North Dakota Weddings (29 page)

She watched the boy do as she said, then she started to do the same.

“Amber!” someone shouted.

Now what?

She jerked her head around and caught her foot on a rock. Unable to stop her momentum, she tumbled forward and down the slope, rolling over and over, like a log, faster, it seemed, with every turn. Rocks scraped her, dug into her skin. Someone screamed.

Was that her? Pain seared her body.

God help me!

Blackness engulfed her.

“Is she dead?” A boy in the crowd asked.

“Of course not, son,” a man assured.

“It’s your fault,” a woman accused. An argument erupted between several in the tour group.

Brandon tuned them all out. He’d already phoned for help. Seeing Amber lying there motionless tore his gut, and he laid it wide open before God.

Lord, please let her be all right
.

“Miss McKinsey…Amber…” Brandon cupped her head gently between his hands, speaking softly. She didn’t appear to have any broken bones but was still knocked out cold. And God help him, he’d seen her tumble down the slope after Jason shouted her name.

Though this incident threatened to bring back a torrent of memories—the accident he’d been held responsible for—he put the unbidden thoughts aside because he only cared about one thing: that this beautiful young woman with her whole life ahead of her wasn’t seriously hurt.

Eyelids fluttering, she groaned, infusing his heart with hope. Noticing her lips moving, he leaned in to listen. Soft murmuring met his ears and, at her words, he drew back in surprise.

“Amber…” he whispered. “Wake up. Can you hear me?”

Her eyes opened; then she squinted. Frowning, she touched her head. “Oww…”

Brandon didn’t doubt her pain. “Amber, it’s me, Dr. Selman.”

“What happened?” she asked.

Brandon helped her to sit up, noting a purple knot forming on her forehead. “Don’t you remember? You took a fall.”

Both hands on her head, she groaned again then focused her eyes on him. To his dismay, an apologetic look came across her face. “I’m sorry.”

“You’re sorry. Don’t be.” Brandon couldn’t believe what he heard. “Here, let me help you to your feet, if you’re able. We need to get you medical attention. I’ve already called.”

Sirens rang out in the distance.
Finally
.

When Amber took a step, she cried out in pain then favored her left foot. Brandon wasn’t about to let her walk on that. Tired of waiting for the ambulance, and knowing it would take the EMTs time to navigate the trail into precarious terrain on foot, he lifted her gently into his arms.

She yelped in surprise. “Dr. Selman, please don’t think you have to carry me.”

“Don’t be ridiculous. You’re not walking back.” To Jason, he said, “Take the rest of the group to the
T. rex
for now.” He’d give the man a dressing-down afterward. Right now, he needed to salvage this situation.

He strode carefully toward the trailhead that led back to the museum parking lot where he hoped the ambulance would be waiting. She was light in his arms, and her warm breath caressed his neck. He refused to look at her face, so near his.

“You all right?” he asked, his words breathy.

“This was my first tour to do alone. I’ve let everyone down.”

“Jason shouldn’t have left you. Especially with that group of boys when he could see they might cause trouble.” He’d spotted the boys with their father in the museum earlier, attempting to touch an exhibit. Brandon had personally addressed them at the time. On his way to the digs, he’d run into Jason in a rush to leave. Of course, Brandon demanded he return to assist Amber with the tour. Museum policy was clear regarding the tour guide to participant ratio.

Once in the parking lot, the EMTs met him. Though Amber assured them she was all right, they took her to the hospital anyway. While Brandon wanted to go along, it was probably not appropriate.

“Dr. Selman? My name is Muriel. I’m interning under Dr. Laudan, and I’m Amber’s cabinmate. I was in the lab, helping to secure a specimen when I heard. I’ll go to the hospital and stay by her side. Don’t worry. I’ll be sure to let you know what the doctor
says.”

News travels fast
. “Thank you.” He was certain he wouldn’t hear the end of this.

She jogged off in the direction of the cabins, presumably to get her car.

Watching the ambulance leave the parking lot, Brandon felt a headache coming on. Clearly, several factors played a role in Amber’s fall, not the least of which had to be what she termed her family heirloom.

Though relieved she appeared to be okay, he was still distraught as he continued to pace the parking lot. After a while, he noticed others looking at him, so he headed inside the museum.

In his office, he stared at the phone, hoping to hear from Muriel and wishing he’d given her his cell number. Like a fossil waiting to be unearthed, the truth had been right in front of him and he hadn’t seen it. His attachment to this woman clearly exposed—he realized he’d not been able to get his mind off her since their initial collision.

Through all his years of study to achieve academic success, all his years focused on his work, he’d never had a woman distract him so. On the road to recovery from his previous misfortunes, his profession teetered on a precipice. With at least one board member looking over his shoulder, he couldn’t afford another incident or even the appearance of a scandal.

What was he going to do about Amber McKinsey?

A
mber lay on the sofa, nursing a mild concussion. Besides that, she’d miraculously only suffered a few scrapes; and her ankle wasn’t even sprained, just a tad swollen. Still, the doctor had given her a painkiller, which she’d gratefully taken—mostly to numb the pain in her heart.

She felt like such a—

Someone knocked on the door. Amber shifted on the sofa to get the door.

“Don’t you even think about it.” Muriel glared at her and rushed to the door.

She had offered to bring Josh out for Amber, but Amber refused her kindness, instead considering Muriel’s allergies. Amber relaxed and closed her eyes, wondering who it could possibly be. No one ever came to the cabin. Whoever it was, Muriel would send them away.

