Edward rode his horse Majesty around the tree line to the top of the hill. His dog, Scout trotted happily beside him. Edward stopped for a while and took in the view. Scout sniffed around for a while before he ran off. Edward sat on his horse and watched Scout for a while then rode down the hill after him. He followed him down into the valley and stopped by some bushes. Edward dismounted Majesty and walked over to where Scout disappeared into the bushes. "What did you find, boy?" Edward asked as he slowly walked over to Scout. He peeked around a tree and saw a body lying there. He stepped around and crouched down next to the body. He checked for a pulse. He slowly rolled the body and noticed it was a woman. He put his cheek down close to her face to check for breathing. She was alive. He pulled off his radio from his belt. "Joe, where are you at?" He talked into the radio.
"I am checking the fence in the east pasture."
"Bring the truck down to the valley on the north side of the ridge."
"Yes Sir. I am on my way."
Edward turned the channel on the radio. "Cal, can you call Doc and ask him to come out to the ranch. I found someone in the valley."
"Sure Boss. Anything serious?"
"I'm not sure. They're alive, but unconscious. I should be there in about half hour or so."
"I'll call him right now, Boss."
Edward put the radio on his belt then checked the woman for a pulse and breathing again. He felt her pockets for any identification but found none. He moved her hair out of her face and noticed it was covered in bruises. He checked for broken bones but didn't find any. He got up and looked around the area for anything out of the normal, but there wasn't anything there. He bent down and scratched Scout's head. "Good, boy, Scout."
Edward waited outside one of the guest room in his house when the doctor came out the door. "How is she, Doc?"
"Besides the facial bruises and dehydration she seems all right. There doesn't appear to have any broken bones or internal injuries. I gave her IV fluids. She is still unconscious."
"Any idea how long she has been out there?"
"I would say she has been out there for at least a couple of days. Do you want me to make arrangements for an ambulance to come and get her? They can take her to the hospital, but they wouldn't be able to do much more than I have."
"Let's wait and see if she wakes up."
"All right. Let me know if she wakes up. I will be back tomorrow."
"Thanks, Doc." Edward said. The doctor walked downstairs. Edward knocked quietly on the door, then opened it slowly. He peaked his head inside. "Can I see her?"
"Yes. She's cleaned up and I put some clean clothes on her."
Edward walked into the room and over to the bed. "Has she moved or said anything?"
"No. I don't think she is from around here. She has well-manicured nails and no calluses."
"I will call the sheriff later to see if there is anyone matching her description."
"I could shoot the person responsible for doing this to her."
"So, could I. Can you stay here with her until I get back? She might be scared if she wakes up in a strange place."
"Of course. I have the late shift tonight."
"Thanks, Janet." Edward said then walked out the door.
Edward walked out of the house and down to the barn. He checked on the horses in each stall as he walked through the barn. He went into the office and poured himself a cup of coffee.
A man walked in. "How's the mystery woman, sir?"
Edward turned around. "The doc says she's dehydrated and banged up as you saw, but she will be fine, Joe."
"I asked a couple men to look around for anything unusual out where she was, but they haven't reported anything yet."
"Well, have then head back. There is a storm moving in. We need to get everyone settled in for the night."
"Yes sir. Already on that."
"I know I can count on you."
"Thank you, sir." Joe said then walked out of the office.
Edward walked around and sat down at the desk. He checked the computer and printed some papers. Another man walked in. Edward looked up. "Hey, Josh. It looks like that new mare is giving you trouble."
"Yes, a little. But don't worry, she won't get the best of me."
"I will start working her tomorrow is the weather isn't too bad."
"What is this I hear about a mystery woman in the house?"
"Scout found her unconscious in the bushes. Doc says she should be fine. She didn't have any identification on her."
"How did she end up all the way out there?"
"I have no idea. We will have to wait until she wakes up and can tell us." Edward said. "She's been beat up pretty bad. Maybe she ran away from someone and passed out there."
"Well, let me know if you need anything else."
"I will, Josh. Thanks." Edward said. Josh walked out of the office. Edward looked at different things on the computer, then shut it off and got up. He picked up the papers off the printer and walked out of the office.
Edward sat on a chair in the bedroom with the mystery woman in the early hours of the morning. It had been storming for the past couple of hours. Thunder rumbled the house and lightning lit up the sky. A big boom of thunder shook the house. The woman jumped as she woke up. Edward stood up. "It’s all right. It's just a storm." He said as he walked around to the bathroom and got a glass of water from the tap.
"Where am I?" She asked weakly.
"You're at my ranch." Edward said as he brought the glass over. The woman cowered away. Edward put the glass on the nightstand and stepped back. "I found you yesterday passed out on my property." He said as he stood back. "My name is Edward. Do you know how you got there?"
"No." She said weakly.
"Drink some water. It might make you feel better." He said. "Watch your IV. You don't want to pull it out."
