Chapter 11
“What’s wrong?”Clark asked in concern as he unclipped his seatbelt and turned toward her.
“I’m here to have some tests run.”
“What type of tests?”
“X-rays, CAT Scan, MRI. You don’t have to go in with me if you don’t want to. I’m not putting any pressure on you to be with me through these tests.”
“I’ll be with you, Naomi. May I ask why you’re having them done?”
Naomi unhooked her own belt, and turned her upper body toward him. “The day you returned, I wheeled myself away from my desk at work. I didn’t back up far enough and when I turned my chair to go, my knee hit the side of the desk.” She paused and looked him dead in the eye as she unconsciously rubbed the bruise on the outside of her left knee. “I felt it.”
Clark stared at her in shock. “Holy shit, had you felt anything before?”
“No. But that’s not all.”
“What else happened?”
“The day after you returned, I worked like normal. When I got home, I mixed up that dish I brought for Thanksgiving dinner. It had to be cold before I could put the topping on it. Anyway, once that was cooling in the refrigerator, I went to take my shower. I gathered clothes and before I entered the bathroom, I turned on my phone to my favorite music station. I turned the volume up so I could hear it in the shower.”
“Okay.” Clark took her hands in his and didn’t complain when she took one back and rubbed her forehead. “What happened, Naomi?”
“I took my shower, when I got out, somehow my chair flew out from under me. I hit my head on the toilet, but I had wrapped my hair in a towel. I think that saved me, but I passed out. When I came to, I realized hours had passed.”
“Why didn’t you tell anyone?”
“I didn’t want to worry anyone.” Naomi shrugged, then sighed heavily. “I did, however, reach out to my doctor. I hate to admit this, but I don’t always go and see them. I figure why go if there’s nothing wrong, right?”
“I guess I can agree with that. Did they contact you back?”
“Yes, that’s why I’m here. A Doctor Hillard called Sunday evening and told me to come in to have these tests. She also asked me to fill out a form so they could get my previous records from when I had my accident. She wants to compare the two of them then call me in.”
“I want to be at that meeting with you.” Clark stared at her as he spoke. He held up his hand to ward off her protest. “If not me, then I want you to bring Rin.”
“I can’t do that, I don’t want her to take my job away if something’s wrong.”
“She will never do that. Want to know how I know?”
“How?” Naomi held her breath as she waited for his answer.
“Because my first morning here, she flat-out told me that I’d have no control of anything on Riceman property until I read all the files. Once I did read them, she informed me that you, Naomi Alcott, were in charge of Broken, that you were her number two, and if I had any problems to come to you.”
“Really?” she asked as she blew out her held breath.
“Yes, you have nothing to worry about. As far as both Rin and I are concerned, you’re the foreman of Broken.”
“You don’t know how happy that makes me feel.”
“Good, now did anything else happen after hitting your knee, and falling out of the shower?”
“Yes,” she admitted reluctantly.
“Tell me, please.”
“When Pru drove us over to Erin’s Way for Thanksgiving dinner, I held that dish on my lap. It was cold, and I felt the coldness in my thighs.” She shook her head at him when he started to speak. “There’s more.”
“What?”
“When I relax at night, I start feeling tingling in my feet. It’s almost like ants are crawling all over them.” She scowled when he shuddered. “What’s wrong?”
“I was on a mission once, and we had to dive into a ditch to avoid being detected. It was full of ants.”
“Oh, what did you do?”
“Waited it out, then when we could get out of there, the six of us stripped so fast we were nothing but a blur.” He chuckled as he shook his head. He pointed to the hospital, and asked. “Do you have to check in with anyone?”
“I have to go to registration and tell them Dr. Hillard sent the order down, then I’m to ask for a Dr. Herb Powers.”
“Okay, before we get out, what do you want me to do besides get your chair out.”
“First, thank you for asking, but let’s see what happens after the chair is open.”
Clark nodded, then exited his side of the truck. He hurried around and opened her door, then the door behind her. Once the chair was out, she gave him instruction as to how to open it, then he stood back to wait for her. After several attempts, she shook her head and looked at him.
“I’m sorry, but it’s too far down, could you please put me in my chair.”
“Absolutely, and you never have to apologize to me, unless we have a fight and you’re wrong.”
Naomi threw her head back and laughed. “As if that will ever happen.”
“What, that we’ll fight?”
“No, that I’ll ever be wrong.”
Clark laughed along with her, and after receiving instructions, he slid one hand beneath her thighs, and the other behind her back. He backed away from the front seat of the truck, and set her down gently into the chair. He watched as she adjusted herself, picked up her legs by her jeans and put them on the rests. When she was settled, she unlocked the wheels, and backed away from the truck. With the door closed, he locked the truck, pocketed the keys and looked at her. “Where do you want me, beside or behind?”
