Page 4 of Serving my Dragon (The Dragocracy Chronicles #2)

Chapter Three

Despite my vow to remain awake because I didn’t quite trust Kayleigh, I woke as dawn lit the sky with Pollita tucked under my chin on my left side and Kayleigh sprawled partially across my chest on the right. Understandable since my sleeping bag, even unzipped, didn’t have that much room to spread.

At least I hadn’t been attacked while I slumbered. Perhaps Kayleigh truly had suffered a mishap and wasn’t part of a plot to rob me because surely something should have happened by now.

Kayleigh yawned and stretched. “I needed that sleep, but boy would I kill for some bacon and eggs.”

The comment made me think of Mama’s breakfast spread: chicharrónes, fried sweet potatoes, tamales, and fresh bread heavily buttered. As if reading my mind, a hungry Pollita mewled and held out her paws.

“Sorry, I have nothing left in my bag,” I said loud enough for both my companions. “But if we get going now, we can be at my car in two to three hours and eating not long thereafter.”

“Guess I won’t die if I have to fast a few hours. My best friend, Sally, swears by it.” Kayleigh wrinkled her nose. “But she’s always been more of a health nut than me. I love my food.”

“The faster we move, the quicker we eat,” I quipped.

While Pollita still didn’t appear to be a fan of Kayleigh, judging by the side eye she gave her, she chose to ride on my shoulder. I led the way and as we neared the exit of the canyon, we encountered a group coming in.

When I would have called out to them in the hopes someone would take Kayleigh from my care, she must have guessed my intent because she clutched my arm. “Please don’t send me off with strangers.”

How could I deny her request, especially so close to finally being done with my part in her rescue? What a strange turn my vacation had taken but at least I’d emerged unscathed.

The parking area had a mix of vehicles. My reliable blue Kia Rio remained where I’d parked it. Pollita scented the air and glanced around with curiosity as I unlocked my car but it wasn’t until I turned the key and started the engine that she squawked and crawled inside my shirt.

I patted her lightly. “It’s okay, Pollita. It’s just the motor.”

Kayleigh plopped herself in the passenger seat and sighed. “Oh, this feels so nice after all that walking.”

“Traffic permitting, I should be able to drop you at a hospital shortly,” I stated, getting us on the road.

“Will they even see me? I don’t have my wallet to pay nor any ID.”

“I’m sure they will accommodate.” I had no idea, actually.

“Will you stay with me while they check me out?”

I wanted to say no. She wasn’t my problem. But Mama hadn’t raised me to be an uncaring ass.

And so, with Pollita tucked away in my bag, happily munching the tamales I bought for us on the way, I stuck around with Kayleigh in the emergency room until the doctor saw her. Although I did draw the line at being in the examination room when they checked her over.

Given a lizard would cause a commotion if brought inside the hospital, I tucked Pollita in my bag since she insisted on staying close to me.

How could I tell? When I went to leave her in the car, saying, “I’ll be back soon,” Pollita uttered a screech and reached for me. Who knew a reptile could be so needy?

When the exam was complete, the doctor emerged and saw me sitting in a chair, my knapsack in my lap.

“You must be Ms. Carmichael’s companion. The lady is free to leave with you as soon as she’s changed from her hospital gown.”

“What’s the verdict?” I asked.

“She appears to be suffering from temporary amnesia. The bruising on her body indicates it most likely occurred from a fall.”

“How long until her memories return?”

The doctor shrugged. “An hour. A day. Never. One can never predict in these types of cases. I would recommend she rest as much as possible.”

“Rest where though? She doesn’t even remember travelling here let alone the hotel she was staying at.”

“One would assume her family or friends would have knowledge of her travel plans and accommodations. Although, returning to her home without a passport could be complicated. I would advise contacting the American embassy but it might be a few days before she can get an appointment as they are short-staffed and busy, as am I. If you’ll excuse me, I have other patients to attend. ”

The doctor left and I had the dilemma of what to do with Kayleigh.

She obviously had a room somewhere, not to mention women rarely travelled alone.

Surely her companions were missing her, assuming they’d not perished in whatever accident befell her.

A call to the local police might be helpful.

Perhaps someone had filed a missing person’s report.

A somber-looking Kayleigh emerged in her dirty clothes albeit with a clean face and brushed hair. “Hey, Matty.” She’d chosen to shorten my name to something ridiculous.

“How are you feeling?”

