by Nicole James
“What does it look like?” she asked.
“Well, you definitely need to have it looked at by a doctor. We need to get you to the hospital. Besides this wound, you also have quite a lump on your forehead, and your arms and legs are pretty scratched up,” he observed. “Do you remember anything about how this happened?” he asked.
“I just remember waking up in the forest and not knowing where I was, or how I got there,” she answered softly.
“Nothing else?” he prompted, squatting back down so that he was eye level with her again.
“Well, I remember being very scared, and I thought I heard something…like twigs breaking, like something was there. And I just knew I had to run from it. I don’t know why I felt that way. I just knew…it just felt like something was after me.”
“So you ran. Then what happened?”
“I came to the road. I tried to see if there was a road sign, but I couldn’t see one. Then I crossed the road and started walking down the hill. I remember seeing a truck with a spotlight, coming from behind me. I hid in the trees. I don’t know why. Maybe he was a friend out looking for me.”
Steve and Cary exchanged a look over her head.
“He?” Steve asked.
“Yes. I could see, when he passed by, that it was a man. I mean, I couldn’t see him well, just the silhouette, but he had broad shoulders and a cowboy hat on.”
“Go on,” he encouraged.
“Well, he went on past, the spot light shining on the woods, and I remember wondering, if he was a friend out looking for me, why wasn’t he calling out? I mean, wouldn’t you call out the person’s name?” she questioned, looking from Steve to Cary for an answer.
“Yeah, I guess you would. That would make sense,” Cary agreed.
“I stayed hidden in the brush until he was gone,” she continued. “Then I just walked down the road, looking for help. This was the first place I found.” She finished her tale, looking into Steve’s eyes.
“Well, I have to be honest with you, sweetheart. That looks like a bullet graze to me,” he admitted reluctantly.
“A…a bullet graze? You mean…you mean someone shot at me?” she asked stunned.
“Well, I don’t know, but it sure would explain the instinctive feeling you had to run, that feeling that you had that you were in danger.”
She sat there in shock, staring into space, and then she began to shake.
“Darlin’, you’re safe here,” he reassured her. “Take it easy. You’re okay. You’re gonna be fine,” Steve murmured, putting his hand over hers, trying to comfort her.
She didn’t respond.
“Cary, bring the truck around. We need to get her to the hospital,” Steve said, turning to look back at the other man.
“Yeah, sure thing, boss.” Cary turned and headed for the door.
“Thank you for helping me,” she whispered.
Steve turned back, stared into her pretty blue eyes, and wondered at the jolt that went through him. “Sweetheart, don’t worry. I’m gonna take care of you,” he promised.
Chapter Two
Steve sat in the emergency room waiting area, nursing his third cup of coffee. Cary was asleep in the chair across from him. Steve glanced up at the clock on the wall for the millionth time, it seemed. It had been almost two hours since they had arrived. Steve had told the triage nurse all he knew about the injured woman, which wasn’t a whole hell of a lot.
“Mr. Garrett?” a nurse called his attention. “There’s an officer who would like to speak with you. If you’ll follow me, please.”
He rose from his seat and threw his coffee cup in the trash. He followed her to the nurse’s station, where a County Sheriff was standing, writing notes on a clipboard. He turned as Steve approached and surprise and recognition crossed his face. “Hell, Steve, you’re the one that brought her in?”
Steve nodded his head also recognizing the officer. Kyle Bennett had been the County Sheriff around here for years. He and Steve had gone to high school together. “Kyle. How are you?” They shook hands.
“Confused as hell by this case, that’s for sure. Tell me what you know.”
“Yes, sir. She walked up to my place, asking for help. Said she couldn’t remember what had happened to her, or even who she was.” He proceeded to tell the man everything he could. When the Sheriff had finished copying down the information, Steve asked, “How is she doing?”
