34. Isabella
34
ISABELLA
“ A car!”
Travis had bought her a car, and her mind couldn’t make sense of the outrageous surprise.
“It’s not a new car, but Beau and Gage helped me make sure everything has been inspected and serviced.”
The key still hung in the air between them. How could she accept such a huge gift?
“Travis, I can’t believe this. A car is expensive.”
“I know, but even though you usually have someone around to drive you anywhere, you need to know that you’re free to go and do whatever you want.”
Bella stared at the key as Travis’s words seeped into her heart. He’d given her a home and a new life. He’d given her freedom and safety. He’d given her love and a Savior.
“Travis, what does this mean?” she asked slowly.
“Before you start getting any wild ideas about how this means you owe me or feel obligated to stay with me or even like me, let me take all those thoughts and throw them out the window. This is for you. That’s all. There isn’t an IOU attached to it. It’s just yours.”
Bella shook her head and squeezed her eyes closed. It wasn’t that she felt tied to him because of the gift. It was the opposite. He was giving her freedom when she’d only ever known a chained life.
Yet, she didn’t want to go anywhere. She wanted to stay right here in this new haven with him.
Travis moved the key closer to her. “Take it. It’s yours.”
She grabbed the key and his hand before pushing them to the side. Of course the car was a wonderful gift, but Travis was the most amazing gift of all.
Stepping closer, she brushed a hand over his bearded jaw. “I love you, Travis. You’ll never understand what this means to me, but it pales in comparison to how grateful I am that you’re here with me.”
Travis’s hand slid from her waist to her back, pulling her in until her baby bump pressed against him. Lowering his head, his nose brushed against hers as he whispered, “I love you too. Nothing will change that.”
He pressed his lips to hers, and she inhaled a breath that sparked through her chest and into her bones. Every brush of his lips against hers stole her breath and bound her heart to him. The way he adored her set her on fire from the inside out.
Sleeping in a small cabin with this man was going to be torture of the best kind.
Footfalls on the porch made Bella jump, but Travis brushed a soothing hand over her hair.
“It’s just Nathan.”
A second later, there was a knock at the door. Despite knowing who was coming, her heart didn’t get the memo to slow down.
Travis opened the door and greeted the security agent that had been Bella’s shadow on the days when Travis worked at the fire station.
“Come on in,” Bella said as she caught up with Travis.
Nathan stepped inside and held up his briefcase. “Is now a good time to go over how to use the system?”
“It’s a perfect time,” Bella said quickly, welcoming him into the kitchen so they could sit at the small round table that Tammy had left in the cabin.
Bella listened closely as Nathan explained the security measures Anna had ordered. Security cameras saw every inch of the cabin’s perimeter as well as the entrance to the ranch. Sensors were on every window and would sound the alarm if the glass was broken.
Once he went over the exterior features, he moved to the inside where the control panel was installed beside the front door. There was also an app where she could call for help at the press of a button. It would alert local law enforcement as well as Travis. Nathan’s company headquarters also had the ability to notify Travis and Bella if they saw anything strange on the camera footage.
“Wow. This is a lot,” Bella said as she clicked through the app features on her phone.
“It’s perfect,” Travis added.
Bella looked around the cabin. She did feel safe, but how long would this last? How long would she be looking over her shoulder for Gunner and the club?
Travis chatted with Nathan as he packed up his things, but Bella’s thoughts were scattered. Camille was doing her best, but there was a chance they wouldn’t know the truth without more memories.
Nathan said his goodbyes, and Travis closed the door behind him. “What do you think?”
“I think it’s a lot, but I’m grateful.”
Travis stepped closer and cradled her face in his large hands. “What’s wrong? You look worried.”
“I need to remember more.”
Travis pressed a kiss to her forehead. “It’ll come in time.”
“Actually, I was wondering if you’d drive me out to the place where the accident happened. Maybe I’ll remember something.”
Travis glanced at his watch. “It’s not far from Deano’s Diner. We could grab some lunch while we’re out there.”
Bella nodded. “That’s a good idea.” Her stomach was on the verge of howling for food, and the baby was adding in its complaints too.
Travis grabbed her coat and held it while she slipped her arms in. “I’ll have one of the guys drop off your car later. It’s still at Beau’s garage.”
“No rush. It’s not like I’m going anywhere without you for the next four days.”
That earned her a beaming smile from Travis. “I’m happy to be your driver, my beautiful lady.”
Bella’s cheeks heated. Would she ever get used to his affection? Every moment she spent with him was the happiest of her life.
Twenty minutes later, they parked in front of Deano’s Diner. Bella glanced around the gravel parking lot. A few older model trucks were parked out front, but the place was quiet.
The rusted sign hanging from the awning swung slowly in the wind.
“You ready to eat some of the best, greasiest food you’ve ever had?” Travis asked.
Bella continued staring at the sign. “I’ve been here before.”
“At Deano’s? Since your injury?”
