Chapter Eleven – Mallory #2
I stared at the journal and wondered if that was something I used to do. The idea of writing down one’s thoughts and feelings seemed foreign to me, but I was willing to give it a try.
I took the journal and one of the books and started downstairs. Dinner for this evening was already planned, so I could relax on the sofa, or maybe go out back and read for a bit.
When I got to the bottom step, the front door opened again, and Liam rushed in.
“I forgot my—” His words cut off abruptly as he came to a stop.
“What did you forget?” I asked as I stepped off the last step.
Liam’s eyes moved slowly up my body until his gaze landed on mine. “Wow! You look gorgeous, Mallory.”
A nervous bubble of laughter slipped free as I looked down at myself. “It’s amazing what happens when you wear clothes made for you, and not oversized men’s sweats.”
When I glanced back at him, he was still gaping. The look in his eyes made me shiver, but not with fright…with need.
“Do you have makeup on?”
My cheeks felt hot as I replied, “A little bit. I had a few things written down on the list. I’m sure that woman had a million-and-one questions why I needed everything from shoes to mascara. Lost luggage or not.”
Liam smiled. “Well…um…I forgot my notebook. With all my notes in it.”
We both started for the kitchen, Piper walking right alongside me. She took her job of guarding me very seriously.
“Here it is,” he said, picking up the notebook. “I should get going. Billy’s waiting on me.”
I nodded. “Okay. Thank you for the books and journal, by the way.”
He blushed slightly. “I figured you must be bored, sitting here all day.”
Giving a half-shoulder shrug, I replied, “I like the quiet.”
When his eyes moved down to my lips, I licked them instinctively. Liam took a step toward me, then shook his head, as if he’d been in a trance. He took a few steps backward, then quickly turned.
“Have a good afternoon,” I called out as he rushed toward the door.
“You, too, Mallory. Be a good girl, Piper!”
The dog barked, and I let out a soft laugh.
Once the door shut and I heard the lock engage, I glanced down at Piper. “Let’s cut up an apple and head on outside, shall we?”
She wagged her tail in agreement and let out a bark when I opened the fridge.
“Oh, you want a piece of cheese as well? I think I can make that happen.”
I’d seen one of Liam’s Montana State hoodies in the living room and grabbed it before Piper and I headed outside.
It didn’t take me long to get lost in the book I was reading.
It was called Trust the Push by Kaylee Ryan, and I was engrossed in the story.
I made a mental note to ask Liam about dirt track racing.
Or I could probably just look it up on his laptop.
I wasn’t sure how long I’d been outside before realizing the air was cooling off and the breeze had picked up some. Piper walked over to me and let out the softest bark I’d ever heard as she placed her paw on my lap.
“What is it, girl? What do you need?”
She barked louder, and I laughed. “I bet it’s time for you to eat.”
I stood and stretched, along with Piper, before we both made our way back into the house.
“Wow! It’s nearly six-thirty. I’m sorry your dinner’s so late, girl. Let’s get you fixed up and then start on dinner.”
As Piper ate her dinner, I put the leftover lasagna into the preheated oven. I wasn’t sure when Liam would be back, but I could always keep it warm until he arrived. “I sure hope this is going to be good.”
Piper barked and put her two cents in.
Twenty minutes later, the sound of Liam’s truck pulling up sent my stomach dropping with excitement.
“Your daddy’s home,” I said to Piper as she shot up and ran to the front door. When it opened and Liam walked in, with a stranger right behind him, my smile instantly fell. The urge to turn and run nearly overwhelmed me.
“Don’t worry, Mallory. This is Bubba.”
I tried to relax, but struggled with finding the right rhythm to breathe.
Bubba gave me a warm smile. “I was a medic in the Marines, and Liam asked me to take a look at that bump on your head.” He carried a small bag, which he set down on the coffee table before slipping his hands into his pockets. It was clear he was trying to let me know he wasn’t a threat.
“Are you okay with him taking a look at the bump?”
Ignoring the churning in my stomach, I slowly made my way into the living room and sank down onto the couch.
Bubba cleared his throat. “I’ll have to touch you, to find the bump.”
“That’s fine,” I managed to say. My gut was telling me that Bubba wasn’t the guy who’d kidnapped me. For one, he seemed shorter and much more built. At least from the little I’d been able to tell about that monster.
