Page 144 of Chasing Shelter

“Don’t move. Not yet.”

Her brow furrowed, and then she winced in pain. “You’re moving, and you’re the one who pulled some Hercules, football-star move.”

Relief flooded my system at Ellie’s fire returning. “I’m fine,” I assured her, but my head thrummed, and my back was on fire.

Footsteps thundered down the sidewalk.

“What the hell happened?” Gabriel barked.

“Tan sedan, darkened windows, some dents and scratches. Didn’t get a make, model, or plate, but it wasn’t super new.” The description poured out of me automatically.

Beth was there, repeating it into the radio at her shoulder.

Gabriel turned to the other deputies and began snapping orders. “Where the hell are the EMTs?”

As if he’d beckoned them by sheer force of will, sirens sounded. An ambulance and a fire truck rounded the corner, blaring onto Cascade Avenue.

“Oh, geez,” Ellie muttered, trying to sit up again. This time, she batted at my hands. “I’m fine. I think I got the gash when we rolled. Just let me get up.”

I took her hand and gently helped her sit. “How’s your vision? Any blurriness or seeing double?”

“No, just an epic headache.” Ellie frowned. “But you have some blood on your temple. Did you hit your head?”

“Probably,” I muttered.

Two EMTs jumped out of the ambulance, a few firefighters following. The younger woman, Susie, instantly went to Ellie, while the older man, Shawn, made his way to me.

“Trace, I expected better of you than some stunt like this,” Shawn muttered as he set down a gear bag.

“You know me, always making trouble.”

Susie snorted. “Never broke a rule a day in his life.” She turned to Ellie. “I see this nice gash on your brow, but anything else hurt?”

Ellie’s lips thinned. “It kind of hurts everywhere, but nothing feels broken.”

Both Shawn and Susie began their quick assessments, but it wasn’t long before Shawn said, “I think we need to take you both to the ER, just to be safe.”

I instantly shook my head. “No. No hospital for me. Let’s get Ellie in the rig and?—”

“Oh, no you don’t, Chief,” Ellie argued. “You’re not sending me off. Both of us or neither of us.”

“Jesus, you two,” Gabriel muttered.

“I’ll call Dr. Avery. See if he might make a house call. Or maybe we can go to his clinic,” I said, trying to placate my friend.

“I’llcall him,” Gabriel shot back. “You call, and you’ll classify this as a papercut and a bump on the head.”

Ellie snickered. “He knows you so well.”

I sent a scowl in her direction, but it died as I took in the gash again. “Are you sure you’re okay? I hit you hard, and?—”

“Trace,” she said, cutting me off. “You saved my life. A few bumps and bruises are a hell of a lot better than getting flattened by a car.”

I reached out and cupped her face with my hand. “Don’t remind me. Scared the hell out of me, Blaze.”

“I’m okay. I promise.”

But she wouldn’t be if we didn’t find whoever the hell was behind the wheel of that car.

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