Page 2 of Deadly Memories

Her limp body and pale features were not reassuring. Shallow breaths came from her lungs, and a closer inspection revealed a jagged gash of a head injury along the side of her temple. Likely the source of the blood stains. He couldn’t perform a proper exam out there with the dwindling twilight.

Swallowing a sigh, Doc slid his hands beneath her thin frame and picked her up. She didn’t weigh much and still didn’t move. Or regain consciousness. How bad was her head injury anyway?

Casting one last glance around the clearing, he carried her inside. Kicking the door shut behind him, he strode to the sofa and gently set her down. Water droplets from her clothing splashed onto the floor, but his gaze remained focused on his patient.

He was a former army medic, not a medical doctor, but he knew enough to stabilize her until he could get her transferred to the care of professionals. Her head lolled to the side, and he studied her dainty features for a long moment.

She was pretty, despite her bedraggled appearance, and looked familiar. Not one of his few friends, but maybe someone he’d run across during one of his rare trips to town? He couldn’t quite place how he knew her. He gently turned her head toward him and pried one eye open to check her pupil. Then he did the same with the other. They appeared equal and reactive, which was reassuring.

Satisfied, he stood and crossed to the bathroom to grab towels and a blanket. Her skin was still too cool to the touch for his peace of mind, and even though October was still relatively warm temperature wise, he had no way of knowing how long she’d been submerged in the river.

Hypothermia was a significant concern.

Doc rubbed the terry cloth over her hair and clothes, then turned her body to tuck the towels underneath to absorb the excess water. Then he placed the dry blanket over her. When that was finished, he returned to the bathroom to pull out his medical kit. He didn’t have a stethoscope or blood pressure gauge anymore, but he had the supplies he needed to clean and dress her head wound.

He flipped on the lamp beside the sofa for extra light. The hour was past six in the evening, and full darkness would be upon them soon. Her familiar face nagged at him as he worked. Her brown hair reached her shoulders, and her clothes—despite being sopping wet—were of good quality. They didn’t scream runaway or street person. Her pale skin had been slightly burned by the sun as if she wasn’t accustomed to being outdoors. Which made it even more confusing as to how she’d arrived on his doorstep.

With a frown, he imagined someone had reported her missing by now. His plan was to take her to the hospital and let the medical staff and the police take it from there.

Because she’d been in the river, he made sure to clean her open head wound thoroughly with soap and water before lightly covering the gash with gauze. A course of antibiotics would have been helpful, but he didn’t have those anymore either.

He hadn’t used his medic skills very much since their team’s disastrous exfiltration from Afghanistan five years ago. And that debacle still haunted him. There had been so many injured soldiers. And he’d barely managed to save a handful.

The rest had died. Several in his arms. Doc closed his eyes for a moment, willing the memories of those faces away.

His mystery woman let out a low moan. He opened his eyes and leaned over her. “Ma’am? Are you okay?”

Her eyelids fluttered open. She stared up at him with pale-blue eyes that were clouded with confusion. “W-where am I?”

“You collapsed on my doorstep. I live near the river, basically in the middle of nowhere.” He searched her gaze. She stared at him and at her surroundings as if she’d never been inside a cabin before.

Maybe she preferred high-end accommodations. Too bad, his simple and rustic surroundings suited him just fine.

He forced a reassuring smile. “My name is Regan Harmon. Everyone calls me Doc, as I was a medic in the army. What’s your name?”

Her brow furrowed as if that was a difficult question. “I—don’t know.”

His earlier wariness returned. He wasn’t in the mood for games. “Ma’am, I am happy to take you to a hospital, but they’re going to need your name too.”

“No, please.” Sheer panic crossed her features. “No hospital. Please, I, uh, just need to rest.”

He arched an eyebrow. “And ya’ll think I’m running some sort of bed-and-breakfast? You can rest at the hospital.”

She began to struggle in earnest now, clawing free of the blanket. “Please, don’t do this. I don’t want to leave.” She finally pulled a hand free and grasped his arm, her grip surprisingly strong. “I’m in danger.”

He arched an eyebrow. “You don’t know your name, but you know you’re in danger?”

“Yes.” She frowned. “I think so. I had to run. To hide. To escape.”

Doc wasn’t buying whatever she was attempting to sell. He eyed her warily, trying to understand her angle. His cabin was basic and functional. It didn’t scream money, so she would have no reason to target him with a scam.

So what was her deal?

He sighed and rose to his feet, heading toward his kitchen. “I’m sorry, but if you can’t tell me your name or why you’re here, I have no reason to believe your claim of being in danger. I’ll let you rest for a few minutes before we head to the closest hospital. You really should have that head injury of yours checked out.”

The woman struggled to sit upright, swinging her legs around with jerky and uncoordinated movements. “I’ll leave on my own.”

A flash of annoyance hit hard. “Lady, how far do you think you’ll get on foot? My driveway is a half mile long. You appear to have the strength of a gnat. A stiff breeze would flatten you.”