Page 8 of Harbor Lights

“You know the house? How?” Shiv tried to sit up and Con firmly pushed her back down.

“Stay still. I went for a picnic last summer up to the cliffs with Joey, your cousin Tierney, her partner Kasia, and the kids. Tierney wanted to have a look at the old Walsh family house. It was unlocked and we went inside. I heard Des Walsh has plans for it now, so he sent someone up to secure it.”

“Yeah, he’s got a power connection set up and he’s sent me—” Shiv sucked in her breath as the needle pierced her skin. “To rewire the place.”

“Sorry, I’ve got some anesthetic gel I should’ve used. Shall I find it?”

“Nope. Carry on.”

Con raised an eyebrow and continued her work. Shiv wasn’t the politest person she’d ever met.

“I’m sorry. Itispainful, but I can cope. Thank you for asking.” The words were a little forced, but at least she’d said them.

“I won’t be long now and then I’ll find you some painkillers. This smaller one just needs a couple of stitches and I’ll be done. Tell me more about the house, if it helps distract you.”

“I’m quickly learning that there aren’t many secrets here.”

“It’s a small community and people are open with each other. But there are always some secrets. I think you may be somewhat of an enigma to your cousins.”

“I’m not planning on having much to do with them, so they don’t need to worry about me being here.”

So defensive.Con finished the suture and neatly knotted the thread. “You’ll need to come back in five to seven days. I’ll dress it, but you have to keep it clean and dry for a few days.”

Standing, Con stretched her back out before she went in search of the large dressing she needed. “I don’t think they’re worried, more that they’d be interested in getting to know you better.”

She rummaged through an old wooden cabinet. She really did need a better system in the surgery. “Now, here we are.” She opened a box and removed a large dressing pack.

“I’m not here to socialize. I came to get away from people.”

Con turned from washing her hands. “And a stay in an isolated cottage sounded perfect.” She raised an eyebrow. “But now you’re surrounded by friendly locals and inquisitive family?”

She held out the dressing and Shiv sat and extended her arm. “Hardly surrounded. I’ll be spending most of my time working on the cabin.”

Con applied antiseptic spray and placed the dressing firmly over the wounds. Shiv jumped down from the bed with an audible gasp that drew her attention.

“Are you injured elsewhere?” She looked Shiv over closely. She couldn’t be more than five feet tall. Her height and slight build, along with her casual clothing, gave the impression of a younger person. Her ears were pierced multiple times, and a matching silver hoop pierced her eyebrow. And she had an unusual hairstyle: cut blunt at the front and shaved on the sides, the back grazed her collar. But her face had a hardness that betrayed her age, and her small body was all wiry muscle. Con hadn’t seen any obvious signs of other injuries, but she wasn’t doing her job if she didn’t check.

Shiv squirmed a little under her most authoritative stare. “I uh… hit my ribs, too, but they’re just bruised.”

“Can I ask where you gained your medical qualification?”

“I’ve broken ribs a bunch of times. I know what it feels like.” Shiv stood her ground, but Con didn’t break her stare. Shiv rolled her eyes and pulled up her bloodstained tank top on one side. The skin between the low waistband of her sweatpants and the bottom of a worn-out looking sports bra was reddened and beginning to turn an angry purple.

“Oh, that looks painful.” Con reached out and Shiv stepped back.

Con held up her hands. “I’m a doctor. Just let me reassure myself nothing’s broken and I’ll let you be.”

When Shiv gave a small nod, Con began her assessment of the injury. She wasn’t sure how much Shiv was playing it down, but she did appear to be correct that nothing was broken. It was going to be one hell of a bruise, though.

As she ran her fingers across Shiv’s skin, she couldn’t fail to notice the many scars on her pale body. It was no surprise she was taking her injury so lightly. She wondered what sort of life Shiv had lived, and whether there were scars on the inside to match.

Shiv pulled away. “Are we done? I want to get home.”

Con straightened. “How long are you planning to make that cabin your home?”

Shiv’s expression gave away nothing. “I truly don’t know. The job shouldn’t take more than a few weeks, but I may look around for more work. I’m in no hurry to leave. Perhaps I’ll see the winter out here.”

“Winters here are harsh and lonely.” Con wondered if Shiv had any idea what a winter in the clifftop cabin would be like.

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