“I’ve been grieving for him for years. But now, just the thought that he might not ever wake up or that, even if he does, I might never see him again...” She wiped at her tears. “Are you sure the people of Buckhorn won’t tar and feather me for destroying the man they knew?”
He chuckled. “They knew how much you loved him, how much you didn’t want to leave him, how much you will always miss Jon.”
She nodded, took the handkerchief he handed her and looked out on the beautiful day. It was one of the few clear days so far that winter, Bessie said when she spotted Kate and hurried to her. She said that the funeral was being held at the only space large enough and still open in winter, Dave’s Bar.
“The sun coming out is a good sign,” Bessie assured her. “It gives us all hope that Jon is in a better place.” Kate could only nod, thinking of him back at the hospital. All the townspeople turned out, packing the bar. Even some who had gone to Arizona for the winter had returned.
She need not have worried about how everyone was going to feel about her being there. Even the snowbirds had heard the story of Kate and Jon. The two of them had become legend in town. She thought of him the entire service, unable to hold back her tears. Fortunately, Bessie was there with tissues and a strong arm around her.
Axel Mullen read from the Bible. Vi, Mabel and Clarice sang “Amazing Grace” and “Rock of Ages.” After that, anyone who wanted to say something about Jon Harper was offered a chance to speak.
The townspeople came up, one after another. They told stories of Jon’s generosity, of his kindness, of his quiet strength. Some of the stories were funny, like those told by Earl Ray, who knew him best. Other stories broke her heart at the small kindnesses Jon had done in the years he’d been here. Jon had been loved in this small, isolated town in the middle of Montana. He would be sorely missed.
She knew she couldn’t tell her story, but still she rose and went to the makeshift podium Dave had provided for the funeral. She told about the first time she’d laid eyes on Jon Harper, how much he reminded her of the husband she’d lost. “It was his quiet strength, the love he put into everything he made and the kindness he showed me. I will never forget him.”
When it was over, Dave bought everyone a round. They drank to Jon. She wished he could see how much he was loved. Hopefully one day she would get to tell him.
Earl Ray gave her a ride to the Billings airport after Jon’s supposed ashes, along with some sawdust from his workshop, had been scattered on the pines near the creek outside town.
The call had come in on the outskirts of the city. Kate could tell by Earl Ray’s reaction to the call that it was good news. “Jon came out of the coma,” he said. “It’s too early to know any more than that.” He held up his hand and quickly added, “He’s got some major memory loss. The doctor said this isn’t his first concussion. So, it was much worse. But the doctor was cautious but optimistic.”
“I want to see him,” she said, but Earl Ray shook his head.
“It’s too dangerous, and you don’t want to see him when he can’t remember anything, maybe especially you. Trust me, he will heal, and in time...”
She’d nodded, hating to hear that. Time. She’d spent so much time apart from the only man she’d ever truly loved. She desperately wanted him back, not knowing if that would ever happen.
“I’ll never forget everything you did for me, Earl Ray,” she said when they reached the airport high on the rock rims overlooking the largest city in Montana. “How can I ever thank you?” As they stood outside the small airport in the midday sunshine before the next snowstorm, they seemed almost shy with each other after everything they’d been through. She was going to miss Earl Ray.
“Allowing me to be part of this love story was thanks enough,” he said, taking her hand as they stood on the sidewalk outside the terminal. “No matter how it all ends, the two of you have something special. It was like a shooting star, much too quick, I know. But I don’t believe it’s over. Like you, I know Jon is strong. If anyone can pull out of this, it will be him because I believe in my heart that you have always been somewhere in his memory. He won’t want to let go of you anymore than you do him.”
“I have to believe that he’ll come back to me.” She let out a nervous laugh. “I always have.”
“Don’t give up hope.”
“You know I won’t.” Kate leaned over to kiss him on the cheek. “Take care of Bessie. She needs you. And whether you know it or not, you need her...”
“There’s one more thing,” he said as he pulled an envelope from his pocket. “I’m not sure this matters anymore, but still I thought you might want to see it.” He raised his gaze to hers. “I hope I’ve done the right thing. As you know, I was able to get your daughter Danielle free of the man who Collin had holding her as leverage against you. I know I overstepped, but I had some of Danielle’s DNA gathered and some of Jon’s as well...” He held the envelope out to her.
Kate felt her eyes widen. She stared at the stark whiteness of the envelope reminding her of the winter snow around them before she took it. She already knew, but still her fingers shook as she carefully opened it and pulled out the report inside it. Tears blurred the words. She shook her head and turned to Earl Ray. “Please, I can’t read it right now. Tell me.”
“You were right. Jon Harper was once Daniel Jackson.”
She nodded and, wiping her tears, smiled at Earl Ray. “Thank you.” With that she grabbed the handle of her suitcase, turned and walked through the revolving door that would lead her back to Texas.
Once inside the airport terminal, she turned to look back. Earl Ray was gone. So was that moment of sunshine. Snow had begun to fall again.
CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE
JON WOKE FROM what felt like the inside of a coffin. He opened his eyes in confusion and pain, half-believing he had died. He had no idea where he was and little memory of what had happened to him. At first, all he felt was the intense pain. In his head, his face, his side, his entire body.
He started to touch his face but was stopped by a nurse.
“You’re in the hospital,” she reminded him, not for the first time, he could tell. “You’re going to be all right.” When he tried to get up, feeling a need to be somewhere important, she said, “I’ll get the doctor.”
He watched her leave the room before he reached up and felt his face. It seemed to be a patchwork quilt of stitches and bruises and skin. “What happened to me?” he asked as the doctor came in.
“All in good time,” the physician said. “Right now, just be glad you’re alive. Your brain needs to heal. You need to be patient.”