Page 5 of Lesson In Faith

A woman rushed up the stairs behind them, one of the most beautiful women Tamsyn had ever seen. Snow dusted her dark hair, the shoulders of her long jacket, and she left a trail of it on the carpet from her boots. “What the hell? Who is she? Where did she come from?”

“Don’t ask me.”

Tamsyn hadn’t heard a voice like that before. Even though there was urgency behind the questions, the voice was like liquid molasses. It stroked over her, comforting in a way she hadn’t felt since her mother died when she was just a kid.

Merrick waited until the woman caught up, then set off again, his long legs eating ground effortlessly. “Found her in the damn cupboard downstairs. Jonah was having a meltdown after one of the su—” He broke off, glancing down at Tamsyn. “One of the ladies left an unsavory stain on a stool. I offered to go get the cleaning stuff, almost missed her.Didmiss her,” he corrected with a shake of his head. “Went back for a second look, and there she was, wedged behind the goddamn shelving unit.”

The woman was keeping pace with him easily. “She has to be a guest. Security would’ve picked her up if she was simply wandering. What did she say?”

Merrick scowled. “Nothing. Either she’s too scared to talk or too fucking cold. Can’t get a word out of her, but she’s not in the best physical condition. Did you see Linnie on your way over?”

A low, soft laugh. “Can’t see much of anything out there, the snow is falling pretty heavy. Luckily, the path lights are still visible. Here, let me get the door.”

The warmer light of the hallway turned brighter, starker, as Merrick carried her into a room. It gleamed on white walls and glass-fronted cabinets, stainless steel appliances and sterile counters.

Despite the warmth of the room, Tamsyn felt herself growing impossibly colder. Her body went rigid, turning stiff and unyielding with silent resistance. She’d been in a room like this before, several times over the years, and she knew what happened once the door closed.

She feverishly searched the room for the man she hated more than anything, half expecting the community doctor to spring out and capture her, forcing her down onto the table as he wrestled the straps over her.

It was always the same—arms, legs, hips, chest.

She didn’t want to be in here.

“Easy, little owl. I’m going to set you down, okay? Violet will help you out of these damp clothes, then we’ll get you wrapped up until Linnie arrives to check you over.”

Wrapped upwas too close tostrapped up.

Merrick released her legs, trying to get her to stand. When she refused, he made a soothing noise in his throat and sat her on the table instead; she whined and gave her best attempt to crawl into him, clutching at his shirt with her good hand and burrowing into him.

“Huh, this doesn’t bode well, does it?” he murmured. “Vi, can you throw a blanket over the table?”

“I don’t think that’s going to make a difference. She’s terrified.”

“I know, I know. Fuck, she needs to get out of these clothes.” Shifting from side to side, he rocked her, still making those calming noises. “All right, here’s the deal, little owl. The clothes need to come off, there’s no way around it. I can step out, let Violet help you if that makes it easier.”

She shook her head.

He sighed. “Want me to hold you while Violet—”

No. She wanted out of this room, as far away as possible. Her skin was crawling with memories, nausea rising up her throat. She wished her voice would work so she could tell him, beg him, to take her away.

“Sorry, I got turned around in the snow. Grit said we had an emergency?” Another woman hurried in, yanking her jacket off and tossing it aside as she kicked the door closed behind her. “He gave me a brief rundown. Not a guest?”

“Morning, Linnie. No, not a guest.” Merrick relaxed slightly. “We don’t have a name or know… anything really, aside from she’s beaten up and scared. She really hates being in here.”

Linnie turned, sliding on a pair of glasses. She frowned, pretty blue eyes taking in the situation. “Uh-huh, that’s understandable. Why don’t you put her on the table, Merrick, and I’ll take a look at the damage.”

“Don’t think she’s gonna let me do that.”

“Oh. All right, let me do a quick exam as she is, then we’ll figure something out.” She approached slowly, holding her hands up. “Hey there. My name is Linnie, I’m a doctor. I just want to check your eyes and your blood pressure, is that okay?”

Tamsyn buried her face into Merrick’s shoulder.

“She’s got a broken wrist,” he said quietly. “Some nasty cuts.”

“Nothing we can’t handle,” Linnie said cheerfully. She pressed her fingers to Tamsyn’s throat, finding where her blood pulsed beneath the skin. “Okay, I don’t see the need to stress her out. Give me a second.”

Trembling, Tamsyn clung to Merrick like a lifeline. She heard the doctor rummaging through a drawer, the click of a cupboard door opening and closing. Maybe if she tried to beam her thoughts directly into his head, he’d pick up the silent messages she was trying to send him.

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