“No. Before. It’s vague, but I know I’ve seen that sign. I don’t know if I remember what the inside looks like, but I’ve at least seen the building before.”
“Maybe this is the way you came into town. It’s kind of the first stop past the town line.”
Bella grabbed the handle and opened the door. “Let’s go inside.”
The parking lot was quiet, but a riot of voices filled the air as soon as Travis pushed open the door. A group of men sat around a large round table laughing and talking over one another.
Travis waved at the woman behind the counter. “Hey, Kendra.”
The older woman’s eyes widened. “Travis! I haven’t seen you in ages.”
“Sorry. I’ve been a little busy.” He turned to Bella and wrapped an arm around her, pulling her to his side. “This is my girlfriend, Bella Young.”
Kendra stepped from behind the counter and opened her arms. “It’s so nice to meet you. I’ve heard all about you.”
Bella returned the woman’s embrace. “Really?”
“I think everyone in town knows you got hit by a car.”
Travis accepted his hug from Kendra next. “Is there any chance you’ve seen Bella before? She thinks this place looks familiar.”
Kendra’s mouth twisted to one side. “Sorry, but I haven’t. I was working the morning of your accident. I remember all the lights and sirens passing by.”
“Do you remember anything else from that morning?” Travis asked.
Kendra propped her hand on the counter beside her. “Well, there was a man in here. He said he was just passing through, so I asked him a little bit about where he was from and all that. He just said he was from out of town. He got a little stiff when the sirens and lights started, and he asked for his breakfast to-go.”
Bella’s back straightened. It had to be Bill. “What did he look like?”
“He was tall. About this high,” Kendra said as she moved her hand to a spot in the air above her head. “Kinda lanky. White hair and white beard.”
“That’s him,” Bella whispered. “That’s Bill.”
“You don’t think he could have been the one who hit you, do you?” Kendra asked. “I mean, he was here, but maybe he hit you before he came in.”
Bella reached out a hand. “No, no. He’s a friend. Did he say where he was going?”
Kendra thought for a moment, and a slight crease formed between her brows. “Actually, I don’t know when he slipped out. Someone else gave him his order, and I guess I was paying too much attention to the sirens to notice.”
At least Bill had been safe for a moment. “Thanks for letting me know. I’ve been worried about him.”
“He was such a sweet man. Very patient with our early morning rush,” Kendra said as she grabbed a couple of paper menus. “Are the two of you eating in today?”
“We are,” Bella said. “I’ve heard great things about the pork chops here.”
“Oh, they’re second to none,” Kendra said as she gestured to an empty booth.
Travis didn’t bring up Bill throughout the meal, and Bella locked the information from Kendra away as a win. If Bill was here without her and she’d been hit between here and town, then that meant Bill probably dropped her off here. Small pieces were finally coming together.
After they ate, Travis stayed close to her side as they got back into his truck. “Are you sure you still want to see it?”
Bella climbed into his truck and nodded. “Yeah. I need to. Coming here today at least gave us a little more information. I feel like it can only help.”
In truth, she had no idea where she’d been found. Travis said it wasn’t far from here, but she hadn’t been conscious until after she was checked into the hospital.
Travis rounded the truck and got in on his side. “If you change your mind, just tell me.”
“I will. Thanks for doing this.”
He reached for her hand as he merged onto the main road. “Anything for you.”
She focused on the warmth of his hand in hers as she scanned the area. Trees crowded the road on both sides, and autumn leaves drifted across their path.
Bella scooted forward in her seat. “If Bill dropped me off at the diner, I would have been walking this way.”
“Most likely. Anything look familiar?”
A dirt drive intersected the road ahead. “Can you pull over? I want to walk.”
“I don’t like that idea. Walking got you hit last time.”
“But you’re with me. Surely, I won’t get run over twice,” she pointed out.
It was strange how her mind assumed she was safe with him. Just having Travis beside her made her feel invincible.
Travis pulled over in the drive and opened his door. “Let me come around. The ground might be uneven.”
As silly as she found it, she did as he asked. She wasn’t pregnant enough that she was losing her balance, but the extra weight was something to get used to.
Travis helped her out of the truck and held her hand as they walked in the tall grass lining the road. Each step was careful and calculated.
Once they were on the pavement, she looked down the road the way they were going. “I’m not sure I remember this.”
“That’s okay. It looks like the other twenty miles of this road.” He pointed ahead. “You were found just before that mile marker.”
Bella started walking, looking all around her for something that might spark a memory. She stopped and pressed her eyes closed.
What was I doing here, God?
The roar of a truck engine approached behind them. The sound grew louder, and Bella turned.
That was it. He’d come from behind her. She blinked, and she could see the truck approaching. Not the tan one coming toward them now, but the black one.
The black truck driven by Gunner’s best friend.
Bella reached out and grabbed Travis’s arm.
“What is it? Do you remember?”
The tan truck approached them slowly. The driver was an elderly man with a long white beard who waved as he passed.
She looked up at Travis, breathless and unsure what to do. “I know who hit me.”