The woman reached slowly for the glass of water. She tried to pick it up, but it slipped out of her hand and fell to the floor. Edward hurried to the bathroom, came out with a towel and wiped it up. The woman pulled the blanket up. "I'm sorry."
"No harm done." Edward said as he took the towel and glass to the bathroom. He refilled the glass with water and carried it to the bed. "Let me help you. You're still weak." He said as he sat down on the bed. The woman moved away from him. "I'm not going to hurt you. Take a drink and I will move away. I just want to help." Edward said then slowly moved the glass close to her. She put her hand on the glass with Edward's and slowly took a sip. Edward put the glass on the nightstand and got off the bed. "You should get some rest. I will call the doctor and tell him you're awake." He said then walked out of the room.
Edward carried a tray up to the bedroom later that morning. He knocked quietly then opened the door slowly. He saw the woman sitting up in bed. He carried the tray into the room and over to the bed. "The doctor said you should try to eat something."
"Thank you but you didn't have to bother."
"It wasn't a bother, miss." Edward said as he put the tray across her legs. "You need to get your strength back."
"Thank you."
Edward walked around the bed and sat down in the chair that he was in earlier. "In case you don't remember, my name is Edward. What is your name?" He asked. The woman didn't say anything. "You are safe here. You don't have to be afraid. I would just like to know your name so I can stop calling you the mystery woman upstairs."
"My name is Debra."
"It is nice to meet you Debra. Do you know how you got on my property?" He asked. Debra was silent as she took a bite of toast. Edward straightened in the chair. "All right. The clothes you were wearing were washed and are on the dresser or there are clothes in the closet if you prefer. You are welcome to stay until you recuperate."
"Thank you."
"Make yourself at home here. If you need anything, don't be afraid to ask." Edward said. He stood up and walked over to the door. "I can tell you have been through something awful, but you are safe here. Nobody will hurt you." He started out the door, then turned and looked at her. "I'll check in on you later." He said then walked out the door.
Edward walked up onto the porch in the middle of the afternoon followed by Scout. Scout walked over to the corner of the porch into the shadows. Edward stopped and followed Scout. He noticed Debra swatting down scratching Scout. "It looks like he found you again."
"Again?" Debra asked.
"Yes. He actually was the one who found you yesterday."
"Oh."
"I told you that you are safe here. You don't have to hide in the shadows." Edward said. "How are you feeling?"
"I'm feeling a little stronger." She said as she stood up slowly.
"That’s good." Edward said. "Maybe if you are up to it, you would like to look around a bit."
"I don't think so."
"All right. Maybe some other time." He said then went into the house.
Later that night, Debra carried two cups of coffee into Edward's office. She set one down on the desk in front of Edward. "Mrs. Gardner asked me to bring this into you and to tell you that she would see you in the morning."
"Thank you."
"Can I get you anything else?"
"No, thanks."
"All right. I can see you are busy." Debra said then walked out of the office. She carried her cup out the back door and sat down on one of the chairs. She sipped her coffee as she watched the sunlight disappear over the ridgeline. She sat there for a while just listening to the sounds in the growing darkness. Suddenly, a raccoon came onto the porch just a few feet away from her. Debra screamed and climbed up onto the back of the chair.
Edward ran to the back door and opened it. Scout was the first one out and chased the raccoon away. Edward went over to Debra. "It's all right. It's gone." He said as he grabbed a hold of her arm.
Joe and a couple of other men ran around the side of the house. "Is everything all right, boss?"
"Yes. It was just a raccoon." Edward said. The men walked around the house.
Debra moved back away from Edward. "You must think I am such a city girl."
"They have scared me a time or two. It’s nothing to be ashamed of." Edward said as he put his hand out. "You can get down now."
Debra grabbed his hand and climbed down from the back of the chair. Once she got on both her feet, her legs gave out. Edward caught her around the waist. Debra grabbed a hold of him. "I guess my legs aren't so steady." She said shaking.
"Let’s get you inside." Edward said then lifted her into his arms with ease. He carried her to the door, opened it and walked inside. He carried her to the sofa and put her down. "I'll get you something to drink." Edward said as he walked towards the kitchen. He got a glass and filled it with water. He carried it into the room to Debra. He handed it to her and sat down on the other end of the couch. "I know that you have been through something horrible, but you can trust everyone here. You are safe here."
"You keep saying that, but I don't feel safe anywhere."
"Nobody will let anything happen to you. You have to believe me."
"I want to believe you, but I'm not sure I can."
"That's fine. I can understand how you must feel after an ordeal that you went through." Edward said as he picked up the remote to the television.
"You don't have to sit here with me. I am sure you have other things to do."
"I can use a break. Besides, there is nothing that can't wait." Edward flipped through the channels and stopped on some kind of movie. He sat back on the couch and they watched the movie together.
