It’d taken far too long to get up the courage to return there. He pulled his baseball cap down, steadied his breath and closed his eyes, willing his other senses to bring back some sort of memory. A sound that would trigger something. The light touch of the breeze. A scent that had also been there that morning. Anything.
Please.
But nothing happened. And after a few minutes, his stomach growled, no longer able to ignore the scents of breakfast in full swing inside the diner.
It was probably for the best. The walk over to Dolly’s had been enlightening. He’d seen two news vans camped out across the street from Montgomery Defense. Whoever was inside those vans was absolutely terrible at stakeouts, becauseStone walked right out of the office and down the street without a single tail or confrontation.
Mae was going to kick his ass when he got back. But there was something simmering deep in the pit of his stomach… something that screamed he just needed to find the right thing to trigger his memories. And then he would know. They’d have a face. Maybe Stone knew the person. It had to be all connected, and he knew the key to everything was locked away in his broken mind.
Stone walked inside and slipped through the door, smiling as the chime of the bell had Dolly’s head swinging over to look at him.
“There he is!” She laughed as she made her way around the counter. Dolly was one of his favorite people in Silver Springs, and being around her just really reminded him of his own mother. It didn’t hurt that she loved to feed him pie. And Stone was happy to take all the slices Dolly could dish out to him. “Oh, honey, I’m so happy to see you here.”
“Shh, Doll. I’m happy to be here, but we gotta keep it quiet. Mae will tie me to the bed if she finds out I left the apartment.”
“I get it.” Dolly patted his arm. “But I wouldn’t blame her for tying you up, sugar. A body like that… If I was your girl, I’d do the same thing. Nothing like some fast and hard cardio to really get you back in good shape.”
“Mom!” Lachlan Ford, one of Dolly’s countless sons and the town’s only mechanic, barked from the counter. “God, I didn’t need that image in my mind this morning.”
“Oh, hush, Lach. How do you think I became your mama? You aren’t adopted. And I’m no less of a woman just because I got married and had kids.”
Lachlan ran his hand over his face and grimaced before getting down off his stool. “Of course not,Ma.” He pressed a kiss to her cheek. “I’m gonna go get a cup of coffee to go from the kitchen and head up to the shop.”
Before he left, Lachlan’s hand stretched out to Stone. “We’re all really glad you’re okay. You need anything, just say so.”
“Thanks, man.” Stone shook his hand and took over the stool he’d been sitting on.
“Oh, wait!” Dolly waved at her son while reaching into her apron pocket. “Did you drive here this morning, sugar?” she asked Stone.
“No, I walked.”
“Lachlan, honey, I had your father put some jugs of water from the springs in the back of the truck this morning. Will you drive it over to Montgomery Defense and just let them know it’s for Stone to drink?”
Lach smiled as Dolly tossed him a set of keys. “Sure thing, Ma.”
“Water from the springs?”
“Goodness, don’t tell me you haven’t been keeping up with your town lore!”
“No, Dolly, I have. I forgot about the springs… What's everyone say? They’re magic, right?”
Dolly laughed. “Not magic.Healing. The water in the springs on our ranch will cure whatever ails you. Gunshot wounds and all. I sent some down to the hospital with Colt while you were still getting your beauty rest in that dramatic coma of yours. ”
Mae.
She needed it more than him, now. He’d take the water, but she’d be the one drinking it. If it could help bring him out of a coma, then it could certainly help heal her broken heart.
“I appreciate you thinking of me.” Stone swallowed past the lump in his throat.
Jessie, Dolly’s daughter, came out of the kitchen and made a beeline for him.
“Stone! Are you sticking around for breakfast?”
“I think I will. Can I get a veggie omelet and a cup of coffee?”
“Of course.” Jessie smiled. “I’m really glad you’re doing better. We were all praying for you. And I’m glad you still want to come in here…” Her eyes went over his shoulder, growing wide as she looked out the big window that sat at the front of the diner.
“I love this place. You think anything would stop me from getting a slice of your mom’s pie?”