“You can walk beside me,” she said, and started forward. Once inside the building, they asked for directions to the registration area, and when they arrived, Naomi saw she was fifteen minutes early, and looked at Clark with a smile. “Thank you.”
“For?”
“Getting me here early.”
“No problem. I always say if you’re less than fifteen minutes early, you’re late.”
“Ah, a man after my own heart.” She chuckled and didn’t see Clark’s expression of longing at her statement. He stepped aside as she rolled herself up to the check-in counter.
“May I help you?”
“Yes, I’m Naomi Alcott and Doctor Tessa Hillard sent some orders over for some tests for me.” At the look of confusion on the man’s face, she sighed. “I’m to ask for a Doctor Herb Powers.”
“That’s me?” A man sitting at a computer at another desk behind the glass looked up in confusion. “Tessa sent you?”
“Yes, I’m to have a CAT Scan, MRI, and x-rays.”
“Okay, Naomi, right? She talked to me about you. Let’s get you registered, and I can take you back.”
Thirty minutes later, Clark found himself standing in the hallway outside the x-ray department holding onto Naomi’s purse. As much as he wanted to be in there, he knew he couldn’t. He spotted several chairs on the other side of the hallway, and saw the sign that stated it was the waiting area for the tests Naomi needed. He knew he shouldn’t have, but he saw a book sticking out of the side pocket of her purse, and pulled it out. After reading the back, he turned to the first page. He looked up when the door opened, closed the book, and rushed to Naomi’s side.
“Are you okay? You look green.” He glanced at his watch and stared in shock. “It’s been two hours?”
“Yeah, and I feel like I’ve been rode hard and put away wet. I’m done. Can we go home?”
“Yes,” Clark said as he put her purse gently on her lap and grinned at her. “I want to finish reading that book.”
“Is it any good? I haven’t read it yet. I do have the next three books in the series. I know I’m weird, but I won’t start a series unless I have all the books in it.”
“Not a problem, and yes, I really liked it. It kept me occupied while waiting for you. Would you like me to push you?”
“Please? I don’t know if I can do it.” She sighed heavily and rubbed her forehead before admitting. “I’m tired.”
“Do you want to pick up a pizza on the way home?”
“Can we get it closer to home? When we get to the truck, I can call it in.”
“Where?”
“Since living here, I’ve found Porky’s to be the best.”
“Holy shit, they’re still in business? I used to hang out there all the time growing up as a teenager. When I wasn’t working on the ranch, that is.”
“Yes, kids still hang out there.”
“Great, yeah, call it in.” He grinned as he pushed her chair. They were laughing by the time they exited the building because they had gotten lost twice on their way out. Clark, being a male, refused to ask for directions, or even look at the maps conveniently located on the walls by the elevators and exits. Finally, they followed the right color lines on the upper walls and made it to the outside without a hitch. At the truck, he waited for her, and when she asked him to lift her, he didn’t hesitate. Once she was settled with her seatbelt on, he dealt with the chair, then hurried over to his side.
“I’m not telling you what to do, but you might want to wait to place our order. If memory serves, it only takes about half an hour to make the pie. What are you going to order?”
“You’re right on the thirty minutes, if I ever call from home, I’m halfway there before I order. I like it that I tell them I’m in a wheelchair and they bring it right to my truck.”
“That’s good. Do you want to do that, or go inside to eat?”
“Why don’t we go inside, I’ll call the order ahead, and we can grab a table after we pick it up.”
“I agree, now, what type will you order?”
“A large meat lovers’, if that’s okay with you.”
“Perfect, do they still carry wings?”
“They do, what kind?” She had pulled her phone and turned it so he saw the menu to Porky’s.
“What flavors do they have? Last time I was there, it was either hot, medium, or mild. Nothing fancy like places have now.”
She read him off the flavors available, and they settled on two different kinds. As Clark drove them toward home, she used the app on her phone to place their order, and was able to put a time on it for one and a half hours from then. She settled back and looked out the side window. She frowned when he slowed, but he pulled into the gas station, and after a quick five-minute stop to fill up, they were on the road again. Naomi hadn’t realized she’d dozed off until Clark called her name. The sound of it put a vision into her mind of the two of them rolling around on a bed, completely naked. She jerked herself awake, looked at him with a deer in the headlights look, and felt her cheeks heat.
“What?” Clark asked in concern.
“Nothing.” She looked around to try to control her blush and saw they were entering Fool’s Gold. In minutes they were parked on the street several spaces down from Porky’s. Again, she asked him to help her into her chair, but this time, she felt renewed by the little catnap she’d taken and wheeled herself. Clark walked beside her, but went ahead and opened the door for her.
“Naomi!” someone called out as she entered, and she paused to breathe in the smells from the pizza shop. If she had her way, she’d eat pizza at every meal. “I saw your order, it’s almost ready.”
