Part 1: No Regrets(Divine Creek Ranch 2)(92)

Ace would not have voiced his opinion if Rachel or anyone else who knew her was around, but he muttered, “She’s lost a lot of blood, from a lot of places. I’m pretty sure one of her arms is broken, too.”

“Damn deer,” Hank mumbled and walked over to the carcasses and

dragged them off the road as a tow truck pulled up on the shoulder.

“Hank, I’m driving up to the hospital. If you need me, that’s where I’ll be,” Ace said then he turned to his damaged SUV.

“That’s fine. I’ll come up there in a few minutes to get your statement.

Gotta have everything documented for the insurance companies. Your SUV

running okay? It took a hit, too.”

“I’m pretty sure it’s superficial damage.”

“I’ll be behind you in a few minutes after I check in with Dave,” Hank said as he turned to go talk with the tow truck driver.





* * * *



Eli stood at the window, waiting anxiously. Someone entered through the sliding doors, and before they closed, he heard the sound of a siren growing closer. His heart began to pound, and his lips moved silently in prayer. Grace stood beside him and held his hand, her eyes closed as she prayed, too. Adam’s heavy hand came down on his shoulder as the

ambulance came to a screeching halt outside the emergency department unloading bay.

The doors swung open wide, and a doctor and a nurse ran out as the ambulance doors popped open. An EMT jumped quickly out of the back and



Her Gentle Giant, Part 1: No Regrets

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reached for the stretcher, giving the doctor the run-down on her condition.

The stretcher slid out with Rachel on it, feet first. She was partially covered in a blanket, but her upper torso was uncovered as the other EMT climbed out, working to help her breathe. The pretty blue top she’d put on earlier was now drenched in blood, and her arms were covered in blood. There was blood all over her face, and she was clearly unconscious.

A wild, guttural cry welled from his throat. He turned to run out of the waiting room doors to her and felt like he was moving in slow motion. His eyes slammed shut over tears of fear and frustration as Adam’s arms locked around his torso, holding him in place. He opened his eyes and looked down into Grace’s face but couldn’t hear her over the pounding of his heart in his ears. She shook her head and put her arms around him, pushing him back with her shoulder as he struggled against Adam.

“No, buddy. You have to let them help her. You go out there now, and you’ll just delay her getting the help she needs,” Adam said, struggling to hold on to him. “I know. I’d feel the same way. You gotta let them do their job, Eli.”

Afraid of accidentally harming Grace, Eli ceased his struggles and looked out the window again. He prayed this wasn’t the last time he’d see Rachel alive. Her long hair billowed off the gurney in the hot wind before they wheeled her in the double doors. He allowed Grace and Adam to direct him to a chair, where he sat down heavily and put his head in his hands.

Now the torture of waiting without knowing began. This had been the worst part years ago. It was even worse now waiting for news because the image of Rachel lying bloody and unconscious on the gurney kept flashing in his mind. Eli felt like he might come unglued.

Ace entered the waiting room from the ER trauma room area. His left temple was bandaged, and his eyes were narrowed like his head hurt. Eli knew whoever had been in the other vehicle knew Rachel and had asked to have Eli called. He hadn’t expected it to be Webster.

Eli approached Ace and held out his hand in gratitude. “You were in the other vehicle?”

“Yeah.”

“Hank told me you asked the dispatcher to call me. Thank you.”

“Hey, no problem, Eli. It was the right thing to do.”

Hoping for a hint of good news, Eli asked, “Did you see her?”



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“Yeah, seemed like everything was gonna to be okay,” Ace replied.

Grace went to Ace and gave him a hug. “Ace? Are you all right?”

“It’s nothing much, sweetheart, just a little cut. A couple of Tylenols is all I need.”

“Does your head hurt?”

“Yeah, I banged it pretty hard. They checked me out in there and the doctor said there is no sign of concussion, so I’m good to go.”

Suddenly, they heard someone yell from inside the emergency treatment area and a loud crash. Everyone outside in the waiting room became quiet and listened to the muffled, rapid-fire sounds of doctors giving orders. Eli longed to know what was happening on the other side of those doors and went to where the loading bay was visible from the side windows. There was no ambulance sitting there. The new activity was for a patient already in the ER.