“Still lost.” She offered a wan smile. “The doc says I have selective amnesia. I can remember things from before I developed the amnesia, but nothing from right around or after.”

“That sucks.”

“Yeah. Unfortunately, he wasn’t able to prescribe a magic pill to help me out. Guess you’re stuck with me a while longer.”

She assumed I’d be caring for her still. She would be right, since I couldn’t exactly abandon her.

“The doctor suggested you contact the embassy and your family.”

Her lips twisted. “No family to call and as for the embassy, I don’t have a phone.”

“I do, but it’s back at my place. I left it at home since the canyon doesn’t get much of a signal.” And quite honestly, I didn’t want or need to be disturbed when communing with nature. “Surely you have someone you can contact. Perhaps this friend you mentioned before?”

“If anyone knows why I’m here, it would be Sally. Only…” She sucked her lip before she admitted, “I don’t know her number off by heart because I usually just dial from my contact list.”

“I’m sure we can figure out a way to contact her. My place has internet so we can hopefully find it in a search. We’ll also call the embassy and the police.”

“Police?” she squeaked as we walked out of the hospital.

“In case you were reported missing.”

“Oh. That makes sense.”

Funny how the mention of law enforcement frazzled her more than being brought to a strange male’s home. Then again, if I had nefarious intentions, I most likely would have already acted.

Despite my misgivings, we headed to my house. The situation just seemed so odd. Who came across a woman with amnesia in the first place? Who took them home? Who kept trying to pretend Kayleigh wasn’t immensely attractive?

Because yeah, I couldn’t help but notice.

Nor could I even pinpoint what enticed me most. She wasn’t my type.

I’d never dated a foreigner before and the only blondes I’d ever taken out had been the bleached kind.

Usually, I dated lean and athletic women, not very curvy ones.

Also, Kayleigh talked. A LOT. Giggled almost as much.

A difference from the usually serious women I gravitated towards, preferring calm demeanors in direct contrast to the fieriness of my female relatives.

None of my lady friends lasted. My longest relationship being just under three years before Isla broke up with me, stating it was her or my rambunctious family.

I liked Isla, just not more than my mama.

“You never did explain how you ended up with a lizard,” Kayleigh commented.

Startled from my thoughts, I blurted, “I found her by the river half-drowned.”

“Aw, and you saved her and called her Polly.”

“Pollita,” I corrected. “Translated it means little chickie.”

“Cute. She’s awfully well-behaved and snuggly. I knew a guy with a snake once, but it was the kind that a hug from would have killed you. He had to get rid of it when it ate his cat.”

“I doubt Pollita will get that big.”

“What kind of lizard is she?”

“I don’t know. I planned to do a search on the internet to see if I could find out. Once I know her type, it will give me a better idea of her diet and needs.” Thus far she’d been eating my food without issue, but I’d hate to be causing her any harm.

“Are you going to put her in a cage?”

“I doubt it.”

“Aren’t you worried she’ll poo and pee everywhere?”

I’d not thought about that, but come to think of it, Pollita hadn’t made a mess in my bag. What would happen once she got inside my house, though? “I don’t know. Maybe she can be newspaper trained.” It worked for puppies.

“Or you could try a litter box.”

Not a bad idea, actually.

“This is my place.” I pulled into the driveway of a stucco-covered house. Two floors, the exterior an off-white shade, the roof red clay tile.

“Oh, this is adorable,” Kayleigh gushed as she exited the car. “Do you live here by yourself?”

“Yes, much to my mother’s breaking heart.”

Kayleigh shot me a look over her shoulder. “Did you move far away?”

“Down the street.” I pointed. “Mama has that pink house close to the corner.”

My companion’s mouth rounded before she giggled. “Oh my god, you’re a mama’s boy.”

Denial sat on the tip of my tongue and heat filled my cheeks at her amusement. However, I refused to be ashamed. “I’m very close to my mother. As an only child, when Papa died, my mother focused all of her attention on me.”

“I didn’t mean it as a bad thing!” Kayleigh exclaimed.

“I used to be a daddy’s girl. I got away with everything growing up, much to my mom’s annoyance.

Not to say she didn’t adore me, too, but she was always after my dad to not spoil me so much.

” A dimple formed in her cheek. “Thank god he didn’t listen. ”

“Used to be?” I caught the past tense.

Her lips turned down. “They died a few years ago. Mom went first. Breast cancer, and poor dad didn’t have the heart to keep going without her.”

“I’m so sorry for your loss.” I didn’t know what else to say.