High Lonesome

by Coverstone, Stacey

  “Amnesia?” Her green eyes popped open wide. “You think I have amnesia? Is that why I can’t remember anything?”

  “I’m not a doctor, but it appears that way. We’ll see what Doctor Coleman has to say.”

  Carmen entered the room carrying a tray with a bowl of soup, some bread, and a cup of tea on it. Scott formally introduced the two women. “This is Carmen Rios. She’s the best cook in all of New Mexico.”

  “Nice to meet you.” The woman nodded hello.

  “The pleasure is mine,” Carmen said, returning the greeting.

  “Do you think you can sit up?” Scott asked. “You’ll probably feel better if you eat something. There’s no telling how long it’s been since you had food or drink.”

  With his help, she scooted to a sitting position and leaned against the pillow. “I am hungry. My stomach feels empty.”

  Carmen lowered the bed tray across the woman’s lap. “Do you like tortilla soup?”

  “I’m not sure I’ve ever had it before. It smells good.”

  Placing the spoon in the woman’s hands, as if she were a child, Carmen drew it to her mouth. “Eat all of this. I guarantee it will make you feel one hundred percent better.”

  “Thank you.” The woman swallowed, licked her lips, and requested more.

  Grinning with pride, Carmen said, “When you’ve finished with the soup, you can drink my special tea with chili pepper. It will invigorate you.”

  The woman tossed Scott a quizzical glance.

  He chuckled. “You’ll want to do as she says. I own the ranch, but she’s the real boss around here. Keep eating that soup. I think the color is already starting to come back into your face.”

  “Hello? Scott?” a familiar voice called from downstairs.

  Scott softly patted the woman’s hand. “That’ll be the doctor. I’ll be right back.” He excused himself and stepped into the hallway. Peering over the railed balcony to the great room below, he waved and said, “We’re up here.”

  Wearing a white physician’s jacket over a navy pencil skirt perfect for showing off her slender physique, Joanna Coleman ascended the main staircase, carrying a black medical bag.

  “Thanks for coming over so quickly,” Scott told her when she reached the top. “Hope I didn’t take you away from anything important.”

  “No problem. I happened to be in the neighborhood checking on Sam Turner. My receptionist reached me on my cell phone.” She flashed him a bright smile under short blonde hair. “She said it was an emergency.”

  “Yeah, I’d call it that for sure.” Scott lowered his voice and explained the situation while they stood in the hall. “I was coming home from town and came across this woman stumbling down the road. It’s obvious she’s been in an accident. You’ll see she has a lump on her head and a nasty bruise on the inside of her arm. I think she has amnesia as well.”

  Joanna cast him a surprised look. “Why do you think that?”

  “She doesn’t know where her car is, and she can’t remember her name or where she’s from. She doesn’t know how she got hurt. She has no ID on her, but I’m sure she’s not from around here. I’ve never seen her before, and she said none of the area looked familiar.”

  “Let me take a look at her.” Joanna strode into the bedroom. “Good morning, Carmen,” she greeted Scott’s longtime cook.

  “Morning, Miss Joanna.”

  Joanna stood at the side of Scott’s bed and introduced herself to the woman. “Hello. I’m Doctor Coleman.” She glanced at the tray on her lap. “I see Ms. Rios has been treating you with her fabulous cooking.”

  “Yes. It was delicious. The soup made me feel better. Thank you again,” she said, handing the empty soup bowl to Carmen.

  “You’re welcome,” Carmen said, beaming.

  “Carmen’s food can cure more ailments than modern medicine,” Scott added, sounding more like a proud son than her employer.

  Joanna pulled on plastic gloves and leaned over the patient. “Do you mind if I take a look at that bump on your head before I check your vitals?”

  The woman shook her head. “I don’t mind.”

  “Let me move this out of the way,” Carmen said, taking away the tray.

  Joanna examined the knot, and then took the woman’s blood pressure and temperature. “Mr. Landry tells me you can’t remember your name or how you can to be injured.” She placed a stethoscope against the brunette’s chest and listened.

