Page 60 of Her Three Rangers

“Grace?” Ty’s voice was coming closer again. This was the only chance I was going to get. “Grace… come on, Grace. Where are you, babe?”

I breathed in as deep as I could, my lungs filling with smoke and making me convulse in silent agony on the floor. I had to get past it, though. I had to.

Using reserves of strength I didn’t know I had, I lifted my arm and threw the bottle of pills as hard as I could, hearing it clatter against the wall before spilling out onto the floor.

Please let that be loud enough. Please let him hear.

Let him find me, God.

Please.

I felt my eyes finally open just enough to confirm what I already knew. The room was too dark, too full of smoke, and I was too far from the door to be seen.

“Grace, oh my God, oh shit. Help! Someone help!” Ty’s voice was loud. Too loud. Didn’t he know my head was killing me? “Grace, baby,” he said. “Grace, I’m here. Hold on for me babe. I’m gonna get you out of here.”

He was the only thing I could see as I opened my eyes again. He really was here. I wasn’t dreaming it. But God, my eyelids were heavy. I couldn’t keep them open.

More voices called out, called my name. More footsteps fell around me.

Then it all faded away again.

Later…

“Gracie.” My grandmother’s firm voice called my name as I felt her hand press gently against my cheek. “Gracie, open your eyes.”

Yes. That was what I needed to do. I needed to open my eyes.

But why was Nana here? Why was she in the clinic with me?

She needed to get out, to get to safety! Couldn’t she see that the place was on fire? Couldn’t she smell the smoke?”

“Gracie…” Her voice again. “Open your eyes, honey.”

I concentrated on her voice. I wanted to do what she was asking, but it was so hard. My head hurt so much.

Slowly, painfully, my eyelids fluttered open. How was it possible that even my eyelids hurt?

“Thank you, Jesus,” Cody’s voice murmured from behind her.

“Gracie, can you see me, honey?” Nana asked.

I opened my mouth to speak, but the only thing that came out was a wheezing sound. All I could do was try for a shallow nod and hope that would be enough.

“I’m here,” she said. “We’re all here with you, Gracie.”

“We’re all here,” Ty’s voice repeated what Nana had just said.

“You’re safe now,” Jaeger added.

It was still hard to keep my eyes open, but the more I tried, the more things came into focus. I had no idea where I was, but I knew I was flat on my back and could see daylight behind Nana.

Everyone was standing over me.

“Where am I?” I wanted to ask. “What happened? The animals! Are they okay?”

“They’re going to put you in the ambulance, babe,” Ty somehow answered the thoughts in my head.

Or maybe I’d actually asked that question out loud. I had no idea. I honestly didn’t know if any of this was real, or just some kind of bizarre dream.

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