“—about fifteen hours, give or take. I’ve given her something for the pain every two hours. Lessened the dose a little while ago.”

“When do you think the swelling will go down?”

“Days. These injuries are pretty bad, and head wounds take a while to stop swelling and bruising.” A cough. “Do you have any leads on who did it?”

“That’s an ongoing investigation, Doc. Can’t say more.”

Someone squeezed my hand. “You’ll heal, dear. You’ll heal in time.” The hand disappeared. “I’m going to get something to eat, then come keep an eye on her.”

“Sounds good. I’ll sit with her while you’re gone.” Sheriff Crow’s voice grew louder.

I forced my good eye open and blinked several times to clear the film. I lay in bed in a darkened room with a wide window looking out onto woods. The walls and ceilings were made of rough-hewn logs, and the décor was rustic with two sets of antlers on the wall near the door.

“Elise?”

“Yes.” My voice came out in a croak.

“Here.” After a beat, a straw pressed against my lips.

I drank as best I could. Sheriff Crow took the cup away and wiped the water off my chin.

He stared into my good eye. “You had me worried there for a minute, young lady.”

“Makes two of us.” My voice scratched through my throat.

“You’re safe here. I was trying to get you to the hospital, but you sort of had a fit on the way and then lost consciousness. I radioed up to the Lodge, hoping like hell Doc Lewis was here or nearby. We lucked up. He was on his way.” He swiped his hat off and dropped it on the small wood table next to my IV stand.

“Can you talk, or would you rather wait?” He took my hand, grasping gently.

“Talk.”

“What happened out there?”

“I saw a grave. That day when Garrett was shot.” His name felt like a curse word on my tongue. “I went back out there myself to see if it was…” I swallowed hard.

It was too late now. My secret was out. The sheriff and Rory must have seen the grave, the skull.

I took a deep breath. “To see if it was my father.”

He squinted in confusion. “Why would your father be buried in Blackwood like that?”

“He died there. Vince Gallant.”

A spark of recognition lit, like a popping ember in a fire, and he opened his eyes wide. “Vince Gallant was your daddy?”

“Yes. That’s why I’m out here. To find him. Find out what happened.”

“Hell.” He ran a hand through his hair and sat back. “I haven’t thought about him in a while. Didn’t know he had a daughter.”

“You knew him?”

“Yeah. Went to high school together. I was a couple years ahead of him. Then he came back around about two years ago or so. Didn’t see him after that.” He shook his head. “From the looks of that grave, he’s been here the whole time. What the hell happened out there?”

“Danny killed him.”

His expression soured and he moved close again. “That crazy old coot.” He paled. “Jesus. If we hadn’t been out looking for poachers nearby, we never would have heard you screaming. Heard the shot.”

“I’m glad you found me.”

“Me too.” He squeezed my hand. “That day’s going to haunt me for the rest of my life. First time I’ve ever killed a man in the line of duty.”

“I can’t imagine how that must feel, but thank you. You saved my life. He was going to kill me.”

“Then that makes it all worth it.” He scooted closer, the legs of the chair clacking against my bed frame. “More than worth it.”

We sat in silence for a while as I replayed the scene in the woods. Other than Danny’s words, I had nothing to go on. And I couldn’t sort through them. Why would Garrett want me dead?

“Sheriff?”

“Yeah.”

“Danny said things. I don’t really understand what he meant, but maybe you will.”

He cocked his head to the side. “Like what?”

“That he killed my father. That someone put him up to killing me.”

“What? Who?”

A ruckus in the hallway had the sheriff on his feet with a hand on his gun. He hurried to the door and peered out.

I shuddered, a tremor shooting through me at the thought of more danger, more violence. Clenching the sheets between my hands, I stared at the door and imagined any number of horrors coming for me.

“Where is she?” Garrett’s voice, wheezing but still strong, shot into the room.

Sheriff Crow relaxed.

“Don’t.” My voice was barely above a whisper.

“Don’t what?” He glanced over his shoulder at me.

I stared at the door, then glanced back to him.

He seemed to understand and walked out of the room, closing the door behind him.

“Garrett, calm down. You aren’t well.”

“Where the fuck is she?” he roared.

I cowered, my entire body shaking right down to my soul.

“Garrett, you shouldn’t be up.”

“Is she in there?” A scuffle erupted outside the door. “Red! Red!”

“Garrett, stop!”

More scuffling, and the door burst open. Garrett ran in, blood soaking through the gauze over his chest. Wild eyes, hair even wilder, he lunged toward the bed. I screamed and held out my hands as a pathetic defense.

Confusion crossed his eyes before Sheriff Crow tackled him to the ground. I stared down at the struggling mass on the floor, and only sank back into the bed when Sheriff Crow clicked his cuffs on Garrett’s wrists.

“Calm the fuck down, boy.” The sheriff clambered to his feet and pulled Garrett up with him. “Doc!” he yelled out into the hallway.

“What happened?” Garrett still tried to surge toward me even as I pushed back into the pillows. “Who did this to you?” Rage infused his words, and I almost believed it. Almost.

“You know who did it.” I hated the quaver in my voice, the weakness I’d just shown.

“How would I know who?” He shook his head before glowering. “All I know is I’ll fucking kill him.”

“What in seven hells?” Dr. Lewis poked his head through the door.

“You need to check him.” Sheriff Crow yanked on Garrett’s arm to try and pull him from the room.

“No, you need to tell me who hurt you. Now, Red.” Garrett strained against the sheriff’s hold, his eyes never leaving mine.

“Come on now. I’ll put you next door so you can calm down.” Sheriff Crow pulled again, but Garrett wouldn’t budge. “It was Danny, all right? Now come on.”

Garrett rattled his cuffs. “I’ll fucking kill him.”

Sheriff Crow slumped a little, his shoulders pitching forward. “You won’t have to. I already did.”

“Red, tell me what the hell is going o—”

“You need help, Sheriff?” Rory had arrived in the hallway.

“Just keep an eye on her. Come on, Garrett. Let the doc patch you up, and I’ll tell you what happened.”

“I’m not leaving her.”

My bottom lip trembled as I stared at the man I thought I knew, not sure if I wanted to run away from him or into his arms. It was all acting, had to be.

“She’s in no state and neither are you.” Sheriff Crow gestured toward me. “You’re scaring her. Just look at her and have a little mercy, Garrett.”

Garrett relented enough for the sheriff to pull him a few steps away. “I’ll be next door. Just next door. Nothing will hurt you. I promise. Not while I’m here.”

“Not even you?” A tear rolled down my cheek and stopped at the patch of gauze across the middle of my nose.

“What?” Hurt bloomed in his eyes like blood in clear water. The sheriff pulled him away, and pain welcomed me back into its thorny embrace.