Two days later . . . Ava walked to the back of Ray’s home with Ray behind her. She carried her trusty carry-on as Ray carried her one suitcase. She only had the clothes Mrs. Porter had given her. It was about a week and a half worth of clothes at the most. Mrs. Porter had also given her a hundred and fifty dollars for spending money, kissed her goodbye, and wished her luck. Ava had tried to tell her she didn’t need the cash. She still had most of the money she had found in her carry-on after the accident. “Stay in touch now,” Mrs. Porter had said as Ava got into the Uber. “Keep walking past the pool. The place you’ll be staying is up ahead,” Ray said behind her. Ava did as instructed. He could be a gruff speaking man at times, but as long as she did the job to his satisfactory she shouldn’t have any big problems from him. “Here?” She pointed at a small building that was only a few feet away from the pool.
It was half time and the game was tied fourteen to fourteen. Jock and Gill went with Tom to the bathroom as Ava and Jesse got refreshments at the concession stand for everyone. Ava thought it was a good time to pick Jesse’s brain as they waited in line. “It’s a hell of a game, isn’t it?” Jesse said. “It is. Very exciting. And I had no idea that Dax was the quarterback – or that he could run so fast.” “So, you like football.” “It appears so,” Ava said. “Who knew?” “Are you following the game all right?” “I got the gist of it.” “If you’re confused about something, just ask, okay? I won’t mind.” “Thanks. But right now, I have questions that isn’t about the game itself,” Ava said. “Why can’t Ray make time for Dax’s games? Even some of the ranch hands are here to support him and they’re not his uncle like you.” “Well, they’ve all known Dax since he was a baby, number one
As told, Ava had breakfast on the table at eight. Ray asked Dax for more details concerning the game last night. If you would have come last night, you wouldn’t have to ask. Yet, she kept quiet as Dax answered his father’s questions. That’s when she realized that Dax wasn’t as enthusiastic as he was last night at the diner or coming home when talking about the game. Ray didn’t ask Tom anything at all. Matter of fact, Ray hadn’t even said good morning to anyone. He just sat at the kitchen table and started talking. Ray finished his breakfast and told the boys he would see them at lunch at left. No have a good day. I’ll be at such and such in case you guys need me. Nothing of the sort at all. Ava began to clear Ray’s dishes. She had been quietly eating in the corner next to the sink. She did that because she didn’t want to infringe on their family time, but she wanted to be close enough just in case one of them needed something
Ava, Ray, Jesse, and the boys had ridden out to the stables. Ray was a little surprised when Ava immediately took an interest in the horses. Her brown eyes literally lit up. “Oh, aren’t you a beauty,” Ava said as she approached the American Albino. “I just finished breaking him in two weeks ago,” Ray said. “So be careful. You never know.” “Oooh, I’m sure we’ll get along fine,” Ava cooed as she rubbed the side of the Albino’s jaw. “What’s your name, darling?” “His name is Whisper,” Tom answered. “How cute. I’ll ride this one,” Ava said with too much confidence. She hadn’t ridden before. “You should ride Ella instead. She’s used to beginners,” Ray stated. Ava opened the door to the stall like he had never said a word. “Well, looks like we’re saddling up Whisper,” Jesse commented. Ray didn’t like it but the way Ava was acting she didn’t give a damn. What had gotten into
Monday . . . Since Saturday afternoon, Ray had avoided Ava like the plague and she was glad of it. He hadn’t sat down at meal times with the boys or Jesse. And when Ray was at home, he went straight to his bedroom or study. Jesse had come by her quarters Saturday night after they had all gone out for dinner. He had brought her two pieces of pepperoni pizza. “Don’t let Ray upset you. It was obvious you remembered that you knew how to ride and very well I might add.” “Thank you,” she had said and took the small box that said Frank’s on top of it. “Sure. And one more thing. Ray doesn’t want the boys to know you have amnesia. That’s why he interrupted out there this afternoon. It was obvious you were going to tell them.” “Yes, but it’s not a secret.” “Well, Ray wants it to be a secret from the boys. He said he didn’t want the boys to know you were sick. He’s afraid it might upset Tom and . . .
