Hawk's Way Read Online Free PDF Page B

Angel demanded suspiciously.
    Dallas saw in Adam’s expression the concern about Angel that he had been feeling himself for the past several hours. He listened as Adam calmly explained the inner mechanism of a flashlight, down to how a battery worked, and found himself chagrined to be learning along with Angel. All the time Adam talked, the doctor slowly but thoroughly examined his patient.
    Angel was relieved when the doctor took an ordinary stethoscope from his bag, but became concerned again when he withdrew what he said was a blood-pressure cuff. He was straightforward in his explanations of everything he did before he did it, answering her questions as though they weren’t at all unusual. Though his instruments frightened her, nothing he did in his examination hurt her. He cleaned her skinned knee using something from a unique spraying can, then covered it with gauze and tape.
    When Adam had finished with his medical examination, he stood up and walked over to talkprivately with Dallas. “The skinned knee is superficial. As far as I can tell, the bump on her head is just that—a bump. There’s no sign of concussion. Or anything else I can find to explain why she doesn’t seem to recognize some very ordinary objects when they’re presented to her. That is why you called me, isn’t it? There’s something wrong with her memory. Some kind of selective amnesia?”
    â€œNot exactly,” Dallas hedged.
    â€œIf that’s all you’re going to say, I can’t be any more help to you.” Adam headed for the door, medical bag in hand.
    Dallas caught up to his friend on the porch. “I can’t tell you any more right now.”
    â€œFine,” Adam said and kept walking.
    Dallas let Adam get into his car before he finally came striding after him. He leaned down so he could see in the window of the low-slung sports car. “Do you think Angel is crazy?” he blurted.
    â€œWhat do you mean? Clinically nuts?”
    Dallas nodded curtly.
    Adam brushed his thumbs across the black leather cover on the steering wheel. “That’s hard to say without a psychological examination. Do you think she’s crazy?”
    â€œI don’t know what to think.”
    â€œTo tell you the truth, I was more than a little surprised to find a woman—any woman—in your house. I didn’t think you brought them here.”
    â€œI don’t,” Dallas said flatly. “Angel is different.”
    â€œWhere did you find her?”
    â€œI rescued her from some cowboys who were giving her a hard time.”
    â€œAt least that’s in character for you. Look,” Adam offered, “I can set up an appointment for Angel with a psychiatrist, if you like.”
    â€œNot right now,” Dallas said. “Maybe later.”
    â€œAre you going to tell me what this is all about?”
    â€œI’ll explain everything later,” Dallas promised. He stroked the sleek finish of the sports car. “Don’t fall into any potholes with this baby car of yours on the way out.”
    Adam grinned. “You’re just jealous. Call me if you need me.”
    â€œSure.”
    Dallas stood and watched until the dust settled, before he turned and walked back into the house. Angel was no longer lying on the sofa where he’d left her.
    â€œAngel? Where are you?”
    There was no response.
    Dallas quickly began a search of the house, going from room to room, slamming open doors, checking into closets and finding nothing.
    At last he approached the bathroom and shoved open the door. There she stood, staring at him with startled blue eyes.
    His breath caught in his chest. His heart skipped a beat. His mouth suddenly went dry.
    She was wearing a different sort of underwear. The camisole top had been loosened where it laced up the front, and he could see the creamy swell of her breasts through the white laces. He watched a bead of water slide down her