by Sara Orwig
“We can’t do anything about that now.”
He was right. “In addition to the tornado threat, Gerald mentioned that the storm has intensified.”
As if to underscore her words about the storm, thunder boomed and a streak of lightning struck a tree, traveling down the trunk, splitting it in two and running a few feet along the ground as both parts of the tree crashed to earth. Knowing they needed to get to shelter, she continued driving.
They rode in silence until she turned on a paved drive. When she slowed in front of large black iron fencing, big gates swung open to let her enter. She glanced at him again. “You’re getting a black eye below that bump on your forehead. Actually, the bump has gone down.”
“That’s good.”
The gates closed behind her as she drove on. “Well, we made it to my place,” she said.
“Yes, we did. You might have saved my life today, you know,” he said in a solemn voice.
Startled, she glanced at him. “I think you would have survived if I hadn’t been driving past. You seem strong and healthy. You got up to the road without any difficulty.”
“I’m damn glad you came back to get me and I’m not out in this weather without a car or wallet or memory.” He dipped his head and looked out the window. “AC Ranch,” he said, reading.
“It’s not really a ranch any longer since I sold it. I kept the AC Ranch sign because Gerald didn’t care. He renamed his ranch Roan Ranch.”
Though the rain was still steady, the lightning and thunder had diminished. They followed the winding road that ran between mesquite, all leaning to the north because of the prevailing winds, and then a few stretches of open space.
After going around a curve, they topped a slight rise and she waved one hand. “You can’t see much for the rain, but there’s my cabin. If you can make it out, you can see there’s plenty of room for a guest.”
“What I can see is not exactly a little log cabin. How many bedrooms do you have?” he asked, sounding amused.
“Six bedrooms—three are suites—and seven bathrooms. I don’t have family now, but I do have friends and this is usually a relaxing getaway. There’s a gym, too. I’ll show you around.”
“You’re a long ways from a town. You take care of all this yourself?”
She smiled and shook her head. “Thank heavens, no. It’s easy to hire help of all sorts from Gerald’s ranch. Like I said, his house and buildings are close to my property.”
“That’s a good setup. But calling it a cabin doesn’t exactly convey an accurate image of your getaway home,” he remarked dryly.
She smiled. “True. But I love it here. My dream has always been to marry and have four or five kids to fill it.”
He laughed and shook his head. “I don’t have any idea, but I seriously doubt if I’ve ever taken out a woman whose lifelong wish was for marriage and four or five kids.”
“Well, when you get your memory back, you might be surprised. I can say this, though—you probably have never taken out anyone who had no family.”
“No family?”
She shook her head. “I don’t have any family left. My mom and sister died from cancer. My dad moved away and remarried. My grandparents aren’t alive.” She shrugged. “So, essentially, I’m alone.” When she saw his mood start to sag, she added, “But I’m okay with it. My work and friends keep me plenty busy.”
“You said you’re an occupational therapist with a home-care business in Dallas. It must be a booming business.”
“We’re busy, which is good. I have a much simpler place in Dallas, but I love this cabin and I built it for my future, for my dream home. Right now it’s a vacation home, a getaway, so I don’t have a landline or Wi-Fi. Just peace and quiet.” She looked at the cabin and envisioned it without the torrents of rain marring its beauty. “Luckily I had this home when my mom and sister could still come out here to visit, before I lost my family. I’ll bet you have siblings.”
“I wish I could remember even one thing about my family.”
“A family is wonderful. My sister was ten years older, so when I was growing up, she wasn’t around. I love children and I love kids and I’m thinking about someday going back to night classes or taking online courses to get a teacher’s certificate. I have a master’s in occupational therapy. All I would need for secondary teaching would be the required education courses and student teaching. It’s not a whole lot. Either that or I’ll just volunteer for things that involve kids. Now I’m doing something that helps people, so I’m not ready to give up the home-care business yet. It’s work I like.”
He studied her with a thoughtful look and she wondered what he was thinking. He turned away. “That’s commendable—helping people. I can’t remember what the hell I do,” he said.
“You’ll remember eventually.”
“Thanks again for coming to my rescue, Ava. I know you’d feel better if I could tell you who I am and what I do. Being friendly and grateful to be rescued aren’t necessarily guarantees of a good guy,” he remarked dryly. “With you being isolated out here—”
She cut him off. “I’m not really isolated here because of Gerald and his wife, the cowboys who work at Roan Ranch and their families, some of whom work for me. And Samantha cooks for me, although she’s off right now because her daughter had a baby. Samantha is married to one of Gerald’s cowboys. The wife of one of the cowhands, Margo, cleans, and Jonah and his crew do the yard work for me and for the Roans. I have people around all the time. Margo won’t be here until next week because she was here yesterday. Oh, this is the first Monday in October in case you’re interested.”
“Neither the month or day means much to me right now. I don’t know where I was going or where I had been. I don’t know why I was where I was.” He blew out a frustrated breath and raked a hand through his hair. When he turned to her again, he changed the subject. “You said your father remarried. Do you see him?”
