Walker (Bowen Boys, #1)(8)

Chapter Three


Lynne woke to the scent of food. Her belly rumbled even as she opened her eyes to see the elderly woman coming toward her. Lynne nearly fell getting up to help her with the tray, forgetting all about the wounds on her legs. The woman, who she surmised as being Mrs. Bowen, fussed about good manners getting her hurt.

“Here, you eat this and it’ll make you feel better.” She set the bed tray over her lap after helping Lynne sit up more in the bed. Her wrist, while not broken according to the elder Mr. Bowen, was still tender from the bad sprain. “If you don’t mind leaning on me a bit, I can see about getting you a spit bath.”

Lynne knew what a spit bath was, but thought it a funny term, especially in this day in age. She pulled the first bit of thick broth to her mouth and nearly moaned from the taste. She was half finished when Mrs. Bowen brought out some towels and a pail of steaming water.

“I’ve been trying to figure out how to wash your hair, but can’t think of it. Other than carrying you in there to lean you over the tub, can’t seem to come up with nary an idea to make it work. I could get George to help, but that might cause you more problems than it’s going to be worth for you. Scent and all.”

Lynne nodded, not having a clue what she was talking about.

“But we can get you cleaned up a little more. I did manage to get you washed up when we brought you in, but it’s been awhile and I’m sure you could use a good sponging.”

“I was wondering when I can leave? That other man, he said he was my doctor. He said I couldn’t leave until he said so. I’m pretty sure that’s considered kidnapping.” Lynne thought that maybe the man was a little odd, but didn’t say so to his mom. “I would like to call a cab to come and get me. I need to go to the police about those men.”

Mrs. Bowen was shaking her head. “I’m afraid that you’ll need to stay until he releases you. He went to a lot of trouble getting you stitched back up. But if you tell me the name of those men, we’ll take care of them for you.”

Lynne didn’t like the way that had sounded. The woman had smiled, but it hadn’t reached her eyes when she’d spoken of the taking care of the Ingram’s. Lynne shivered a little and finished the broth. The men who had hurt her were not mentioned again as she was helped to wash her body and change into another large t-shirt.

“There you go. I bet you’re worn out now, aren’t you? Walker said I could give you another shot for pain if you want.”

Lynne declined.

“Well, you let me know if you change your mind.”

Lynne laid there trying to breathe through the pain. She was hurting less than she had been days ago, but was still in a great deal of it. She pulled the blanket off her and looked at her leg.

She figured she could probably stand on it for all of ten seconds, but not enough to leave. She wiggled her toes and while hurting, it wasn’t sickening. She knew that if she was going to get better, she had to regain her strength. And the first thing she had to do was get her leg working again. Then there was the catheter.

She hadn’t even known about it until a few minutes into her bath. She had no idea why she’d not thought of it, but now could see the reason for it. She couldn’t walk. But first things first, her leg.

By the time she’d lifted it up and down off the bed ten times, she was hurting enough to call Mrs. Bowen back to give her something. By the time she forced herself through ten more, she was sweating and swearing. Putting her leg back on the bed gently, she laid back and closed her eyes. When the door opened again, she didn’t have the energy to see who it was.

“You doing all right, my dear?” Mr. Bowen. She nodded. “You’re pale as a sheet. What have you been doing?”

“I’m going home.” Sounded stupid, she knew, but he didn’t say anything. She heard the chair creak and looked over at him. “Why are you here?”

“I like your company. No, that’s a lie. I don’t know you well enough to say that yet. I wanted some peace and quiet and you don’t seem the talkative type. My mother is visiting. She can talk the fur off a cat.”

She looked at him oddly, but didn’t comment.

Lynne closed her eyes when he picked up the paper and started reading it. She didn’t care if he sat there. She was going to rest for a little bit then go back at her leg. She was thinking maybe she needed to call someone when he spoke up.

“I heard that Walker was in here today. You two get anything settled?”

Other than him pissing her off and telling her she couldn’t leave, they hadn’t really talked all that much.

“He can be a bit stubborn, but I would imagine you can be as well.”

“I would like to call someone. Do you think that would be possible?” He nodded to the phone across the room then stood up to get it. He sat back down when she held the phone in her hand. Who she had to call was private, but could also wait. She leaned back against the headboard, wondering why she wasn’t in a hospital, and why would they be safer if she wasn’t?

“I wanted to ask you something. Those men that chased you, did you know them?”

She’d not told them anything, so didn’t know where he’d gotten his information.

“You were talking when you were first brought here. Something about someone chasing you.”