Page 19 of Montana Lawman Rescuer
His eyes widened. “My Gram?”
“Yes, I can be your gram if you like.”
“’Kay.” He gave a heartwarming smile and then returned to enjoying his meal.
As they ate, both Gram and Jesse told her more about the town and the area. She suspected they hoped something they said would help her remember, but nothing came to her.
As soon as they finished, Gram brought them each a bowl of fresh raspberries with cream so thick they had to spoon it out of the bowl. Again, the raspberries made her remember a time of laughter and joy and an older woman. She closed her eyes and tried to get a clearer picture of the person she knew to be her grandmother. All that came was a merry laugh and a big red apron with generous pockets.
She opened her eyes to find Jesse and Gram watching her. Jesse’s eyes asked a silent question, and she shook her head. “I hear laughter, but that is all.”
He held her gaze, his eyes full of encouragement. “It’s nice to know your first memories are of happy times in your life. I hopethe rest of your memories are as happy and sweet when they come.”
She caught her bottom lip between her teeth to hold back a protest. When she could speak without giving away her fear, she said, “Seems too much to think I wouldn’t have my share of good and bad.”
“Every life needs both sunshine and rain. Just like my flowers out there,” Gram said.
“Described that way, I will try and be happy about both.” At the moment, she’d be glad to simply get her memory back.
But despite having said that, a shiver crossed her shoulders. There were times, she knew, that the bad could be so awful it was more like a destructive hailstorm than a nourishing rain.
Jesse must have read her thoughts because he leaned forward. “Emily.”
She turned to him, immediately finding strength in his steady brown eyes.
“‘I will trust and not fear.’”
She nodded. “I have to keep reminding myself.”
“I’ll remind you as often as I think you need it.”
“Me, too,” Gram said.
“Mem, mem, mem, mem,” Mikey added, and the adults all laughed.
When the meal was over, Jesse got to his feet. “I hate to leave you.” He spoke directly to Emily. “But I must make my rounds of the town. People need to know I am doing that part of my job.”
She rose, as well. “Of course. There is no need to worry about me. I’ll be fine.”
His smile was gentle. “I’ll be back shortly unless there is trouble, which I don’t expect.”
She listened to his departing footsteps and the closing of the door, then pulled her thoughts back to the kitchen. After all, she didn’t need his presence to feel safe.
Except she did. He’d become her lifeline.
She dismissed the idea. At the moment, she had no past and no future, but she had the present and she would face it without fear.
“I’ll help with dishes.”
Gram looked ready to refuse, then nodded. “I expect it’s easier if you keep busy. You can wash. That way, you won’t have to move around too much.”
As Emily scrubbed the dishes, she tried to think how she could manage a bath for Mikey and herself without asking for another favor from these kind people. But the dishes were done, the floor swept, and the kitchen clean, and still, she could think of no way.
Mikey had been playing with the toys, Muffin at his side. He rubbed his eyes and whined.
“He’s getting tired,” Emily said. “I need to get him ready for bed.”
“Of course. What do you need?”
