He simply stood with his arms dangling loosely at his sides.
So thats the way it was going to be. I just thought youd like to know. You dont seem like a man whod want to be stuck in a room with frills.
I told the army docs, and I told Sierra, Rafe said, not altering his stance. Now Im telling you. I dont give a rats ass where I spend my time. You, Sierra, the VAthe whole lot of you can do whatever you want with me. His jaw tensed and he fisted his hands at his sides.
Compadre whined and pawed Rafes knee a few times.
Alexa hadnt studied a lot of psychology, but she knew pent-up rage mixed with guilt when she saw it. Her inclination was to leave him alone to stew, but her compassion overruled the uncharitable thought.
Ill help you put away your clothes, then Ill leave you alone awhile to get comfortable with your new digs. As she spoke she pulled stuff out of the duffel and saw that hed come with precious little. Several pair of worn fatigues, underwear and an assortment of colored T-shirts. Where shall I put your boots?
What boots? he asked.
Theres a second set ofcombat boots, I guess you call them. Like the ones you have on. Alexa held them out so he could trace a finger over the leather.
I have no idea what Sierra sent. He picked up the bag and dumped the remaining contents on the bed. What the? He shook a plastic bag filled with military medals, and a second one with rodeo buckles. Useless, he said, his voice strained.
Why dont I just put them in a dresser drawer. Your sister is extremely proud of you, you know. She loves you. Alexa smiled even though Rafe couldnt see.
Hell! I know that.
A reaction at last!
Just as quickly, his face became impassive again. Do what you want with that stuff. Toss it in the trash for all I care. Wheres that damned paper you want me to sign? Lets get it done, so I dont take up any more of your valuable time, Doctor.
All right. Ill go get the form from my office, Major. Be right back.
Im no longer a major. Thats over and done with. Call me Rafe.
Two could play this game. If you call me Alexa. Lately my practice has consisted of a pair of young mountain lions, a great-horned owl, a family of squirrels and other assorted forest animals. Im not used to being called by my title.
Sierra said youre a healer. I thought you were a curandera like our grandmother Velasquez, but it sounds like youre a vet.
No, Im not a vet or a curandera. Im an osteopath, and I hold certificates in Chinese herbs and acupuncture.
He twisted his mouth to one side. So you stick needles in people. Guess it cant be any worse than what they put me through in the field hospital.
Alexa wasnt sure if Rafe was trying to be funny or sarcastic. Whatever. He definitely presented a challengeone that intrigued her.
She headed down the hall to her office, which was located off her bedroom at the opposite end of the house. She had always liked this split floor plan. The few summers her parents had brought her here to visit her grandparents, shed had the room Rafe now occupied. As a teen shed pretended this whole end of the house was all her domain. Mostly, she holed up there reading biographies of female scientists whod changed the world. At the time she wore chunky braces and round black-rimmed glasses, which explained why she didnt read romances and dream about boys like her mother wanted her to do. Bobby was the only boy who ever really saw through her serious facade. And even he liked her best for her brain.
Grabbing the release form shed printed out the night before, she went back to Rafes room. He had drawn the blinds, making the room dark, and sat in the chair, petting Compadre. If dogs could smile, the collie gave a great imitation.
Heres the release, she said. Its attached to a clipboard. She started to read the outline of treatment but Rafe raised his hand.
Just the part about the pills, he said.
Alexa did as he asked and read the short statement giving her the right to wean him off his pills and instead use herbs, teas and Eastern techniques such as acupuncture with Rafes verbal agreement.
He took the pen and scribbled his name.
Dinners at six, she told him. Ill give you plenty of time to wash up. I thought Id put a couple of steaks on the grill and make a salad with vegetables from my garden. Lettuce, if the rabbits and deer left me any, tomatoes and cucumbers. She let the words hang, expecting his agreement and maybe a little enthusiasm or interest.
I dont want anything to eat.
Well, at least come out and learn how to navigate the rest of the house.
No, I prefer to stay here.
Alexa struggled to remain patient. Okay, suit yourself tonight. But even if youre not hungry, theres a hot mineral springs on the property. Its therapeutic and youd be amazed at how relaxed youll feel if you take a dip right before bedtime. Id go with you, of course.
He shook his head. Not interested. I plan to turn in early.
Alexa began to simmer. But he was the patient and she was the doctor, she reminded herself. Tomorrow, then. Well get a fresh start. If Compadre makes a nuisance of himself, boot him out and shut your door.
Hearing his name, the dog sat up, whined a few times, then laid his furry chin on Rafes knee. Alexa watched the man stroke the animals silky ears. Hes fine, Rafe said in a quiet voice. I had a dog as a boy. A mongrel. We had to give him away when my parents died. Couldnt afford to feed him. Chip. That was his name. I havent thought about him in years.
He looked so vulnerable sitting there, steeped in memories of the pet hed lost, and Alexa found her throat tightening in sympathy. Her reaction was totally at odds with the irritation shed felt barely a minute ago. Ill, uh, go now, and check back later to see if you need anything. Oh, I forgot. Theres a small fridge in the closet. I wasnt sure what drinks you liked, but I left a couple of bottles of water, a fruit juice and noncaffeinated soft drinks.
Beer? He turned toward her.
Sorry, alcohol doesnt mix with all those high-velocity meds you already took today. But thats something we can shoot for. Call it a carrot to wean you off those psychotropic drugs.
Psycho-what?
Sorry, doctor speak for antidepressants and the like.
Oh. He sank back in the chair and closed his eyes. A sign their conversation, such as it was, had come to an end.
Alexa hurried down the hall, her mind already cataloging the herbs that might work as substitutes to help him start withdrawing from the most potent of his drugs.
After eating a salad by herself, she went into her office and pulled out the notes shed made on Rafes current course of treatment. She skimmed them then sat down at the computer and searched the Internet for information on returning soldiers. A number of them came home suffering intermittent bouts of deafness from unspecified causes. But almost all cases of blindness could be traced to IED explosions that left shrapnel buried in the head. Rafes physical exams, including extensive X-rays and MRIs, revealed no foreign objects other than bullets in his left shoulder and thigh, both of which had been removed.
Alexa tapped a pencil to her lips. She wondered if anyone was studying the residual effects of severe concussion around the brain.