“She’s had a severe blow to the head. They’re going to keep her overnight for observation. She’s a Jane Doe, until we find out her identity. I’ll be checking missing person reports to see if anyone fitting her description has been reported missing,” he stated.
The Sheriff started to turn away. Steve stopped him. “Kyle, wait, one other thing. I looked at that wound on the back of her head, and it looked to me like a bullet graze.”
“Well, I can’t say for sure if it is or not. The doctor wasn’t sure what had caused it. I really don’t have a lot to go on with this case. I’m hoping her memory comes back and she can tell us what happened to her,” he answered.
“How long will they keep her here?” Steve asked.
“I think just overnight to make sure she’s okay,” he replied.
“What happens to her then? When they release her, I mean,” Steve pressed, shrugging his shoulders. “If she can’t remember who she is?”
“Well, I’m not sure. I’ve never had a case of amnesia before. I guess they’ll contact Family Services and see if there’s a shelter they can get her into, but don’t worry, Steve. They’ll take care of her.” The Sheriff patted him on the shoulder reassuringly. “Thanks for your help, though.”
“Can I see her before I leave?” Steve asked.
“Well, I guess that’d be okay,” the Sheriff responded. “I think she’s already been taken up to a room, though. You’ll have to check with the nurse.”
“Thanks, Kyle.”
The nurse gave him directions to a room on the fourth floor, but told him it was after visiting hours and he could only stay a minute.
When he walked in, she was alone, lying in a bed, looking out the window.
She turned her head when he entered. When she saw him, she smiled.
“You’re pretty when you smile,” he said.
“Even with the bump on my forehead?” she asked, laughing.
“Yes, ma’am.”
They stared at each other for a few moments.
“I was just laying here wondering if you’d left already or if I’d ever see you again and get the chance to thank you,” she confessed.
“Oh, you can’t get rid of me that easily,” he teased. “How are you feeling?”
“I’m okay. They want to keep me overnight, just to make sure,” she answered.
“So I heard. The Sheriff said he’d check to see if you’ve been reported missing.”
“Yes. He told me.”
Just then a nurse came in to check her chart and asked how she was feeling. She promised to bring up something for her to eat from the cafeteria in a few minutes. Then the nurse told Steve he could only stay a few more minutes and she left.
Steve sat on the bed. “You want me to get you a candy bar or something? There’s a vending machine down the hall. I hear hospital food is pretty bad.”
“No, thank you,” she replied, smiling. “I’ll be fine.”
“You sure?” Steve asked, smiling back at her. “You may get stuck with lime gelatin.”
She laughed and shook her head. “I’ll be okay.”
“All right then, but me, I’d go for the Snickers,” he replied, grinning.
They stared at each other for a moment. Steve couldn’t help but notice how fragile she looked, lying there in the hospital gown. “Well, I guess I should be going before they run me out of here,” he finally said.
“I…I want to thank you for all you did for me tonight.”
“Oh, it wasn’t much. Just brought you to a doctor.”
“But you stayed and waite
d with me. It made me less afraid…having you here with me,” she said softly, reaching over and touching his hand.
Steve looked down at her hand and wondered at the feelings running through him, feelings that went straight through him to his heart. “Uh, look, I’m going to come back by in the morning and check on you. See what the doctor has to say, if that’s okay with you.”
“Well, sure. I’d like that, but I know it’s out of your way, and-”
“Hey, it’s my excuse to goof-off tomorrow morning. Don’t take that away from me.” He grinned.
She smiled back, glad he was coming back. “Okay.”
Steve leaned over and kissed her on the forehead. “Get some sleep, sweetheart.” And then he was gone.
She slept fitfully, tossing and turning all night long. She was haunted by bad dreams, but each time she awoke with a start, she couldn’t remember the dream. Exhausted, she finally drifted off for a few hours just before dawn.
When Steve arrived at nine a.m., the doctor was just coming out of her room. Steve stopped him in the hall and asked how she was.
“Are you family?” the doctor asked him.
