"Doc Hathaway is going to take a look at ye," Keldon told her.

She blinked and stared at the portly man with the bulbous nose.

Doc Hathaway sat down on the edge of the bed. He looked over his shoulder at Keldon who hovered over him. "Why don't you wait downstairs?"

"I should--"

"It would be for the best." Doc Hathaway insisted.

"Fine." He marched out of the room shutting the door behind him.

"Who is that man?" Arianna asked. "Do you know him?"

Doc Hathaway opened his mouth and closed it again. "Mrs. Buchanan, he's your husband."

"My what?" Arianna shook her head and regretted the effort. Her head felt like it would explode. She stared at the doctor. Any minute now, he'd laugh and say he was only joking, but he didn't even crack a smile. "I couldn't possibly be married. I would remember something so important."

Doc Hathaway cleared his throat. "How much do you remember?"

She wrinkled her forehead. "I'm Arianna Ward." Her gaze locked onto the doctor as she grabbed his arm. "I'm Arianna Ward! See, I couldn't be Mrs. Buchanan."

"Your husband--"

She released her hold on him. "Please don't call him that."

The doctor nodded. "Keldon told me you hit your head?"

She lifted her hand and touched the tender area at the back of her skull. "So it seems."

"I've been your doctor for a long time and you know I've never revealed your secret."

"My secret?" Her gaze riveted to his again.

The doctor fidgeted looking uncomfortable under her gaze. What secret did she have and why would she tell the doctor?

"We'll discuss that at a future date. Let us concentrate on now. You can trust me when I say your name is Annabelle Buchanan and the man who went downstairs to wait for me is indeed your husband, Keldon Buchanan.

Arianna shook her head, but why would this man lie to her? She met his gaze and wouldn't release him. "You swear, you're telling me the truth?"

"Yes."

She sighed, her shoulders sagging. "Fine."

"Fine?"

"For now, I'll have to accept your word."

"But you still don't believe me."

"I have no idea what to believe. Why don't you enlighten me? Tell me about my life, Dr. Hathaway."

Keldon wanted to question Annabelle about why she called him the Scotsman. Unfortunately she didn't wake up until Doc Hathaway used the smelling salts. He'd wished he'd thought to use them.

Leighton stood as Keldon entered the study.

"Did Samuel tell ye?" Keldon asked.

"I ken what happen after I left," Leighton voiced. "Do ye think she knows then?"

Keldon ran his hand through his hair. "I doona know. She dinna sound like she was sure. She spoke as if she was testin' the sound of it."

"I'd say she's toyin' with ye. Ye better watch yer back. She may strike without warnin'. We doona know where she was headin' before we found her. I doona trust her one lick."

Keldon paced, going over every detail in his head. He'd been careful. He'd sneak out long after Annabelle retired for the night. She couldn't have found his disguise since he hid it on the Schooner.

He didn't need this right now, not with the run already scheduled. Had Annabelle been heading out to warn someone? He stopped pacing and looked at Leighton. "We better lie low for the time bein'. Tell the others, we'll meet at the end of the week. Hopefully by then, I will know more aboot our situation."

"Aye. I'll spread the word." Leighton motioned to Keldon not to say more.

Understanding the warning, he turned to see that Doc Hathaway had entered the room. "Your wife seems to have suffered a severe blow to the head. She will recover, but her memory is a little hazy."

"What do ye mean by hazy?"

Doc Hathaway shook his head. Come take a seat and we'll discuss the situation."

Keldon harrumphed.

Leighton poured a dram for everyone while Keldon waited for the doctor to give his prognosis.

"Annabelle is disoriented and may be for some time."

"Is she addled?" Leighton tapped his head to emphasize as he handed the doctor his drink.

The doctor shook his head. "No. No, nothing so severe, but she does seem a little confused."

"Confused?" Keldon questioned wanting the doctor to get to the point.

"She doesn't remember anything prior to when you found her." The doctor waited for his information to sink in. "It doesn't mean she won't regain some of her memory back."

"She doesna remember a thing?" Keldon wasn't convinced.

"I questioned her, thoroughly. She didn't even know her name. She kept insisting her name was Arianna Ward. I'm sorry to say she has no recollection of being married, either."

"Nay?" Keldon's brow lifted slightly. He'd never heard of such a thing. He wondered if Annabelle was trying to trick them in some way, but for the life of him, he couldn't see the reason for it.

"You'll need to be patient with her. Surround her with familiar items and activities she enjoyed in the past. Sometimes this helps the memory to return."

"Ye've seen the condition before then?"

"Yes." He inhaled deeply. "Unfortunately not all recover their memory. I'd say Annabelle's memory loss is most severe. I wouldn't hope for much." Doc Hathaway finished his drink. "If you don't mind me saying so, maybe it would be for the best. Annabelle is..."