Page 9 of Shrouded Past

A smile that didn’t really reach his eyes lifted the corners of his mouth. “Give me a second to bring in the groceries from the truck and then I’ll fix us something.”

He rose and stepped away. The fire beckoned. Piper used her good hand to assist in standing. She stood in front of its warmth and fought tears that wouldn’t be denied any longer.

For three years, she’d lived in a ten-by-ten room with onlyhimfor company. Though he’d never hurt her, she hated being a prisoner. Hated not knowing anything about her past. When she’d woken, Piper realized she had a serious head injury, as if something had been slammed against the back of her head. She’d been in a fog for weeks. In and out of consciousness. Eventually her thoughts cleared, but the past never returned.

She’d asked Protector on several occasions to tell her about who she was. He’d refused and insisted it was best that she didn’t remember. Safer if she didn’t know where she’d come from. What she’d done. That had scared her more than anything. What was hidden in her past that had made him snatch her up and keep her locked away like he had?

A door closed near the kitchen. Piper scrubbed the back of her hand over her eyes.

Somewhere close to the sofa, a soft meow had her turning. A white wisp flew past her peripheral vision, heading toward the kitchen. A kitten. Bryce had a little kitty. She smiled at the image of this rugged cowboy who had saved her caring for such a small, delicate creature.

When she’d gotten herself together, she went to the kitchen where Bryce finished unloading the bags. He glanced up as she entered. Seeing him in the light from the overhead, Piper realized he was a handsome man. The thought snatched the breath from her body.

“Why don’t I get you something to change into so you can get cleaned up.” Bryce left the kitchen and returned carrying some sweats. “Bathroom’s first door on the right.” He crooked a thumb in the direction he’d come.

Piper opened the door he’d indicated and went inside. The shock of seeing the extent of her injuries was frightening.

Her huge luminous eyes were pools of light against her pale bandaged face. Her hair had matted with blood. Her clothes were covered in it.

Piper turned away. She stripped off the soiled clothes and did her best to shower without getting the bandages soaked.

Cleaning her hair felt like heaven. The warmth of the water washed some of her fear away. She put on the sweats that swallowed her up, grateful for their warmth.

The woman in the mirror appeared somewhat less scary. She shook her head and left the bathroom carrying her blood-soaked clothes.

Bryce spotted her, his eyes widened at the obvious difference in appearance.

“Here, I’ll take those.” He grabbed a clean trash bag and placed her clothes inside before sticking the bag under the sink. “Make yourself at home. Excuse the mess. I’m in the process of doing some repairs.”

That explained the cabinets sitting on the floor. The scent of stain. Wood shavings scattered near the projects.

“I made some soup yesterday. I thought I’d warm it up.” He waited for her to say something.

“Sounds good.” She slowly moved toward the island in the middle of the kitchen and noticed the kitten rubbing against Bryce’s legs. “You have a cat.”

He faked a grimace and then chuckled. “More like she’s got me.” He shook his head and filled the kitten’s food bowl. “I found her when I first arrived on the island. We’ve kind of taken up with each other. Meet Bella the Brave.”

Piper drew her brows together. “Bella the Brave?” There had to be a story.

“Bella’s a survivor. I’m guessing her mother may have died or she was abandoned here. She’d been living off scraps from my trash for a while before I realized it. Bella was the first friend I made when I moved from Wyoming. She and I have a lot in common.”

Bryce had a story too. That would explain why a cowboy from Wyoming ended up in Maine. Maybe his story wasn’t as horrific as hers, but it was dark. She could almost feel it weighing him down.

“Bella is adorable.” She’d had a cat once . . . Wait, was that a memory returning or just something her damaged brain created to fill in the gaps?

Protector had no pets. He’d said once he didn’t like cleaning litter boxes. So, if the memory wasn’t from him then maybe something from her past was finally returning.

“Are you okay?”

She looked up and realized Bryce was watching her again. Seeing the confusion. Wondering what she hadn’t told him.

“Yes, sorry. Just thinking about Bella. She’s a very brave kitten.”

He grunted an answer and then pulled a pot from the fridge. “Hope you like it thick. I made it using some of the frozen elk meat I brought with me from Wyoming.”

He’d opened the door to her next question. “How long have you been here on Hope Island?”

Bryce set the pot on the stove and adjusted the heat. “Two weeks now.” He didn’t offer more.

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