Chapter Six
Riley shuddered as she opened her eyes. She blinked, attempting to remember what happened. The last thing she recalled was getting hit by the truck. A man appeared out of nowhere. He appeared rough, yet she remembered how gently he set her inside his truck.
Rising, she moaned as her head swam and her stomach lurched. The big bear of a man rushed forward with a trash can in his hand and held her hair out of the way as she emptied her stomach.
“Where are we?” she moaned.
“In a basement on Serenity Ranch. There’s a huge storm outside, and they announced two tornadoes in the area.
We outran the first one and got here in time.
Now, we’re waiting out the second,” he said, handing her a mason jar to swish out her mouth.
When she lay back against the pillows, he checked her head.
Her hand reached to feel the wound when he grabbed it. “Don’t touch it. I got the bleeding to stop, but you’ll need stitches,” he explained. “I’ll take you to the hospital when this blows over. It’s the least I can do since I hit you.”
“No. I can’t afford stitches,” she said firmly.
“I’ll pay for it,” he assured her. “It’s my fault you need them.”
Riley narrowed her eyes and her nose scrunched as she stared at him. “What’s your name again?”
“I’m Garrett. Garret Johnson,” he said softly, placing a cloth across her brow and around her injury.
Riley winced. His name made her headache worse. “No. I don’t need your help. My car broke down and I needed to get to safety. I thought you worked at Mystic Ranch,” she said, surprised to find him in Embers at a different ranch.
“I used to work there. In fact, I quit today. Gus and I were returning here with my belongings. Do you know me? You mentioned my name, but I don’t recall you,” he said thoughtfully.
She shook her head. “No. I must’ve heard your name around town. There’s an ample supply of gossip in these parts.”
Garrett shrugged. “I usually stick to myself. I’m surprised anyone talks about me.”
“Oh, it only takes one person to run their mouth, and it’s like striking a match,” she said sarcastically.
“I don’t think I caught your name,” he said, curiously.
“Riley,” she said, playing with the fuzz on the blanket. “How much longer do we have to stay down here?”
“The alert ends in about thirty minutes. If it leaves the area faster, I’m sure Matthew and Mac will be here to help me take you to the hospital.”
“I’m not going anywhere with three men I don’t know. I barely want to stay down here with you,” she exclaimed, grimacing as her raised voice caused the pounding in her head to get louder.
Garrett took a deep breath and stared at the ceiling as if he counted to ten.
“You need medical attention. It’s my responsibility to ensure you get it. If money’s a problem, my truck insurance will cover it and I’m sure they’ll give you a check for compensation in lieu of you suing me,” he said, darkly.
Riley’s head popped up, meeting his gaze. “They will? How much do you think they’ll give me?” she asked, already planning on giving it to the biker gang holding Tara.
Garrett moved off the bed and peered at her coldly. “I don’t know. It’s been a while since I’ve hit a chick walking in a storm.”
“How long will it take to get it?” she asked, biting her lip. “If they can give it to me right away, then I promise not to take any legal action against you.”
“How kind,” he said, his voice turning steely as his eyes blazed with anger, making her feel uncomfortable.
“I didn’t mean it as a threat. As it happens, I’m a bit low on funds, and a few bucks can go a long way,” she explained, but it seemed to fall on deaf ears as he moved to the opposite side of the room.
“I’m sure you are,” he bit out. “Since you’re hard up on money, we will take you to the hospital to get checked out for insurance purposes. I’m sure they’ll want documentation. Then I’ll write you a check for $10,000.”
Riley practically salivated. “Really?” Surely if she gave the bikers the money, they’d let her sister go.
“Yeah,” he practically sneered at her as he paced the floor like a caged bear.
Something about his voice made her wonder if she hurt his feelings.
Garrett refused to glance in her direction as he sat on a stool and picked up a piece of wood and a knife.
She watched as he whittled away, paying her no attention.
It’s not as if she craved it, but it felt like a far cry from the gentle man who held her hair out of the way and checked her cut.
Thirty minutes later, she heard footsteps above them, and the basement door opened. A man came down the steps and peered at them.
