Unfortunately his phone had been charging, tucked into the cup holder. Where was it?
Headlights lit up the car from behind. Reed froze. A car stopped on the side of the road. Friend or foe? He wasn’t going to take any chances. Not with Emma. His heartbeat quickened and his fingers flew to his weapon, still holstered at his side. He maneuvered his body out of the broken window. Pain screamed from his ribs. Reed ignored it.
Footsteps crunched over the gravel shoulder. He circled to meet them, his gun leading the way.
“Police! Freeze, right there!” He ordered the figure shadowed by the headlights. “Not one more step.”
The man immediately put his hands up to his shoulders. “Sheriff? It’s me. Dean Shadwick. Don’t shoot. I’m trying to help you.”
Reed hesitated. “What are you doing here, Dean?”
“I... I was on my way home from town. I saw your vehicle on the side of the road.”
“At two in the morning?”
“My mom lost her cat. She was in a panic, and I went to help her search for it.”
Dean’s ranch was two miles away, but this road was a shortcut from town. Reed lowered his weapon. “Did you see anyone else on the road?”
“No.” His deputy took a deep breath. “What happened?”
“Someone attacked us. We need an ambulance and backup, now.”
Hospitals were no place to get rest. Or decent food.
Emma poked her fork at the lump of mystery meat on her tray. They’d taken her vitals all night, the doctor keeping her for observation after the car accident. Her ribs were bruised, and she’d needed several stitches in her scalp. All in all, things could have been a whole lot worse.
She sampled the white glop masquerading as mashed potatoes. It tasted like ground plaster. Emma winced and pushed the food tray away.
“I’m pretty sure you’re supposed to eat that,” Vivian scolded. Dark circles marred the delicate skin under her sister-in-law’s eyes, a testament to her own lack of sleep, and her blond hair was tucked into a sloppy ponytail. Lily bounced on her hip.
“It’s not meant for human consumption.” Emma lifted her daughter from Vivian’s arms. Lily patted her cheek with a chubby hand. Emma grabbed it, planting a kiss on the soft palm. “Were you keeping your aunt up last night?”
“A bit. I think she’s teething.” Vivian held up the torn and bloody shirt Emma had been wearing yesterday—was it only just yesterday?—and blanched. “Of course, I wouldn’t have gotten much sleep last night anyway.”
The explosion had been close enough to the house, Vivian had heard it. Guilt pinched Emma. Vivian hadn’t taken her brother’s death well, and like Emma, she had very little extended family. As horrible as the situation was for Emma, it had to be worse for Vivian. She was left worrying. If the shoe was on the other foot—and Vivian was the one in danger—Emma would be frantic.
“You’re a trooper, Vivi. Thank you for bringing new clothes and taking care of Lily. This would be so much worse if I didn’t have you.”
“Flattery will get you everywhere.” Vivian grinned and tossed the destroyed shirt in the trash. “Of course, it would help me sleep better at night if we caught the guys doing this. Or even understood why they were after you. These attacks are extreme, and I can’t believe it’s simply to scare you off the property.”
“I agree. Maybe Austin and Reed will have some news once they come back from the conference call with the Texas Ranger.”
Vivian folded the pants Emma had been wearing last night before placing them in an overnight bag. “As crazy as it sounds, if a grenade had to be thrown at you, I’m glad Reed was there. The doctor said things would’ve been worse if Reed hadn’t provided first aid and stopped the bleeding.”
“I know.” She’d regained consciousness as the EMTs were pulling her from the car. Reed stayed by her side the entire time, holding her hand. The first thing he did was assure Emma that Sadie was uninjured. “How was Sadie this morning?”
“Completely fine. The vet at the emergency clinic said to give her a couple of days rest. Deputy Irving walked her on a leash instead of letting her run loose in the yard this morning.”
Lily bounced in Emma’s arms and she winced. Vivian held out her hands. “Let me take her.”
“No, I’m fine. Just a bit sore.”
She was grateful to be alive. Grenades. Someone had actually thrown a grenade at their car. This situation had spiraled out of control so quickly, it made Emma’s head spin. What had once been a couple of irritating incidents and creepy phone calls was turning into murder attempts and bombs.
The door to her room swung open. Reed strolled in. He’d showered and changed his clothes since the accident but hadn’t shaved. The dark bristles on his jaw turned his eyes a deeper blue.
Austin followed his cousin into the room. His arm was still in a sling, but his gait was even, the sprained ankle clearly not bothering him anymore. His expression was as grim as Reed’s. Emma chewed on the inside of her cheek. Whatever they’d found out from Cooper, the Texas Ranger, hadn’t been good.
Reed spotted her full food tray and frowned. “Didn’t the doctor say it was important for you to eat?”
“I tried to tell her the same.” Vivian put her hands on her hips. “Maybe you can talk some sense into her.”
“Don’t start, either of you. The doctor has already cleared me to go home and that—” Emma waved a hand toward the offensive tray “—is not what I would call food.”
Austin picked up the unused knife and dipped it in the mashed potatoes. He grimaced. “Prisoners get better grub than this.”
Emma shot a triumphant look at her sister-in-law. “See. I told you.”
Reed laughed. “It must be bad if Austin isn’t willing to eat it. I’ve never seen him turn down a meal.”
Lily bounced again in Emma’s arms
