by Linda Conrad
“I’ll bet. But I’m sure it will all come back.”
As she’d said those words, Jewel’s expression had turned melancholy. She looked so depressed and forlorn suddenly that Rosie couldn’t help but reach out.
“Are you all right?” Rosie stared into the other woman’s face for a moment and discovered deep circles under her eyes. “Aren’t you feeling okay?”
“Oh, yes,” Jewel told her quietly. “I just haven’t been sleeping well lately. That’s all.”
“Is there something wrong out at the ranch?” Jericho asked. He turned to Rosie. “Jewel runs a new state-of-the-art facility designed specifically to help troubled teens. She tries to give them a stable home base and good hard outdoor work while they’re in treatment. I think it’s a great idea. Been needed in these parts for a long time.”
Returning his attention to Jewel, he said, “There’s nothing wrong with any of the kids, is there? Or anything I can do to help?”
Just then the waitress brought out their plates of pie and drinks.
Jewel emptied a sweetener packet into her coffee mug and took a breath before she answered. “It’s nothing, Jericho. Just my same old nightmares finally getting the better of me, I guess.”
“Nightmares?” Rosie hadn’t thought about dreams. Would she have any? Would they be scary or about the good times from her past that she couldn’t remember in the bright light of day? “Are they horrible? What do you dream about?”
Jewel looked startled by the question. Rosie could scarcely believe she’d asked such a nosy, none-of-her-business type of thing.
“Sorry. I shouldn’t have asked.”
Turning to Jewel, Jericho gently put a hand on her shoulder. A dart of jealousy flew into Rosie’s chest before she could block it. Such silliness. What was wrong with her? She’d only known Jericho for about twenty-four hours. She simply could not have any feelings for him this fast. And besides, she’d been wanting to take Jewel’s hand for support herself.
“You don’t have to talk about this, Jewel,” Jericho told her. “It’s too personal.”
So Jericho knew about Jewel’s past. Maybe that was just normal for a small-town sheriff. Or maybe they shared something special between them.
“No, it’s okay.” Jewel tilted her head back to Rosie. “I’m a psychologist. We believe that the more you talk out your demons, the less hold they’ll have over you. So I don’t mind you asking.
“It’s all ancient history, anyway,” Jewel continued. “Not something I should be afraid about now. But I still have these nightmares that I…”
“I think I’d rather not remember the bad stuff,” Rosie blurted.
Jewel actually lifted the edges of her lips in a half smile. “Sometimes I wish I could have a little amnesia—just about this one thing from my past. But unfortunately, it was a too-real car accident. When I close my eyes, it still seems as clear to me today as it did when it happened a couple of years ago.”
“I’m so sorry,” Rosie wished she could drop into a hole and cover her head. She didn’t want to hear the details. “Were you injured?” she asked anyway.
The other woman sighed. “Yes. And hospitalized for a long time. But that wasn’t the worst of it. My fiancé had been driving us out on a date in my car that night. He was killed instantly—along with our unborn child. I…”
Rosie couldn’t stand to hear any more. She leaned forward in her seat and whispered, “But you’re a psychologist. Isn’t there something you can take to make you sleep without the nightmares?”
“No, there’s nothing you can take for nightmares,” Jewel told her with a note of familiarity that indicated she felt a bond to Rosie. “I’ve gotten in the habit of taking strolls around the ranch when I can’t sleep. It’s nice out—usually. The stillness of the night. The vastness of the stars in the heavens. The stock softly baying in their pens. Something about it soothes me. If you have bad dreams, you might try walking.”
“Absolutely not.” Jericho had been quietly listening to their conversation, but now he broke in. “And you need to stop going out alone after dark, too, Jewel.”
“Oh, Jericho…” Jewel began, skepticism showing in her voice.
