The Cowboy's Missing Memory Read online

  Can he reclaim his past…and build a future?

  He needs to remember.

  She’s his best hope...

  After a rodeo accident took away Clint Rawlins’s mobility and two years’ worth of memories, occupational therapist Lexie Parker is his only shot at recovering and regaining independence. Lexie is drawn to Clint…but she’s wary of the amnesiac’s all-too-vulnerable feelings. And with the possibility of him returning to his dangerous bull-riding side job, she refuses to risk her heart. But resisting her charming patient may be harder than she expected...

  “Why didn’t we meet when you were helping Dad?”

  “I worked with him during the day,” Lexie replied.

  “While I worked the ranch and only came at night.”

  She smiled, remembering her favorite patient. “He talked about you a lot while we played chess, his favorite game, and he always beat me.”

  “He always beat me, too. Until near the end. But even then, he still wanted to play.” Clint’s voice was thick. “He was a great dad.”

  “And you were a great son.”

  He blinked, swiped his napkin across his eyes. “Let’s go put that therapy equipment to good use. I want out of this chair. Especially if I’m supposed to walk my mom down the aisle anytime soon.”

  “Challenge accepted.” Lexie stood and stuck Clint’s plate in the dishwasher.

  Had they just bonded? Not good. Not good at all.

  She had to get this under control if she was going to be spending all day, every day with Clint. No bonding, no getting personally involved with and definitely no falling for the banged-up cowboy.

  Shannon Taylor Vannatter is a stay-at-home mom, pastor’s wife and award-winning author. She lives in a rural central Arkansas community with a population of around one hundred, if you count a few cows. Contact her at shannonvannatter.com.

  Books by Shannon Taylor Vannatter

  Love Inspired

  Hill Country Cowboys

  Hill Country Redemption

  The Cowboy’s Missing Memory

  Texas Cowboys

  Reuniting with the Cowboy

  Winning Over the Cowboy

  A Texas Holiday Reunion

  Counting on the Cowboy

  Love Inspired Heartsong Presents

  Rodeo Ashes

  Rodeo Regrets

  Rodeo Queen

  Rodeo Song

  Rodeo Family

  Rodeo Reunion

  Visit the Author Profile page at Harlequin.com.

  THE COWBOY’S MISSING MEMORY

  Shannon Taylor Vannatter

  These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.

  —John 16:33

  To our family and church family. I don’t know what we’d have done without y’all this past year.

  Acknowledgments

  I’m thankful to my second cousin, Regan Payne, for introducing me to the field of occupational therapy and breathing life into my heroine and story line for this book.

  Contents

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Chapter Seven

  Chapter Eight

  Chapter Nine

  Chapter Ten

  Chapter Eleven

  Chapter Twelve

  Chapter Thirteen

  Chapter Fourteen

  Chapter Fifteen

  Chapter Sixteen

  Chapter Seventeen

  Chapter Eighteen

  Epilogue

  Excerpt from His Daughter’s Prayer by Danielle Thorne

  Chapter One

  On her way out, Lexie Parker glanced toward the ER.

  Audrey Rawlins paced the waiting room.

  Stopping Lexie in her tracks. A knot developed in her stomach and sank. Gathering her courage, she sat the goodbye plant from her coworkers on a bench, pushed the red button to open the door and hurried to the woman she’d let down two and a half years ago.

  “Audrey?”

  “Oh, Lexie.” Audrey hugged her, sobs deep, shaken to her core.

  “What’s happened?”

  “It’s my son, Clint,” the other woman squeaked out. “Bull wreck.”

  Still riding bulls? After what happened to his dad? How could he be so selfish to put his mom through this?

  “Here. Sit down.” Lexie eased Audrey back to a chair. “I’ll go see what I can find out.”

  “Oh, would you?” Audrey sank down in the seat, pulling her coat tighter around her shoulders.

  “Of course.” She gave the distraught woman’s hands a squeeze. “I’ll be right back.” With leaden legs, she hurried to the nurses’ window. “Clint Rawlins is a friend.” Though she’d never actually met him. “Could you let me back?”

  The nurse nodded and the automatic door crept open. As soon as the opening was wide enough to slip past, Lexie darted through. And almost took out Mandy Hopkins.

  “Girl, where’s the fire? I thought you were out of here. It’s midnight on Saturday. Go have some fun.”

  At midnight, Lexie’s idea of fun was her warm bed. “The bull wreck patient, Clint Rawlins—do you know anything about his condition?”

  “You know him?”

  “I know his mom.” And his dad had been her favorite patient. “She’s currently beside herself.”

  “Let me see what I can find out.”

  “Thanks. I’ll be with her in the waiting room.” Lexie retraced her steps, pushed the red button to open the door and waited until it was fully open this time.

  Audrey rushed her. “Is he okay?”

  “We should know something soon. I sent one of my nurse friends to get details.”

  “The last time I was here was with his father.” She shuddered.

  “I know.” Lexie clasped the woman’s shoulder and uttered a silent prayer, Please, God, let Clint be okay. History can’t repeat itself.

  “I thought he quit after his dad got sick. But he’s so stubborn. Like father, like son.” Audrey mopped her face, a stoic strength settling the lines in her face.