“The storm passed us. Do you need to take her to a hospital?” the stranger asked.
“Yes. If you can help me get her into my truck, I’d appreciate it,” Garrett said, rising from his seat and putting his masterpiece inside his bag.
Riley swung her legs over the bed’s edge, and her head swam. It hit her she didn’t have on any clothes, and she clutched the sheet to her chest, weaving where she sat.
“Easy,” Garrett said coldly as he tossed her clothes beside her. “I put them in the dryer. We’ll give you some time alone to change and then help you upstairs. Don’t try them on your own.”
Swallowing, Riley managed to nod her head, praying she wouldn’t get sick again. Garrett took the garbage can from earlier up the steps with him as he joined the other man.
Her cheeks grew hot from embarrassment as she realized he must’ve stripped her. Tugging on her bra, she pulled the shirt over her head. Picking up her panties and pants, she lay down on the bed and slid them up her body. Riley searched for her boots but couldn’t find them.
A knock sounded above and then Garrett called from the staircase. “Are you dressed?”
“Yes, but I can’t find my boots,” she said, feeling weak and tired.
“I have them. You don’t need to topple over to put them on. You can barely sit up without weaving,” he said, approaching her with her muddy, soddened shoes. He knelt and held them as she stuck her foot inside her boots.
“Thank you,” she murmured.
Garrett grunted his reply as he stood and offered her a steady arm up. She gripped his arm as they walked up the stairs. His massive body prevented them from going at the same time. He led the way, ensuring she didn’t fall.
The stranger from earlier smiled at her as he opened the front door and then waited beside the truck to assist her inside.
“I’ll be back whenever they release her,” Garrett told the man.
The stranger pulled out a card and handed it to Garrett. “It has my cell number. Call me and I’ll take you to your quarters when you return.”
Nodding, Garrett slid into the driver’s seat and drove toward the hospital. “We’re taking the same route you must’ve come from. Where did you leave your car?” he asked as they turned onto the main road.
“I don’t know. It’s about four miles from Mystic Ranch,” she said as she pressed her aching head against the cool glass.
“What color is it?” he asked.
“At one time, I’d call it green. Now it’s more rust than colored,” she answered him miserably.
“What happened to it?” he asked.
“It started chugging, and the dashboard lit up. I’m guessing it died from old age. It’s not mine. I borrowed it from a friend. He’ll be pissed if he finds it on the side of the road,” she said shakily, imagining what they might do to her sister if the slovenly biker discovered his vehicle disabled.
Garret nodded, and a few minutes later, he slowed as he spotted the hunk of junk.
“Do you have another pair of shoes? It’s important to keep your feet dry,” he explained as he pulled over.
Riley glanced at her shoes. “I only have this pair. They’ll dry out, and I’ll clean them when I get home.”
“Maybe you can buy a pair after I give you the check,” he said sarcastically. “Do you need anything from your car?”
“Nope. I only have my wallet,” she informed him.
Garrett pulled out on the road and continued to the hospital. When they arrived, he pulled into the emergency room entrance and jumped out to help her inside.
“Hey buddy, you can’t park there. We got multiple ambulances coming in because of the tornado,” the security guard explained.
“She can’t walk from the parking lot,” Garrett growled. “I hit her with my truck. She needs a doctor.”
Two staff members came running with a wheelchair and helped her inside while Garrett parked the truck.
Her hand shook as she filled out the paperwork, thinking about the cost of the ER visit.
She left the insurance section blank since she didn’t have any.
Garrett sat beside her and she glanced up at him.
“Hurry and fill this out. The hospital in a town over plans to send patients here because it’s at capacity.
The faster we get you in there, the faster we have a chance at seeing a doctor,” he explained.
When she finished, he took the clipboard up to the desk.
She watched as he spoke, and the nurse noted it on the form.
Fifteen minutes later, they called her name. Garrett helped her up and escorted her to the cubicle. They took her vitals, and the doctor entered the curtained off area.
“Can you tell me where it hurts?” he asked.
“My head’s pounding,” she told him as she squinted from his bright light.