“Listen to me,” he interrupted. “Remember, it wasn’t that long ago a body was found on Clay Colton’s ranch land—in a spot right adjacent to the Hopechest. And you—”
He turned to Rosie. “Just yesterday someone shot at you in front of a ton of people at the church. I’d rather you didn’t walk anywhere alone. If you need to walk, then let me know. I’ll be there to watch your back.”
Chapter 6
R osie’s eyes went wide, but then she ducked her head and quietly sipped her milk.
Okay, so maybe he’d come on a little strong. But the idea of anything else happening to Rosie had gotten him all riled up.
Jewel sat, looking down and ringing the edge of her cup with a finger. “I’ve invited my teenage half brother, Joe Colton, Jr., to come visit for a couple of weeks. I’m hoping the company will help, if that makes you feel any better, Jericho.”
An awkward silence spread over the table and Jericho decided he’d be better off to step away from it. He looked around the room and spotted a couple of county road workers that he might be able to question.
“You two be okay here?” he asked, but without expecting an answer. “I’ll take care of the bill. Y’all sit as long as you like. I’ll just be right over there.”
As he strode across the room, Jericho thought he heard the two women whispering behind his back. But he was glad Jewel had befriended Rosie. Jewel’s California sophistication seemed a better match to whatever Rosie had been in her past than his rural upbringing would ever be.
He was still trying to puzzle the mystery woman out. She wasn’t an outdoors girl, that’s for sure. Though, she had definitely taken to the dogs. Both old Shep and the collie puppy Chet nearly loved her to death when she’d stopped to pet them on the way to target practice this morning. He’d been left standing to the side, wishing he could’ve joined in the fun.
Whatever relationship was developing between him and Rosie had become a primal pull that he was having difficulty ignoring. But giving in to it just wasn’t like him. He’d always been a right-is-right kind of man.
After a few minutes of questioning the two county road workers as they ate their lunches and finding himself getting nowhere, Jericho was relieved to hear his name being called out. He turned to find the deputy coming his way.
“Glad I caught up to you, Sheriff.” Adam looked calm and cool, even though he’d just come in from the heat of the day. “I wanted to give you an update.”
Jericho thanked the road crew and found an empty table so he and the deputy could talk more privately. “Any of the missing persons reports seem promising?” he asked.
The deputy shook his head. “Sorry, boss. I went back through the files for the last six months but didn’t come up with anyone who even looked close to our mystery woman’s description.”
The waitress brought them glasses of water, but they declined anything else. “All right. That’s fine, Adam. We’ll keep checking around. When you get back to the office, why don’t you put out a bulletin to the neighboring counties concerning Rosie and her situation. Something should turn up shortly.
“What else did you get done on Rosie’s case today?” Jericho asked.
“I went on over to the feed-and-supply store like you said,” the deputy answered as he picked up his water glass. “By the way, your dad says to say ‘hey.’”
Jericho nodded, imagining his father’s Texas drawl and the casual way he always held his body to make sure everyone felt at home.
“And your brother Fisher asked about the wedding,” the deputy added. “I guess he’s staying with your father while he’s in town, right? Anyway, he wanted to know if the ceremony has been rescheduled. Told him it wasn’t any of my business.”
Chuckling to himself, Jericho could just imagine Fisher’s attitude with the deputy. “If a
nyone asks you again, Adam, you can say the bride has called the wedding off.”
“Yes, sir.” The deputy sipped his water. “I left word with your father to check with everyone who comes in the store to see if they can remember anything about the woman or that car.
“But I’m thinking now I’d better get back to the office,” Adam added. “On my way home later I’ll swing by the truck stop and check with a few of the drivers. See if anyone remembers seeing a woman with crazy red hair.”
“Fine. Good work. Something is bound to turn up eventually. Maybe by tomorrow.”
Jericho wasn’t exactly thrilled about having Rosie stay at his house for another night. Either Jewel or Macy probably would’ve taken her into their homes for a few days—and maybe he should’ve asked them for the help. But he’d rather not take the chance of putting anyone else in jeopardy. Someone was still after Rosie. He could feel it in his gut.