“No, I was the one that brought her in. She came to my place asking for help last night.”
“Oh, I see. Well, I really shouldn’t be talking to you about her condition.”
“Is she being released? Can you tell me that?”
“Yes. I’ve released her.”
“Does that mean she has her memory back? Has she called someone to come get her?”
“No. She hasn’t regained her memory yet.”
“So…where will she go, then?”
“A social worker will be up shortly to talk to her. They’ll probably find a women’s shelter for her, until they can locate family.”
“A shelter?”
“Yes, if they have room. Don’t worry, sir. We won’t put her out on the street.” The doctor patted Steve on the shoulder. “Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have rounds to finish.”
Steve watched as the doctor walked off, then turned and walked into the room.
She was looking out the window, but turned when she heard the door open. She immediately brightened upon seeing him. “You came,” she said, sitting up in the bed.
“Of course. I told you I would.”
“I know. I was afraid you were just saying that.”
“I don’t say something, if I don’t mean it, sweetheart.” He grinned and tossed his hat on a chair. “How you feelin’ today, darlin’?” he asked, sitting on the bed. He noticed the dark circles under her eyes and figured she didn’t get much sleep.
“Much better. They say I can leave,” she said, smiling, putting on a front for him.
“Yeah. I stopped the doctor out in the hall, and he told me.” Steve hesitated for a moment, watching her, and then continued. “He said a social worker was going to try to find you a place in a women’s shelter.”
“Yes,” she replied.
Steve watched as the smile faded from her face and she looked down at her hands.
“Hey, um, I had this crazy idea driving over here. Now don’t turn me down ‘till you’ve heard me out, okay?”
“Okay. Go on,” she agreed, watching him.
“Well, I’ve been meaning to hire someone to do the cooking and laundry and pick up a little around the place, and well, I just never got around to it, and I was thinking, maybe you’d be interested in the job, until you get your memory back, that is. I couldn’t pay much, but I’d throw in room and board. I think it’d work out for both of us.” He stopped, realizing he was babbling for the first time in his life. What was it about this girl that got to him?
“Cooking?” she asked, looking confused.
“Umm…yeah. You do know how to cook, right?”
“I’m not sure,” she replied, her brow furrowed in thought.
“Well, darlin’, anything you make has got to be better than Pop’s cooking. I don’t think I’ll survive much longer if I have to keep eating that slop. Please, say you’ll do it. Save me.” He gave her his best sad-eyed, puppy-dog look.
“How can I refuse that look?” she asked, the smile returning to her face.
“You can’t. It’s part of my charm,” he replied. “Come on, let’s get you out of here. All this talk about food has got me starving. Are you up for some pancakes?”
Before she knew it, he had her checked out and in his pickup truck, heading to find somewhere to eat.
“If you can wait until we get back to Ruby Falls, there’s a little diner in town.” Steve looked over at her.
“Ruby Falls?”
“Yeah. Ruby Falls.” His gaze left the road to glance over at her. When he saw the questioning look on her face, he continued. “Georgia. That’s where our place is located. We had to drive you into Mercer last night. They have the closest hospital. It’s only about fifteen miles from Ruby Falls.”
“Oh.”
“So? What do you say? Can you wait until we get back there to eat breakfast?”
“That’s fine. Really, I’m not that hungry. I had some oatmeal,” she replied.
“Yuck!”
“It wasn’t that bad.”
“Bleck.”
“Okay, maybe I’m a little hungry.” She grinned.
A little while later, they drove into the small town of Ruby Falls, and Steve pulled into a diagonal parking space on what appeared to be the main street. The window of one of the storefronts was painted in gold lettering with the words ‘Margie’s Diner’.
They got out.
Steve waited for her on the sidewalk and held the door for her. A tiny bell over the door jingled as they entered. They sat at a booth with red, vinyl seats. Steve took two plastic coated menus from behind the napkin holder and handed her one.
