“Aye,” he lied. “I’m fine, lass.” He took his first really good look around. Endless forest spread out before him, split by a narrow road blocked by a fallen tree. Gus, filthy and mud spattered, danced at his side, his tail a blur.
He turned his gaze to Brie.Lovely.Mud and all. The deep blue eyes he’d stared into earlier were even more arresting as part of a whole image. Flaxen, mud-speckled hair curled past her shoulders. Pink-blushed skin. Perfect mouth. He couldna imagine forgetting her if he’d known her before…
Before what?
The disturbing, unanswered questions came again, swirling faster, with ever increasing aggravation.
Gathering his strength, working with all the coordination he could muster, he managed to shift onto one knee, pausing momentarily for the dizziness to abate, then leaned on the rocks to steady himself as he slowly stood. Though a bit wobbly, he felt tremendously relieved to be off the bloody rocks and standing under his own power. Almost.
“This way.” Brie said, guiding him toward her noisy contrivance. Her arm wrapped his waist, as if she could actually hold him, should he start to tumble. It alarmed him to think he might fall and take her with him. Though her head came almost to his chin, she seemed such a wee bit of a thing. He feared his weight alone could crush her.
’Twas comforting to have her so close. He missed her touch as soon as she released him to lean against the long black seat of the rumbling noisemaker. He yearned to ask her to make it cease, but refrained.
“Sit here, and when you’re ready, we’ll put you on.” She glanced toward the back where she’d tied a slab of wood. “I don’t think the sled is a viable option.”She pulled a container from beneath it, removed the top and handed it to him. “Take a drink while you get your bearings. How are you feeling?”
He took several long swallows, sure water had never tasted so good. At least he imagined no’. How strange to no’ even ken that much. “I’m well, thank ye, lass. Just a wee bit of a headache but otherwise in fine fettle.” Thankfully, the glasses she’d given him, hid the lie in his eyes. ’Twould be grand if his head would just explode and get it over with. And surely his cramped and twisted back muscles, would soon give up nettling him? But he wasna so confident about the beastly kink in his neck.
Gus turned a circle at his feet, tongue lolling and tail wagging. “I dinna ken how to thank ye, Brie. Ye, and Gus, for helping me.”He handed the bottle back and looked down at his simple attire. Longshirt, jacket, plaid, belt and sporran—empty, by the weight of it. “I’ve naught tae offer ye, but if there is something I can do in return? Wood for yer fire? Whatever ye need, I’m at yer service.”
“Don’t be silly,” Brie said. “Let’s just focus on getting you fixed up for now. Swing your leg over that seat and then move back a little.” Once he was settled, she slid in front of him. “Hold on.”
“Tae what?”
She laughed, a light, melodious sound that drifted over them and into the trees. “Whatever you want. That small rail behind you. Me. Whatever is comfortable. We haven’t far to go, and we’ll take it slow and easy.”
He slipped his arms around her narrow waist, his chest brushing her back as he inhaled her soft scent. Despite the horrid contraption, he’d almost be willing to stay this way for a while, if his head would just roll off his shoulders and leave him be.
“I’m afraid this road might be impassible for several days,” she said over her shoulder. “Depending, of course, on the weather. The clay is much worse further down, so until that section of the road is completely dry, even this 4-wheeler couldn’t get us through. Hopefully, by the time I can get that tree cleared out of the way, the road will be dry, we’ll have you fixed up, feeling better and ready to get back to your life and family.”
CHAPTER FOUR
“Thank ye, lass. I feel steadier now. I can make it.” He’d held tightly to Brie as he climbed off her wheeled machine.
“The last thing you need is another fall,” Brie protested, slipping her arm about his waist. “Just up these few stairs, and onto the deck.”
“Aye, then.” He laid his hand on her slim shoulder, careful not to put too much weight on her. Even with a faulty memory and monstrous headache, he wasna fool enough to refuse having her so close.
As she unlocked the door and ushered him inside, he suddenly wondered if there was someone else he’d desired to keep close. ’Twas a strange sensation, wondering if he should be missing something,or someone, that may no’ even exist. He wasna a monk—at least he dinna think so, by the look of his clothes and the way he’d responded to Brie—so would there no’ likely be someone he’d cared aboutin the world he couldna remember? If he belonged to another, would he still feel this attraction to Brie?
If he could just remove the pressure in his head, surely his memory would return. ’Twas just the pain squeezing it out. He must be careful no’ to let his appreciation for Brie’s beauty and his gratitude for her kindness overpower his reason.
’Twas but a temporary situation he found himself in, and just as the lass had pointed out, he’d be here until the road dried out, then he would find his way back to his own life. Hisreallife. He just wished he could remember where that was and who the people were in it. He’d had friends, surely. Even if he was a complete blackguard, there’d be someone, would there no’? ’Twas alarming that a man couldna even ken that much about himself.
“Go lay down, Gus, so you don’t track mud all over.” Brie said as the dog bounded past them and noisily lapped water from a bowl on the floor.
Brie cupped his elbow and guided him toward a plank table with benches on either side. “And you can sit here, while I get rid of my filthy boots.”
Cautiously, he removed Brie’s darkening eyeglasses and set them on the table, grateful to be inside, free of the glare of the sun. While he glanced around the cabin, she slipped her boots off, set them outside the door and padded back to stand beside him.
“While I get a better look at this wound, you can tell me your name. You never said what it was.”
Realizing he dinna ken was bad enough, but admitting it out loud somehow made him feel…weak. But he wouldna repay Brie’s kindness with deception. “ ’Tis truly a strange circumstance, but I dinna ken my name. It seems I dinna recall anything before awakening tae ye and Gus.”
He sat as still as possible, letting her probe and poke at the back of his head, while he probed and poked at his memory. But ’twas no use. No’ even the slightest wisp of a recollection surfaced. He tried to replace his disappointment with gratitude for Brie’s kindness and care, and a warm place to recover, but he couldna quite push his frustration away.
“I sensed as much but wasn’t sure,” Brie replied. “So, why don’t we just pick something until you remember so I’m not saying‘hey, you’all the time? Any preferences?”
He thought for a minute, but nothing came to mind. “Nae.”
