Kaylene dried her hands at the sink of the spare cabin she had been staying at up at Snake River Prison Camp. She stared blankly out of the window at the little dragon shifter that was toddling down the path between his mother and father. It was strange to her to think she had been up here for a little over a year. McKinzy and Adrian had called her in to help with McKinzy’s delivery, and then not too long after that, several of the other couples had sprung up pregnant. Given that she had been made to feel at home and there was no one else that had contacted her for her midwifing skills, Kaylene had felt it was best to just stay put. The last of the babies had been born last week to the wolf couple, Candi and Elijah, and now Kaylene was struggling to decide what to do.

She could move on, maybe take a vacation and backpack through Norway or Scotland. It wasn’t like she didn’t have the time or money to do it now. Something inside of her made her feel like this is where she needed to stay though. So here she sat, watching with envy as the SRPC’s warden and her mate loved on their baby and she yearned for her own. A twinge in her heart made her shake her head as she tried to rid the negative thoughts. She had made her bed, now it was time to lie in it.

A knock at her door pulled her from her thoughts.

“Hey Doc, there’s a call on the main line for you? Says they got the number from your voicemail?” Jasper called through the door.

“Sounds like someone needs my expertise,” Kaylene muttered to herself as she opened the door to follow Jasper to the lookout.

“I’m honestly kind of surprised they actually called up here. How long have you been waiting for another job to pop up that wasn’t from around here?” Jasper asked as they fell into stride with one another.

Kaylene shrugged, “I’m one of twelve midwives in the shifter community. It was bound to happen eventually.”

“So why do you seem so sad about it?” Jasper canted his head in confusion.

“I’m never in one place this long anymore, but something just feels like I need to be here still,” Kaylene said somberly.

“Awe Doc, I’ve never known you to be the sappy type,” Jasper teased as he nudged her playfully.

“I wouldn’t necessarily call it being sappy. With this life, you just don’t get used to attachments. But I’ve stayed up here so long, it’s begun to feel like home,” Kaylene explained as they picked their way up the trail together.

“Well, I know that we all appreciate you staying up here to help deliver these babies and take care of the mates,” Jasper said reverently. Given the complications his mate had had during her pregnancy, she couldn't blame him for revering her in a way. Kaylene knew she was a big part of the reason his cub was living and breathing.

Kaylene smiled politely at her friend. She knew he meant every word. There weren’t very many in the shifter community that could do what she did. There was many that praised her skill. It was nice to feel appreciated.

Climbing the stairs to the upper level of the watchtower, she nodded politely at Isabelle before heading back to the little nook that held the landline phone.

“This is Kaylene,” she said into the receiver.

“Hi Kaylene, thank you for taking my call. My name is Brady Eastern. My mate is newly pregnant, and I’ve heard that you’re one of the best in the business. Can you please come help us? She had been told by human doctors that the scar tissue she has in her pelvic area and abdomen would keep her from bearing children, so you can say that we weren’t necessarily prepared for any of this. She’s a human. Neither of us know what we’re doing, even with my mother’s help. Please come,” Brady pleaded on the other line.

Kaylene felt for Brady. She was sure that he was struggling between being excited and being nervous because of the circumstances. Who better to take on a challenge than her?

“I’d be more than happy to assist. I just need your location details,” Kaylene said professionally as she gestured to Isabella and Jasper in the other room for a pen and paper.

Isabelle hopped up and brought the items over to her with a notebook before returning to her perch next to Jasper. Kaylene watched for a moment as Isabelle cooed at the baby in the bouncer by Jasper’s feet. Moments like these were what her job worth it.

“Do you know where Garden Valley, Idaho is?” Brady asked, snapping Kaylene’s attention back to the conversation she was supposed to be having.

“Sure, I do. I’m over near Donnelly. I’ve been up here at SRPC helping with deliveries for the crew that lives up here and oversees the prison,” Kaylene explained.

“Perfect, we’ll meet you at Three Bears Diner so you can follow us to our home,” Brady suggested, “We own Silver Creek Resort and Campground, up above Crouch.”

Kaylene nodded to herself. Looks like she wouldn’t have to be too far from her friends after all. “Sounds great to me, Mr. Eastern. What day would you like me to arrive?”

“As soon as you can is great. I’m sure you’ll need to collect your things,” Brady said thoughtfully.

“I can meet you tomorrow at one o’clock if that works for you,” Kaylene stated.

“That will be just fine, thank you,” Brady said graciously.

“So out of curiosity, Mr. Eastern, who do I have to thank for the recommendation?” Kaylene inquired. She was always good about sending the people who referred her a thank you card with a gift card in it for them to get a date night in.

“I’ve heard great things about you from different shifters that have drifted into my campground over the last couple of years. But my friend, Landon St. James, was the one to provide me with your contact information,” Brady admitted.

Mate. The word drifted through her mind like a feather on the wind.

Kaylene grew silent. It had been two years since she had seen Landon. She had promised her parents to stay far away from him. That was the deal. Fuck, how was she going to stay away from him if he was friends with her next clients?

“Kaylene, are you still there? I think we lost connection,” Brady said in confusion.

“No,” Kaylene cleared her throat. “I’m still here, sorry. Well, tell him thank you for the reference. I’ll see you tomorrow.”

“Sounds good, and thank you again, Kaylene. You have no idea how much this means to us,” Brady said earnestly before disconnecting the phone.

Kaylene sunk down into her chair and stared at the wall as memories of her and Landon’s whirlwind romance plagued her mind. Kissing. Touching. The coast. The first night they met. The emotions she felt were real, and the hurt she had felt when she had had to say goodbye was just as real.

Heaving a sigh, she stood and headed for the stairs that led back towards camp. She needed to get her shit together before she met the Easterns tomorrow. One thing was for certain; she had to steer clear of Landon if he ever came around.