“Can we eat in today, Buddy?”
“Absolutely, but who is we? Is Pru with you?”
“No,” Naomi answered, and looked up at Clark. Before she could answer, Buddy, the older man behind the counter let out a loud girlish scream for such a large man.
“Clark Riceman?” the man asked, and practically jumped over the waist-high counter to get to Clark. Before he could move, Buddy had Clark in an embrace that would have broken a smaller man’s back. Buddy leaned back and yelled, “MA!” When a smaller woman came from the back, wearing a scowl, she looked around for her son, then stared in shock at the man her son had his arm wrapped around. She didn’t hesitate to come around the counter and approach them.
“Clark?”
“It’s me.”
“Holy crap, when did you get home?” She rushed him and Clark had to practically bend in half to hug her. With his arm around the older woman, he turned to Naomi.
“I hung out here when I lived here.”
“No, I put you to work when you were here,” Ma said as she hugged him again. “Are you home for good?”
“I am, I’ve been home since last Wednesday. I’m done with the Navy.”
“Good for you. I’m glad you’re in one piece. If you ever want to get off the ranch, your apron is still hanging where you left it.”
“Thanks, Ma.” Clark laughed as he hugged her again, and kissed the side of her head. He shook Buddy’s hand, and told him they should get together sometime soon, but not until after the holidays. While they’d been talking and catching up, Naomi had left them to their mini reunion, and wheeled herself over to a table. She’d had to move a chair from one end to fit her wheelchair in. By the time Clark joined her, Buddy was bringing their food to them.
As the food was put before them, they ordered their drinks and once they arrived, both Naomi and Clark looked at one another, laughed, and dug in. Naomi liked that Clark gave her the first slice, and allowed her to pick out her choice of wings first. They didn’t speak as they filled their bellies. Her medical tests had taken longer than she’d anticipated and it was now almost seven at night and they were both starving.
Almost an hour later, they cleaned up after themselves, asked for a to-go container, and paid the bill. Clark only gave her a look when she tried to pay for half, and she ended up leaving the tip.
Outside, Clark put the pizza in the truck first, then went around to open her door. Before he could open it, Naomi swore.
“What’s wrong.”
“Is that the man who was asking for me?” she asked, and pointed down the sidewalk. Clark whipped his head around and scowled at the man approaching them.
“Yes.”
“Let’s get this shit over with. I don’t need him causing trouble for me.” She looked at him. “Call Jake to see if we can’t meet at his office. I don’t want Patrick Clemmons anywhere near Erin’s Way or The Broken Wheel. If he’s behind taking Princess down, then I don’t want him to know where I live.”
“I agree.”
Clark sent a quick text, and watched in horror as Naomi wheeled away from him, and called out, “CLEM!”
Clark read the response from Jake, sighed in relief, and jogged after Naomi. He arrived just as the man she’d called out to looked up and stared ahead of him in shock. He also jogged toward her, but Clark stopped him about two feet before he reached her.
“Noomi, thank God I found you.”
“What are you doing here?”
“Looking for you?” he responded as a question.
“Why?”
“We need to talk.” Clemmons looked between Clark and Naomi. “Alone.”
“No, yes, we need to talk, but not alone. Give me one good reason why I should listen to you after you killed my horse and left me for dead, and then we’ll go and talk with friends.” When the man before her, one she thought of as an older brother her entire life hesitated, she ground out, “Why are you here, Clem?”
The other man rubbed the back of his neck, and let out a very large pent-up breath. “I think your father tried to kill you. I have proof, I also think he’s going to try again. That’s why I’m looking for you. I need to warn you.”
Clark took the initiative then. He looked directly at the other man. “Meet us at this address.” He gave it slowly, then turned his phone so he could see Jake’s reply. “Get the information you have, and we’ll go from there. Don’t think you can pull the wool over our eyes, Clemmons. You’ll be surrounded by several former military men, and we don’t take kindly to our women being threatened in any way. In case you didn’t know, I’m with Naomi, and I will protect her with all twelve years of my SEAL experience.” Clark continued to glare at the other man, and when he stepped back and raised his hands, Clark nodded. “Thirty minutes?”
“Yes, I need to go back to my hotel to gather the information I have.” Clemmons turned and walked away.
Clark looked down at Naomi and held his breath, until she spoke, “Thank you.”
“You’re welcome. I will always protect you. Let’s get to Jake’s.” They went back to the truck, and Clark felt ten feet tall when she asked him to lift her. In minutes they were underway, and it didn’t take long for them to arrive at their destination. It shocked Clark that there were at least ten men sitting in the room they were led to, but Jake explained it was all the men that worked for Brotherhood Protectors. Introductions were made as they waited for Patrick Clemmons to arrive.