“How did you break your ribs?”
“The first time was bull riding, and the second time, I was thrown from a headstrong mustang and took a hoof to the ribs.”
Emily grimaced. “Ouch. I thought you were a rancher, not a rodeo cowboy.”
“I was born and raised on the ranch. But I had to have something to keep me from getting bored at college, so I did the amateur rodeo for fun.” He crossed the room and sat in the chair.
“Do I detect a hint of a limp in your walk that wasn’t there this morning?”
“You’re observant.” He pointed at his left thigh. “I got kicked by the spawn of Satan.”
Emily laughed then winced, putting her hand to her ribs again.
“Actually, it was the son of Zeus. I’m pretty sure I misnamed his sire though. Zeus is the most stubborn horse I’ve ever worked with, and his son, Hercules, is every bit as bad.” Jake bit his tongue. He wasn’t usually this talkative. He’d better change the subject or he’d end up telling her he got kicked because he wasn’t paying attention. He’d been thinking about her instead. He cleared his throat. “So, Robert said your name is Emily Anderson? Did the name spark any memories for you?”
She scowled. “No. Before he came, I had almost started to think my name was Leah, because it felt familiar. But apparently, that’s my mother’s name.”
“So, you sort of remembered your mother’s name. That’s a good sign, isn’t it?”
“Maybe. But I don’t remember her at all.” Her eyes glistened, and she blinked away the tears.
“I can’t imagine how frustrated you must feel.”
Emily smiled, though it looked forced. “I have learned, however, that I don’t like green gelatin.” She pointed to the uneaten blob on the dinner tray near her bed.
Jake looked at the tray. The gelatin wasn’t the only thing she hadn’t eaten.
“I’m not a fan of gelatin either, green or otherwise.”
“What’s your favorite food? I’d tell you mine, but...” She shrugged.
“Well, I like food in general, but ice cream is my weakness.”
“I like ice cream.” She wrinkled her brow in concentration then winced. “I think. It sounds good anyway.”
He scooted to the edge of his chair. “What flavor do you think you’d like?”
“Hmm... chocolate, but not plain chocolate. I like chocolate with chunks of chocolate, like brownies and stuff.” She frowned. “It’s weird how I know that, but I have no specific memory attached to the knowledge.”
“That is strange. Chocolate with chocolate huh? I’ll be back in a few minutes.” Jake stood, slipping his hat on as he walked from the room.
He was glad Dale took his job seriously and had returned to the chair outside Emily’s room already. It would have felt wrong leaving her unprotected to make an ice cream run.
He smiled at Dale. “I’ll be back in a bit.”
Jogging out the front door and to his truck, he drove to Providence’s one and only grocery store. He quickly selected two pints of the richest chocolate ice cream he could find, then grabbed a third one—for Dale.
He paused at the nurses’ station when he arrived back at the hospital to ask for three spoons. Dale gave him a big grin when Jake handed over the ice cream. But Jake’s true reward was the smile that split Emily’s face when he walked into her room. The depth of her dimples was a dead giveaway to her feelings.
“You bought ice cream?”
“The chocolatiest I could find.” Jake took the lid off one and stuck a spoon in before handing it to her. Then he took his and sat in the chair again.
“I like a man who knows what he likes and doesn’t hesitate to go for it.” She wrinkled her brow, again. “At least, I think I do.”
Jake chuckled. “It sounds like you have all kinds of surprises to look forward to.”
“That’s one way of looking at it.” Then changing the subject, she said, “You know, you don’t sound like a cowboy.”