When the movie was over, Debra sat forward. "I think I am going to go to bed."
"Are you able to make it upstairs?"
"Yes. I am feeling better. Thanks for asking." Debra said as she got up. "Good night, Edward."
"Good night." Edward said as he watched her walk to the stairs and up them. He sat back and stared at the television not really watching it.
Debra walked out onto the porch with a cup of coffee in the morning. She sat down on one of the chairs and drank her coffee. After a few minutes, she heard cheering and yelling from down by the barn. She couldn’t see where it was coming from. She slowly and cautiously walked down the steps and across the yard towards the barn. She stopped a couple of times to look and listen around her. She stopped by the corner of the barn and watched Edward in a corral with a horse. He fell onto the ground, but quickly got back on. The horse jumped and bucked around the corral trying to get Edward off of it. Edward held on and eventually the horse calmed down and he was able to ride around. Edward turned and looked right at Debra. Debra quickly ducked around the corner of the barn. She stood there for a moment then hurried back to the house.
Edward walked onto the porch later that afternoon. Debra was sitting on the chair looking at a magazine. Edward walked over to the door, then stopped before he opened the door. "Would you want to go for a ride with me?"
"I don't think so, Edward."
"There is so much to see around here. Are you scared to get on a horse with me?"
"The last time I was on a horse was at the fair when I was a kid."
"There's not much to it. All you have to do is hold onto me." Edward walked into the house.
Debra got up and started to pace back and forth across the deck. As soon as Edward came out of the door, she stopped in front of him. "Edward, I don't think I can do this."
"Yes, you can. There is nothing to it. I won't let anything happen to you."
"I don't think I am up to do it."
"You look a lot better. Please, Debra, give me a chance."
"I can't, Edward." Debra said in a raised voice then walked around him and into the house.
Edward stood there for a few moments, then walked down the steps.
Edward knocked on Debra's door later that evening holding a plate and a bottle of water. He opened the door and slowly walked in. Debra was sitting on the bed reading a book. Edward carried the plate over to the bed. "I missed you at dinner, so I brought you up a plate."
"I'm not very hungry."
Edward put the plate on the nightstand. "It's there if you want it." He said then walked over to the door. "I'm here if you want to talk. I'm a good listener." He said then walked out the door closing it softly behind him. He went downstairs and into the office. He sat down at his desk and started working. He worked for a while until he heard Debra come downstairs. He stopped and listened for her. After a few minutes, He got up, picked up his coffee cup and walked out to the kitchen. Debra was standing in front of the sink drying her plate. He poured himself a cup of coffee. "Would you like some coffee?"
"No. Thanks." Debra answered.
"So, where did you grow up?"
"All over. We moved a lot."
"That must have been tough."
"Yes, at times. I didn't have many friends."
"Where do you call home now?"
"I am in-between places now. I just left New York."
"That is a long way away," Edward said as he leaned against the counter. "Why were you afraid to go for a ride with me today? Is it because you don't know how to ride or because you are afraid of whoever did this to you is out there somewhere?"
"I just couldn't do it."
"Just so you know, I don't have anybody new working for me and nobody here would ever raise a hand to a woman without answering to me. I wouldn't put up with that." Edward said then sipped his coffee.
"I don't know how I got on your property. I woke up in a ditch somewhere and started crawling."
"So, someone beat you up and dumped you in a ditch?"
"I guess. I don't remember how it happened. The last thing I remember is that I was at the hotel bar drinking and then I started feeling dizzy. Some guy offered to take me to my room. I don't remember anything after that."
"It sounds like you were drugged," Edward said. "You didn't have any identification on you. You said you left New York. How did you end up here?"
"I was flying to Los Angeles for a job. I had a long layover, so I got a hotel room."
"I am sure they put all your stuff in storage, but I could take you back to the hotel and get it."
"What if the person who did this is there? I can't." Debra said as she started to cry. She walked out of the kitchen and to the back door.
Edward walked up behind her a few moments later. "You are safe here, Debra. Nobody will hurt you. You have to believe me."
Debra turned around and looked up at Edward. "I can't believe anyone anymore." She said then walked around him and ran upstairs.
Edward was working a horse in the corral the next morning when the doctor walked up. Edward stopped what he was doing and walked over to the fence. "How is she doing, Doc?"
"She is looking better, but I am worried about her health. I was told she didn't eat dinner last night or breakfast this morning. If she doesn't eat to get her strength up, she's going to need to go to the hospital."
"Debra has been through a lot. I don't know how to help her."
"Well, I took some blood for testing, but if she doesn't start eating, I am going to have to admit her to the hospital. They will probably force her to eat and possibly put her under a psychological hold."
"She isn't crazy, Doc. She just needs some time."
"Well, you are the one who helps lost causes, are you not? I will give you a few days until the tests come back."
"Thanks, Doc." Edward said. The doctor walked away. Edward started to work the horse again.