Nestled on the sofa, she could easily drift to sleep.

A familiar voice resounded in the room.
Dr. Selman?
Amber’s eyes popped open to see the man himself standing before her. Stunned didn’t come close to what she felt. She pushed to sit up straight, sending pain through her head. She grabbed it.

“No, no. Please stay right where you are. I didn’t mean to wake you.”

Amber swallowed, uncertain why he was there. “I wasn’t asleep. Just…resting.”

“Good. I’m sorry I disturbed you. But I wanted to express my sincere apologies for what happened to you today.”

A woozy feeling came over her.
Oh no
. The drugs were starting to kick in. She focused hard on his face and on listening to what he’d come to say. His lips were moving…what was he saying? What had the doctor given her again? This felt much too strong.

He pressed his lips tight. Had he done that before? She leaned closer.

Close enough to see his stubble, some graying near his chin. His aftershave smelled great.

Amber glanced over at Muriel who sat in the chair across from the sofa. Dr. Selman sat on the edge of the coffee table and took Amber’s hand. She stared at her hand. It looked so small in his. Why was he holding her hand? His touch was warm and reassuring. She put her other hand over his then smiled up at him.

He didn’t smile back but frowned instead. “Maybe this wasn’t the best time.”

“The best thime…?” she heard herself ask, the words sounding funny.

“When you’re feeling up to returning to the museum, I don’t want you going back to the field. We’ll find you something else to do.”

Had she misunderstood? “You don’t want me in…? Because fell?”

“Miss McKinsey—”

“Mith McKwinsey? My name Amber?” She looked at her hands, trying to recall what happened. “See?” She held the palms of her hands out for Dr. Selman. “Just a fwew scrapes.”

Dr. Selman stared at her with an odd look. “I wanted to tell you in person, so you wouldn’t take the news the wrong way.”

His odd look turned to pity. All the hurt she’d been holding inside seemed to burst from her in a torrent of words. It felt good. Too good, and she couldn’t stop them. Didn’t want to. “Why?” she asked through racking sobs. “You’re overweacting. I feel…everything wrong.”

Without knowing when or how, she was against his shoulder. “Why can’t I do…something…right?”

The tears continued as Dr. Selman held her. What was happening? Why was she crying on his shoulder? Oh bother…

“Shh…” Dr. Selman gently patted her back.

Though he seemed stiff, his embrace felt good. The awful tumble down the slope rattled her mind again, yet in his strong arms she felt protected and safe. The tears finally came to an end. She was quiet and felt sleepy. So sleepy. Just let her stay right where she was…

When Amber woke up, she was covered with a blanket, the lights were low, and there wasn’t any Dr. Selman in the room. Had it all been a dream?

“Good, you’re awake now.” Muriel said, and handed her a cup of something warm. “Green tea. Drink up.”

Feeling better and like the wooziness of the medication had worn off, Amber sat up and took a sip. “Thank you. You don’t have to take care of me, you know. But I appreciate it.”

Muriel sat across from her and smiled gently. “Funny thing. I want to do it. My mom is a nurse; she’s a nurturing person. I got that from her, I guess. I wanted to work at the digs to see what I wanted to do with my life. Become a nurse, or a scientist.”

Amber couldn’t help but smile. “And now you find yourself taking care of me.” God had a sense of humor, no doubt there. She took another sip and watched Muriel over the rim of her cup. Could she share that? How could she, when she was still unsure of her own heart toward God? Better to wait until everything she could say about Him sounded the way it should.

“I’ve got a late supper cooking. Chicken noodle soup. One of Mom’s recipes.”

Muriel’s talk about her mom reminded Amber of her own mother and loss. Loneliness filled her with a deep cold. She needed to talk about something else. “I had the strangest dream.”

“Oh yeah? What was that?”

Amber chuckled into her cup. “You’d laugh.”

“Oh come on. Tell me.” Muriel handed her a bowl of the soup. “Eat up. And in between spoonfuls, I want to hear your dream.”

“I dreamed Dr. Selman was here.”

Muriel laughed.

“See, told you.”

“I’m only laughing because that wasn’t a dream. He
was
here.”

“What?” Amber sat up straight and quick, sending an ache through her head. She grabbed it and waited until the pain subsided. “I can’t believe it. What did he want?”

“Why don’t you tell me what else you think you dreamed, and I’ll tell you if it happened.”

Amber leaned against the sofa back and sighed. “Must have been the medication. What a time for that to kick in. I dreamed…oh how embarrassing. Please don’t tell me I cried on his shoulder.”

Muriel stood up and took Amber’s empty cup. “You did, chickadee.” With a grin she headed to the kitchen.

Amber groaned and rested her head against the sofa. “How embarrassing. What am I going to do now? I’m just such a mess—”

“I thought it was cute, actually.”

“Cute? I feel like I’m bungling everything. And here I wanted to make a great impression…oh wait, did he come to dismiss me?”

Muriel laughed. “Are you serious? Just the opposite. He wants you to work with him in the museum.”

Amber felt her jaw drop. He wanted her actually
with
him? This was what she had hoped for…but not quite like this. “Did he mention what I would be doing?”

“Something about museum displays. He was impressed with your bob-blehead arrangement.”

Amber and Muriel both laughed because Amber had shared about the disastrous display.

The soup was good, and Amber allowed the warmth to lull her while she considered what happened.

Muriel broke the silence. “Though I think he’s just concerned, wants to make sure you’re safe…honestly? I think Dr. Selman might have a thing for you.”