I looked over at Tuck as he watched the sheriff shake a couple pills into his hand. I felt a burst of sympathy. It must be miserable to watch your child—and your little brother—in pain and not be able to do anything.

“If you’re ready to take a look at that arm, now seems like a good time,” the sheriff said to Tuck.

If Tuck was nervous, he didn’t show it. And why he wouldn’t be nervous, I didn’t know. It’d been ages since he’d set a bone. And like he’d admitted to the sheriff, those had all been animal bones. But Tuck nodded. “Absolutely.”

Charlie made a noise in the back of his throat that sounded like pessimism put to sound. And though I saw a muscle in Tuck’s jaw tighten, he didn’t look Charlie’s way, nor did he address him.

“Thanks. Follow me.”

Tuck and the sheriff left the room. I glanced at Charlie, and he rolled his eyes. “He’s a doctor now because he watched a vet a few times? What could possibly go wrong?” he murmured once they’d left the kitchen. “Seriously? The sheriff is a lunatic if he’s going to let some stranger who used to live on a farm touch his kid.”

I was a little skeptical as well. I’d lived with farm animals too, and I remembered the vet being called out now and again to set a fracture or…whatever, but I sure as heck couldn’t have performed one of the procedures myself. Then again, Tuck had always been much more interested in that sort of thing than me. I stood, gesturing for Charlie to come with me as we joined the rest of them in the living room.

The young boy was lying on the couch, his face contorted in a grimace as his sister supported him so he could sit up slightly and take the pills with a sip of water. His eyes widened when he saw Charlie. “Professor Tecton.”

Charlie’s grin was instantaneous. “At your service.” He looked at the sheriff, who was staring blankly. “I can create earthquakes. Or…you know, the character can.”

“Brent,” the sheriff said, ignoring Charlie and placing his hand on Tuck’s shoulder, “this is Tuck Mattice. He’s going to take a look at your arm and see if there’s anything he might do to ease your pain.” Katelyn gave her younger brother a reassuring smile, and Brent leaned his head back on the propped-up pillows. She smoothed his hair away from his face and then stood straight and reached for a short stool just behind her. She pulled it next to the couch and gestured for Tuck to take a seat.