Page 15 of A Ranger for Christmas
Chapter 6
Saturday, December 20, 7:45P.M.
Marisa’s screams echoing in his memory, Lucas raced from his office to his SUV. He had the sheriff’s office on the radio before he left the Ranger parking lot and shot out orders for Marisa’s phone to be tracked and officers in the area to respond.
He’d never driven so fast. His mind detailed all the worst-case scenarios as he bounded down I-35 toward the Hill Country exit.
“Marisa! Marisa!”He’d shouted her name into the phone after she’d screamed, but the line went dead. Though the call had been terminated, the phone still pinged a signal from the cell tower.
The roads out in this part of Texas were flat for the most part, but there were ravines and deep gulches that could easily swallow up a car.
Damn.
He’d thought about when he’d seen her emerge from the history department last night. He’d told himself he’d keep his emotions in check and that personal and professional would stay separate. But the instant he’d called her name and she’d faced him, he only thought about peeling off her clothes and making love. He’d gone searching for her in Merida so she could help him with the cipher, but he’d found the lady in white and she’d snagged him hook, line, and sinker.
This time he would not lose her.
When he saw the flashing police lights ahead, his stomach lurched. He’d barely put the car in PARK when he got out of thevehicle and raced toward the rescue crews. As he approached, the rescue squad hoisted a stretcher up from the gulch. He studied the steep grade to the ravine, his stomach sinking as he looked at Marisa’s mangled car. Steeling himself, he raced to the stretcher, where he found Marisa.
Her pale skin was ashen and there was a large gash on the side of her head. The EMTs had bandaged it with a swath of fabric that covered her right eye. She was unconscious.
Lucas jogged alongside the EMTs as they carried her to the open bay of their rescue squad. “How is she?”
An EMT at the head of her stretcher held up an IV bag. “She sustained head trauma and is unconscious. She’s responding to stimuli, but she’s not rousing. We’ll know more when we get her to the hospital.”
He reached out and took Marisa’s small, pale hand in his, marveling how delicate and limp her fingers felt in his. Gone were the energy and the fire.
“Marisa.” Her name sounded like a strained plea.
She did not move. Did not squeeze his hand.
Lucas glanced at the EMTs. “Where are you taking her?”
The paramedic named the Austin hospital. “Her family needs to be contacted.”
“I’ll take care of that.”
The paramedics loaded her in the back of the ambulance and slammed the double doors shut. Lights flashing, they drove away.
Feeling helpless and of no use, he pulled his phone from his breast pocket. She’d mentioned her father, but he didn’t know the man’s name. Who would know? Bradley, no doubt, but Lucas would call him as a last resort. In the end he called Brody Winchester.
Winchester answered on the first ring. “Yeah.”
“It’s Lucas. I need to talk to Jo. I’m trying to locate Marisa’s father. She’s been in a car accident.”
“How is she?
Lucas supplied what little details he had and waited as Brody brought the phone to his wife.
“Lucas?” Jo Granger’s voice was filled with concern.
He explained the situation and soon had the name and number of Marisa’s father. The call had been tense and direct, and he’d tried to keep as much distance as he could from his emotions as he chronicled the facts, including where she was being taken.
When he hung up the phone, he glanced toward the bend in the road where he’d last seen the ambulance. As much as he wanted to follow, he was better use to Marisa investigating the accident. Just the idea of finding the man who did this calmed his mind with renewed purpose and allowed him to box whatever feelings he had for Marisa.
He grabbed his flashlight from his vehicle and made his way to the accident site. The county sheriff’s deputy was taking pictures, but the forensic team had yet to arrive.
The deputy lowered his camera. “We usually don’t get a Texas Ranger at accident scenes. This case special?”