  Responding to the doctor with a bob of her head, the woman replied, “I don’t seem to remember much of anything right now. I’ve been racking my brains for any kind of memory about what may have happened to me, but it feels like I’m in a fog.”

  “You’ve got quite a hematoma on your forehead, but your vitals are good. Is your arm sore?” Joanna turned it over and examined the bruising.

  The woman flinched and nodded.

  “I apologize. Do your legs or back hurt?”

  “I feel sore all over—like I’ve been run over or beaten with a club or something.”

  Scott and Carmen exchanged subtle glances. Carmen made the sign of the cross again.

  Joanna straightened and studied the woman. “With your consent, I think it’d be prudent to do a rape kit.” Scott grimaced at her businesslike manner and tone.

  The woman glanced at Scott and bowed her head, flush with embarrassment. When he met Joanna’s gaze, he felt his cheeks burn with pity. Carmen looked down at her shoes.

  “Mr. Landry, perhaps you and Carmen could wait downstairs,” Joanna said, steering them out of the bedroom. “I’ll let you know when I’m done here.”

  “Sure.” Scott stuck his hands in his pockets and nodded for Carmen to follow him out of the room, which she did with no hesitation.

  An hour later, Joanna found the two of them in the kitchen sitting at the island having coffee.

  “There’s no physical evidence of rape,” she reported, “but I’ll take the sample I collected back to the lab to be one hundred percent sure.”

  Carmen sighed and stepped to the sink and plunged her hands in soapy water.

  “That’s a relief,” Scott replied. “Can I go back up now?”

  “Yes. I’ll go with you.”

  The two of them took the back stairs to his bedroom. Joanna reached into her bag and pulled out a small pad. “I’ll prescribe something for your pain,” she told the woman once they’d returned to her side. “I’d also like to schedule you for an EEG and a CT scan, in order to assess your head injury. It’s obvious you’ve suffered some kind of blunt trauma, but it’s impossible to know whether you hit your head on something hard or were struck with an object.”

  The woman cringed. “Are you suggesting someone intentionally hurt me?”

  “I’m sorry,” Joanna said. “That thought must be difficult to fathom. I apologize for blurting it out that way. It’s a definite possibility, but let’s not jump to any conclusions. Either way, the injury has caused you to suffer a neurological deficit. In layman’s terms, you’re suffering from amnesia, which Mr. Landry already suspected. We need to be sure there’s no skull fracture. How soon could you arrange to go to the clinic and have those tests run?”

  Scott spoke up. “I can take her whenever you can get her in. You name the day and time and we’ll be there.”

  “All right.” Joanna pulled her day planner out of the black bag and consulted it. “How about later this afternoon? I have an acquaintance at the clinic who owes me a favor. I’ll arrange for an appointment around three o’clock, if that suits you.”

  Scott nodded once, firmly. “The sooner the better, for her sake.”

  “Okay, then. See you both later today.”

  “Thank you, doctor.” The woman offered her hand to shake.

  Scott noticed she still trembled. Joanna shook her hand. “You’re welcome. Try and get some rest, drink lots of liquids, and,” her voice took on a lighter note, “I’d suggest enjoying more of Ms. Rios’s cooking.” She picked up her medical bag and said g
oodbye.

  “I’ll be right back,” Scott told the woman as he trailed Joanna out the door. She walked down the stairs ahead of him and bypassed the hall that led to the kitchen, heading to the front door instead. Her heels clicked on the hardwood floors. No words were spoken between them until they’d passed through the foyer and stepped onto the front porch. “I appreciate you interrupting your schedule and running out here,” he said. “I never dreamed I’d wake up this morning and something like this would happen.” The wheels in Scott’s brain spun like whirlwinds. “One of the first things I need to do is try to find out where she’s from and if she has any family. They must be frantic, worrying about what’s happened to her. I’ll call Buddy. The sheriff’s department is the natural place to start.”

  Joanna concurred with some hesitation. “Of course you should call him, but the one missing person case he worked on was the time Connor Russell’s sister thought he’d been kidnapped by some drug dealers. If you’ll recall, Buddy found Con under the high school bleachers all liquored up, and the only thing missing was his pants. Here in podunk Ghost Rock, hunting out of season is about the biggest crime Buddy ever has to deal with. He won’t know where to begin with a real case like this.” She rolled her eyes.

