Chapter Four #2
“Dr. Greene said you can have small drinks or ice chips to start. When’s the last time you ate?” he asked, taking her hand, brushing it with his thumb.
“I ate a tomato in the bar before I stabbed a man. He wanted to use a whip on Leana,” she said, before coughing.
Jameson sat her up, wincing as she coughed up a lung. He handed her a tissue from the bedside table and held her by the shoulders, offering her support.
When she settled down, he lay her gently back against the pillows. “I’ll get you some water,” he said, leaving the room. He filled a pitcher and brought back a plastic cup. Pouring her a small amount, Jameson handed it to her.
Her fingers shook as she tilted the cup and greedily gulped down the water, sending her into another coughing fit.
Dr. Greene entered the room. “Hello, Caroline. It’s finally nice to meet you.
You must feel horrid. I’m giving you a breathing treatment to break up some of the gunk in your chest. I know you’re weak, but how do you feel about a shower?
Sometimes the steam will help with the coughing,” she explained, walking to the opposite side of the bed to examine her patient.
Caroline’s eyes widened. “I can take a shower, like a real one?”
“Yes, for as long as you like,” the doctor assured her. “Will you feel comfortable if I have an aide assist you?”
“I’ll help her,” Jameson volunteered.
Dr. Greene sent him a sympathetic smile. “I appreciate your help, but Caroline might feel comfortable with another woman.”
Feeling like an idiot, Jameson stared at the ceiling. “Of course.”
“Don’t be mad,” Caroline whispered as Dr. Greene left the room.
Jameson’s gaze drifted to Caroline’s face. If he thought she appeared pale before, now she turned downright pasty. Her eyes showed fear, and her hands gripped the sheet as if she expected him to lash out at her.
Attempting to smile and put her at ease, he explained, “I’ve spent every waking moment searching for you. I guess I’ve grown overprotective since I finally found you.”
“I’ll only be in the bathroom,” she said softly. “I won’t stay long.”
Happy now? You made her feel like shit for wanting to feel clean.
“Take as long as you want. You have caked mud in your hair. I didn’t even see any blonde.
Ask the aide to wash it a couple of times.
It’ll make you feel better,” he advised, trying to appear relaxed.
Truthfully, he didn’t want to leave her alone.
A few minutes later, they hooked her up to a breathing treatment, and every now and then, he caught her staring at him.
“If you tolerate liquids, Dr. Greene says you can eat whatever you want. Do you have something in mind you have a taste for?”
Caroline nodded.
Jameson took out his phone and handed it to her. “Type what you want for your first real meal and then list some of your favorite foods,” he said, showing her the app.
Caroline shook her head, refusing to ask for anything.
“Listen, you’re safe here,” he assured her. “We’re on a ranch. We have everything from steak to fresh chicken. We have a pantry in the community center full of candy, ice cream, and cookies.”
Caroline didn’t seem convinced as she stared at the device.
“There’s no right or wrong answer,” he said. “Close your eyes.”
She did as he commanded.
“You’re sitting at a big ole’ table, and you can have anything you want. What do you see?”
She remained still for a moment, picturing it in her head, and then she opened her eyes and started typing.
Fried chicken with mashed potatoes and gravy and biscuits. Fruit, anything except kiwis. A warm chocolate chip cookie and cherry chunk ice cream.
Jameson grinned. “You’re in luck. We have a cook here named Delaney. She makes the best fried chicken and gravy. As soon as you’re up to eating it, we’ll make it happen.”
She smiled, and her shoulders relaxed. Picking up his phone, she typed: What do you like to eat?
“Naturally, I’m a steak guy,” he answered. “I occasionally like pizza with an ice-cold beer.”
I haven’t eaten pizza in six years.
“We can make it your second meal,” he assured her.
You said you brought me here. Where do you live?
“I live in a cabin here on the ranch. Garrett and Riley came here earlier. They watched over you while I changed,” he explained. “They moved into a farmhouse, which connects to the ranch. I moved into their old place. I haven’t bought anything for it yet.”
Why not?
“Because I searched for you,” he said quietly. “I made a promise, and I planned to keep it.”
Thank you.