I watched as Bubba opened his bag, put gloves on and walked around the couch. Liam was suddenly sitting next to me, his hand covering mine.
“Okay, can you point to where the bump is?” Bubba asked.
Lifting my hand, I touched the still-tender spot. Bubba carefully examined my scalp.
“She had blood in her hair when I found her, dried blood that the rain hadn’t even washed out.”
“Yeah, I can see where it was split open, but it’s nearly healed up now. It probably needed stitches, from what I can tell. The bump looks to be down as well, but I imagine it’s still tender. Are you getting headaches?”
“I was, but I haven’t had one today.”
Bubba walked over to his bag and took out something. “May I look at your eyes? Make sure they’re dilating like they should be?”
“Of course,” I replied.
He shined the light in each eye. “Looks good. Are you sore anywhere else?”
I wrung my hands together before I admitted, “My ribs were pretty tender when I first woke up in the basement and after all the running. They’ve been slowly feeling better. And my feet still hurt from running barefoot.”
Bubba’s eyes went wide.
“You didn’t tell me your ribs hurt,” Liam said softly.
“I don’t think they’re broken, but…maybe more bruised?”
“Do you mind if I examine them?” Bubba asked.
Shaking my head, I stood, inhaling deeply. “I don’t mind.”
He carefully pushed on each rib. I sucked in a breath on one, and he looked at me. “On a scale of one to ten, what’s the pain level?”
When he gently pushed again, I closed my eyes. “Maybe a four? But like I said, it’s getting better every day.”
“I think she’s right, they’re most likely only bruised. They don’t feel broken.”
Liam sighed in relief.
Since I was standing, Bubba looked at the leftover bruising around my eye and cheek. “Bastard really hit you hard.” He gently pushed around my eye and on my upper cheek. “Any pain?”
“A little soreness, but nothing too bad.”
Bubba took a few steps back and pulled off his gloves. “I’m so sorry this happened to you, Mallory.”
The genuine concern in his voice warmed my heart. “Thank you. Is your real name Bubba?”
He laughed, and the instant relief I felt at the unfamiliar sound was nearly overwhelming. My gut instinct about him was right. He wasn’t the man who’d kidnapped me.
“My real name is Leonard. I got the nickname of Bubba from my younger sister, who couldn’t for the life of her say Leonard. I will be forever grateful to her for that.”
It was my turn to let out a soft laugh. “Thank you for doing this, and for keeping it all a secret.”
He stole a quick look at Liam, then focused back on me. “We’ll find out who did this to you.”
Before I had a chance to reply, Liam’s phone rang. When he looked at the caller, he stood abruptly. “It’s Randy.”
I slowly sank to the couch again while Bubba closed his bag and sat down on a chair. We both watched Liam pace while he listened to his cousin.
He stopped and turned, looking at me. A small furrow appeared between his brows. “Yeah, I heard you. Okay. Let me know if you find anything else.”
Once the call was over, he slipped his phone into his pocket.
“What did he say?” Bubba and I asked at the same time.
“He hasn’t gotten any hits on your fingerprints or DNA yet, but he wants to run the DNA through a few other places. So far, he’s only searched Montana and the surrounding states.”
I slowly exhaled. “Is it strange I’m almost worried to find out who I am?”
Liam reached for my hand. “I can imagine this would be scary.”
“I hope I’m not married.”
The words were out of my mouth before I could stop them. Liam’s eyes went as round as saucers, and Bubba laughed.
“I mean, I like it here, even though there is a madman somewhere out there who kidnapped me. I’m falling in love with the mountains and the crisp, clean air.”
Bubba and Liam both grinned.
I scrubbed my hands down my face. “Oh my gosh. I wish I could just remember something. Anything!”
Bubba approached and crouched in front of me, lightly placing his hand on my arm. “It’ll come back, Mallory. Just give it time and don’t force it.”
I nodded and wiped a tear away. “Will you stay for dinner? We have leftover lasagna.”
With a wide grin, he stood. “Show me where the food is!”
Liam stood and extended his hand for me. I took it, and he helped me up. “We’re going to get it all figured out. Just know you’re safe here in the meantime, and nothing and no one is going to hurt you.”
Forcing a smile, I tried so hard to believe him, but something deep inside of me was starting to grow wary. He wasn’t far away, the monster. I could feel it in the depths of my soul. He was searching for me…and the only truth I knew for sure was that I couldn’t hide in Liam’s house forever.