Page 24 of Sheltered by the Lawman

“It is pretty good.”

“We don’t want to forget the salad. Out here on the ranch we need vegetables to stay strong.” He first spooned her out some onto her plate, then he helped himself.

She slid her finger through the condensation of her tea glass. “There’s not a whole lot to do around here as far as cleaning so I was wondering do you think there’s something I could do to help on the land? I believe I’m a fast learner and I’m not afraid of hard work.”

He hesitated for three seconds before giving a little shrug. This was an opportunity to get to know her better…but only to pick her brain to figure out who wanted her dead of course. “Have you ever milked a cow? Mucked stalls? Brushed a horse?” When she lowered her eyes, he said, “You probably don’t remember.”

“No, I don’t, but honestly I don’t think I’ve ever done any of those things.”

“Good news is, those chores are easy to learn. You just need someone to show you the ropes.” He munched on a cherry tomato.

“I’ve already asked enough—”

“You haven’t asked anything. We’ve offered. Just like I’m offering to show you around the ranch.”

Her chin popped up and her eyes widened. “I couldn’t—I mean, you’re busy. I wouldn’t want you to take more time out of your schedule. Maybe a hand could show me.”

“I make my own schedule.” He couldn’t tell her that since he’d brought her to the ranch he hadn’t taken on any more jobs. “I wouldn’t mind showing you what it’s like to work a ranch, but I’ll warn you, it can be a messy job. You’ll find out why a cowboy is always dirty.”

Her smile lit her eyes. “I’d love to learn.”

“Then it’s a date.” Realizing what he said, he cleared his throat. “Life on a ranch starts early. Sunrise. Are you sure you want to take this on?”

“I’m sure.”

Her eyes crinkled when she smiled. He’d pay about anything to see that smile more often. His heart kicked up and his body tightened. He’d also pay about anything to bend her over right here at the dinner table and release some of his pent-up energy. He dragged his attention back to his plate and chomped on more lasagna. This wasn’t just any guest, but a woman who was wanted for questioning in a man’s murder. Although Deke knew that Cull brought Monica to the ranch, what Deke didn’t know was that she had memory loss. Cull had simply told him that she was hurt from the incident and needed some time to recoup before she was released in Deke’s custody. Deke had agreed to give Cull some leeway, even offered to pick her up from the ranch, but Cull wasn’t ready yet. Once a man was shot at, even if the bullet wasn’t meant for him, he had to find out who the shooter was, and Deke understood that all too well.

“Any more flashbacks?” he asked. What happened if she suddenly got her memory back? How would that switch things up? Rightly so, he would have to hand her over…wouldn’t he? He wasn’t the judge and jury, so he couldn’t decide whether she was guilty or innocent. His role was to take her in so she could plead her case. Answer important questions. Deke would take care of her, see that she was handled fairly.

“Some, but nothing that makes sense.” She rolled her finger around the rim of her glass. “It’s like watching ten seconds of a movie and hoping to understand the plot. There are times I feel something familiar, like déjà vu, but the feelings and images never develop into anything, at least nothing helpful. They could even be false memories. For instance, the poker you used on the fire in the woodstove. It flashed in my head, and I wondered if that’s what I had been hit with, but then I realized my mind had taken me down a wrong path.”

“It’s only been a few days. Give it some time. How are the headaches?”

“I’ve battled a few, but your mom gave me a magical salve that I rub on my temples and it works. She said it was made with tea tree oil and a few other natural ingredients. It could have been made with pig’s fat and I still would have lathered it on because it worked so well.” She chuckled.

“I hated when she’d use that stuff on my wounds when I was a kid. Nothing like going to school smelling like a walking essential oil. Let me take a look at it your head to see if the stitches are dissolving.” She seemed like she was ready to deny him, but he smiled. “If it helps, my brothers and I have all been trained in medical.”

“I trust you,” she said softly.

Those three little words could have easily been a lengthy speech on what she liked about him. However, what followed was a stab of guilt. If she knew his goal she’d probably feel violated—betrayed. Cull’s intentions weren’t to take advantage of her, but to do what was right. What was the right thing? He wasn’t sure. Instinct warned him there was more to the story than met the eye and without her memory intact, she couldn’t help him understand what was missing.

Stepping around to stand behind her chair, he pulled her hair back to see her forehead. Her hair felt like strands of silk in his palm and a tingle ran up his arm. “You’re healing great.” He looked down and that’s when he saw the fading finger bruises on her collarbone. It was the color of a ripe blueberry and about the size of a grape. The hair on his arms lifted and anger shot through him. This had to be leftovers from her attacker. If only fingerprints could be lifted off skin. Cull had hit a rock wall in finding the attacker. All the evidence in the apartment had been destroyed in the fire. There were no witnesses, no one who saw anyone suspicious coming and going.

Cull thought he had shot the attacker, but if he’d gone to any hospital or doctor’s office they would have reported the bullet wound and no reports had come in.

He’d spoken with some of the staff from the motel where Yates was murdered and still nothing. The staff member who found Yates dead had quit and Cull couldn’t find her.

“What’s wrong?” She looked up at him, curiosity lighting her green eyes.

“The bruise on your neck. I’m guessing it wasn’t there before the fire.”

She touched that spot on her skin. Her nails were short and neat and her fingers slender, exceptionally slender next to the large one imprinted in her skin. “I have several cuts and bruises.”

“The cut on your head is better. You have a good-sized bump left, but it’s healing.” He allowed her hair to fall back onto her forehead.

“What can I do to help find someone who knows me, someone who can possibly fill in the blanks of my life? Put up flyers? Speak to the police? There must be something I can do.”

He heard the unsteadiness in her voice. Drawing attention to her could have the attacker swarming the Cade ranch. “I know it’s difficult to sit back and wait, but we have to be careful. If we put your face out there, the man who did this could find you.” He sat back down in his chair.

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