Page 12 of Two Risks I'd Never Take Again

I wiped drips off his shoulders and chest. “Off to bed with you.”

He shuffled down the hall, then dropped onto the edge of the bed.

“Your boots. I can help you.” I’d never taken off a man’s boots before. Was it better to face him and pull or to face away? I opted for away.

His chuckle made me think that wasn’t the best choice. Most of my choices tonight had been questionable.

I carried his boots out to the kitchen so that they wouldn’t leave any more flecks of dried mud on my carpet.

As I walked back into the room, he shifted into place, his jaw clenched. I covered him but hesitated to walk away. Would watching him keep him alive?

“Tessa, you can get the meds later. Sleep for a bit.”

“I’ll wait until the closest pharmacy opens. But I have to eat first. You hungry?”

“Starved, but I’m not sure what I can eat right now. Even talking hurts.”

“Then quit talking. I didn’t know it was hurting you. I’ll bring you something to eat.” I walked out, forcing myself not to look back. At least now I could honestly say I hadn’t picked up a stranger.

I just didn’t know that when I’d loaded him into my car.

In the kitchen I heated a pan and quickly scrambled some eggs, making sure they were light and fluffy. He could down those without having to chew.

When I ran to the pharmacy, I’d get puddings and Jell-O. For lunch, maybe I’d whip up a creamy soup.

With food loaded onto a tray, I walked back into the bedroom. “Okay, G-man. Let’s get some food in you.”

“You first.” He closed his mouth, looking very much like a toddler refusing vegetables.

I shoveled eggs into my mouth, then swallowed before scolding him. “For someone completely at my mercy, you sure like to pretend you’re in charge.” I piled eggs on a clean fork. “Now, open up.”

He opened his mouth as best he could and practically inhaled the food.

“Youwerehungry.” I wiped his mouth, dusting away a few crumbs.

His gazed tracked my movements, and I swallowed. One week. I’d help him for one week, and then he could go back to his life, and I’d go back to mine.

“Try to sleep.” I picked up the tray and nestled a bag of frozen peas onto his face. “After you’re a bit more rested, we’ll call the deputy from last night so you can tell him what happened.”

“I will not. He knows what he needs to know. I had an unfortunate mishap, and I don’t wish to press charges. When you went to get clothes, he came back. I talked to him.”

I set the tray down and perched on the edge of the bed. “What happened?”

With the bag of peas covering half his face, he stared at the far wall, and for the better part of a minute, I thought he wasn’t going to answer me.

“Someone jumped me and beat me up.”

“That clears it all up for me. Thanks.” I picked up the tray.

“Hey. I’m not trying to irritate you. Can we talk about it tomorrow?”

I nodded. “But what happened to you isn’t anunfortunate mishap. They could’ve killed you. You might not have survived the night on the side of the road. What if it had rained longer and the water rose? It was cold last night. You could’ve gotten hypothermia.”

“I got played, and I got hurt. Pressing charges might get me killed, and I’m partial to living. Those pecan praline doughnuts are reason enough.”

My stomach knotted at the thought of something worse happening to him.

“When you can chew without pain, I’ll make a batch of doughnuts for you.”

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