“You’re welcome. It appears you’re done with the treatment. I’ll get the aide to help you,” he said, rising from his chair.
A few minutes later, Betsy followed him into her room.
“I have the shower room warming and a selection of fresh pajamas waiting for you. You can pick out your soap fragrance, and we’ll add your name to it,” she said, pushing in a wheelchair covered with blankets.
“I’ll wait outside until you’re done,” he said, surprised by the fear in her eyes.
Betsy removed the breathing treatment and checked her lungs and temperature. She scribbled it on a piece of paper and then lowered the guardrail to help Caroline transfer to the wheelchair.
Jameson walked out and entered the living room. They converted a regular cabin to accommodate four patients at a time until the construction crew finished the mini hospital. He sat on the couch and listened as Betsy chattered away, taking Caroline to the shower.
He leaned against the pillow and closed his eyes, resting them. All of a sudden, he heard a piercing scream, sending him running in her direction. Betsy met him in the hallway.
“I need to get Dr. Greene to sedate her,” she said, running from the cabin.
Rushing into the modified bathroom, he heard Caroline sobbing. He opened the door to find her huddled in the corner, wrapped in a towel. Steam filled the room, and Jameson crossed through the shower, getting soaked to get to her.
“What’s the matter, sweetheart?” he asked, confused.
Caroline peered at him with tears in her eyes. Her breathing seemed labored, and he drew closer, ready to pick her up.
“Don’t touch me, I’m dirty,” she insisted.
“I’m soaked. We make a pair,” he said gently. “What happened?”
Caroline shook her head and wiped her cheek, appearing miserable. “They gave me choices. She kept asking me about pajamas, soaps, and lotions. I…I”
“You got overwhelmed?” he guessed.
She glanced away from him, seeming embarrassed.
Jameson sat beside her. “I can’t say I know how you feel because I don’t. When Julio brought Rebecca home, it took her a while to adjust. He made it simpler by asking her to choose between a couple of things.”
“She tried to help me. It’s not her fault,” she sobbed. “I scared her.”
“Betsy understands,” he assured her. “How about I help you off the floor, and you sit in the shower chair. I’ll hold up a couple of items, and you tell me if you see anything you like.
If you don’t know, pick one. Once you decide, I’ll have Betsy on standby while you shower.
If you don’t want her to touch you, it’s all right. ”
Rising, he held out his hand and helped her to her feet. She walked back to the shower chair on shaky legs. Jameson went to the opposite side of the room, where they kept a mini closet of pajamas and a drawer of different fragranced soaps, shampoos, and lotions.
“Do you have a favorite color?” he asked, searching through the clothing.
“Blue, I think. And maybe green,” she said unsteadily.
He held up a pair of PJs in each color. She pointed to the green pair.
Hanging them on a hook, he pulled out two different scents of soap. He opened up the bottle of one and cringed, making her giggle.
“Don’t pick this one,” he advised, selecting a different one. “We have honeysuckle or vanilla.”
“May I have the honeysuckle?” she asked.
“You got it,” he said, setting it on a shelf.
Dr. Greene ran in, expecting to see a catastrophic event. Her gaze went to Jameson.
“We’re picking out some scents,” he explained. “Did you need anything? We’ll need Betsy back in a minute to help Caroline.”
“I’ll get her,” Dr. Greene said, smiling.
“I know how you ladies like to coordinate things. Do you want honeysuckle shampoo, conditioner, and lotion?”
Caroline nodded. “Thank you.”
“Not a problem. Do you feel better? Can Betsy help you wash?” he asked, watching her.
“I need help with my hair. I can wash everything but my back,” she said, straightening her shoulders.
“Dr. Greene will clean it when she changes those bandages. I imagine she left them on to keep water from hitting it directly,” he said, walking toward her.
“You good?”
“No,” she whispered.
“Betsy doesn’t seem in a hurry to come in. How about I help you with your hair?” he asked.
“You’re soaking wet. How will you change?”
“I have my go bag in the truck. I didn’t know when you planned to wake up, and brought extra clothes,” he explained, pushing the shower chair into the water, letting it hit her front.
Taking the long hose, Jameson helped her slide down, letting her neck rest against the back.
Then he flipped the shower head switch, rinsing out all the mud.
