Her legs gave out beneath her as she recognized the voice.
“Hello?”
“H-hello, sheriff?”
13
“Marisol? Is that you?”
The footsteps drew closer. She forced herself to move out from behind the tree and stumbled as she made her way towards him, her legs nearly giving out on her.
“Whoa there, honey. Are you okay?” Ed leaped towards her, grabbing her around the waist to hold her steady.
“Y-yes,” she managed to say through her chattering teeth.
“Shit. You’re shaking. What happened? Did someone hurt you? Marisol? Can you tell me what’s happened?”
She opened her mouth and tried to speak but nothing came out.
“Okay, honey. Take a deep breath in. Let it out slowly. In. Out. You’re okay. I’m here. You’re safe. That’s it. Nice slow, deep breaths. Good girl. That’s a good girl. Come on, come sit in the car and let’s get you warmed up. You’re freezing. And in shock, I’m thinking.” As he spoke, he led her around to the passenger side of his vehicle as one might lead a frightened child.
His voice as he spoke was low and soothing. No sudden movements. He opened the door and then helped settle her in so she was sitting side on, facing him. Crouching in front of her, he studied her under the car’s inside light.
“You’re a bit pale and shaky. I have a blanket in the trunk of the car, but first I need you to tell me whether you’re hurt anywhere.”
“No, I’m not hurt anywhere.”
“You wouldn’t lie to me, wou
ld you, Marisol?”
She shook her head, trying to hide her wince as the movement pulled at her sore neck. Shit would that bruise? “I’m not lying, I promise. I’m not hurt. I just . . . I had a fright and it made me feel shaky and scared. Then I was walking in the dark along the road and I’m not used to all the noises in the forest. I’m fine. Really.”
“All right, I’m going to go get the blanket. Don’t move, hear me?”
She nodded shakily, not wanting him to leave her sight.
You’re safe.
He returned quickly with a blanket. “I’m just going to put this around you then I’ll take your pulse, all right?” He continued to talk in that soothing voice. The blanket was tucked in around her lap. She didn’t even jump as he took hold of her hand and placed his fingers over her pulse.
His touch didn’t do anything to her like Linc’s did. But she did feel calmer now that she was with him.
And safely away from Tiger.
“Good girl. You’re doing so well. Your pulse is a bit fast. Ready to tell me what’s going on yet?”
She shook her head, and took a shuddering breath.
“I can’t help you if I don’t know what’s happened, Marisol. That’s my job. To help the people living in my town.”
She huffed out a breath. “That h-hasn’t been my experience w-with cops.”
“I’m really sorry to hear that. I take everyone’s safety in my town seriously. If someone hurt you or scared you, then I need to know so I can take steps to protect you. And to stop that from happening to someone else.”
“I’m okay,” she replied. She didn’t think anything good would come from her telling him about Tiger. Ed was just one guy. There had to be thirty or so Devil’s Sinners members at the house. He didn’t stand a chance on his own. And she wasn’t sure if they’d care that he was the sheriff.
“Right. Well, I was headed out to your aunt’s place. We received a noise complaint. Do you want me to drive you there?”