  The ER door opened and Mandy popped out. “He’s stable. And awake for the moment. He has a severe concussion, but there’s no brain swelling and no bleeds, so that’s good. Dr. Arnett ordered more tests, but y’all can come back and see him for a few minutes if you’d like.”

  “Oh, thank you, Jesus.” Audrey hugged Lexie.

  Relief whooshed through her, leaving her weak and sagging as she managed to land uncoordinated pats on Audrey’s back. Her son was alive.

  “Are you coming?” Clint’s mom stood. “I always wanted the two of you to meet.”

  “I doubt he feels much like making new acquaintances right now.” But Audrey shouldn’t face this alone. “You go on, I’ll be there in a minute.” Lexie snagged Mandy’s wrist as another nurse escorted Clint’s mom to his room. “Any brain damage?” Her question came out hesitant, as she feared the answer.

  “The preliminary tests show frontal lobe damage. He’ll probably need rehab. It’s a shame this was your last day.”

  “Any other injuries? Broken bones?”

  “The only part of him the bull stepped on was his head.”

  Her knees almost buckled; nausea threatened.

  “Whoa.” Mandy gr
abbed her hands and pulled her toward a waiting room chair. “Who is this guy to you?”

  “No one. I mean—I never met him. But his dad was my patient. The first one I—”

  “You lost.” Mandy patted her back. “I think you missed the day when your instructor went over keeping a professional distance. But your compassion is what makes you a great occupational therapist.”

  Yes, she’d gotten too close to him, and to Audrey. She ducked her head. “Levi had a degenerative brain disease from too many bulls stepping on his head. I helped him learn to feed himself and walk again, but within six months, he was gone.” Her mouth went dry. She just didn’t want to see Audrey relive it all again. She’d been through enough already.

  “Mr. Rawlins was wearing a helmet. If he hadn’t been, he wouldn’t be here. But the helmet cracked. We’ll know more once all the tests are done.”

  “You’ll keep me posted?”

  “Of course.” Mandy motioned the nurse on duty to open the door for her.

  Lexie took several deep breaths, straightened her spine, eyed her plant. So much packing to do. But even with her impending move, Audrey needed her.

  Frontal lobe injury could mean a whole host of things. Impaired speech, trouble with fine motor skills, balance, memory, mood swings, personality changes—the list went on. Who would Clint be when he woke up?

  She scooped up her plant, set it in the nurses’ window. “Can you watch this for me and let me back again?”

  “Sure.” The duty nurse let her through and she quickly found Audrey camped by her son’s bed in a curtained cubicle.

  Clint was still unconscious, his face slack and relaxed. Unmarred, handsome, amazingly unscathed. How did a person even survive a bull stepping on their head? She scanned the monitors as they beeped and pulsed. Good readings. No intubation. All positive signs.

  “The nurse said he was awake, but he was out again by the time I got here,” Audrey whispered. “When do you think he’ll wake up again?”

  “It could be any time.”

  “Aren’t they supposed to keep you awake when there’s a concussion?”

  “That’s if you leave the hospital. He’s in good hands here.” Lexie stood. “I should go. Some stranger isn’t the first thing he should see when he wakes. I can meet him once he’s feeling better.”

  “I saw your mom at church and she told me this is your last week here. It’s a shame you’re not in the rehabilitation center anymore.” Audrey turned sad eyes on her. “The doctor said he’ll probably have to spend some time there.”

  “The new therapist is really good. You’ll like him.” She’d keep tabs on Clint’s recovery, even though she wouldn’t be his OT.

  “It won’t be the same, though.” Audrey sighed, then stood to give her a hug. “So you’re moving back to Medina? With your parents?”

  “Until I can find a place of my own.” With a much-needed, month-long sabbatical before she’d go to work at the rehab center close to her hometown. No more apartment in San Antonio. With the savings she’d put aside, and the dent she’d put in her student loans, she’d be able to afford her own rental house.

  “At least we’ll be neighbors.”

  “I’m looking forward to seeing you outside of this place.” Lexie checked Clint’s monitors for the umpteenth time, then studied his features. The man’s sun-bronzed complexion showed through his pallor, and his strong jaw bristled with dark stubble.

  His eyes popped open. She froze. Vivid green eyes, so like his dad’s, latched on to her.

  * * *

  “Oh, son, you’re awake.” Mom leaped from her chair and rushed to his side.

  “Where am I?” He frowned, squinted, trying to push the haze in his brain aside.

  “You’re in the hospital.” A slight quiver in the nurse’s voice. Familiar. Standard burgundy scrubs. Dark hair and eyes. Pretty. Where had he seen her?

  “What happened?” His words slurred. And his head hurt. Really badly.

  “A bull, that’s what.” Mom perched on the side of his bed.

  “Oh, yeah.” Clint closed his eyes. He was so busted. “I didn’t want you to know. Didn’t want you to worry.”

  “It’s a little late for that.” The worry in her eyes tugged at him.

  “I’m sorry, Mom. There’s no excuse for letting you find out this way. But this was my last ride. I made the buzzer, just failed on my dismount. I should have made enough tonight to save the ranch.”

