Never had she had such vivid dreams, at least none that she could remember. There had been a sense of reality about these dreams that disturbed her. Werethey merely her mind’s imagination creating dream images, or were they fragments of memories trying to resurface?
Brook’s mewling broke through Colette’s thoughts and she untangled herself from the sheets and went over to the crib. “Hi, sweet baby,” she greeted, ignoring screaming muscles as she reached into the crib and picked up Brook.
The baby girl immediately quit fussing and instead snuggled into Colette’s body warmth. “Are you hungry?” Colette whispered as she left her room and padded down the hallway toward the kitchen. Usually Brook took a bottle immediately upon awakening, then went back to sleep for a couple of hours, allowing Colette to enjoy a later breakfast in leisure.
As she walked into the kitchen, she jumped, startled to find Abby already there. “Whew, you scared me to death,” Colette exclaimed. “What are you doing up so early?”
Abby shrugged and raked a hand through her short hair. “I don’t know. I had trouble sleeping last night.” She gestured to the baby. “I’ll hold her while you make the bottle.” Colette nodded and handed Brook to her, then went to the refrigerator for the formula. “If you want to make yourself some of my special blend hot chocolate, the mix is in the container by the flour canister.”
Colette shook her head. “No, thanks.” She eyed her sister. “Something bothering you that’s making sleep difficult?”
Abby grinned ruefully. “Bulldog has taught Cody to spit through his teeth, I can’t get the books to balance, and our group of guests who left late last night took half a dozen towels with them.”
“You’re kidding?” Colette grinned teasingly. “Cody can really spit through his teeth?”
Abby laughed. “That’s the easiest problem to fix. I intend to wring Bulldog’s neck. And speaking of body parts, how are you feeling this morning?”
“Still sore.” Colette took Brook into her arms and sat to feed her a bottle.
“I can’t believe you had such a close call and none of us even knew it had happened.”
Colette nodded, grateful she hadn’t told Abby that it might not have been an accident. She didn’t want to add to Abby’s burdens especially when she herself wasn’t sure exactly what had happened on the top of that butte. “So, what are the plans for today?” Colette asked as Brook ate hungrily.
“Absolutely nothing. Belinda told me last night she’s going into town as soon as she wakes up. I promised Cody a day of fishing and Maria left this morning for a two-week vacation. With the guests gone, I think we all deserve a day of relaxation. You’re welcome to come with me and Cody to the pond.”
Colette shook her head. “I think I’ll pass.” She couldn’t explain why, but since the accident at the butte, she’d been reluctant to leave the house for any reason. She especially wasn’t anxious to see Hank again. It was irritating enough that he’d so completely invaded her dreams. “Brook and I will be just fine spending a quiet day right here.”
“Well, I’m going to go shower. If I know Cody,the minute his feet hit the floor he’ll be ready to go.” Abby stood and carried her cup to the dishwasher.
“With Maria gone on vacation, do you want me to do something about supper?”
“No, just do whatever you want for yourself. I imagine Cody will talk me into heading into Cheyenne for pizza or burgers.” As she walked out of the room, she paused long enough to plant a kiss on Brook’s forehead, then headed to her bedroom.
Colette finished feeding Brook, then went to her room. It was after nine when she left her room and went to the kitchen for coffee and some toast. She’d given Brook a long, leisurely bath and played with her until the little girl had fallen asleep.
As she waited for fresh coffee to drip through the machine, she noted that the house radiated an unnatural silence around her. Apparently everyone had left for their day off. She belted the silk robe around her more tightly, grateful that Belinda and Abby had been generous in sharing their clothes. The suitcase Colette had arrived with had been pitifully thin, holding only a single pair of leggings, several oversize T-shirts and some underwear.
Surely she’d had more things in her life in California. Where were they? What had happened to her clothes, her personal items? What had happened to her life?
Pouring herself a cup of coffee, she shoved away thoughts of her forgotten past, knowing it was useless to obsess. Obsession wouldn’t bring back her memory.
After fixing herself two slices of toast, she sankinto a chair at the table, nibbling on the toast, sipping her coffee and wondering what the future held.
Would she grow old without her memories? Someday would she have to tell her daughter that she couldn’t share her memories of childhood because she had none? How depressing it would be to never recover the memories of family togetherness, of happy days with her sisters, of love. How sad not to remember the man who had fathered Brook, not to possess a single memory of their union.
And what of the other memories? The ones that had nothing to do with family or love…the ones that caused a sense of danger inside her, the ones of her time in California.
She jumped as she heard the sound of a door opening, then closing. It had sounded as though it might be the front door. She stood, wondering if perhaps Abby or Belinda had returned for some reason.
Her breath caught in her chest as Hank appeared in the kitchen doorway. Clad in his usual attire of worn, tight jeans and a black T-shirt, he looked dangerously masculine. “Wha-what are you doing in here?” she asked.
“I saw your sister as she was leaving with Cody and asked how you were feeling. She told me to feel free to come in and ask you myself.”
Colette stifled a groan. Was Abby playing matchmaker? Certainly the last thing Colette needed was for her sister to try to push her into a romantic entanglement. “I feel just fine, and you could have knocked before you came in.”
“I did. I thought I heard you holler ‘come in.”’
His look was all innocence, but again Colette hadthe feeling it was another lie. And his lies intrigued her because she didn’t understand the reason for them. “That coffee sure smells good, much better than the stuff we drink in the bunkhouse.”
