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He shook his head. “Please do not. Right now, you are Siren’s rock, if you will. I’m aware she has no family. If you were to tell her that what she believes is her only sense of security is a lie, well, I’m afraid her already tenuous mental and emotional condition may worsen.”
“What do I do if her memory comes back? She’ll know I’ve been lying to her.”
“It’ll be gradual, at best. I’m glad you made me aware of the true nature of your relationship. I’ll be there to help her navigate through it when the time comes.”
“You said, ‘at best.’ What does that mean?”
“After reviewing her chart, I’d say there is a chance Siren may never recover her memory entirely.”
“Look, Doc—okay if I call you that?”
He nodded.
“When I say that Siren and I weren’t in a relationship, what that means is we barely tolerated each other.”
“Hammer did share that with me. He also indicated you were willing to care for her until her condition improves.”
“That’s true, but…”
“But when I said she may never regain her memory, it occurred to you the timeline for her recovery is indeterminate.”
“Right.”
“I don’t know what to tell you, Smoke. Is it okay if I call you that?”
I laughed. “Of course.”
“We’ll keep the lines of communication open. I’d like to suggest you also schedule time to meet with me. Perhaps while Siren is at some of her other appointments. My assumption is that she’ll eventually start physical therapy.”
“I don’t know if it’s necessary for us to meet.”
He nodded. “Think it over and know that I can make myself available if you find you’d like to talk.”
I watched the doctor drive away. Instead of going inside, I walked over to the barn.
“I’m goin’ for a ride,” I told Zeke.
“I’ll go with you if you don’t mind the company.”
I motioned with my head for him to follow.
8
Siren
“Is that Smoke?” I asked Ms. Wynona when she walked into the sunroom.
She looked out the window. “It is. That’s Mr. Zeke, riding with him.”
“Zeke?”
“He manages the Blazing T.”
“Does Smoke have many horses?”
Ms. Wynona sat down in the chair beside the one I’d moved to from the daybed.
“At last count, I believe he had twenty.”
