Fall With Me (Sugarland Creek, #3) (49)
“It was just his owner who didn’t.” Magnolia laughs at her own joke, but no one else does. “What? You can’t tell me her forgettin’ who you are ain’t a bit ironic and hilarious?”
Of course Noah told her.
“It kinda sucks, honestly.” Ellie glances at me before speaking to Magnolia. “There’s so much I can’t recall and it makes me feel like I’m missing a part of myself. Makes me feel a little vulnerable, too. Like y’all know a secret about me but no one’s sharing it.”
“I’d be happy to fill you in on the town gossip,” Magnolia teases. “You wouldn’t believe what people openly share with me while I’m makin’ their lattes.”
Noah nudges her. “We can’t, remember? The doctor said it’ll confuse her.”
“Even if it’s not about her?” Magnolia asks.
Ellie groans. “I don’t see why not. I’m confused as hell anyway.”
“What if she reads something on her phone? I’m sure there are messages, emails, or something that will trigger a memory,” Magnolia suggests.
“I don’t use my phone much,” Ellie admits. “I post on my social media pages a couple times a week, but that’s about it. Otherwise, everyone I talk to is usually in person or we call.”
“Damn. So no juicy tea to discover.” Magnolia pouts.
“That’s what happens when you stay in your lane and mind your business…” Noah directs to Magnolia, and I snort.
She’s one to talk.
After another twenty minutes of the girls talking, the nurse enters and says she’s been cleared to start working on her discharge papers.
Ellie goes to change out of her gown and then they discuss how they’re going to get Ranger and the trailer back to the ranch. Mr. Donovan states he’ll drive the truck and Mrs. Donovan will take Ellie home in their car.
“I’ll let Ayden know to be ready for his arrival and he’ll get him situated in his stall,” Noah tells them. “Once we’re back, I’ll have the vet check him over just to make sure he didn’t get hurt during the fall. He seemed fine, though, but I’m not takin’ any chances.”
“Thank you. We appreciate that,” Mrs. Donovan says.
“I’ll get out there as soon as I can.” Ellie frowns. “Even if it’s just to sit and read to him.”
Magnolia rocks Willow back and forth when she gets restless. “You read to your horse?”
“Mostly when we’re traveling. It can get lonely just the two of us, so I’ll sit with him and read my book out loud. It calms him, too.”
“Aww…that’s sweet. I wish I was a horse girlie,” Magnolia says. “But I’m kinda terrified of ’em.”
“Willow and Poppy will be horse girlies, though, won’t ya?” Noah tickles Poppy when I give her back.
“I gotta run. I’m on Cantina lounge duty tonight and need to clean up. Can you drive me to the campsite?” I ask Noah.
“Yeah, I should get back, too. Lord knows what the others are gettin’ themselves into. I found Wilder halfway under the camper this morning three sheets to the wind.”
Ellie’s horrified look makes me laugh.
“That’s Wilder on a tame weekend,” I tell her.
The girls exchange hugs and Ellie promises to let Noah know when she’s home. There’s an awkwardness as we linger in the doorway, and I’m not sure what to say.
“I hope you feel better and maybe I’ll see ya at the ranch soon?”
“Thanks. As soon as they let me, I’ll be there.” She smiles weakly.
I tip my hat to her parents and then walk out behind Noah and Magnolia, crossing my fingers that the next time we see each other is before she remembers me.
Chapter Seventeen
ELLIE
It’s been seven days since the incident at the rodeo, and I’m so fucking bored.
Whoever said free time is amazing was a liar.
Free time sucks.
I want to be riding Ranger, going on my morning jogs, visiting Magnolia at her coffee trailer, and traveling to my next race.
But the doctor’s discharge orders were bedrest for a week and then I could gradually add in more activity. But since I haven’t been cleared to drive, I pace around the house, sleep, or listen to nineties sitcoms with Aunt Phoebe.
Explaining to her what happened hasn’t been easy. Even though I look fine physically, minus the gash on my head, she doesn’t understand the concept of me losing my memory or that she’s not allowed to tell me anything.
Which also sucks for me because I can’t remember what happened to her or why she lives with us. All my mom will tell me is that there was a traumatic event years ago that caused her to come live with us. Even when I dug for more answers, she was determined to stick to Dr. Murray’s orders.
Between having nothing to do and not being allowed to do anything fun, I’ve Googled everything possible on concussions and seizures affecting your memory.
Some articles talk about how concussions can cause both short-term and long-term memory impairments, including difficulties with recalling traumatic events, but the degree of loss depends on the specific brain regions affected. Considering I also had an epileptic episode, more than one region could’ve been affected, but either way, it varies for everyone. It makes me wonder if whatever happened with Aunt Phoebe has a direct correlation to the stuff I can’t remember because it was traumatic for me too.