  “The ranch is fine.” Mom frowned. “You promised me you’d quit.”

  “I meant to. But I couldn’t let you lose the ranch. Not after Dad worked so hard to build it. We couldn’t lose his legacy six months after losing him.”

  Mom let out a little gasp.

  “Sometimes things are a little fuzzy at first.” The nurse gave Mom’s shoulder a soothing pat and scrutinized him. “Do you know what day it is, Mr. Rawlins?”

  “Of course.” But he couldn’t come up with it. “Well, maybe not exactly. But it’s toward the end of February. The last night of the San Antonio Stock Show and Rodeo.”

  “That’s right. But what year?”

  “It wasn’t that hard a knock.” He closed his eyes, rattled off the year.

  Mom clamped her hand over her mouth.

  “What?”

  “We should let him rest and I’ll consult with his doctor. Let him know he’s awake.” The nurse motioned Mom toward the door and turned away. “Your mom will be back later.”

  And it hit him where he’d seen her. Dad’s funeral.

  Mom turned and clasped his hand. “They’ll probably run me out of here soon anyway.” Her tone came out an octave too high. “I wasn’t supposed to stay long.”

  He focused on her hand. Her wedding rings were gone. A solitary diamond ring in their place. “What’s this? Where are Dad’s rings?”

  Mom had that deer-caught-in-the-headlights look as she pulled her hand away.

  Why was she acting so weird? Something was very wrong here.

  Chapter Two

  Clint was stuck two years in the past. Lexie bit her lip. She’d heard of cases like this. Had actually done OT work with patients suffering from memory lapses. And the doctor always said it was best to ease into catching the patient up to speed.

  “My wedding rings are at the jeweler getting cleaned,” Audrey covered, as if the engagement ring gracing her finger wasn’t there.

  “Your doctor needs to know you’re awake.” Lexie tugged Audrey away from his bedside. “Come on,” she said, scurrying his mom out the door.

  “What’s going on? He got the year wrong.” Audrey’s voice quivered. “By two years. And he thinks Levi died six months ago instead of two and a half years.”

  “Sometimes, with head injuries, a patient can experience a time lapse. I need you to go to the waiting room and I’ll find his doctor.”

  “It’s temporary?” Audrey frowned.

  “Most of the time,” Lexie answered, pushing the red button that opened the door to the waiting room. As Audrey stepped through, Lexie noticed a frantic man hurrying toward them.

  “Oh, Ted, I’m so glad you’re here.” Audrey rushed into his arms.

  Ah, the fiancé attached to the ring. Lexie felt better about leaving Audrey in his hands. The door closed and she caught up with Mandy.

  “Hey, can you tell Dr. Arnett that Clint Rawlins is awake? He seems to be having some memory issues, though. I’d like to fill him in on the conversation he just had with his mom.”

  “Sure.” Mandy dashed away.

  Lexie leaned against the wall, hugging herself.

  “Lexie.” Dr. Arnett’s shoes squeaked across the polished floor. “Come to the consultation room and tell me what’s going on.”

  She followed, doing her best to keep up with the busy doctor’s sprint. He ushered her inside, then shut t
he door. The room with soft aqua walls, healthy plants and calming artwork was designed to soothe nerves. But it wasn’t working for Lexie.

  “You know Mr. Rawlins?”

  She quickly caught him up on how she knew of him and went on to explain about Clint’s confusion.

  “Now that you brought me up to speed, I remember having his father as a patient. Hmm...” Dr. Arnett scanned the file he held. “With the head injury he sustained, it’s quite common for memory issues to occur.” He closed the file. “Any significant happenings in the last two years of his life?”

  “His mom is supposed to get married in a few months.” She’d gotten the invitation, sent her RSVP and marked her calendar. “And his sister was visibly pregnant at his dad’s funeral, so I assume he’s an uncle again. I think she already had a son.”

  “I see.” The doctor stood. “Thanks for the heads-up. Since you’ll know what he has right and wrong to a certain degree, why don’t you come along for my chat with him?”

  “Of course.”

  With leaden legs, she stood, as well, then followed the doctor to Clint’s room.

  “I heard you were awake.” Dr. Arnett checked the monitors and computer by Clint’s bed. “I’m Stan Arnett, head neurologist.”

  “When can I get out of here, doc?”

  “Not so fast, young man. You don’t get your head stepped on by a bull and live to tell about it very often.”

  “Wow, that’s what happened? I don’t remember.”

  “I imagine not. Tell me what you do remember. About your life for the last few years.”

  “My dad was sick for a year and a half. I spent most of that time helping my mom care for him. He died six months ago.” Clint closed his eyes, as if the loss was really that fresh.

  “What about since your dad’s passing?” Dr. Arnett typed something into the computer.

  “I found out my mom’s ranch was in financial trouble, so I competed in the San Antonio Stock Show and Rodeo event to raise the money to catch up on the loan payments. Bull riding caused my dad’s illness and I didn’t want my mom to worry, so I didn’t tell her what I was up to.” His guilty gaze sank to the floor. “But tonight was my last ride. I made it eight seconds and my earnings will put the ranch back in the black.”