Chapter Three
Jax
That’s over two days she can’t remember. Her eyes are wide, she’s gripping the table and gasping.
Shoving my chair back, I round the table, help her stand then bend her at the waist. “You’re hyperventilating. Breathe with me. Out… In… Out… In…”
Once she’s under control she slumps against me. “Why… Why can’t I remember? What happened to me?” Tears stream down her cheeks.
“Try to stay calm. Just relax. This is probably temporary. The more you stress the longer it will take. I’m going to carry you to the chair and hold you. It’s all going to be fine. You’re not alone. I won’t let anything happen to you.”
Before sitting, I pull a handkerchief from my pocket. “Sorry babe, I don’t do tissues or paper towels up here. But this hanky is clean, and I got plenty more.”
I’m pleased by her watery chuckle as she takes the cloth, wipes her eyes and blows her nose. She leans her head against my chest.
“How do I know I can trust you?”
“That’s kind of a tough question to answer. Since I don’t know you and probably not anyone you know in town since I was gone so many years. Hell, you probably weren’t even two when I left.
“What I will tell you, and could show you, is I got an honorable discharge, letters from a few army buddies that say I was a good guy, and a couple medals that imply the same thing. If it helps, I’m good friends with Sheriff Clay Harker, but my satellite connection is down due to the storm so I can’t call him for you. When it’s back up, I will.”
“How did you find me?”
I need to study her face as I have questions I need to ask her too. Standing with her in my arms, I settle her on the loveseat and cover her with a blanket. “Let me get your tea and stoke the fire.”
Handing her the cup, I drop a couple notebooks, pens and pencils on the side table before tending to the fire. Retrieving my coffee, I lower onto the other end of the mini couch. She studies me in silence.
“I’d been in the barn finishing a couple projects I’ve been working on. When I came back to the cabin, I realized a bad storm was rolling in. I did my normal preps, then sat on the porch to watch Mother Nature’s show.
“I thought I heard a female voice calling for help. At first— I thought I was imagining it. I’m far enough up the mountain, people rarely come this way. But the plea came again. The wind was bringing the sound straight to me. I got worried that maybe a hiker was lost and in trouble.” Meeting her gaze, I ask. “Do you remember calling for help?”
She shakes her head. “No. I have no idea why I’d even be on a mountain. I rarely use my car unless I’m going to Portland or Seattle. Our town is small enough I walk everywhere.
“But up the mountain? Honestly, I’m not much of a hiker. I’m a city girl through and through. I—ah, don’t even own a pair of boots. Unless you count my high-heel dress knee-boots.”
As soft and pure as her skin is, I suspected she’s not much of an outdoor girl.
“What did I say when you found me and why don’t I remember?”
Placing my cup on the table, I lean forward, elbows on my knees, hands clasped. “Maura, you are safe here. I will keep you safe until I can get you down the mountain. What I’m going to tell you may be disturbing.”
“You’re scaring me a little bit, Jax.”
“Please just trust me.” I meet her gaze.
“Your voice calling for help was carried in the wind. I followed it for close to fifteen minutes.”
“You can do that?”
“I’m an army ranger scout. Essentially a tracker. Before that I was taught by the best, my Gramps. I’m the person the Sheriff calls when someone goes missing or gets lost.”
I meet her gaze with mine. “I found you in a small clearing. You were tied to a tree… in just your underwear. The area had been swept clean of your other clothes, purse, anything that might identify you. Whoever was with you tried to get rid of all evidence before they abandoned you. You would have died in the storm. Your body would never have been found.”
She stares at me silently for several minutes as if trying to comprehend my words. “It’s La Perla, really high-end lingerie I got at a repurpose shop. I like to wear it when I work, it makes me feel special and pretty.”
Gasping, she covers her mouth with a shaking hand then drops her fist to her lap. “Oh god, what’s wrong with me. I’m doing a fashion commentary when you’re telling me someone tried to kill me.”
“It’s shock, babe. Just breathe and take your time.”
Her face is ashen. “Are… are you sure? Why would someone do that? And why don’t I remember any of this?”
“I can’t answer why. I can tell you there are a lot of sick people out there. As for the memory issue, certain drugs can affect your memory as well as make you compliant. Maybe you went out for drinks and someone slipped you something.
“Trauma can also cloud your memory. PTSD can mess you up. What happened to you was traumatic. Until we can get you to a doctor, we should both write down what we know or saw. If anything comes to you, any flashes of memory, even if you aren’t sure what it’s about, write it down. Especially if it doesn’t fit, or you don’t recognize something about it.
“After I cut you down, I wrapped you in my coat as quickly as possible. I have pictures of the area.”
“And me?”
“Not of you hanging. I did of you on the ground before I covered you.”
“I want to see them. I want to see the pictures.”
“Are you sure you’re ready, babe?”
“I’ll never be ready, but I need to see them.”
I pull the first one up and hand her my phone. “The rope hanging down was attached to your wrists, the one around the trunk was the one around your waist. There was one distinct boot print near the tree. The flattened grass is probably where a blanket was laid. I found a piece of tangerine peel and a water bottle cap. Those are in a baggie for the Sheriff. The snow was falling by this point. I was lucky to find those.”
“Tangerines are my favorite.”
The shock on her face lets me know as soon as she comes to the pictures of herself. Her hand trembles as she hands the phone back to me.
“You cut me down?”
“Yes, they used a generic rope. Something you could get at any hardware store. I kept them in case they could get some skin follicles but I’m guessing the person used gloves. The bandages on your wrists are because of the abrasions caused by the ropes. That was the worst damage. Your waist was not as extensive, but there’s some. I put ointment on you. You may scar a little.”
“How do you know so much?”
“Like I said, Gramps was a scout, and we lived on this mountain. Add years of military training and missions. I saw a lot of combat, know how to bandage someone up until I can get them real medical help. I know the emotional effect of trauma. I-ah have some PTSD myself. I was well enough to finish out the last year of my career. I’ve had a lot of therapy, know my own symptoms and can usually work through the occurrences. I’m not a threat to you.”
“You carried me back to your cabin?”
“Yes. When we got here, I took the wet clothes off you and dried your hair with a towel, then slipped my T-shirt on you. I tried to wake you, but I couldn’t rouse you. By that time your pulse was normal, as was your breathing. With the storm there was nothing else I could do except let you sleep, make sure you were warm and watch over you. Sleep is a common trauma response. If you had drugs in your system that would have affected you as well.”
“How far did you have to carry me?” she asks.
I shrug. “Little over three miles.”
“Oh no! I’m so sorry.”
“For what?”
“You had to carry me so far. I—I’m not some little girl.”
I smile. “Maura, have you looked at me? I promise it was no big deal. I bench press more than you weigh every day. You were nothing.”
“And you saw me naked. Treated my wounds.”
Damn, she’s afraid I took advantage of her. I suppose if you consider gazing at her beautiful body until she’s permanently etched in my mind. Or the fact that I can’t close my eyes without seeing her, wanting her. Then maybe I did. I know without a doubt she’s ruined me for anyone else and her image is going to the grave with me.
“Yes. But I promise, my attention to you was completely clinical. I’m not a medic, but in the field, everyone helps out. I did the basics to get you dry, warm and treat your injuries.”