Destined (The Rangers of Ridge County #1)

Chapter Thirty-Three

CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE

EMMETT

I ’d slept terribly, kicking the covers back a little more with each toss and turn. Recent events burrowed under my skin—burning me from the inside out. I realized now how little I lived in the past two years—merely existing on autopilot after burying some vital part of myself in that grave alongside my Dad.

Nights like this were when I missed him the most. I needed his guidance in so many areas of my life. It felt like I was fucking everything up.

If I were being honest with myself, it was easy to cover that overwhelming numbness with my duties as sheriff. Pulling away from my family and friends, I feigned needing time and space to acclimate to my new role—which had been a selfish copout. But grief was a fickle companion, forever evolving and catching me off guard right when I thought I had a sufficient hold on it.

Detaching from emotional situations was imperative to do my job and do it well. And that strategy had served me in more ways than one…until Millie came along unearthing feelings that now felt foreign. Like a healed limb that had been casted and unused.

Truthfully, I was finding it difficult to navigate my feelings while remaining objective to everything else going on. Maybe I needed to hit the bag a little. Grunting, I bent to grab my sweatpants from the floor where I kicked them off before climbing into bed. I knew the job was going to be stressful after watching Dad excel at it for decades so I converted one of the three garage bays into my home gym for nights like this.

March had brought slightly warmer temperatures and considering how hot I already was, I didn’t bother with a shirt.

At the back door, I slid my feet into a pair of tennis shoes and stepped outside. The night air felt charged on my overheated skin as I made my way across the driveway toward the detached garage—the light above the stall doors illuminating my path. It was hard to discern if the heaviness I felt was due to my mood or the unseasonably warm weather.

Grasping the handle, I peered over my shoulder sweeping the area behind me out of habit. Occupational hazard.

I just refocused on the door in front of me when I sensed it.

Quickly shifting into a defensive position, I spun, ready to take on whatever was coming for me. Alert and expecting the worst, I was relieved to see a small animal burst through the tree line closest to me. Relaxing even more once I noticed it was Millie’s black cat.

Though, I was somewhat caught off guard with his unexpected visit and frantic behavior. Typically, he wasn’t fazed by anything, but I never saw him out after dark, especially this far from her house.

Did something spook him? Kneeling, I reached to soothe him, but he batted at my extended hand. Not enough to hurt, but a warning nonetheless. “Alright, boy. Not a social visit then.” I chuckled before standing and moving back in the direction of the garage door. “You can hang out with me for now, then we’ll get you home.”

Not wanting Millie to worry, I decided to let her know he was safe with me.

Emmett:

Hope this doesn’t wake you, but your cat just showed up at my house. I’ll bring him back closer to morning. Along with breakfast if you’re up for it.

I shook my head, sliding my phone back into the pocket of my sweatpants.

Before I could make it more than a few steps inside, the cat started meowing—loudly. Then he started pawing at my sweatpants. A feeling of unease swept over me as I watched him pacing in front of the door.

He was agitated.

On second thought, I should probably take him back now.

As soon as I opened the door, he sped in the direction he came from but stopped halfway and looked back at me expectantly like I was supposed to be following his lead. Which would be idiotic. Right?

Rubbing my hand down my face, I leaned into my instincts and stepped toward him just as a scream echoed through the night.

My blood chilled in my veins.

My stomach dropped.

My mind went blank.

But my feet were moving.

I was sprinting, pushing the limits of my lungs and limbs. I knew that voice, and the events of the past few minutes were painting a very alarming picture. Fuck . I needed to find her.

Putting my trust in her feline friend, I followed as he raced into the wooded area between our properties despite some distant area of my psyche firing warning shots—urging me to take a moment to strategize, to rely on my training. But the irrational, feral part of me kept pushing me forward. Deterred by nothing.

Thrusting my hand into my pocket and jerking my phone out, I turned on the flashlight as I bellowed her name over and over.

Why wasn’t she answering me?

“Millie, baby, answer me!”

I still had eyes on her cat as he made his way just a few paces ahead of me. He had this path mapped out. I was certain of it because we were both moving swiftly despite the obstacles. Rounding a large tree, I stopped abruptly as the beam of my phone’s flashlight illuminated an area of gnarled roots.

Millie was sprawled among them covered in blood.

My heart gave out, or at least that’s what it felt like, as I dropped to my knees—crawling and clawing my way to her. Her eyes were closed, and there was an open wound on her head. In this dim lighting, her hair camouflaged the extent of the bleeding. As I carefully ran my hand through the tangles to her most accessible pulse point, I could feel a mixture of fresh and dried blood caked in it. Pressing my index and middle fingers firmly to the soft skin of her ice cold neck, I exhaled a shaky breath at the steady thump of her heartbeat.

Years of training could never have prepared me for this.

Sticking my phone between my teeth, I hovered my hands over her body knowing I needed to quickly catalog the rest of her injuries to determine whether it would be safe to move her.

There was a deep laceration on her arm surrounded by more superficial cuts and scrapes which appeared to be the worst of the injuries aside from the one on her head. I couldn’t be certain, but nothing looked broken.

Checking her pulse once more, I watched the rise and fall of her chest.

All good signs.

I spat out my phone and dialed emergency dispatch on speakerphone. “I’m here, honey. Open those beautiful blue eyes,” I pleaded as someone came on the line.

“Dispatch. How may I direct your call?”

“This is Sheriff Emmett Ranger,” I barked, “I need emergency medical services at my residence on Bent Creek Road.”

“Sheriff, are you injured?” I could hear clicking as the dispatcher typed in my request while I stared at Millie.

“No,” I answered, not physically anyway.

My fists clenched as I continued rattling off logistics. Each word she repeated back to me and into our department scanner felt like a physical blow.

“Deputies. Be advised. Unresponsive female found down in wooded area adjacent to Sheriff Emmett Ranger’s property located on Bent Creek Road. Medical en route. All available units respond.”

“Sheriff, the ambulance is less than ten minutes out,” the dispatcher relayed. “Are you able to safely move her to a more accessible location?”

In that moment, the gravity of where we were sank in—the easiest of prey to whatever threats lurked in the darkness.

My head snapped up, and I rapidly surveyed the immediate area surrounding us. Her cat was pacing at her feet, confirming my suspicions.

We had to move.

Quickly returning my eyes to Millie, I didn’t hesitate this time. Placing my phone in my pocket, I gently put one hand on the crown of her head and the other across her back then called out, “I need to turn her over so I can pick her up.” The dispatcher talked me through safe handling techniques, and I rolled Millie over then scooped her into my arms.

Once she was safely tucked against my chest, I walked back toward my garage. The light above it was a beacon in the night.