Chapter 4

"This is going to be your room. Mom put everything you'll need in the closet," Holly told Mermaid later on in the day.

"Is this your room?" Mermaid asked.

"It used to be," Holly said, showing Mermaid where the bathroom was.

"Where do you stay?"

"At the cottage beside the house."

"What about Michael and Cassie?"

"Michael has his own house on the ranch and Cassie stays a few miles away from here," Holly said.

"So your parents live in this big house all by themselves?"

"Yes."

"Can I see your cottage?"

"Sure," Holly said and led Mermaid out of the bedroom.

They walked down the hallway, past the other bedrooms and headed downstairs. Once outside, Mermaid stopped and looked at the beautiful blue cloudless sky.

Holly followed her gaze and wondered how it was like to look at everything as though seeing it for the very first time.

Having lived in the ranch most of her life, nothing felt quite so fundamental anymore, but looking at the sky through Mermaid's eyes, wondering how she felt made Holly curious. The smile that spread across Mermaid's lips made Holly slightly envious.

"You have a really wonderful family," Mermaid said as followed after Holly to the cottage.

Recalling their warmth towards Mermaid made Holly realize how much she was taking them for granted. "I know," she said as she opened the door to the cottage.

Once they walked in, Holly stood aside and watched as Mermaid took in her surroundings.

The cottage had hosted ranch workers over the years, but when Holly had returned home to find it vacant, she'd occupied it. Not that the Mackenzie manor did not offer enough room or privacy, she just wanted to be alone.

"It's breathtaking."

Holly watched as Mermaid admired the small things like the few paintings on the wall, the shells on the table and the books under, the view of the fields from the window, and the texture and feel of the couch.

The expressions that covered her face at every new discovery made Holly wish she could trade places with her for just a while. She would have given anything to forget some of the things that had happened to her.

She silently watched Mermaid slowly moving through the rooms but her tour was short-lived because Alanna and Maddy came running into the cottage and took Mermaid out to the stables to show her their ponies.

*

"Derrick asked me out!" Hanna squealed as she ran into Holly's bedroom.

"Who is Derrick?"

"The totally hot guy who seats behind me in math class," Hanna said in infectious excitement.

"Oh, great. I'm happy for you," Holly said, unable to recall his face.

"We're going out for a movie on Saturday night. What am I going to wear?"

"Relax, you have two days to figure it out."

"I have to go, we'll talk more tomorrow," Hanna ran out the room so quickly, she almost ran into Cassie's friend who was at the door about to knock.

"Don't mind her, her crush just asked her out," Holly said.

"Must be a big crush."

"Yeah."

"I'm sorry. I don't mean to bother you. My name is Lana Dennis, Cassie's friend. She said something is wrong with her bathroom and told me to use yours."

Holly nodded at the beautiful brunette. "Yeah, sure, it's right over there."

"Thanks," Lana said as she followed Holly's direction.

Holly was lying flat on her belly doing her homework and was having trouble with the calculus assignment. It was the only subject that she thought was in the system to torture students and was having trouble applying herself.

Lana walked out of the bathroom a few minutes later and Holly decided to ask her for some assistance since she was in campus with Cassie.

"Hey, since you're a big short at campus, do you think you can help me out with my assignment? I keep trying but I really suck at this," she said.

Lana laughed softly and went to sit beside her on the bed.

"When I was in high school, this was my least favorite subject but I needed a scholarship so I had to work my ass off," Lana said and started showing her how to work out the problems.

She explained in such an easy to understand manner that once Holly applied herself and expressed genuine interest in wanting to learn, she started getting it.

"Do you like rock?" Lana asked, looking at the rock band posters hanging on Holly's walls.

"Yeah, I love it. Don't you?"

"Of course I do! I've been looking forward to listening to the new Linkin Park album, but school has kept me so busy," Lana said.

"You really haven't listened to it?" Holly asked.

"Have you?"

Holly searched for the album in her phone. "Here, listen to this." She played one of her favorite songs in the album and watched silently as she listened, smiling at Lana's joyful expression.

"So awesome," Lana said

"You know what, I have it on my iPod, you can keep it and listen to the whole album."

Lana looked at her. "Really?"

"Yeah, I've got it on my laptop as well, so you can stay with it for as long as you want. Explore my other taste in music." When she hesitated, Holly said, "Hey, you just proved to me that calculus is not some sort of encrypted alien lingo. Take this as a token of my gratitude."

Lana's features softened, and impulsively wrapped her arms around Holly.

"Thank you," she said, pulling back in what appeared to be embarrassment. "I can't wait to listen to your collection."

"Lana?" Cassie said from the door. "I thought you fell in," she said and Lana got off the bed and walked over to Cassie.

