Chapter 10

December 3rd, 1984

With each day that passed David became stronger and more aware of his surroundings. As winter settled in the mountains, the days became shorter and there was a definite chill in the air. Even though most of California didn't get snow, they did at this altitude.

Hannah spent most her days canning vegetables and curing meat for the long months ahead. David seemed content to just sit at the table and watch her. He didn't talk much but Hannah didn't mind. She had become accustomed to not having anyone to talk to but Angel and she couldn't talk back.

As the bruises faded and the swelling went down, Hannah realized that David was younger then she had originally thought. He was a very good looking man with dark blue sapphire eyes and dark brown curly hair. His lean, muscular build indicated that he had been in good physical condition but the numerous scars that disfigured his torso frightened her. They silently spoke of a violent past.

The only odd thing that Hannah had noticed about her visitor was that David refused to leave the cabin. He was reluctant to even step out on the porch. Hannah knew that even if he didn't remember what had happened to him, his mind was telling him to be scared of the woods that surrounded the cabin. Hannah knew what it was like to be scared. She'd been scared a lot of times in her life especially since her parents had died and left her in this place alone.

As Hannah went about her chores, she noticed that David was sitting at the table with his head cradled in his hands. He was frustrated because he couldn't remember his past and he had frequent migraines when he tried to force himself to remember. Although he tried to suffer in silence when his head was hurting, Hannah had learned to recognize the pinched look of pain around his eyes. Without a word, she poured a cup of herbal tea and sat it on the table in front of him. David smiled his thanks and took a cautious sip of the soothing brew.

"Is there a town nearby?" David asked breaking the silence in the room.

"At the bottom of the mountain," Hannah said as she stirred the pan of fruit she had boiling on the stove. "But I've never been there."

"Why not?"

"My father wouldn't allow me or my mother to go to town with him. He said it was too dangerous." Hannah replied as she turned the fire down beneath the pan and left the fruit to simmer.

"You mean you've never been off this mountain?" David asked in a surprised voice.

"No," Hannah said in a matter of fact voice.

"I'm sorry," he said apologetically sensing that he had overstepped his boundaries. "I didn't mean to pry."

"That's all right," Hannah said, gracing him with a rare smile as she sat down at the table across from him. "I know that the way we live here in the mountains must be very strange to you."

"I wouldn't know. I can't remember." He said with a hint of sarcasm. He quickly lowered his eyes to stare at the top of the table but not before Hannah caught a glimpse of the longing and despair in those dark blue orbs.

After a brief hesitation, Hannah reached out and covered his larger hand with her own. "You will…it's just going to take some time."

"Time," David said bitterly "Well, that's one thing I have plenty of right now."

Neither one of them had spoken of him leaving and going back to his life in the outside world. He didn't seem that anxious to leave and Hannah was beginning to enjoy having him around for the simple companionship of another person. Sometimes she still felt shy and awkward around him but he never seemed to notice or, if he did, he was too polite to point it out.

"I'm sure that you must have someone out there looking for you…friends or family…maybe even a wife."

David shook his head and raised his eyes to look at her intently. "I don't know how I know but I know that I've never been married."

"At least you remember that much. It's a beginning."

"It's like…I get these images in my head." David said quietly "They don't make much sense to me. I can't seem to put the pieces together so nothing clicks. They're just impressions and feelings but nothing I really remember."

"You can't punish yourself for not remembering," Hannah said sagely. It was her turn to lower her eyes as she added, "You were hurt really bad. You may never remember…"

"I know that," David said in a frustrated voice "But I have to keep trying…I have to know who I am…where I came from…how I ended up here."

"I can't imagine waking up and not remembering anything about myself," Hannah said somberly. "I know how hard it is for you. How badly you want to remember…but maybe some things are best forgotten."

"Someone brought me here, didn't they?" David asked "They brought me here to kill me. Right?"

"I don't know," Hannah said truthfully "But, there were three men who seemed to be looking for you the day that I found you. It was obvious that you had been beaten and your hands were tied behind you..." Hannah decided not to tell David that one of the men she had seen that day had been wearing a badge. Hannah may have been isolated her entire life and innocent about a lot of things but she trusted her instincts. And her instincts told her that this gentle man wasn't dangerous and couldn't have been involved in anything illegal. That made the three men who were looking for him that day the ones who were dangerous to both David and now herself.

Angel padded up to the table and nuzzled David's hand for attention. He smiled faintly as he petted her head. In the beginning he had been leery of Angel, almost as if he was afraid of dogs, but it hadn't taken Angel long to win him over. Now, she was almost as attached to David as she was to Hannah. Hannah had taught him some simple commands so that Angel would obey him too. At night the dog slept on the floor between their beds, silently watching over them both until morning.

"Supper will be ready soon," Hannah said as she rose to her feet and returned to her chores. "I made a rabbit stew with dumplings and fresh bread."

"Sounds good," David said with a lopsided smile. He seemed to like Hannah's cooking. He complimented her on the simple meals she prepared and had a good appetite. He was curious about the simple life that Hannah led and he seemed amused by the lack of modern conveniences within it.

Being observed so closely made Hannah self conscious at first, but she sensed that David meant no harm. Her way of life WAS strange to him and she was sure that even though he couldn't remember much of the life that he had led since coming to her mountain…that here he felt very out of place. She was; however, beginning to find herself hoping that David's feelings of strangeness would not be lingering long.