Robert carried his empty plate to the sink. “Thanks for dinner.” He gave Lottie a hug then turned to Jake. “Are you interested in coming to the hospital in the morning to see if she remembers anything?”
“I probably shouldn’t since I have a ton of work to do, but I am curious.” A part of him felt guilty for leaving her.
“I bet you are,” Robert said with a wink. “Underneath all those bruises and bandages, she’s kind of pretty, isn’t she?”
“Yeah, she is.”
Robert laughed.
Jake had walked right into Robert’s trap. He ignored his brother’s laughter. “I feel kind of responsible for her. I mean, she was pretty much dumped on my doorstep. Until we find out who she is, she won’t have any family around to worry about her.”
“Sounds like you’re offering to worry about her,” Robert said with another chuckle. “You always were a softy for strays.”
Jake didn’t bother denying it. He’d always had a soft spot for those in need.
Robert sobered. “She sure looked scared when she realized she couldn’t remember anything.” Jake nodded, and Robert clapped him on the shoulder. “I’m sure she’ll appreciate your concern. I’ll call you before I head to the hospital in the morning. You can meet me there.”
Jake nodded and walked Robert to the door.
Will the woman want me there?
Chapter 3
The woman in the hospital bed didn’t know whether to scowl or smile when the same doctor from yesterday entered her room. She recognized him. That was good, but she still couldn’t remember anything else.
She didn’t know who or where she was. They said she’d been in a car accident, but no one had given her any details.
Were others injured too? Was the accident her fault? She had so many questions and no answers.
Everyone expected her to have the answers, but she didn’t. Her mind was a complete blank, and that terrified her. Her memories were limited to this doctor and an attractive sheriff—eager to ask her questions. The doctor had prevented that.
She also remembered another tall, broad-shouldered, good-looking man with dark hair and warm brown eyes, who looked a lot like the sheriff.Should I have recognized him?She doubted she could ever forget a man as handsome as that. Was he her husband? A pleasant sensation rippled through her abdomen at the thought.
No. He would have stayed and shown more concern if he was my husband.
The doctor checked her vitals. “How are you feeling this morning?”
Despite being middle age, the doctor was a very attractive man. His sandy-brown hair, graying at the temples, lent him a distinguished air. His kind eyes and mouth seemed always on the verge of a smile.
“About the same as yesterday, I guess. I hurt everywhere and I still can’t remember anything.”
He pulled out a penlight and checked her eyes. “Tell me the last thing youdoremember.”
“I remember you telling me I was in an accident. I remember the sheriff being here and another man. Who was he? Do I know him?”
“That other young man was my nephew, Jake Winters. The accident happened out by his ranch. He rode here in the ambulance with you. The sheriff is also my nephew, and Jake’s brother.”
That’s why they looked so much alike. But why had Jake ridden in the ambulance with her?
The doctor continued asking her simple questions, as he tested her reflexes. She didn’t have answers to any of them.
“Do you remember us discussing your injuries yesterday?”
She scowled, causing her stitches to pull. “Yes.”
A broken tibia requiring a cast up to the middle of her thigh, a broken radius resulting in a cast that ended a few inches above her elbow, two broken ribs that killed every time she took a deep breath, a head wound that required ten stitches, and a concussion.
No wonder my head hurts so bad.
