before saying them. Perhaps the pause indicated some kind of head trauma, he thought. She seemed oblivious to the cut on her head.
“May I ask your name?”
“Tess.” The small frown was back between her brows, and she looked as though she might have searched for the name, dug it up from somewhere deep inside. “My name is Tess,” she said slowly.
Ryan waited a beat and then asked, “No last name?”
Beneath the quilt, her hands moved, tightening around her knees. “Just Tess.” Her shoulders braced as if anticipating his next question.
Ryan attempted to inject some lightness into the tenseness that hovered between them. “I don’t know too many people who go by only one name.”
She lifted her eyes, her gaze slightly mocking. “Cher. Batman. Garfield.”
He had to laugh. “Okay, you’ve got me there. A famous celebrity and two equally well-known cartoon characters. Are you telling me you’re someone famous?”
She shook her head and the hair shimmered in the soft light. Her chin settled back on top of her knees. “No, I’m not famous.”
“Can you tell me how you got into the Carsons’ cornfield?”
“I walked.”
“Yes, but where were you before you walked into the field?”
“Somewhere else.”
Ryan tried another tack. “I haven’t seen you around here before. Do you live close by?”
For the first time, she smiled, a slight trembling stretch of her lips, as if she were afraid of him but wanted to come across as compliant. Cooperative. As if she hoped that if she kept things on an even keel, everything would be all right and he’d leave her alone.
“No. I don’t live close by. I’m visiting.”
“Who did you come to visit? Perhaps we could contact them and tell them you’re here.”
She shook her head. “There’s no need. Betty and Bud are out in the kitchen. They know I’m here.”
“You’re here visiting the Carsons?” Try as he might, Ryan couldn’t keep the confusion out of his voice.
“Yes, this is their house.” She sat forward, the tiny frown popping up between two delicately arched eyebrows again. “You didn’t know this was the Carsons’ house? Are you lost?”
Ryan rubbed the side of his jaw. It wasn’t often that patients were able to get around him so easily. “No. I’m not lost. I thought you might be the one who was lost or confused.”
She settled back again and smiled with relief. “No, I’m not lost, either.”
Ryan decided that he needed to get a bit more direct. Otherwise they were going to talk in circles all morning. “You said you were visiting the Carsons. But the Carsons don’t seem to know you. Why would you visit people you don’t know?”
Tess smiled serenely. “New friends are important. Bud and Betty are my new friends.”
Ryan tried to keep his exasperation from showing. “Where specifically were you before you came to Half Moon,” he asked.
“I told you, I was somewhere else.”
Ryan swallowed hard. This was going nowhere. Maybe his ex-boss’s assessment of his clinical skills were right. Perhaps he had lost his touch. “I noticed you have a small cut on your forehead. Did that happen last night?”
Tess stared at him, her emerald-green eyes seeming to cut right through him. “Yes. I tripped and fell in the dark. It’s nothing. A small scratch.”
“I’d like to examine it, if you’ll let me.”
She sighed, a tiny puff of air passing between lush, slightly parted lips. Ryan waited. The corner clock clicked off the minutes as she considered his offer.
Finally she nodded, her gaze still wary. “I guess it would be all right.”
Ryan stood up and moved over next to her. Tess tilted her head back, giving him access to her forehead. He brushed aside her silky bangs, his fingers sliding over her soft skin. Air hissed between her teeth as he touched the edges of the cut.
“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to hurt you.”
“It-it’s all right. Stings a bit, but you have a very gentle touch.”
Ryan leaned across her. “I’m going to turn on the light so I can see it better.”
She slid an arm out from beneath the blanket and touched him, her fingers resting lightly on his forearm. A shiver shot up his arm and Ryan paused, glancing down into the clear green of her eyes.
“Please, the light hurts my eyes,” she said.
Ryan laid his hand over hers. “It’s important that I check your pupils, Tess. The fall might have given you a concussion.”
She nodded her understanding and slipped her hand from beneath his. Ryan tried to ignore the twinge of regret when she pulled away.
He reached into his pocket and pulled out a penlight. A quick check of both pupils told him that in spite of the light hurting, her pupil reaction was fine.
Perhaps a mild concussion. It didn’t exactly explain her extreme mental confusion, unless she’d been in an accident and couldn’t remember the details.
He crouched down in front of her. “Do you know what today’s date is?”
“Of course.”
He waited.
She tilted her head to the side. “I’m sorry. Have
Ryan bit back a grin. “No, Tess. I’m checking to see if you remember. You might have a head injury. I’m checking your memory.”
The frown popped up between her brows again. “But I just told you that I know the date. Don’t you believe me?”
Ryan paused. He didn’t want to anger her or shut her down so that she refused to cooperate. He tried a lighter approach. “Any chance you’d humor me and just tell me the date?”
“July tenth.”
“Good. Now, can you tell me the capital of Rhode Island?”
A slight twinkle of humor entered those exquisite eyes. “You’re not going to start asking math questions next, are you? Because I’m really lousy at math.”
Whatever had happened to her, Tess had managed to maintain her sense of humor. He held up a hand in mock Scout’s honor. “I promise, no math questions.”
From across the room, Betty interrupted. “Isn’t that enough questions, Doc?”
Ryan glanced over one shoulder. “It’s okay, Betty. I’m not hurting her.”
“I know that. But you’re scaring her. I can tell.” Betty walked into the room, her dark eyes watching the young girl with motherly compassion. “The poor child must be exhausted. This is no way to treat a person who’s been through what she’s been through.”
“But that’s what I’m trying to determine-what she’s been through.” Ryan didn’t bother to hide the hint of irritation. Unlike most interviews he conducted, he definitely wasn’t in control of this one. But then it wasn’t every day that he had to conduct an initial assessment in the living room of one of his neighbor’s houses.
“Providence,” Tess said softly.
They both turned to look at her. “Providence is the capital of Rhode Island. And I feel fine-just a little hungry.”
The hard-nosed farm wife shot a triumphant look in Ryan’s direction. “Of course you are, dear. I’m going to make you a nice stack of buttermilk pancakes.” She glared at Ryan. “And if you’re done asking silly questions, you’re welcome to have some, too.”
Tess stood, the huge quilt draped around her like a tent. As she walked toward the archway leading to the kitchen, the quilt caught on the end of the couch, slid off her shoulders and fell to the floor. Seemingly unaware of her naked condition, Tess continued on toward the kitchen, her bare feet padding softly on the hardwood floor.
Ryan blinked and swallowed hard. Lord, give me strength, he muttered. A true goddess walked among them. A goddess with legs that went on forever and a body so magnificently flawless that his tongue stuck to the roof of his
