Page 193 of The Cowbears of Curvy Bear Ranch

“Jesus,” Sheriff Tanner said. “Trudy, get a medevac chopperuphere.”

Trudy raced back into theoffice.

“What happened?” Tannerasked.

“We don’t know. I thought you said Trevor would be locked up for the night,”Hanksaid.

“He’s been in lockup since I picked him up. He’s stillthere.”

“What about last night? Did you check on my mom when you were there?” Carol asked, unable to keep the accusation out ofhertone.

“She wasn’t at the house last night. I went up there, searched, and didn’t find her,”Tannersaid.

“How could she possibly hide in a tiny cabin?” Carolasked.

“I don’t know, but I swear I lookedeverywhere.”

“What about the shed out back?” Hankasked.

“What shed?” Tannerasked.

“Jesus Christ, Tanner. She was probably hiding in the damn shed,”Hanksaid.

“It was snowing and dark. I didn’t see a shed. I’msorry.”

Carol’s stomach dropped. How long had her mom been like this? Would she even be able to recover? If she had a concussion, she might have braindamage.

The whip of helicopter blades through the air drew their attention. Carol placed a hand up to block the sun as she stared at the incoming chopper. At least they’d arrivedquickly.

Two medics jumped out even before it fully landed. Heads down, they ran toward thetruck.

“What do we have?” the medicasked.

“Female, early fifties, blow to the head. We’re not sure how long she’s been unconscious,”Tannersaid.

The second medic slapped a blood pressure cuff on her mom’s arm and started pumping it. He clipped something onto herfinger.

“Pulse ox, eighty-seven. BP eighty-five over fifty. We need to move her now. Get a backboard,” the second medicyelled.

The first medic returned with a long, plastic board. They carefully moved her off of the makeshift splint, and after securing her, took off toward thehelicopter.

“Where are you taking her?” Hankyelled.

“Bozeman.”

“Can I go with you?” Carolasked.

“No, ma’am. There’s not enough room. We’ll make sure the hospital calls you with an update,” the secondmedicsaid.

“We’ll leave now,” Hank said. “We can be there in a couple ofhours.”

She nodded, unable to talk over the lump in herthroat.

“Do you need a police escort?” Tannerasked.

“No,”Hanksaid.

“Drive carefully. The roads are hell after last night’s storm,”Tannersaid.

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