  “You shouldn’t talk about your ex-husband that way,” Scott said. “He’s good at his job. He wouldn’t have been elected sheriff two years ago at the age of thirty if he wasn’t. You never want to give him any credit.”

  She sighed. “Why should I? You defend that goofball plenty for the both of us.”

  “Buddy doesn’t need defending. And he’s not a goofball. He’s a damn good sheriff.” Scott leaned against the side of the house with his boot hiked against it.

  Joanna squeezed his shoulder. “You have to say that. He’s your best friend. I admire your loyalty, Scott, but sometimes you let your friendship with Buddy stand in the way of our relationship.”

  “I don’t think I do,” he retorted. “He’s been my best friend since we were kids. You knew when we started dating that I’d never give that friendship up. Buddy and I talked about it— about you and me going out—and he told me he was okay with it. But I still question whether he’s being honest with himself. I wouldn’t be okay if the situation was reversed. To be honest, it’s still uncomfortable for me, at times.”

  “How did we get on this subject?” Joanna pulled a stick of gum from the pocket of her jacket and offered him one. “Buddy and I are history,” she reminded him. “Our relationship ended years ago. It’s about time you stop worrying what he thinks. He doesn’t care that we’re together.”

  “I’m not so sure about that.” Scott stuck the gum in his mouth, wadded up the paper and tucked it into his shirt pocket.

  “Scott, you and I have been going out for almost a year now. Buddy cares about both of us and wants us to be happy. He and I were not meant for each other. We both realized that and ended our marriage before either of us got hurt. He accepts that you and I are together now.”

  Scott flashed a half-hearted grin. “I’m not convinced you know your ex as well as you think you do.”

  “I know him better than anyone, and that includes you.” She stabbed her finger into his chest. “And I know he and I were too young and impetuous when we married. It was a big mistake. That’s the one thing we ever agreed on. Neither of us knew what true love really was.”

  “And you do now?”

  “Yes. I know the exact type of man I want and need now.” She leaned in close and nuzzled Scott’s neck. “Speaking of wants and needs…As I recall, we have a date planned for tonight. Will you be getting that woman a room at the motel in town?”

  He backed away from her touch. Annoyance flared in his stomach at Joanna’s insensitivity. “No. She’s going to stay here. Since I’m the one who found her, it’s up to me to keep her safe. Someone most likely did this to her on purpose— you said so yourself. He or she might still be after her. I’m not about to leave her alone in some crummy motel.”

  Joanna grabbed his hand. “Yes, I did say that. It doesn’t make you responsible, honey. She’s very lucky you came along when you did, but you did what any good citizen would. You opened your home to her and you’re bringing her in for tests. She can’t expect more than that. She’s a stranger. Hand her off to Buddy this afternoon and let him do his job. Let him take care of her.”

  “Hand her off?” Scott shook his head, unbelieving Joanna’s cold attitude. “She’s not a pair of used shoes. I’m sure she doesn’t expect anything, but the poor girl doesn’t even know her own name. She’s scared to death. Carmen and I will look after her until Buddy locates her family, or someone who can identify her.”

  Rolling her lower lip out, Joanna feigned a pout. “That person upstairs is not a girl, Scott. She’s a full-grown woman. I don’t think I like the idea of her sleeping in your bed, either.”

  Joanna had a way of getting his ire up, but he didn’t want to argue. He snaked an arm around her waist and kissed the tip of her nose. “I’ve never seen you jealous before. You’re always so confident and sure of yourself. What’s all this about?”

  “I don’t know. I suppose it’s because she’s quite pretty, and she might consider you her knight in shining armor. Since you rescued her, she’ll feel indebted. I’m not comfortable with that.”

  Scott squeezed her waist and chuckled. “I’m no knight. I just happened to be in the right place at the right time.”

  “A lot of men are attracted to helpless women.” Joanna eyed him.

  “I’m not one of them. You’re far from helpless. Besides, this lady is not that way by choice.”

  “You feel sorry for her, don’t you?”