A waitress came over, turned their coffee cups right side up, and began pouring them both coffee without asking.
“Hey, darlin’, what are you doin’ waitressing? I thought you were management,” Steve teased.
“Ha, ha. Darleen didn’t show up this morning. It’s not like her, but then she’s not been herself for a few weeks now. I think she’s having boyfriend trouble.”
“Boyfriend? Is she back with Jimmy again?”
“No, this is some new guy. She hasn’t told me much about him, but I get the feeling…”
“What?”
“Oh, never mind. What can I get you, darlin’?”
“You save me some of them honey biscuits this morning?” Steve asked.
“Of course. Don’t I always? You want the usual?”
“I’m dyin’ for some of your strawberry waffles, Margie.”
“Waffles, huh?”
“With strawberries and whip cream,” Steve clarified with a grin.
“And who’s your friend? You gonna introduce us or what?”
“Umm, sure. Margie this is…this is Summer. She’s our new housekeeper.” Steve looked over as she almost spit out a mouthful of coffee.
“Pleased to meet you, Summer. Steve’s a good guy; you just have to cut through all the hogwash. So, what’ll you have, Summer?”
“Umm, I guess I’ll have the same. Thanks.”
“Margie left, and she looked at Steve questioningly. “Summer? Where did you get that?”
“Well, look, we have to call you something, and I sure as hell am not calling you Jane Doe. I think Summer fits you.”
“Oh, really? Why?”
“Well, because you’re a blue-eyed, blonde and pretty as a sunny summer’s day.”
She stared at him a long moment, then she smiled and shrugged. “Okay. I like that.”
“Good. Now drink your coffee, Summer.”
They drank their coffee, and soon Margie brought two big plates of waffles, piled high with strawberries and whip cream. She also slid a plate of honey biscuits in front of Steve, and she refilled their coffees.
“Y’all need anything else, now?” she asked.
“No, Margie. Thanks,” Steve said, as
she set the check down on the table.
“Enjoy your breakfast. It was nice to meet you, Summer. And Steve, say hello to Jessie for me.” She walked away.
“Who’s Jessie?” Summer asked Steve.
He poured syrup on his waffles. “She’s my daughter. You’ll meet her later, when she gets home from school. She’s a senior in high school.”
“Oh. I didn’t realize you were married,” Summer commented, lowering the mouthful of waffles she was about to eat.
“I’m not. I was.”
“You’re divorced then?”
“Umm, no, not divorced. My wife disappeared twelve years ago,” Steve said, his expression turning blank.
“Disappeared?” Summer asked, looking up from her plate. “What do you mean?”
“She just vanished. Went to town one day and never came home.” He didn’t say anything more for a few minutes. He just sat there, drinking his coffee.
Summer didn’t know what to say. He obviously didn’t want to talk about it. She looked down at her plate. “I’m sorry. It’s really none of my business. I-”
Steve interrupted her, as if he hadn’t even heard her. “She’d gone to town to run some errands, and she left Jessie with Pop.”
He was staring at the table, and Summer had a feeling that he was reliving it in his mind.
“Jessie was four years old then, going on five. Rita stopped to pick up some photos of her and Jessie that I had taken that week. Patsy at the drugstore had called to tell her they were in, and Rita couldn’t wait to see them. She was supposed to meet her girlfriend for lunch, here at this diner,” he explained, tapping the table with his finger. “Patsy said Rita couldn’t wait to hurry over and show her friend the photos. She said she remembered that Rita had glanced down at her watch and that it had been about five minutes to noon.”
He looked up at Summer and smiled, remembering his wife. “Rita never liked to be late, so she had hurried out.”
Summer nodded.
He looked away. “It’s only two blocks from the drugstore to here. She never showed up. Her girlfriend called the ranch at twenty minutes past noon to see if she had left yet. Pop told her that she’d left a while ago and was going to the drugstore first to pick up her photos. Her friend waited for a little while, but she had to be back to work at one.”