Emily looked at Faith’s jeans, t-shirt, and cowboy boots. Something told her Faith had played her and Jake.
Faith paused halfway through the swinging door and looked over her shoulder with a gleam in her eye. “Jake, would you saddle Pearl for me after you get Emily settled on the porch?”
A few minutes later, Jake lifted Emily from the wheelchair. Warmth enveloped her as his strong arms wrapped around her. His heady, masculine scent mingled with horses surrounded her. Her pulse raced as his gaze held hers for a moment before depositing her on the lounge chair.
He cleared his throat. “Can I get you anything?”
Breathe.She smiled at him. “I’m fine, thank you.”
Jake pointed to the window behind her. “That’s my office. I’ll open my window so I can hear you if you need anything.” He turned and entered the house.
Emily took a deep breath. Trying to ignore the attraction she felt for Jake, she willed herself to relax. Becoming attached to someone when she didn’t even know who she was was not a good idea.
Blocking out the ache in her skull and ribs, she laid her head back and focused on her surroundings. A light breeze stirred the hem of her cotton summer dress, carrying with it the scent of fresh-cut alfalfa and the unmistakable odor of animals and hard work. The occasional clank of a metal gate, lowing of cattle, and shout of a man attested to the work taking place behind the ranch house.
She closed her eyes, pondering the peace that permeated her soul. She didn’t know who she was or even where she was, but she felt safe in this place with these people.
The window behind her opened and she knew Jake was in his office. A twinge of guilt gnawed at her. He didn’t strike her as the type to be content behind a desk when work needed to be done outside. According to Faith, Jake hated paperwork.
Was he doing it now because she’d sent him a plea for help?
Emily admired Jake’s relationship with Faith. His respect and affection for his mother was clear in everything he did. She tried to remember her own parents.Am I close to them? Are they worried about me?
Her chest tightened, and a heaviness settled over her. Nothing. She couldn’t remember a single thing before waking up in the hospital. What had happened to make her block everything out?
Emily looked toward the highway where a black SUV had stopped near the Double Diamond’s front gate. Struggling to see it through the trees near the lane’s entrance, she leaned to her right, hoping to get a better look. The SUV backed up a few yards, giving her a clearer view. A large man with dark hair climbed out.
The memory of the gray interior of an SUV hit her. Her breath hitched as a man’s voice from the front of the vehicle pierced her consciousness.
“Boss said find out what she knows, then take care of her. We need to destroy the evidence.”
Emily’s heart thundered against her ribs.I remembered something.Something terrifying. Something she wished she hadn’t remembered.
“Ja-Jake.”
Jake must have heard the panic in her voice because he came through the front door seconds after she called his name.
“What’s wrong?”
Emily’s hand trembled as she pointed at the black SUV. “I re-remember something a-about that SUV.” Her voice shook as badly as her hand.
Jake squinted at the vehicle, then he scooped her up in his arms and carried her inside.
She bit her tongue to keep from crying out at the pain his hasty movements created in her ribs. Before she knew it, he’d deposited her, less gently than usual, on the couch and gone into his office. Moments later, he walked out carrying a hunting rifle with a scope.
“What are you doing with the gun?”
“Taking a closer look,” he called over his shoulder as he stepped out the front door.
Emily tensed, waiting for him to return.He won’t shoot the man, will he?Did the man mean her harm? Relief flooded over her when Jake walked back into the house.
He set down the rifle near the door and pulled out his cell phone.
“Did you see anything?” she asked.
“Not much. The guy was looking at the house through binoculars. When he saw me point a rifle his direction, he got in his vehicle and drove away.” Then, speaking into his phone, he said, “Robert, come out to the ranch, quick.” He ended the call without an explanation or giving Robert time to argue. He sat beside her. “Are you okay?”
Emily nodded, still shaken.
