At least the examination went well—as far as what Luis could tell from a so-called medical student from Philadelphia. Matthias didn't see any signs of a concussion, and Jase wasn't experiencing any of the symptoms. The only thing Matthias could find was a bump on the back of Jase's head about the size of an egg. Jase said it didn't even hurt much. The best they could do was monitor Jase for signs of head trauma until they could get him to an emergency room. Other than not remembering anything, Jase appeared perfectly normal.

When Luis walked into the living room, he found Jase sitting on the hideous plaid sofa with Beth Anne and Hood. Matthias was on one chair opposite the sofa and Blaze was on the other. From what Luis could tell, they were talking about going back into town for something to eat. Jase was telling them he was starved.

Luis took a better look at Jase. There didn't seem to be anything wrong with him. He had no pain, no bruises, no cuts or abrasions. Even his color appeared to be normal. Matthias said he'd done extensive work with emergency room doctors and he knew what he was doing. He also mentioned he'd once seen a young woman who had been traumatized by something with such intensity she couldn't remember her own name either.

Beth Anne spotted Luis first. “Hey, look who's back. The boy with the white high heels. Let's go eat. I'm fucking starved.”

Luis sent her a glare. She was practically sitting on Jase's lap, rubbing his shoulder and looking into his eyes. After all he'd been through that night, he didn't feel like dealing with a crude, sarcastic woman. There was something about full-figured Beth Anne that made him want to turn his head in the opposite direction and gag. It could have been the thin, waist-high gray T-shirt she was wearing without a bra. It was obvious she was trying to get every man's attention. Her large breasts were pointy and bounced whenever she moved. If she lifted her arms too high, they'd probably fall out of the T-shirt. It could have been her high-pitched twine that made him clench his teeth. Whenever she spoke his ears rang and he felt like punching something. Or it could have been the way she just didn't seem to care about anyone but herself.

Matthias stood up and glanced at Luis. “Are you okay? You look a little more relaxed now.”

“I'm good,” Luis said. His insides were still turning, his chest still tight with fear. But he didn't want to complain in front of Jase. “I'll go get our car in the barn. We'll all fit better in our car.” He'd noticed they'd parked a dark two-door car out front. Six of them would never fit in there. It was getting late, and he wanted to get some food into Jase before the cafe in town closed at midnight.

Matthias went over to where Luis was standing and said, “I'll get the car. You're still in shock, too. You shouldn't be driving. You stay here with Jase and I'll be right back. I noticed the keys in the ignition when I turned off the headlights.”

“Are you sure?” Luis asked. “You've already done so much. If you hadn't been here I don't know what I would have done.” Now that things were settling down, Luis was thankful Barton's wife had made the mistake of inviting Matthias and his friends to the cabin the same week Barton had invited Jase and Luis. Luis could have lived without Beth Anne, but having a strong man like Matthias around made him feel safer with Jase in this condition. The only thing Luis couldn't understand was Matthias's relationship with Beth Anne. They seemed to be a couple, but it was hard to picture them together. She was so crude, so vulgar, so obnoxious. Besides, from the way Matthias had flirted and felt Luis up earlier, pretending it was an accident, there as no way Matthias could be straight.

Matthias patted Luis on the back. “Just leave everything to me. I'll be right back.” On his way out the door, he pointed to Beth Anne and said, “Be a good girl while I'm gone.”

“Hey,” she said. “I'm always a good girl.” Then she ran her long fake red fingernails up and down Jase's arm and leaned into his side so her right nipple would brush against his bicep.

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Jase glanced down and frowned at her breasts. He didn't seem impressed by her. Luis just rolled his eyes and went back to the bedroom to get another sweatshirt for Jase so he wouldn't catch cold on top of all this.

Luis let Matthias drive to the cafe in town without putting up a fight. He sat up front with him. Jase, Hood, and Blaze sat in the back seat. Beth Anne had to sit way in the back, with the things Luis had purchased that day in Amish Country, and she wasn't too thrilled about it. “Hey, I have to fucking sit on a pumpkin?” she said.

“I'll sit back there on the way home,” Blaze said. She spoke in a soft tone and never actually looked anyone in the eye. When Luis thought about the poor girl having a friend like Beth Anne, he wanted to put his arm around her and console her.

“Why the fuck can't one of the guys sit back here? I'm a goddamn girl,” Beth Anne said.

“Because the guys are too tall,” Hood said. “Now get your fat ass back there and shut the fuck up.”

Luis took a quick breath. He'd never gone to college and had never been in a situation like this before. He glanced over to see how Matthias would react to the way Hood had just spoken to Beth Anne. If anyone had spoken to Jase that way, Luis would have flattened them. But Matthias didn't even seem to be paying them any attention at all. He was fumbling with his seat belt, with his head down. So Luis glanced over his shoulder at Jase and smiled. Jase returned the smile and reached forward to pat his shoulder. He knew Jase didn't remember anything. But at least this small gesture reassured him.

On the way to town, the rain stopped, which made Luis breathe a little easier. The faster the rain went away, the faster they'd get back home to Cider Mill Farm so he could take Jase to the hospital and have him checked out thoroughly by a real doctor. But halfway to town Matthias hit the brakes. There was something in the middle of the road.

“What is that?” Jase asked. He leaned forward and looked through the windshield.

Matthias shrugged. “Looks like someone's bent over in the middle of the road.”

So they all piled out of the Tahoe and walked over to what looked like an old woman in a gray shirt hunched over and on her knees. Luis grabbed Jase's arm. Jase put his arm around Luis and pulled him closer.

“Excuse me,” Matthias said. “Is everything okay? Are you hurt?”

He didn't get an answer.

Hood took a step forward and looked down at the woman. “Can we help you? Are you lost?”

When they didn't get an answer this time, Beth Anne stomped up to the woman in the road and put her hands on her hips. “Hey, what's the matter with you? Can't you hear?” Then, in a bold move Luis wouldn't have made, she bent down and reached for a shoulder.




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