"Trying to steal my friends?"

Holly laughed at her sister's question and said, "Just that particular one."

She smiled and closed the door and Holly got back to her assignment.

*

"How was your first night at the Mackenzie manor?" Adele asked Mermaid when she sat down for breakfast.

"It was wonderful. There is a lot of love and warmth in this house," Mermaid said, wondering where everyone was because she was alone at the table. "Where is everyone?"

"Joshua is in the fields, that is where he spends most of his time. Lori went to do some early shopping. Michael left for work and I think Holly is working in the stables or the fields," Adele said while serving her. "She keeps herself very busy."

"Did I wake up late? Should I go help out?" Mermaid asked and Adele warmly patted her shoulder.

"No, child. I was given strict orders to watch over you and make sure you do not strain yourself. Until you're fully recovered, you can sleep and rest as much as you want."

"But I'm recovered," she said and Adele looked at her bandaged arm. Mermaid followed her gaze and realized she wasn't going to get her way.

"Now, eat as much as you want. There is plenty more where that came from," Adele said and walked out of the dining room.

Mermaid looked at all the food set on the table and ate what she could, enjoying every taste and every flavor. Everything in her world felt new.

With her memories wiped out, she didn't know how to adjust to this new life, but something told her she was going to be just fine with the Mackenzie family.

She had thoroughly enjoyed playing with the girls the previous day and had been sad to see them go.

She was looking forward to getting to know the rest of the family. Joshua and Lori made her wonder about her own parents. The way they effortlessly loved their children and the way they had openly welcomed her into their home made her hope she'd been a good person in the life she couldn't remember because these nice people did not deserve to get hurt.

The heavy footsteps heading to the dining room caught her attention and a moment later, a young handsome cowboy walked in.

When he saw her, he stopped and looked at her as though he was surprised.

"Hello," she said. "I'm Mermaid." She introduced herself when the cowboy did not speak.

"I'm uh," he said as though he had forgotten his name and Mermaid smiled. "Mark."

Mermaid acknowledged him and asked, "Are you related to the Mackenzie's?"

He shook his head and tried to gesture with his hands but Mermaid did not understand him.

"I'm sorry, I don't understand," she said, wondering if she would have understood him had she had her memory and a superior understanding of natural human behavior.

"I'm Mark," he repeated himself and she nodded, not sure why he appeared to be so nervous around her.

"I'll go get Adele for you," she said and got up. She went outside through the kitchen door and found Adele. "There is a gentleman called Mark in the dining room. I think he wants to see you," she informed Adele who looked at her with a confused expression.

They went back to the dining room together where Mark had composed himself, but he looked like he wanted to leave rather than do what he'd come in to do.

"Mark, have you met Mermaid?" Adele asked.

"Uh, yes, I have." He cleared his throat.

"Mermaid, this is Mark Carpenter. He is the ranch manager of the Mackenzie ranch."

At the introduction, Mermaid stepped forward and stretched out her hand to shake his. "It's nice to meet you."

Mark reluctantly shook her hand, which confused Mermaid further.

"Mermaid, why don't you continue eating your breakfast while I talk to Mark in the kitchen," Adele said.

Mermaid took back her seat and Mark went to the kitchen with a laughing Adele behind him.

She did not understand what had just happened. She did not understand why Mark was so nervous around her. She thought that maybe he was uncomfortable having a stranger in the Mackenzie ranch and she didn't blame him. He wasn't wrong to be cautious.

After breakfast, Mermaid went back to her bedroom and changed into what she could find, unable to settle on any stereotypical physical personality  type. Somehow, she looked like a cowgirl, even in a dress, making her wonder if she'd been a cowgirl herself, but doubted it because she didn't talk the same way others did.

After staying in a hospital room surrounded by four white walls, walking outside to a sunny beautiful day made her feel like the world was full of possibilities.

She knew she should have been concerned with her memory loss, but the comfort, love and laughter the Mackenzie's offered made her cling to that reality a little more tightly.

A cool breeze passed her, making the long strands of her hair dance along to the soft whistling sound as she inhaled the scent of livestock in the air.

The nickering sound of horses had her turning towards the enclosure, where Holly was riding a beautiful black stallion. She was riding around in circles as though exercising the horse and she seemed to be enjoying it.

She was a beautiful cowgirl and rode superbly as her hair flew wildly against the wind under the cowgirl hat she was wearing. Deciding to take a closer look, Mermaid started walking over to her and stopped when Mark called after her.

"I wanted to apologize for my behavior earlier on. I'm so used to walking in and out of the house, I wasn't expecting to find a guest." His speech sounded fine although he still appeared to be a little anxious.

"It's fine. You did not offend me," she said.

"I hope we can be friends," he said warmly and she nodded, in hope of the same thing too, and then he walked away.