The water turned black, brown, and then grey.
Squirting shampoo in his hand, he rubbed it into her scalp.
“Ohhh, it feels amazing,” she said, closing her eyes. “I dreamed of a hot shower and using something other than some cheap generic shampoo every one of us used.”
“You’re not like everyone else,” he murmured, rinsing it out and reapplying it.
“What do you do when you’re not pulling people out of dog crates?” she asked, filling the silence.
“I help out on the ranch. We all pitch in and catch up on things we neglect when we’re tracking down bad guys,” he told her honestly.
“Did you find Cain?”
“We have people watching for his return. We’re hoping to catch his boss. It’ll cripple the East Coast ring,” he said, rinsing again and adding conditioner.
“He doesn’t make mistakes. I’ve seen him kill people,” she said, trembling. “I’ll never be free until he’s behind bars or dead.”
“He has no idea we have you. He might scour a few states, but he won’t guess you’re here.
Even if he somehow figured it out, we have an excellent security system, which Matthew designed.
Then, we have guards who patrol the area.
They have a red, white, and blue patch on their sleeves, making it easy for you to recognize them. ”
He handed her a washcloth and a small packet of facial cleanser, knowing women don’t like using regular soap. “Can you wash your face while I rinse out your hair? Then I’ll find Betsy.”
Caroline vigorously scrubbed her face and the back of her ears. When he finished rinsing, he squeezed the excess water out and wrapped her head in a towel.
“Jameson, don’t go,” she said softly. “Will you turn around, and I’ll wash?”
“If you’ll let me lock the wheels on the chair, and you use it to steady yourself,” he said, standing before her. “I’ve known Betsy for a couple of months. She’s nice. You can trust her to help you change.”
Caroline’s face changed to an expression of pain.
A knock on the door caught his attention. “Stay seated until I get back.”
Opening it wide enough to see who stood on the other side, Jameson recognized Rebecca.
“Do you mind if I come in?” she asked.
He stepped aside, allowing her to enter.
Rebecca walked to Caroline and took her hand. “Hello, Caroline. We’ve never met, yet I feel like I already know you. Jameson tore through half the US in search of you. I’m Rebecca.”
Caroline leaned forward and wrapped her arms around her neck. The two women cried together, despite the water. Rebecca murmured reassuring words. She asked Caroline a few questions before turning to Jameson.
“I’ll take it from here,” she said softly. “Why don’t you change?”
Jameson waited until Caroline’s gaze met his, and she nodded her permission. Grabbing a couple of towels, he walked out and threw them on the floor, stripping down to his underwear. He grabbed one of the unisex robes and dried the floor before entering the living room.
Julio glanced up and covered his eyes. “Dude, I did not need to see you like this.”
“Calm down. I left my go bag in the truck. I hope you have clothes for Rebecca.”
“She keeps a spare set here when she gets called to reassure the survivors. I brought your go bag in and put it in the other room. I’m assuming you won’t leave while she’s here.
You can take the room beside her,” Julio informed him.
“We’ll graduate her to one of the cabins when she feels better. Dr. Greene took room three.”
“Thanks,” he said, heading toward the second room, he changed his clothes. He returned a few minutes later to find Garett keeping Julio company.
“We brought you dinner. Eat while the women take care of her,” Garrett ordered. “She seems to have formed an attachment to you. Tread carefully, brother.”
“I know what you’re implying. We knew each other while I worked undercover. I’m the only person she knows here,” he said, making excuses.
Julio sighed. “Let’s lay all our cards out, Jameson. You’ve carried feelings for this woman long before she went missing. Your brother’s only warning you because she needs to heal, both mentally and physically, before you make a move. She may never recover from this.”
“Rebecca did. If she can do it, Caroline will,” he said stubbornly.
“We established a relationship way before they took her. The only relationship you have with Caroline is as one of her jailers. You worked undercover. She may feel safe with you, but it’s because you’re familiar,” Julio said slowly.
Jameson knew what Julio insinuated, and he prayed it wasn’t true. In the time he spent with her, he made it clear he wasn’t like the other men. It’s what got his cover busted. She must recover, because he already envisioned a lifetime of making her feel happy, safe, and loved.