Page 6 of Rescued By the Ranger

“Wait! Leez! I have to tell you?—”

But I don’t wait. I’m never waiting for someone again. I’m doing what I need to do.

I hang up and figure if it’s important she can text me, but then the lights flicker and my heart leaps to my throat. Then they flicker again, and then it’s dark.

Shit.

Jazzy screams for me and I take out on an all-out run.

Rhodes

I hear the little girl scream when the electricity cuts out. It normally doesn’t last for a long time as we have a battery bank, and I wait for a couple seconds but nothing comes back on.

Fuck.

The little girl cries out for her mother again and I can’t help but take out on a sprint through the house.

There’s something in me that can’t stand that sound. That small and scared sound.

I round the corner and throw open the door and the little girl screams again.

“It’s okay. It’s okay. It’s me, Rhodes. I promise, you’re safe.”

She reaches out for me and I freeze.

Am I authorized to pick her up?

Her eyes are huge in the little final afternoon light that comes through the window. I reach down and lift her into my arms. She sinks into me like I’m a human blanket, sobbing like she’s seen a ghost. I rub her back softly, repeating over and over, “You’re okay. I’m here.”

Her sobs slow. “I saw him.”

I lean back. “Saw who, sweetie?”

“The man in the window.”

My body goes cold. Maybe it was a shadow from outside. Maybe she just dreamed it. Maybe… it was real.

The woman rounds the corner like a tornado. “I’m so sorry. I got mixed up and turned the wrong way!” Her voice shakes.

I turn to her and the woman stops her mouth open.

“Is she okay?” she asks, her hand landing on my arm as it’s wrapped around the tiny body.

“I think so. Just scared.” I decide to skip the guy comment for now, not wanting to worry the woman or reignite the little girl’s fears. It’s amazing how a loud sound brings back my fears. I never want to do that to someone.

I rub the little girl’s back and she sighs. “You okay?” I ask the woman.

Her hand slides to her daughter’s back, brushing over mine softly.

“Does the electricity go out often?” she asks.

“No, we have multiple solar power banks in the garage. They should’ve turned on. I’m wondering what went wrong.”

“I’ll take her, if you want to go look.”

The little girl wraps her arms around my neck tighter, and I don’t think I could unwind her if I tried.

“It’s okay. I’ll look in just a little while.”

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