  “Of course I do. Someone beat her up, dumped her in the desert and left her for dead. Don’t you?” She didn’t answer—just pressed her breasts against his chest and moved her fingers through his shaggy hair.

  Joanna sure knew how to push his buttons. “She is lucky I found her,” Scott said stiffly, “because I’m not the kind of man to look the other way when someone’s in trouble. We’ve known each other all our lives, Jo. You know that about me.”

  She shrugged away from him and frowned. “Of course I know. You’ve taken care of other people your entire life.”

  He leveled a solemn gaze at her. “I’ve had to.”

  “I realize that,” she responded quickly, “but you finally have your own life to live, Scott. And in case you’ve forgotten, I’m a part of it, limited as it may be.”

  His brow puckered. “I don’t understand where this attitude is coming from, Jo. You’re a doctor. Of all people, you should be understanding and sympathetic. Instead, you’re coming off like a jealous teenage girl, and I have to say, it’s not becoming.”

  Her eyes flashed and she opened her mouth to retaliate, but the look on his face must have given her pause. The blaze in his temper dared her to go on. He was generally mild mannered and easy going, but he could get fired up when pushed. She clamped her mouth shut.

  Instead, she snuggled close again and purred, “I’m sorry, baby. I’m just tired, and a little jealous. I’ll admit it. Walking in and seeing a woman in your bed threw me for a loop. It’s been so long since I’ve shared your bed. I’ve been missing you. Will you forgive me?” She placed her lips against his cheek and let them linger for a couple of seconds. Backing away, she scrunched her nose and complained, “You need a shave, darlin’.”

  Scott put his hand at the small of her back and guided her to the driveway where she had parked her car, a red Audi Roadster.

  “Do us both a favor and admit it,” she hounded. “You think she’s beautiful, too.”

  “Oh, Joanna, please. I hadn’t even noticed.” He opened the car door and thanked her again for rushing out. “I’ll see you this afternoon at three. Okay?”

  “Okay.” She climbed in, not bothering to pull down her skirt when it shimmied up her thigh, and slammed the door.

  He leaned in and they shared a brief kiss. Then Scott w
atched her put the convertible in gear and speed down the drive, kicking up rocks in her wake. “Slow down!” he hollered through the dust.

  Joanna stuck her arm out the window and gave him a backhanded wave.

  He entered the house and tromped up the stairs, feeling guilty about lying to Joanna. The truth was he was attracted to the woman ensconced in his bed. But more than that—strange as it seemed—he’d felt not just a physical connection, but also a strong emotional bond to her the moment he’d laid eyes on her. It unnerved him. How could a perfect stranger cause his heart to race the way it was right now? And why was he imagining what it’d be like to kiss her?

  Even though the bedroom door was open, and it was his room, Scott knocked on the door just the same, out of courtesy. He peeked in and discovered the old iron bed empty.

  Carmen stepped out of the master bathroom like it was hers. “I hope you don’t mind, but the lady asked if she could take a bath. She said she felt grimy, and she wanted to wash her hair. I ran a bath and got her some clean towels.”

  “I should have thought of it myself,” Scott admitted.

  “Men don’t think like women,” Carmen replied as she passed by. “Come on out of here. Go unload your grain sacks. Let her have some privacy.”

  “Okay, okay. You’re getting bossier as you grow older, you know? Doesn’t she need some clean clothes to change into when she’s done?”

  “Si, Mr. Scott. She needs clothes. I’m going to throw away those rags she came in here with.”

  “Don’t do that,” he said. “The sheriff might want to test them. Maybe he can take DNA from them. That could identify her.”

  “You’re right. I wasn’t thinking this time,” Carmen confessed. “As for the clean clothes, I know where there is a closet full of things she could borrow.”

  A dull ache pulsed through Scott’s veins.

  Carmen must have noted the shadow that passed across his face—the face she’d seen change from lanky young boy to the man he was now. She lowered her voice. “If you approve, I’ll pick out a few basics. She’s about the same size as Maggie, don’t you think?”

  “Yes,” he answered. “Go ahead and get her what she needs to look presentable. I’ll buy her some new clothes later when we go to town.”