Chapter 5
McCrae
The next day, I ran and then got ready for work, just as I always did.
This morning, though, I wondered what today would bring.
I thought about the desperation in the woman’s eyes as she had insisted that she didn’t want to go to Denver, that she wasn’t sure what she was doing.
I thought about how she’d told me, “You’re responsible for me because you found me. ”
Yesterday, I’d gone into the station and tried to discover anything. But nothing had turned up. But I did feel responsible for her.
I grunted and then let out a long laugh. I wasn’t responsible for her. I could barely be responsible for myself. My mind flashed to Rose, whom I had dated for almost two years only for her to shut me out.
No, I wouldn’t think about Rose. It was better to focus on the woman at the hospital.
I left the house, got in my cruiser, and headed to work. My mind was still confused when my phone rang. I looked down and saw it was my mother. I answered it, putting it on speaker. “Hello?”
“I’m glad I caught you before you went on shift. I’ve just been praying a lot about this woman who can’t remember, and I think I want to go over and see her today. Is there anything we can do for her?”
My mother was constantly praying and trying to help people out. I knew it was a good quality. I knew that was what the Bible said—take care of others, love your neighbor, love God. Weren’t those the commandments that mattered most? “I don’t know, Mom. I mean, you can go over there.”
“What size clothes does she need? I think I’m going to take some over for her from the shelter.”
“Mom, how would I know?”
“Come on, give me a ballpark of a size.”
My mind twisted. “Two or four? She’s tiny. She’s probably five six, five seven.”
“Okay, sounds good, sweetie.”
I wanted to tell her not to get involved, but I just said, “Bye, Mom. Love you.”
“Love you too.”
When I got into work, I probably should have been more surprised to find my brothers there in Damon’s office.
But I wasn’t. My family consisted of good people.
They were all concerned when someone came to town and needed help.
We had been trained since we were small to be search and rescue people—always capable, always ready.
I took a chair and got right to the point. “I guess the whole family’s interested in this woman. I just got off the phone with Mom, and she said she’s going to take clothes to her.”
Damon looked more brooding than usual. Sure, since he’d gotten married to Isla, he had been happier than I had ever seen him. But right now, he just looked troubled. “Dr. Chavez still wants to transfer her to Denver.”
I steepled my fingers. “I was doing some research online, and for this type of amnesia, there’s really nothing people can do. I mean, for a day or two, or a week, you kind of just have to deal with it.”
“Agreed,” Noah said lazily.
Canyon looked pensive.
Dylan cleared his throat. “I was over at the hospital last night, and when the woman found out I was an attorney, she started asking about her rights. Frankly, she doesn’t have to go to Denver.”
I snorted. “Where would she go?”
Dylan held my gaze. “She wants to go home with you, bro.”
I stood up and burst into laughter. “She wants to go with me? What does that even mean?”
All of my brothers went quiet. The clock on the wall ticked loudly, punctuating the awkward silence.
I threw a hand up into the air. “I don’t feel comfortable just bringing home some Jane Doe.”
Damon cleared his throat. “Jane Does are dead.”
I was annoyed at my slip-up. “I know she’s not dead. I think that’s kind of the point. She can’t come home with me.”
Canyon grinned. “Why? She trusts you. And, you hang out with random people all of the time.”
I glared at Canyon. “You know what I mean. We know nothing about this woman.” I looked at Damon. “Have you found out anything?”
“I wish things were different, but they’re not. The only thing that we know from Pete’s Trucking is that someone under the name Tanya Carter rented the car.”
Relief filled me. “Well, then I guess you do know something. You can track her down, now.”
Damon shook his head slowly, back and forth. “We realized that that’s a fake name.”
“What?” I was shocked. “So wait a second, she rented a car under a fake name? Why would someone do that?”
Noah walked over to me. “Calm down. Listen, we get that this is a tough situation, okay? But if she rented a car under a fake name, that means she was probably hiding from someone.”
I didn’t want to think about that.
Damon looked grim. “And you know my wife knows all about that.”
I thought about Damon and Isla’s situation, how she had almost been killed by her ex. “Do you think it’s something like that?”
Damon shook his head again. “No idea.”
Dylan cleared his throat. “There’s no precedent in this situation, meaning that if the girl wanted to stay in Refuge Falls for a few days, that would be okay.”