Saturday night . . . Ava had cooked racks of lamb, asparagus, and roasted potatoes for dinner. It was the first time she had cooked lamb and it turned out great. The boys seemed to like it. Ava had wrapped up a plate for Ray and put it in the microwave as usual. She hadn’t seen him since the day they had all gone riding and she was glad – in a way. Despite his attitude, he was easy on the eyes. But Jesse was handsome, too, in his own right and she would be looking at him half the night. Ava and the kids walked out of the kitchen to the living room. “Will you two be all right until your father gets home?” Apparently, Ray, Gill, and Wes rode out on the range to check on a small herd that had wandered to the east end of the property. “Yeah,” Dax said as he plopped down in an arm chair. He swung his leg over one of the arms. “Are you going to get ready for your date with Uncle Jesse?” Tom asked as he sat down Indian s
Jesse wore a brown Stetson, blue jeans that were nice and tight around his buttocks and a long-sleeved, ivory buttoned-down shirt. His features were attractive, nose of average size, brown eyes, and a smile that would make Ms. America contestants swoon. Ava did find him attractive but she found Ray more physically attractive with his chiseled jaw and his once in a while unshaved shadow. Him being in his fifties just made him more handsome and distinguished. His metallic-colored hair shimmered in the sunlight sometimes. If Ray had Jesse’s personality, she might make an outright pass at him. But Jesse was nice enough and seemed fun. Ava could use some fun. Ava had put on a brown leather skirt that came above her knees and a semolina-colored blouse. She left the first two buttons undone. “What do you want to try first? The tequila or the beer?” Jesse asked. Ava picked up the beer mug. “Beer it is,” Jesse said as he leaned back i
Jesse put his arm around Ava’s waist. They had only taken three steps away from the dance floor when Ray and a smaller, younger man had approached them. “What the hell are you doing here?” Jesse asked with slight surprise. “We’re here for a change of scenery. Right, Shane?” Ray said as he looked Jesse square in his eyes. “Yes, sir,” Shane said like a dutiful solider. Jesse’s gaze did not avert from his brother’s. “Yeah. Ava, I don’t think you ever met Shane. Shane, Ava. Ava, Shane.” “Nice to officially meet you, Miss Ava. I sure did enjoy that chili you made over a week ago,” Shane said as he tipped his white cowboy had at her. “Thank you,” Ava said with a little smile. What in the world is Ray doing here? She refused to believe he had come to hang out with this little cowboy. Just the way he was staring at Jesse told her something was going on. “Shane, why don’t you escort Miss
“Darling, are you sure you’re alright?” her mother asked as she and Ava walked into her hotel room at the Doubletree Hilton in Helena. The room’s décor was all white for the exception of the dresser, bed backboard, and table. It was pretty plain for a hotel room by Hilton but Helena wasn’t the bustling metropolis New York was. Ava had the room all to herself. Her mother and father had separate rooms. “I believe so. I’m just curious about something,” Ava said as she sat on the bed. “How did you and Daddy find me? I’ve been missing for half a year.” “Oh, your father hired multiple private investigators. This last one had gotten a lead but what really sped things along was Lillian Steele.” “What!’ Ava shouted. Her shouting startled her mother, making her jump a little. “Sorry. Lillian told you and Daddy where I was? How does she know you two?” “She doesn’t. Through some P.I. work of her own, s
Ray and Ava were silent for at least a minute before one of them spoke.“You okay?” Ray asked as kept standing close to the doorway.“Physically, yes. The other part feels a bit disoriented. Just thirty minutes ago, we were coming from the movies, having a good time and the next minute - wham. Not only does my past come rushing back to me, it’s in the driveway. Ray, I . . . it just all clicked when I laid eyes on Daddy. My therapist warned me it could happen – all my memories coming back all of sudden but . . .”“You didn’t think it would actually happen that way,” Ray finished for her.“Yes.” Ava took a deep breath. She looked up at her love. Wait. Did she still love him? Now that she was whole – mentally, she wasn’t sure. Ray Steele wasn’t her type – usually. He was rich but he was much older than her and his lifestyle wasn’t what she was accustomed to for herself or in a man she dated. Then another thought struck her. “Oh my god, I got money.”“Yeah, that’s obvious.”“N
Lillian Steele had provided more information to Lester and Whitney on the Steele family on the way to the Hilton in Helena. They were one of the richest families in Montana – billionaire status in their own right. They just lived . . . they way that they do. It was strange to Lester but nonetheless he was going to address the patriarch like an equal. He wasn’t inclined to disrespect the man on his own property an in front of his family unless it was absolutely necessary. The Steele family watched Whitney guide Ava to the back of the house. Ava looked over her shoulder at them. Lester raised his hand to her, waving, letting her know everything was going to be all right. He turned his attention back to the Steeles. “Which one of you gentlemen is Raymond Steele?” “I am,” the tallest of the bunch said. “I’m Lester Bartholomew. And as I’m sure you have figured out by now I’m Ava’s father. And that was her mother, Whitney Bartholom
Within the hour, the Bartholomews were heading to Townsend. Whitney had contacted her former doctor in New York on advice on how to handle Ava’s condition. He had said that if she was working with a therapist some things might have come back to her by now. All Ava might need is a reminder of her past – like seeing people she knew from before in person. “Are you sure you’re alright, Lester? You haven’t used your wheelchair since we’ve landed,” Whitney said. He snorted. “I have to say I don’t think I’ve heard such concern for my welfare from you in years.” “I know it’s quite disturbing,” she said flatly. They both looked at each other. Then they smiled. “I’m fine. I guess it’s the adrenaline running through me. The only thing I regret in this moment is us not having some time alone together,” Lester said as he continued to look over at Whitney in the seat next to him. “The last time we had private time alone – I hav
The next day . . . December 30th “My god, what a ghastly place,” Whitney Bartholomew said as she looked out the limousine window. “It’s not that bad. The streets are clean and it seems like a good economy here,” Lester said as he looked out the other window. “Yes, but what is going on with the fashions here? At least ninety percent of the men are wearing cowboy hats. Even some of the women are wearing them.” she said with her nose turned up. Lester chuckled. “I guess that’s the fashion here. Despite Helena being a city, it’s rather rural.” Whitney grunted.The photo the woman had emailed his butler was legit. It was definitely Ava. She was standing in what looked like a downtown area, waiting to cross the street with what looked like a pre-teen boy wearing a cowboy hat.The Montana P.I. was still making progress but it was slow. When Lester had gotten the call it was the break he had been hoping for.
