AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Beth checked the calendar on her wall—May. That didn’t seem right.
Dad stood, lifted the calendar from the wall and turned several pages. “Your calendar is wrong. It’s July first.”
Memories, vague and fuzzy, spun in Beth’s mind. She had no idea what she’d had for breakfast. She tried to make sense of how she’d gotten into bed. She was wearing athletic shorts and a T-shirt, but she couldn’t remember putting them on.
She’d been wearing jeans. She thought.
Horses. Right? Yes, horses, riders. Wildflowers. Laughter. Rain. They were snapshots, not full memories. Just disconnected pieces.
She sucked in her breath. “The ride—we were on a ride, right?” She remembered rain slashing across the trail. The storm. “Oh no!” She covered her face in her hands. “The storm ruined the ride?” She scooted upright in the bed. Wobbled. “Where is everyone?”
“Hey, slow down. The riders and horses are fine.”
“Was the ride canceled?”
Dad nodded. “Don’t you worry about that. Noah and Walter hauled them back to the barn, and the riders were bused back because the weather forecast changed. We’re expecting storms the rest of the week. Do you remember the ambulance?”
Beth shook her head. “No—but if the ride is over, we won’t have the camp funds. It’s not going to be enough.” She’d lose everything she’d hoped for. “My job. The horses. We won’t even have enough hay.” She swiped away the tears from her cheeks.
Dad handed her a tissue. “Let’s worry about one thing at a time. You need rest.”
She’d be processing refunds for the next two days.
Dad sat down on the bed next to her. “You scared me.” He leaned forward and wrapped her in a hug.
“I remember opening my eyes, and I didn’t know anything for a few moments. Not even my name.” She pulled away. “That was the scariest moment in my life. I couldn’t remember my name…but I remember Grayson’s face.”
Dad seemed to stiffen.
Oh, Grayson.She had a memory of being in his arms. Holding his hand in the ambulance. His face…wrecked.
Then being in a room with large equipment at the hospital. She picked up the stapled discharge paperwork from her nightstand.
Her fingers brushed across the back of her head where a tender spot ached.
“Be careful. You have some stitches.”
Eww. Stitches?She read through the hospital’s printout. “This says you were supposed to be waking me up every hour.”
“We were. You don’t remember?”
“No. We?” And yes, she hoped it meant Grayson.
“Courtney’s here.” He shifted on the bed. “And Janet.”
Oh.
Beth blinked. She remembered none of it.
She heard voices down the hall.
Courtney leaned into the room. She wore an oversized sweatshirt and leggings, her hair in a loose ponytail, like she’d dressed to sleep on the couch. “You’re awake.” She shifted, looked at Dad. “You have company,” she said. “Grayson’s here.”
Dad stood, his jaw tight. “I’ll check in on you in a bit.” He disappeared out the doorway. Voices, deep and hushed, exchanged words down the hall.
Then Grayson filled the doorway, his face drawn and pale.
It stirred memories… His coat wrapped around her. Rain pelting them.
