Eve knew seeking medical attention would mean questions. Questions would demand answers. Answers, she just did not feel comfortable with giving just yet. She needed more time. More time to get her story right.
She bit down on her lip as her handsome cowboy dabbed again at the open wound on her head. The pain was stabbing and made her head ache even more. She looked into Cody's deep brown eyes again, they seemed so concerned. "Eve" he said as leaned over her again to turn her head slightly so he could look at the wound from a different angle. "Honey I am afraid there is not much more I can do to help you at this point. You are still bleeding. You need to see a doctor. I can take you right now to Bluegrass there is Doc there." He said patiently. "Its just 30 minutes out, from here."
Eve felt a slight panic rise inside her. Why did things always have to get complicated she wondered silently. "Can I see- a mirror". She asked hesitantly. Cody stood up and said he would be right back. She watched as he moved to the other room. She had to think fast. He was so distracting, it was driving her crazy. It seemed ridiculous, she reasoned to her self, that she should be so intoxicated by his looks. Yes, he was handsome, but so were at least a half a dozen other men she could name from her past. She was use to being surrounded by charming good looking men. Well, that was all in the past, in another life, she quickly thought to her self. A life she know longer could speak of. A life she hurriedly was forced to leave behind.
Cody came back holding a silver slightly tarnished antique hand mirror. He gently placed it in her hand, and stood back to watch her expression. She turned the mirror over in her hand, studying the floral embossed pattern. Then looked up to where Cody was standing. He sensed her question and quickly told her it had belonged to his mother. Her eyes widened as she looked down at her reflection. Her beautiful long blond hair was matted and tangled. Mud with specks of blood framed the tresses that cascaded around the sides of her once pretty delicate features. Her nose was smeared with dust and dried blood. Her left cheek was scraped and bruised. Her red and puffy eyes searched upward and stopped just above her left brow. Silently she studied the gaping wound on her forehead.
Eve knew Cody was right. She needed stitches at the very least, it was obvious.
Cody lifted her as if she were a child gently placing her in his big black pickup with enormous tires. There were so many questions he wanted to ask her but for now all he was concerned about was getting her medical help. He wanted to assure her whatever she was running from could not hurt her now, as long as he held her in his arms. Somehow he felt drawn to her and the mysteriousness of her appearance. Her small figure fit perfectly in his arms, and even though she was covered in mud and streaked with blood he could see an almost haunting beauty about her. Eve let out a large sigh as he settled in next to her in the drivers seat, she could feel the dizziness overwhelming her once again. They drove in silence for several minutes before Cody asked her how she was feeling. "I still feel a bit dazed" she admitted to him. "Lean back and rest". Cody told her "we will be there shortly". Eve let her eyes close only to happy to escape conversation and any questions he might have for her. She wanted to tell him as little as possible.
It seemed she had just closed her eyes when she felt a gentle hand on her shoulders. "Eve we are here" he whispered to her. Eve opened her tired eyes. Only to see Cody's dazzling gaze in front of her. Swiftly he lifted her from his truck and carried her toward the clinics doors.
Cody sat eve into a chair in the waiting room and walked towards the front desk. The slightly elderly woman immediately looked up to where Cody stood with a warm smile. Eve sensed Cody must have known her from the way they addressed each other.
Think Eve she thought to herself. I need to explain -what should I tell the doctor. she wanted badly to tell him the truth but knew that would only make things more complicated. Cody sat down next to Eve. It shouldn't be long he told her. The doctor is going to need to know what happened he said gently. Eve looked down at the floor. Cody had been so helpful she owed him an explanation At the very least.
Mary studied the couple from her desk. She had known Cody a very long time. It didn't surprise her to see Cody with an attractive woman, but it did surprise her for him to be with a woman who was hurt. She could tell from the way Cody acted he did not seem to know her very well. she hoped for Cody sake it wasn't any trouble. It wasn't like Cody to attract trouble but clearly something was going on.. Cody was a looker and considered one of the few eligible bachelors in the area. Mary knew there were at least a half dozen single females that came from good families that would die for a chance to attract Cody's heart.
She knew Codys family from way back. She could not help but feel concern for him now. He had taken it very hard the break up he had 2 years ago with a beautiful young co-Ed from California. Since then she really had not seen or heard much from him. He had mainly kept to himself. What was her name Mary thought to herself. Judy no Julie, yes it was Julie. Tall blonde dazzling smile. Cody was hardly seen with out her. The town folks saw them as the perfect couple that was until the night she took off with one of them Malone brothers . Now there was trouble. The Malone boys had no regard for the law and even less in respect towards folks. She had seen them come in for stitches more times than she cared to count. Bar brawls seemed to be a past time for them. And that's when the lights turned on. Maybe this new beauty had been rescued from the clutches of one of the Malone boys. Yes she could clearly see trouble like this from that youngest one. Mean as a rattle snake, but a charmer with the girls. Why she even had to admit to herself he was eye candy, that one and smooth . If she had a daughter she would have put up barbed wire to keep that one away.
Doc Keller called for Eve to come in now. Mary's thoughts came quickly back to her work . She would know soon enough what was going on.
Doc Keller was a kind man. He was short and a bit stubby. Deep burrow lines across his forehead, no doubt from showing concern towards his patients . He held out his and motioned for her to sit on his exam table. Then gestured for Cody to wait outside. Eve relaxed a bit patient confidentiality would by her time. Doc Keller first words were what happened. Eve felt the room spin and then go black.
Eve slowly opened her eyes and stared at the ceiling. Slowly her mind cleared. She turned to see Doc Keller smiling down at her. "How are you feeling?" He asked with concern as he shined a flashlight at her right eye. Eve stared straight ahead. "You do have quite the bump on your head." He said looking into her left eye. "Is there anything you want to talk about." "Anything that might help me understand how to help you."
Eve felt a panic start to rise in the deep pits of her stomachs. She knew she had to get help but she was just not sure who to trust and just where to start. A tear rolled down her cheek as she turned towards Doc Keller. The words flew out of her before she had time to draw them back. "I had an accident." She said slowly. Doc Keller waited patiently. Eve paused searching his face. He reminded her of her own grandfather. A kind and generous, short man. She missed him dearly right now. She found herself wishing she was that little girl again who use to sit on his lap listening as he talked about the days of growing up on his dairy farm. Eve refocused. "What's the last thing you remember about the accident. Let's start there." He said gently. She relaxed some. Okay that sounded easy enough. Okay she thought for a moment. She remembered walking towards the farm. Feeling pain, overwhelmed with fear. A face flashed through her mind. A mans face. Rugged.Shadowed with a few days growth of facial hair. Yes she remembered pushing him away. He was trying to make her go with him. But why her thought raced together. Why was he forcing her. "There was a man." She began. "He was dragging me towards a building." She paused shaking her head. A gun. Yes she remembered seeing a gun. "The story began to unfolded. She told him she just could not say anything more she just could not remember. But asked him to call the Maron County
Police station. "Ask for Sheriff Barry." She told him. Tell him you are calling for Eve Porter. " Doc Keller did as she asked . He handed her the phone as the voice on the other end instructed him. Doc Keller stepped back to give her some privacy as she softly spoke into the phone. The conversation was short and Eve answered with a few Yeses then handed the phone back to the Doctor.
Sheriff Barry spoke calmly into the phone. "Keep her there till I get there." He said. "Don't let anyone else see her. Eve noticed the concern lines on the Doctors face deepened as he listened. Oh she so desperately wanted her old life back. She wished for the comfort of her own apartment. Her friends. Most of all her family.
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