She turned her attention back to Holly who was now watching her, and she got the urge to want to learn how to ride a horse. She knew Adele wouldn't allow it so soon, but eventually, she hoped she would.

"Good morning," Holly said and dismounted herself from the stallion.

"Good morning," Mermaid said.

"How did you sleep?" she asked as she got out of the enclosure, and approached Mermaid.

"Dreamlessly."

"I would love to know how that feels like."

"It's not as much fun as one would think."

"How is your arm?"

"It's getting better."

"Here, let me see."

Mermaid turned to give her access, and Holly reluctantly moved the injured side of the dress down her arm, and removed the fresh bandage, examined it, and then carefully wrapped it back.

"What are the duties and responsibilities of cowgirls on a ranch?" Mermaid asked and got the same look from Holly that Adele had given her. "There has to be something I can do, Holly."

"You don't have to do anything, Mermaid. It's why we have ranch hands and groundkeepers, generally all the workers needed to run a ranch. You're a guest here."

"You're working."

"That's because I manage the ranch alongside Mark. I have to put in as much work as the others."

"What do you do, exactly?"

"Well, my job mostly includes keeping animal records, among other daily operations, from animal welfare to property maintenance, sometimes, examining the animals to check for illnesses, injuries, and administering medications, and vaccinations."

"What if I assist the workers?"

"You know I shouldn't be putting you to work."

"What do you expect me to do all day? Sleep? Sit?"

Holly exhaled and said, "Fine, we'll start you off on something simple and easy. Follow me."

Mermaid followed after her.

"Working in a ranch is not easy. It's dirty, messy, smelly and tedious."

"I don't mind."

"Do you think you can collect some eggs from the hatcheries and feed the chicken," Holly asked.

"Yes."

Holly illustrated how it was done and shortly after, Mermaid followed her lead. "Good, just like that. When you get tired, please feel free to stop. You're supposed to be resting, not working," Holly said on her way out.

Mermaid resumed with the simple task and looked up when Holly called her from the door.

"Mermaid?"

She met Holly's warm and somewhat amused gaze.

"You make a lovely cowgirl."

The compliment had her grinning from ear to ear as Holly left her alone.

*

"You shouldn't have put her to work, Holly. She's barely recovered," Lori scolded at the dining table where the family had gathered for dinner.

"Mrs. Mackenzie, Holly didn't force me to work. I forced her to let me work. You shouldn't be upset with her," Mermaid said.

"It doesn't matter. She should have considered your condition," Lori continued.

"If you want to be upset with someone, you should be upset with me. If I'm going to live here, I want to be able to help out. After everything you're doing for me, that is the least I can do," Mermaid said.

"Lori, come on now. The girl clearly wanted to work. I'm sure Holly wouldn't have let her had she not been capable," Joshua said.

"Don't you have anything to say for yourself?" Lori asked Holly who until that moment had been silent.

"I do," she said, pushing her untouched plate away. "Goodnight." She got to her feet and walked out of the dining room, surprising everyone around the table.

Lori got up to go after her, but Michael was faster on his feet. He stopped his mother, and quickly rushed after his sister.

"Holly," he called out to her when he caught up with her just outside the house.

"What? Are you going to lecture me too about how I shouldn't have put Mermaid to work?" she asked, revealing some of the emotions she'd been concealing at the table.

"No," Michael said and took her in his arms. "The Holly I knew wouldn't have silently sat there receiving a blow after another."

"I'm sorry to disappoint you, but that Holly is gone," she said.

"You know that mom wasn't trying to pick a fight, right?" he asked as he pulled back to look at her.

"Which table were you sitting at?" Holly said and released a tired laugh.

"All you've done since you got back is work, work and work some more. You haven't had a moment to sit down with anyone and just chat, you know. Catch up. We all miss that," he said. "Mom isn't upset with you because of what happened today, she's upset because of the way you've been since you got back."

She exhaled in exasperation.

"We're all concerned. We want to know what is going on, but we're waiting for you to come to us because we can't force it out of you and if we try, we know the only thing we'll do is drive you away again."

She knew he was speaking for everyone when he said that.

"You have to be understanding with mom, just like the rest of the family is understanding with you. She was desperate to reach out. It may not have been the best way, but at least she's trying." He smiled at her and tucked a few strands of hair on her ear and she desperately wrapped her arms around him.

"I'll come around," she said.

"You promise?" he asked, pulling back to look into her eyes and she nodded. "Okay, now, when mom asks, tell her I put you in your place," he said and she broke into laughter. "I've missed that."

"What?" she asked.

He lightly touched her face and said softly, "The sound of your laughter. The whole family has missed it." He pecked her cheek and then went back to the house.