Destined (The Rangers of Ridge County #1)

Chapter Two

CHAPTER TWO

MILLIE

T he short ride into Ranger Ridge was tense.

Emmett had radioed for a tow and, at my request, begrudgingly waited until a man named Tim arrived in a wrecker.

I silently cursed my car for making it hundreds of miles only to fail me in the final stretch.

So much for a fresh start. This felt a lot like the wretched luck I’d been trying to outrun.

As Emmett pulled onto the highway, I stole a glance at him—a Ranger from Ranger Ridge. Surely that was no coincidence. His brashness reeked of being highly influential within the community.

He even held an authoritative posture while driving.

Sunglasses shielded his eyes, and a scowl adorned his face. One hand was on the steering wheel, and the other rested on the center console. His uniform consisted of what I assumed must be a bullet proof vest over a fitted black shirt with his Sheriff’s badge imprinted on the sleeve. It was snugly tucked into khaki pants that hugged his frame in all the right places.

He made no attempt at conversation. As if the effort to be cordial was too much of an inconvenience.

Why did the most attractive men have the most atrocious attitudes? My ex taught me that lesson, and Emmett Ranger was doing a fantastic job of reinforcing it.

When I left Tennessee, I expected some surprises, but I was not prepared for this. If I hadn’t depleted my savings on this move, I would cut my losses and find somewhere else to start anew.

But since I was technically without a job, I had to be strategic with my spending.

I sold the wedding dress I never got the chance to wear to fund this adventure, and I didn’t own anything else of value besides my car. Though, it wouldn’t be worth much to anyone at the moment.

I was definitely stuck here for the time being.

A feeling of dread washed over me, and I hung my head. I was so tired of trying to squeeze into whatever leftover space the people around me with oversized egos left behind. This was one of the main reasons I fled Tennessee. I wasn’t sure I could contort myself anymore without losing something vital.

Mindlessly staring down at my clasped hands, I startled when Emmett grunted, “We’re here.”

I looked up and was left awestruck. Delight quickly replaced the dread as I gazed out over the town closely backed by the most majestic mountain range.

We drove along a road named Peak Street, which appeared to be the main strip running through the heart of Ranger Ridge. All the buildings lining it were bustling with life as patrons went about their errands. I noted a variety of businesses including a pharmacy, grocery store, and a pawn shop—just to name a few.

Emmett pulled up to a quaint-looking establishment with forest green clapboard siding. It was still within walking distance of the other shops but sat back farther off the street to allow for parking.

Geyser Grill was painted in white block letters above the door.

“Not sure how long it’ll take Tim,” Emmett said as he nodded toward the auto repair shop across the street. “The Geysers won’t mind you waiting in the restaurant, though, as long as you order a little something. Coffee’s decent, but their huckleberry pie is what they’re best known for.”

“Great,” I said, quickly climbing out of his cruiser with the few belongings I’d grabbed. “Thanks for the ride.”

I strode for the door without a backward glance. As I tugged on the handle, I heard a loud truck motor.

Rotating, I caught sight of Tim’s red wrecker with my car in tow. I let the door to the grill fall closed and started in the direction of Tim’s.

I was walking across the lot when Emmett drove past and parked near the shop’s office. I scowled but quickened my pace, stomping up to the office door and throwing it open.

The woman behind the desk glanced up, smiling warmly, and my spirits lifted at the kind gesture.

“Hi, my name is Millie Rushing,” I said, grinning back at her. “Tim just towed my car in, and I was wondering if I could speak with him?”

My gaze fell to a nameplate on the woman’s desk—the name Mabel embossed there.

“Of course, Ms. Rushing,” Mabel said as she picked up the phone and started dialing.

I was stepping back from the counter as Emmett walked through the door. He smiled as he greeted the receptionist, and I sneered at him.

Moments later, Tim came through the door and offered his hand in greeting. His coveralls were tight across his middle, and his palms were rough and stained from years of mechanic work. “Miss Rushing, I hate your vehicle is giving you trouble. Unfortunately, I’m not sure we’ll be able to get to it this afternoon, but we will run a full diagnostic on it tomorrow.”

That was not what I had hoped to hear.

How was I going to get to my rental?

“Would you happen to have a loaner I could use until then?” I asked hopefully.

“I sure don’t,” Tim said with a shake of his head.

Fabulous .

“Where are you staying?” Tim asked. “I can have Thomas give you a ride.”

“I’ve got her,” Emmett said before I could even consider Tim’s offer.

I would rather walk to my rental than ride anywhere else with this man. I was opening my mouth to tell him just that when I remembered my luggage. Then Tim said, “Thanks, Sheriff. It’s been a busy day, and I could definitely use Thomas’s help wrapping things up around here. ”

I could not win for losing.

Pinching the bridge of my nose, I managed a tight-lipped smile at Tim before gritting out, “Let me grab a few things from my car.”

Tim pointed me in the right direction, and I grabbed the most essential items. There was another man bent beneath the hood of a car in the next bay, but he didn’t bother looking my way.

I handed Tim my keys, and we exchanged contact information.

After loading everything, I said goodbye with a wave to him and Mabel.

Back in Emmett’s cruiser, I rattled off the address of my rental, and he stared at me unblinking.

“What?” I snapped, unsure if I could take much more of his attitude.

“Just surprised is all,” he commented before pulling back onto Peak Street. “You don’t strike me as the type to live on the outskirts of town.”

I rolled my eyes at the audacity of this man. Though, I didn’t bother correcting him. It would have been a waste of time.

Fuck him and all his assumptions

At the end of another painfully silent ride, Emmett pulled into a dirt driveway. We parked in front of an old, white farmhouse with a weathered porch, and I grew concerned as I took in its dilapidated appearance.

This could not be right.

I looked around and saw another house in the distance.

“My landlord’s name is Frank Bennett,” I said as I frantically pulled up the information the listing agent had sent me. “Is this his house?”

He shook his head no, and my stomach dropped.

Earlier, when I thought this day could not possibly get any worse—I was wrong.

“That is Frank’s place,” Emmett said as he pointed in the direction of the other house. “This, here, is your rental.”

My eyes bounced between the two houses until they narrowed on blood red roses climbing the side of the one in front of us.

They were hauntingly beautiful and the only bright spot on this property.

Yet in this moment, they felt more like a sinister omen.