Page 29 of Serve and Protect
After spending a quiet and relaxing Sunday with Granny folding towels, watchingLittle House on the Prairiereruns, and working on a puzzle, I return to work as usual on Monday.
That afternoon, I’m standing beside a booth at the front of the restaurant, taking an order, when an unfamiliar car goes speeding up Main Street so fast, it catches nearly everyone’s attention. A moment later, Chris speeds by in his sheriff’s SUV, sirens blaring and lights flashing.
The wide panel windows actually shake.
And right on Chris’s heels come two deputy patrol cars running their lights and sirens as they follow in hot pursuit.
A male customer walks out onto the sidewalk and gazes down the road in the direction the vehicles were driving. When he returns, he shrugs. “I couldn’t see anything. They all kept on going out of sight.”
I say a silent prayer for Chris and the deputies, hoping they’ll be safe. It must be serious if they’re willing to pursue a car at high speed. I know Chris frowns on those high-speed chases. “Only when someone’s life or liberty is at stake,” he always says.
I resume taking my customers’ orders, but before long, we’re interrupted by the sound of yet more approaching sirens. This time, we all glance out the window to see a paramedic squad speed by, followed by a firetruck.
My stomach drops.
Someone’s hurt.
Please let Chris be all right.
After I turn in my customers’ orders, I sneak back to my office and call the police station.
Darlene answers. “Sheriff’s office. How may I direct your call?”
“Darlene, hi. It’s Jennie. We just saw Chris and some deputies speeding up Main Street, followed by paramedics. Is everyone on the force okay?”Please say yes.
She hesitates a moment before answering, which makes my anxiety skyrocket. “Jennie, I really can’t—”
“Darlene, please! I’m worried about Chris and the deputies. At least tell me they’re all right.”
Darlene sighs. “Normally I wouldn’t share information like this over the phone, but I know you and Chris are close. I think he’d want you to know. There was an accident. Chris and the guys tried to box the suspect in, but the suspect managed to ramChris’s vehicle and drive him off the road. The suspect then lost control of his car and crashed into a tree.”
I drop into my chair as I try not to hyperventilate. “Is Chris okay?”
“Honestly, I don’t know. All I know is Ricky called for the paramedics. Oh, wait—” She’s silent a moment. When she comes back to the phone, she says, “The suspect died at the scene, but the little girl is okay. Chris is being taken to Estes Park Health.”
That’s the main hospital in Estes Park, known for their critical care services and emergency room. “Oh, my God. Is it—is he—is it serious?”
“I’m sorry, but I don’t have any more info than that. I wish I did.”
My mind is racing, and all I can think of is that I need to get to the hospital. I need to be with Chris. “Wait—you mentioned a little girl?”
“Yeah. It was a carjacking at a gas station south of town. The suspect dragged the father out of his car and took off with the man’s three-year-old daughter still in the car. Thank God she was still strapped into her car seat. It probably saved her life.”
After I hang up the phone, I inform my staff I’m heading to the hospital. I also text Micah to let him know where Chris is and what’s happened.
I jog home to get my car.
When I fill Dawn in, she tells me not to worry about Granny. She’ll stay with her until I can return home.
I hop in my car and head south to Estes Park, fudging a bit on the speed limit. I hardly remember the drive. I’ve made it so many times, I can do it by rote. When I arrive at the hospital, I park in the ER lot and walk in.
* * *
When I reach the information desk in the ER department, I blurt out, “Where’s Sheriff Nelson? He was just brought in.”
A middle-aged woman glances up at me. “Are you family?”
Chris doesn’t really have any next of kin, at least no one I know of. “Yes!” I say without hesitation. “I’m his fiancée.”