Having the mystery woman stay with the sheriff ought to keep her safe. No one would be crazy enough to attack her while she was with him.
Rosie sat back in her chair at the table as she listened to Jewel and Becky French, the café’s owner, discussing the first stages of a pregnancy. Maybe she ought to be more attentive to their discussion since she’d been the one to start the conversation by asking questions. But she couldn’t muster a whiff of interest in the subject.
In her mid-sixties, Becky was short and plump and seemed like the perfect embodiment of a grandmother. In fact, the first thing the woman had done when she sat down in Jericho’s place was to drag out pictures of her own grandchildren in order to show them off.
Something felt familiar about Becky. Rosie stared at her over the rim of her milk glass, willing herself to remember. But whatever had caused that spark of recognition in the first place blew away like a smoke trail in a strong wind.
Did she have her own grandmother somewhere who looked like this one?
Whenever a wisp of a half-remembered memory strayed just out of her reach, she immediately thought about not having anyone. The feeling of being all alone in the world overwhelmed her again and again with paralyzing fear.
What kind of person had she been? Did she have a big family? Lots of brothers and sisters, friends and neighbors? She could only hope that she’d at least been a good person. All that talk from those goons about her having stolen something was worrisome. Was she a thief?
She supposed that if she’d been dishonest the police would have some record on her. Perhaps the deputy had come up with something already. It was a scary idea, but at least then she would know who and what she was.
Looking toward the table where Jericho and his deputy were temporarily seated, Rosie wondered what they’d found out so far. If she was some kind of criminal, she wanted to know for sure. Even if that meant having to face justice somewhere.
She watched Jericho closely. Every single person she’d seen interacting with him so far seemed to have the ultimate regard for the man.
What she wouldn’t give to have people think of her in that same way. Was it possible she’d been like that in her previous life?
Maybe she would never remember who she had been before. Maybe they would never be able to put a name to her face. Then she could build an entirely new life. Starting from today.
If things went that way, Rosie wanted her new life to be like Jericho’s. She vowed to make every moment count from now on.
Jericho and Adam rose from their places and walked toward her table. As he came closer, Jericho looked so strong and dependable. It made her want to curl up in his lap and let him protect her from everything. From everybody.
She wanted him. Wanted him to be her sheriff and protector. Wanted him to help her build a new life and become her family. She just plain wanted him.
“Everything good over here, ladies?” Jericho grinned and straddled an empty chair to sit down. “Maybe we should be on our way if you’re done.”
“Y’all stay as long as you want,” Becky told him with a friendly smile.
“Well, that’s very nice of you,” Jewel said. “But I have to get back to work.”
Jericho turned to speak with Becky while Adam took Jewel’s elbow and walked with her toward the restaurant’s front door. Rosie was left sitting there. She got up and eased toward the door herself so she could bid Jewel goodbye, too.
“I was wondering if you might be willing to join me for supper this Friday night?” Rosie could hear Adam talking quietly to her new friend and she slowed her steps to give them a little privacy.
She couldn’t hear Jewel’s response, but the other woman was smiling sadly and shaking her head. Looked like Jewel must be turning the deputy down.
In the next second, Jewel turned and glanced longingly back at Rosie. She seemed to be asking for help.
Rosie walked over beside the other two. “I didn’t get a chance to say goodbye, Jewel. Wait up.”
Adam nodded his head at the interruption, excused himself and turned away to join the sheriff. Jewel hustled Rosie out the front door of the café so they could say goodbye and not be heard.
“Are you going out with him?” Rosie whispered.
“I can’t. I know it’s been almost two years since my fiancé died, and Adam seems like a nice enough guy. But I’m just not ready.”
Rosie felt terrible for her new friend. “You need to start living again, Jewel. Look at my circumstances. If I don’t find out who I am, I’m going to have to build an entire new life. And I won’t be able to do it by hiding my head—even if that’s what I’d rather do.