“No, I don’t. He divorced my mom when I was fourteen. He and his new wife live in California. I don’t see him at all. They severed relations and he doesn’t contact me.”
Though it was sad that her father wasn’t part of her life, she didn’t feel sorry for herself. She had lots of good memories of growing up with both her parents. Which was more than this man sitting beside her could say right now.
She continued up the drive and turned off the main road that circled in front of the house. She took a branch road that veered around the house to a porte cochere along the west side.
“We’re home,” she said cheerfully as she put the vehicle in Park. Then she turned to see his reaction to the cabin up close, only to find him instead looking intently at her. Her eyes met his and suddenly it became another moment when she was conscious of him as a physically appealing male. She didn’t know anything about him and she was about to take him in and let him stay at her house, under her roof, with her. And that thought made her heart race, but not with fear.
Breaking the spell that seemed to have fallen over her, a bright red pickup pulled in beside them and she smiled when she saw it was Gerald and Molly.
“Here are the Roans minus their kids. They have a sitter for them easily available—Gerald’s grandmother lives on his ranch. Her house is close to Gerald’s.”
“It’s weird to meet someone when you don’t even know who you are,” he remarked as he stepped out.
Even though they had both parked beneath a roof and were sheltered, the wind and torrential rain still blew through the porte cochere and Ava motioned for everyone to follow as she went ahead, opened the door and entered her house. The Roans were both bringing boxes and covered dishes as they hurried inside and set their packages on the floor so they could take off their wet coats.
As soon as they were inside the dark entryway with a terrazzo floor, she turned to face the Roans. “Let me help you get these wet coats off,”
Ava insisted. She turned to flip a switch.
“First, we don’t have electric power because of the storm,” Ava said, getting a flashlight from a shelf by the door. “I’ll turn on the generators, but before I go, let me make the introductions,” she said as she took off her rain slicker and hung it on a hook. When she turned, she noticed the stranger’s gaze sweep over her and instantly she became aware of her tangled, long blond hair, her blue sweater and dark jeans. His gaze reached her toes and then went back up to meet her eyes, and she could feel the heat in her cheeks as they looked at each other.
To her relief, Molly was talking about dinner and Gerald had just finished hanging up their yellow slickers and hats, and he seemed distracted as he picked up boxes he was carrying when he came.
“We’re calling him Bill Smith until his memory returns,” she said to the Roans as she passed small flashlights to everyone.
“Bill, meet my neighbors. This is Gerald Roan,” she said as Gerald balanced two big boxes he carried, stuck out his hand and they shook. Gerald was almost as tall as the stranger.
“Meet my wife, Molly,” Gerald said easily, turning to his brunette wife, who only came to Gerald’s shoulder in height. As always, she had a warm smile and Ava was once again thankful for them as neighbors. Molly held a stack of three covered bowls in her hands.
“Thanks for coming by,” Bill said.
“I’m close and this is easy,” Gerald answered, shaking out the rain. “Here’s some clothes I don’t want back,” he said to Bill, indicating the top box he held. “I thought you might need something dry.”
“Thank you,” Bill replied, taking the box from him and placing it on the floor of the entryway. “That’s good because all I have is what I’m wearing and this shirt is all ripped.”
“Bill,” Ava said, “I told you Molly was a nurse, so you might let her look at your injuries.”
Smiling, Molly held up the bowls and a black bag dangled from her right arm. “I carry this for emergencies. I can look at your cuts. We have two kids, so I constantly practice my nursing skills.”
“Thanks,” he said, “to both of you.” He nodded to Molly, then turned to Ava and flashed another one of those smiles that made her pulse jump. She glanced at Gerald and was relieved he hadn’t been looking at her. She hoped her tingling responses to the stranger didn’t show.
“Also, we brought dinner in case you two haven’t eaten,” Molly said, indicating the bowls. “We had a fish fry today and it was easy to bring some. I’ll put all this in the refrigerator.”
“Thank you so much,” Ava said, smiling at Molly. “It smells wonderful. I’ll admit, I haven’t given a thought to eating or even asked if you had lunch today,” she said, turning to the stranger, finding it difficult to think of him as Bill Smith. “I’ll get the generators turned on and we can see what we’re doing.”
“I’ll go with you,” Gerald said. “This box goes to the kitchen,” he said to Bill as he handed him the other box. “I know where your generators are and I can help,” he said, and went off with Ava.
* * *
After getting the generators going, they walked back into the entryway. When they did, Ava and Gerald joined them.
“We put the food away,” Ava said. “It’s good to have lights again.”
“Now that we have lights, before Molly looks at my cuts, I need to wash the mud off.” The stranger turned to Ava. “I’d like a shower more than anything, if that’s okay. It won’t take me long.”
“Go shower and when you’re dressed, if you’ll call me, I’ll come tend to those cuts,” Molly said easily.
“Gerald, you and Molly make yourself comfortable in the family room,” Ava said. “I’ll show Bill where he can shower.” She turned to him. “Come with me.”
