
Joe undid his jacket. “Never do need this. Edgar is too good
of a pilot.”
“Aye, but the day we don’t wear them, is the day we’ll need
them.” Ulysses tugged open the jacket.
The plane taxied to a stop and the door opened. Edgar jumped
down and headed around to unload the plane. “Afternoon, gents.”
Ulysses nodded. Time to get back to the sheep before another
one fell down the well. And before he knew for certain it was her. He’d rather
remain in blissful ignorance a little longer. “Afternoon, Edgar. Right, I need
to get back to the sheep. Joe, I’ll leave the rest of them in your capable
hands.” He turned to leave and stopped stock still at the sight of the woman at
the top of the steps.
Long dark hair fell from the edge of her red beanie almost
to her waist. Her slender frame, assuming it was still slender, was bundled
under a thick padded jacket. A triangle scarf in vibrant rainbow colours draped
around her neck.
He hadn’t seen her in years, but she was still unmistakeably
Octavia. His Octavia. The only woman he’d ever loved. The woman he’d left nine
years ago, almost to the day, and moved to the ends of the earth to avoid
seeing again.
This couldn’t be happening. He pulled his peaked cap down
further over his face. Hopefully she wouldn’t recognise him. The beard would
help with that.
He wanted to move, to get back in his truck and return to
his sheep and hide. But his feet were rooted in the ground, and he couldn’t
move. He couldn’t even tear his gaze away as Octavia made her way down the
steps to retrieve her luggage.
Joe headed over to greet her. He held out a hand. “Joe
Bloggs. Air traffic control, fire fighter, and owner of the general store.”
“Octavia Berry, district nurse.”
Her oh so familiar voice cut Ulysses to the core. Inhaling
deeply, he forced himself to move. He scrambled into the building and hung up
the fire fighting gear. He leaned against the wall for a long moment, trying to
collect his shattered nerves. He had to make a quick exit, preferably before he
had to make polite conversation with her. He exited the building and headed
towards his truck.
“Hey, Uel, before you go, come and say hello. Octavia, this
is Ulysses Pine. We all do various jobs as I explained. Uel here is pastor,
shepherd, and firefighter when needed, which fortunately isn’t often.”
Her cool gaze swung in his direction, before her pretty,
green eyes widened in recognition. Her left hand swung into view as she flicked
her hair over her shoulder. She still wore the ring. Rings, he corrected. His
rings.
Ulysses’ cheeks heated beneath his beard. No. More than
heated. Scorched so much they could heat his entire cottage for a week.
www.amazon.co.uk/Pinecones-Hollyberries-Christmas-Holiday-Extravaganza-ebook/dp/B0BDHLR6VY
www.amazon.com/Pinecones-Hollyberries-Christmas-Holiday-Extravaganza-ebook/dp/B0BDHLR6VY
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