Page 7 of In Bed with the Rancher

“Thanks for coming by,” Bill said.

“I’m close and this is easy,” Gerald answered, shaking out the rain. “Here’s some clothes I don’t want back,” he said to Bill, indicating the top box he held. “I thought you might need something dry.”

“Thank you,” Bill replied, taking the box from him and placing it on the floor of the entryway. “That’s good because all I have is what I’m wearing and this shirt is all ripped.”

“Bill,” Ava said, “I told you Molly was a nurse, so you might let her look at your injuries.”

Smiling, Molly held up the bowls and a black bag dangled from her right arm. “I carry this for emergencies. I can look at your cuts. We have two kids, so I constantly practice my nursing skills.”

“Thanks,” he said, “to both of you.” He nodded to Molly, then turned to Ava and flashed another one of those smiles that made her pulse jump. She glanced at Gerald and was relieved he hadn’t been looking at her. She hoped her tingling responses to the stranger didn’t show.

“Also, we brought dinner in case you two haven’t eaten,” Molly said, indicating the bowls. “We had a fish fry today and it was easy to bring some. I’ll put all this in the refrigerator.”

“Thank you so much,” Ava said, smiling at Molly. “It smells wonderful. I’ll admit, I haven’t given a thought to eating or even asked if you had lunch today,” she said, turning to the stranger, finding it difficult to think of him as Bill Smith. “I’ll get the generators turned on and we can see what we’re doing.”

“I’ll go with you,” Gerald said. “This box goes to the kitchen,” he said to Bill as he handed him the other box. “I know where your generators are and I can help,” he said, and went off with Ava.

* * *

After getting the generators going, they walked back into the entryway. When they did, Ava and Gerald joined them.

“We put the food away,” Ava said. “It’s good to have lights again.”

“Now that we have lights, before Molly looks at my cuts, I need to wash the mud off.” The stranger turned to Ava. “I’d like a shower more than anything, if that’s okay. It won’t take me long.”

“Go shower and when you’re dressed, if you’ll call me, I’ll come tend to those cuts,” Molly said easily.

“Gerald, you and Molly make yourself comfortable in the family room,” Ava said. “I’ll show Bill where he can shower.” She turned to him. “Come with me.”

“Gladly,” he said. “I feel covered in mud, sticks and leaves.” He looked at Gerald and paused. “Is there something you wanted to say to me?”

Gerald shook his head. “No. Sorry if I’m staring, but you look familiar.”

“That’s good news,” Bill Smith said with relief in his voice. “If you recognize me or recall meeting me, that would give a clue to my identity. Whether it’s good or bad, I’d welcome knowing because not knowing who I am and not remembering anything from my past is not a good feeling. Losing my wallet didn’t help. It didn’t occur to me to hang on to it even at a risk to my life.”

“I might be wrong, but I think I’ve seen you before or met you. I hope it comes to me,” Gerald said. “I promise to tell you if it does.”

“Thanks.” Bill picked up the box of clothes and turned to follow Ava down a wide hall.

“I hope to hell he remembers and does know me or at least recognizes me, even if it was a ‘Wanted’ poster,” he said and she smiled.

“You’re wearing jeans, boots, a Western-style shirt. Gerald lives and breathes ranching. I’m guessing you’re a Texas rancher and you’ve crossed paths before. Underneath that black hair that falls on your forehead, you have a pale strip of forehead while the rest of your face is tan. That pale strip indicates you’ve spent time outside and you were wearing a hat.”

She stopped to take his free hand in hers and turn his hand over. As she ran her finger lightly over his palm, she noticed two things—his calluses and her reaction to touching him. Immediately she released his hand and started walking again.

“Whoever you are, you have calluses that indicate that you work with your hands. A lot of ranchers have calluses.” She tried for nonchalance, but there was no denying she felt anything but. When she’d taken his hand she had been thinking only about his identity. The moment her fingers had wrapped around his warm hand, her physical awareness of him had intensified and she knew for both their sakes, she shouldn’t have touched him.

“Want to look at my hand again and see what else comes to you?” he asked in a huskier tone of voice.

Startled, she looked up at him and realized he was teasing, actually flirting with her and she wondered whether it was because he was aware of those same sparks when they touched.

Smiling, she shook her head. “I think we better leave well enough alone when you know nothing about yourself.”

“I know a few things about myself that I’ve realized since you showed up to rescue me,” he drawled in a deeper voice that sent tingles up her spine and heightened her awareness of him.

“You’re hurt, have amnesia, you’re with total strangers...and you’re flirting.” Smiling, she shook her head. “You must be feeling better.”

“I think you’re causing the way I feel, and believe me, it’s a dang big improvement over what’s been happening.”

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