“Yeah, you have a nice-sized lump on your forehead and quite a gash. It needs stitching. We’ll send you down for a CT scan to rule out a concussion,” the older man said as he listened to her heart.
“Check her ribs, they’re bruised, too,” Garrett ordered.
“Oh, no. It’s okay. I bruised them from a fall earlier. It didn’t have anything to do with the accident,” she exclaimed.
“It still hurts you,” Garrett insisted. “You’re walking hunched over and holding your side. We’re here, let him check it out.”
“Then it’ll go on the same bill as the insurance and it’s not from you hitting me,” she ground out. “I don’t want your insurance to think I’m scamming them.”
“Let him check them out,” Garrett said softly, but the command seemed firm. Before she gave it a second thought, her hand moved away from the hem of her shirt as the doctor poked and prodded the bruised area.
“It appears you have some very bruised ribs, young lady,” the doctor exclaimed. “We’ll take an X-ray of those, too.”
Riley groaned. “Can’t you give me two acetaminophens and call it a day? It’s only a headache.”
The doctor chuckled. “I see you like hospitals. I promise we’ll get you done in a jiffy. We have a full load coming in and we want to clear this area. Do you have someone who can watch you at home if you have a concussion?” he asked.
“Yes,” she lied as another staff member entered and started unlocking the wheels to take her to radiology.
“I’ll wait for you here,” Garrett assured her as she glanced at him uneasily.
Thirty minutes later, they pushed her back into the cubicle and waited for the doctor’s diagnosis. He entered ten minutes later.
“It appears you have a small concussion and no broken ribs,” the doctor informed her.
“Oh, good. Can I leave now?” she asked.
“I’m giving you acetaminophen for the headache, and you’ll need to rest, young lady,” the doctor admonished. “The nurse will bring in your discharge papers and review the symptoms to watch for. Whoever’s staying with you will need to wake you every hour. Do you understand?”
“Yes. Thank you,” she added before the doctor left.
An uncomfortable silence fell between her and Garrett.
“I didn’t know your insurance information and left it blank on the forms. Will you please give it to them?” she asked.
“It’s already handled,” he said gruffly.
“Thanks. I appreciate you helping me,” she said wearily. “I doubt many people would stop once they heard the tornado siren.”
“Who’s staying with you?” he asked.
“Tara, my sister,” she said as the nurse entered, handing her two pills and a cup of water.
She swallowed them down and lay back against the pillow, hoping they’d kick in soon.
A few minutes later, the nurse brought her discharge paperwork and handed it to Garrett. Riley rose from the bed and he took her arm.
“Thank you for staying with me,” she said as he walked her to the lobby and she headed toward a chair.
“Where are you going?” he asked as he tugged her arm gently toward the doors.
“You don’t need to babysit me. Really, I’m fine. I’ll call a cab and my sister will watch over me,” she explained.
“I’m taking you home and giving your sister my number and the doctor’s instructions,” he announced as he led her through the glass double doors.
“She works,” Riley lied as he headed toward his vehicle. “I’ll only be home for a bit by myself.”
“Then I’ll take you home,” he said, almost annoyed.
She didn’t argue, as she calculated the time to cash his check and return to the biker club. By this evening, Tara would be safe at the apartment with her.
Helping her into the truck, Garrett seemed stiff and almost formal. When he got into the driver’s seat, he turned his gaze on her and pulled out a folded check from his pocket.
“We can swing by the bank and cash this if it’ll make you feel better,” he said icily.
Riley hesitated. She didn’t want to sound like a money-hungry bitch, but the more she thought about his check, the bank might require a hold on it for at least a week, considering she didn’t have the funds to cover it.
If he cashed it, Riley could get to her sister even faster.
“Sure, if it won’t make you late for your meeting with your friend. ”
“I’m fine,” he stated as his hands gripped the wheel and he stared at the road.
“You’re the one who offered,” she snapped, instantly regretting it and holding her head.
His lips firmed, and a vein popped out from his neck, making her feel a bit afraid of him. In reality, she didn’t know the man, and he already saw her naked, hit her with his truck, offered her more money than she made in over a year, and sat by her side at the ER. What did he have to be mad about?