“If I can do it, so can you.” Suddenly, Rosie’s eyes welled with tears and she was forced to flick them away with the back of her hand.
Jewel took her other hand and squeezed. “You’re such a dear person. But I suspect you’re a lot stronger inside than I am. For me, it’s just too soon.”
Rosie felt ridiculous being so weepy all the time. Had she always been like that? She straightened up.
“I don’t know why I’m so emotional,” she told her new friend. “It doesn’t seem like I was that kind of person before. But how can I know for sure?”
Jewel patted her shoulder. “Maybe it’s because you’re pregnant. Anyway, that’s how I felt during my first few months, too. I cried at every little thing. Then after the accident…. Well, I can’t possibly have any tears left at this point. I must’ve cried an entire ocean.”
Rosie wanted to hug her friend, but her instinct told her to back off for now. “Maybe you’re right to be cautious about dating,” she hedged.
She should give herself the same advice. But with Jericho…Well, it was just different with him somehow. She felt like they’d known each other forever. And when it came down to reality, perhaps it would eventually turn out that her forever had started yesterday.
“I’d better go check and find out if Jericho wants to go,” she said quickly to change the subject. “Will I see you later?”
“I’m really busy at the ranch right now. But maybe Jericho can bring you out to see our operation and meet the kids sometime.”
Rosie hoped so. This life might not be her real life, but she was feeling more and more comfortable here and in her new skin.
She said goodbye to Jewel and then returned to the café—only to find Jericho and Adam donning their hats and getting ready to leave themselves. Jericho was still busy saying goodbye to Becky.
But the deputy turned to her and then slid a glance over her shoulder. “Did Jewel go already?”
The tint of a blush rode up Adam’s neck. Rosie thought the idea of the tough deputy having a crush on Jewel was sweet.
“Jewel said she had to go back to work, Adam.” The man’s crushed expression made her feel bad and urged her to keep on talking, hoping to take the sting out of his rejection. “Did you find out anything about my past so far?”
The deputy shook his head sadly and took her by the hand. “Sorry, ma’am. Nothing yet.”
Not as much a surprise as a wake-u
p call, she found that Adam’s hand in hers lacked the same energy as Jericho’s. There was no zing with the deputy. No sizzle.
“I wish there was something I could do to help,” she said. Then she thought of those goons’ scary words about stealing and quickly decided it was time for her to push the issue, even if it meant learning an unfortunate truth. “Have you checked to see if I’m wanted by the police somewhere?”
The deputy reared his head back slightly, narrowed his eyes and dropped her hand. “No, ma’am. Should we?”
She opened her mouth to say yes when suddenly Jericho stepped in close and answered for her. “We’ve been operating under the assumption that she’s the victim, deputy. And I still believe that’ll turn out to be the case. But maybe we should cover all the bases. Rosie and I will come back to the office on our way out to my cabin and let you take her prints and a mug shot. Then run them through the Texas system and also through AFIS.”
Jericho’s eyes were dark and bright as he watched her closely. He looked dangerous as hell. Rosie really hoped she wasn’t on the other side of the law from this man. He was probably deadly against his enemies. And she would much rather remain his friend.
The deputy nodded curtly and went on his way.
Jericho took a deep, cleansing breath. He was trying his best to get his inappropriate jealousy under control. When he’d turned and found Adam’s hand on Rosie, his temperature had flared. But feeling this possessive of a mystery woman was just insane. What if she turned out to be a criminal and was faking the amnesia?
No, his gut told him that wasn’t right. She couldn’t possibly be anything but a victim. Her eyes said that much.
“Come on,” he told her.
As he took her elbow, electricity ripped through his hand. His fingertips burned with the mere touch of her skin. He felt more alive and dynamic standing next to this woman than he had in longer than he could ever remember.
“Let’s go back to the station and get this over with,” he said gruffly. “Then I think we’ll stop out by my dad’s store on the way back to the cabin. Okay by you?”