“Gladly,” he said. “I feel covered in mud, sticks and leaves.” He looked at Gerald and paused. “Is there something you wanted to say to me?”
Gerald shook his head. “No. Sorry if I’m staring, but you look familiar.”
“That’s good news,” Bill Smith said with relief in his voice. “If you recognize me or recall meeting me, that would give a clue to my identity. Whether it’s good or bad, I’d welcome knowing because not knowing who I am and not remembering anything from my past is not a good feeling. Losing my wallet didn’t help. It didn’t occur to me to hang on to it even at a risk to my life.”
“I might be wrong, but I think I’ve seen you before or met you. I hope it comes to me,” Gerald said. “I promise to tell you if it does.”
“Thanks.” Bill picked up the box of clothes and turned to follow Ava down a wide hall.
“I hope to hell he remembers and does know me or at least recognizes me, even if it was a ‘Wanted’ poster,” he said and she smiled.
“You’re wearing jeans, boots, a Western-style shirt. Gerald lives and breathes ranching. I’m guessing you’re a Texas rancher and you’ve crossed paths before. Underneath that black hair that falls on your forehead, you have a pale strip of forehead while the rest of your face is tan. That pale strip indicates you’ve spent time outside and you were wearing a hat.”
She stopped to take his free hand in hers and turn his hand over. As she ran her finger lightly over his palm, she noticed two things—his calluses and her reaction to touching him. Immediately she released his hand and started walking again.
“Whoever you are, you have calluses that indicate that you work with your hands. A lot of ranchers have calluses.” She tried for nonchalance, but there was no denying she felt anything but. When she’d taken his hand she had been thinking only about his identity. The moment her fingers had wrapped around his warm hand, her physical awareness of him had intensified and she knew for both their sakes, she shouldn’t have touched him.
“Want to look at my hand again and see what else comes to you?” he asked in a huskier tone of voice.
Startled, she looked up at him and realized he was teasing, actually flirting with her and she wondered whether it was because he was aware of those same sparks when they touched.
Smiling, she shook her head. “I think we better leave well enough alone when you know nothing about yourself.”
“I know a few things about myself that I’ve realized since you showed up to rescue me,” he drawled in a deeper voice that sent tingles up her spine and heightened her awareness of him.
“You’re hurt, have amnesia, you’re with total strangers...and you’re flirting.” Smiling, she shook her head. “You must be feeling better.”
“I think you’re causing the way I feel, and believe me, it’s a dang big improvement over what’s been happening.”
She laughed. “You better cool it until you learn who you are.”
“I don’t think I can be held responsible for any innocent remarks I make right now when I don’t even know who I am.”
“They aren’t so innocent and you know enough to realize what you’re saying,” she said, laughing at him and he grinned.
“Meeting you has been worth going through all that happened to me. At least, sort of, because I do want my memory to return.”
“Cool it, cowboy. And I think I’m right—you’re a rancher.”
She turned into a room. “I’m down the hall but here’s a guest suite you can use,” she said as they entered a living area. Through an open door she could see the bedroom that had a blue-and-tan decor, like the sitting room. “You’ll find packets of things you might need—comb, soap, toothbrush, that sort of thing—in the bathroom. There should be clean towels, too. There will be about two sizes of new pajamas on one of the chests. I’m glad Gerald brought you some men’s clothes. On second thought, let me check to make sure the soap is there,” she said, starting to turn away.
He stopped her with his words. “Go join your friends,” he said. “I’m sure I’ll have what I need. You sound as well-equipped as a drugstore. At least
, I can remember what a drugstore is.”
Before she could step away, he reached out to take her arm. The moment he touched her, she felt another tingle all the way to her toes. Her breath caught and she looked up to meet his gaze that was as sizzling as his light touch on her arm. Startled, she saw he felt something, too. He had a surprised look that changed to an intense focus on her, which made her pulse drum faster.
She should say something, move, do something, but she felt captured by a casual touch and a look. Only the touch hadn’t been casual to her and it evidently hadn’t been to him.
“Call me if you need me. It’s Ava, in case you forgot,” she said in a breathless voice that was almost a whisper.
“I can’t remember my name, but I promise you, I remember yours, Ava,” he said in a husky voice, still gazing at her with a curious look that kept her pulse racing. He released her arm and, with an effort, she turned to leave.
She hurried out, closing the door to his suite behind her. She stood a moment and gulped for air. She had never had such a reaction to a man. Never, not once. How could a casual, slight touch stir such desire? Especially by a muddy man who was a complete stranger?
After her breakup she hadn’t been attracted to any man. She had turned down invitations, not wanting to date. She still didn’t want to.
She was shocked by her reaction to this man. Especially now. Her heartbreak over Judd definitely had not healed and would never be forgotten. It still hurt to think about how he’d left her.
At this point in her life she didn’t want to be attracted to any man. She couldn’t handle another breakup.
So how could just a look from this stranger make her heart race?