Once again, I was frustrated and confused. “Someone’s got to be looking for her.”
Canyon grunted. “That’s kind of the point, bro. If someone sees the news, then they will come here.”
Suddenly, there was a knock at the door. The sturdy oak frame rattled slightly. I looked over, and lo and behold, it was my dad.
Damon looked irritated, but he moved to the door and opened it. “Good morning.”
My dad didn’t mess with what he wanted to tell us.
“Your mother is concerned …” He cleared his throat.
“We are concerned about this woman now. We just want to offer her some time to stay at our place. We know she doesn’t want to leave and go to Denver.
” He turned to me. “We know she wants to go be with you, but we are offering our house as a neutral place.”
For some reason, I was even more irritated. “Really? We’re getting the whole family involved.” I let out a little growl.
Damon cocked a brow. “What’s the matter? She wants to stay with you, and you don’t want her, and now Mom and Dad offer a safe place and you don’t want to get them involved?”
I turned back and shook my head. I was confused by my own feelings, but I didn’t know how to express that. “Whatever.” I moved toward the door. “I guess I’ll go check on her and let you guys know.”
When I arrived at the hospital room, the antiseptic scent was heavy. I was not shocked to see my mother there with a suitcase full of clothes spread out on the sterile white bed.
What did startle me was seeing my sister there.
And then I saw her … I sucked in a breath.
The woman who couldn’t remember was now wearing a yellow sundress.
The fabric was modest but hugged all the right areas, and her fiery red hair was styled in loose waves around her face.
She’d applied makeup, covering most of the evidence of whatever ordeal she’d endured, though she still had a bandage on the back of her head. She was beautiful.
Kayla held a blush brush in her hand and gave me a knowing smirk. “She looks good, doesn’t she?”
I wouldn’t tell them that my heart was racing or that I hadn’t seen anyone this beautiful in a long time.
The woman gave me an expectant look, her green eyes searching mine for approval.
I shrugged. “You look good.” The words fell flat, and I instantly resented my mother and sister for putting me in this position.
My mom stood, her hand sweeping to the suitcase she was packing. “They had quite a lot of clothes, and we got some new things as well, but I understand that she’s going with you.”
I shook my head, my police uniform suddenly feeling too tight across my shoulders. “I was just at the police station, and Dad said that she could go to the main house. I assume that’s all right.”
The woman looked confused, her delicate brows knitting together. “But are you going to be there?”
I felt put on the spot. “Uh …”
My mother shrugged, adjusting the collar of her hiking jacket. “What your father didn’t remember was that we’re leaving this evening for that camping trip with Damon and his family.”
I was annoyed that Damon and my dad hadn’t remembered that—not that either of them knew their own schedules. That was more for their wives to juggle.
Kayla shrugged, tossing her dark hair over her shoulder. “She could stay with me.” She turned to the woman, her voice softening. “If you want to.”
The woman looked sad, a shadow passing over her features that made my protective instincts surge. “Umm …”
“That’s a good idea,” I offered.
The woman held my gaze. “But you’re the one who found me. You’re the one I should stay with.”
She sounded so convinced of that, but I balked. “No. I mean, you’ll be more comfortable with Kayla.”
Kayla scowled at me, then turned to her. “And I can protect you.” She nodded. “I have taken several self-defense courses, if that’s what you’re worried about.”
The woman’s brows knit together. “I wish I wasn’t a bother for anyone.” She turned away, sucking in a breath.
A whimper came out of her, but she covered her face.
Oh man, was she crying?
I knew the answer when my mother and Kayla moved to her side and started hugging her. “It’s okay,” my mother said, turning back and frowning at me.
The woman made another whimper type of noise. “I hate this. I’m sorry.”
Kayla scowled at me too.
This wasn’t my fault, but I couldn’t defend myself against … what was this?
The woman sniffed. “I’m sorry. I just don’t know why nobody has even shown up to claim me, and now I’m going to be a complete bother to someone.”
“I guess we’re two grown adults. I mean, I have an extra room. She can stay with me.” The words were out before I could pull them back.
Kayla’s eyes met mine, and she nodded.
“And if I’m not available, then she can go with Kayla. I mean, during my shifts at the police station.” I was already worried about leaving her alone as if she were some child, but still, wasn’t there a possible threat to her?