Page 62 of Blackwood

Sheriff Crowand Roryburst through the front door as I leaned Garrett against the wall of the foyer. I’d called them as soon as I got within range of the house’s WiFi.

“How far out is the ambulance?” I started stripping Garrett’s wet coat from him.

“Ten minutes or so.” Rory dropped to his knees and opened a duffel bag of medical supplies. Sheriff Crow knelt, and both men helped me pull his wet shirt down.

“Just a scratch.” Garrett didn’t open his eyes.

Rory pressed his fingers to Garrett’s neck and stilled. “Shit, pulse is slow. Too slow.”

I pulled the gauze away from Garrett’s bullet hole beneath his clavicle. “There.”

Sheriff Crow leaned Garrett forward and stared at the exit wound. “Came out clean, but he’s lost a lot of blood.”

“I had enough of a first aid kit to douse it with alcohol and pack the gauze, but I couldn’t stop the bleed. And the rattle in his lungs has gotten worse.” I tucked Garrett’s hair behind his ear.

He leaned into my touch. “Red.”

“Red?” Sheriff Crow asked.

“That’s what he calls me.” I began pulling the damp shirt the rest of the way off, but lost my balance and hit the floor next to Garrett.

Sheriff Crow grabbed my elbow and peered into my eyes. “Rory, get her upstairs and warmed up. She looks like she might fall over herself.”

“No, I’m fine.” I shook my head and reached for Garrett’s hand.

“No, you aren’t fine.” Worry creased around the sheriff’s eyes. “Rory, get on it.”

“Yes, sir.”

“I’ll wait for the ambulance. I expect it here soon.” Sheriff Crow rooted around in the duffel bag as Rory helped me to my feet. “Until then, I’ll check his wound. He’s going to be okay.”

Rory steadied me and herded me toward the stairs.

“Wait.” Sheriff Crow looked up from the bag. “Did you see anyone? Any clue who’d try to take a shot at you?”

“No.”

“Could it have been another hunting accident?” He took his hat off and threw it onto the small settee. “A stray shot?”

“That would have been possible if there was only one shot. But there were two.”

He shook his head. “I’m beginning to wonder why I took this job. What the hell is going on around here?”

My foot hit the bottom step, and I stumbled. I leaned on Rory as he helped me up the stairs. A distant siren promised help for Garrett, and I was finally able to take a breath without fear overwhelming me. “I have to go with him.”

Rory wrapped his arm around my waist and powered the rest of the way up the stairs to my room. “We’ll see what the sheriff says.”

I started to strip off my coat, then gave the staring Rory a look.

His face fell, and he turned toward the wall. “Let me know if you need help.” His tone still retained some hope that he’d get to see me naked.

I sank onto the bed and slowly dragged my clothes off until I was down to my tank top. The siren’s wail grew to ear-splitting levels, then quieted. Voices wafted up the stairs, and relief hit me like a wave. Garrett was going to be okay. I closed my eyes, and my world went topsy-turvy.

The last thing I heard was Rory’s voice. “Shit, you got hit, too.”

“Red?” Fingers stroked along my face, down my jaw, and to my neck.

I blinked awake. The septic smell of hospital seeped into my lungs as the light pinging of a machine told me my heart was still beating.

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