The next day, Lillian went to Helena and deposited the check Jesse had given her last night and to check in to another hotel there. It was another Super 8. She didn’t want to over spend while she was in Montana. She needed the money Jesse had given her to keep her condo in L.A and keep up her lifestyle there. In truth, Luke and Lillian had broken up three months ago. Without his money, she had to spend wisely. She had gone to L.A. to try to make it in the entertainment industry there. She had been an extra in a few movies and TV shows but nothing that led her to getting a real break. In Nashville, she had been featured in a few country western bars and clubs but she couldn’t get an agent. Luke had paid for her to record a single but it barely sold a hundred downloads. So, when she and Luke split up, she had thought she could make it in Hollywood. It was harder than she had expected it would be – and way more expensive. Lillian wasn’t lea
Ava and Jesse rode to the Super 8 in Bedford. It was almost ten in the morning. Ray had gone to work on the range. Dax had taken Tom with him to see Lana. Jesse had told Ray that he was driving Ava into town to do some shopping. Ava hated lying to Ray but what choice did she have? Dax had been right. In this case, Ray needed to be protected. The boys themselves needed to be protected. They didn’t say a word during the ride. Jesse didn’t speak until they were walking down the hall at the Super 8. “I still don’t believe it. I won’t believe it until I see her with my own eyes,” Jesse said. They stopped at room 203. Jesse knocked on the door. It didn’t take long for someone to open it. Lillian. “Son of a bitch,” Jesse said through gritted teeth as he stared at her. “Nice to see you, too, Jesse,” Lillian said with twisted lips. “You may as well come in. I don’t want to have this conversation in
It was almost bedtime when Ava went to Tom’s room. He was in blue plaid pajamas, sitting on the edge of the bed.“Darling, I want to talk to you about something,” Ava said as she closed the door to his room.“What is it?”Ava walked to the bed and sat next to him. “Forgive me for bringing this up but . . . we never talked about your mother.”Tom physically shuttered but kept his eyes on her. “I don’t want to talk about her.”“Are you sure? You don’t want to talk to me about any . . . feelings you may have about her? I know what it’s like to have your own mother hurt you.”“You do? You remember your mother?” Tom asked with bewilderment. “You don’t have amnesia anymore?”“No, darling, I still have amnesia but I remember things from time to time. It comes sporadically.”“What does sporadica . . . ly mean?”“It means occasionally. I had a memory of my mother . . . doing to me what your mother did to your father.”“You had a husband?” Tom asked with furrowed brows.“No. He was my boyfrien
Two days later . . . It was still morning. Ava went into Tom’s room to change the sheets on his bed. As she was doing so, she noticed what looked like a set of new drawing pencils on Tom’s new drawing desk that Ray had bought him for Christmas. At one time, Ray had called Tom’s art meaningless doodling a young man needed to grow out of. But, now, Ray supported Tom’s talent to draw. I wonder when he got those? I don’t remember him buying them the last time we went shopping. Ava continued to make the bed. That’s when she noticed a brown case under the bed. She pulled it out. She had never noticed it before. The boys were out with Ray working the range so they wouldn’t be back till lunch. Ava unzipped the case. There were a few drawings in it. One was of a woman who looked to be standing next to a SUV in the fog . . . or snow. Ava wasn’t quite sure. She shifted to the other picture. A blonde, who looked very beautiful, but she had fangs. Bl