Page 72 of Colton’s Inferno

“You wait here,” said Carol. She patted Lucy’s shoulder. “We’ll be right back.”

“I’ve got an eye on her.” Aiden switched places with Carol.

“I didn’t know I was that bad.” The cold crept into her bones, and she started to shake.

Aiden grabbed her hand. “Just breathe. We don’t want you to go into shock.”

She inhaled. Exhaled.

“How are you feeling now?”

“Better,” she said, even though that wasn’t exactly true.

“I asked Callum to have an officer posted outside of your grandfather’s room. He’ll be safe as long as he’s at the hospital.”

“Thank you.” Her throat was tight, and the words came out as a whisper.

“You don’t need to thank me,” he said. “But you aren’t safe at the ranch.” She knew what he was going to say, even before he spoke. “Someone is targeting you, and until they’ve been caught, you need to stay someplace else.”

A million different responses came to her at once.

I can’t leave my home.

I’m not going to be chased off my land.

I love the Five Steers.

It didn’t matter that all those things were true, other things were true was well.

“I know,” she said. “It’s just that I don’t have anywhere else to go.”

There was another wail from another siren. A fire truck was coming up the road. It stopped behind the ambulance, and five people emerged from the cab. Chief Kane, tall and broad shouldered, was hard to miss.

Aiden stood.

“I thought you were supposed to be on medical leave,” said the chief.

“I’m still investigating Friday night’s fire.”

“I heard this was a gas leak.”

Before Aiden could answer, Frank approached, pushing a stretcher. Carol was right behind him. She carried a large black bag with a red cross on the side.

“Let’s get out of the way so the EMTs can work,” suggested Aiden, taking a few steps back.

“The first thing we’re going to do,” said Carol, “is get you on this gurney.”

She continued to explain the aid they’d be providing, but Lucy wasn’t paying attention. She was watching Aiden as he spoke to the chief. Aiden counted off on his fingers as he spoke. One. Two. Three. If she had to guess, he was telling the chief about the three times someone had tried to kill her over the weekend.

For his part, the chief didn’t agree. He shook his head and waved away the arguments.

“Is that okay with you?” Carol asked.

“I’m sorry,” said Lucy. “I didn’t hear you.”

Carol held a plastic mask by its elastic strap. A tube connected it to a small cylindrical tank. “Can I get you started with some oxygen?”

Lucy lifted her head off the ground. Carol placed the mask body over her nose and mouth. She adjusted the strap. With a hiss, oxygen started to flow. She was lifted onto the stretcher. Frank pushed the gurney, while Carol pulled. Together, the two EMTs lifted Lucy, stretcher and all, into the back of the ambulance. The wheels were locked into place. Carol sat in a small seat next to Lucy. The walls were filled with medical equipment held by straps and webbing.