Page 9 of Austin’s Answer (Shifter Ranch Mates #4)

NINE

Austin

A door slammed, and my head lifted, peering over the hill. Vince’s foreman, Ray, was walking out of the cabin with a rifle. He stopped to fiddle with the door, then ambled to the ATV.

Good. If he left, I could check the cabin.

He pulled out a cigarette, lit it, and leaned against the ATV. I hunkered down to wait for an opportunity to get closer. But whenever my tiger checked on him, he was in the same position. I couldn’t wait forever.

The next time I crawled to the top of the hill, Ray dropped his cigarette to the ground and put it out with his boot.

He swung his leg over the ATV, pausing as his gaze swung our way.

I ducked down, but my bright-orange fur wasn’t great for hiding in this terrain, and I heard him curse from here.

My tiger sprang forward, his powerful legs vaulting us over the hilltop.

A gun fired, the bullet grazing my front leg.

I scrambled back over the hill, catching sight of Ray tucked behind the ATV with a rifle.

I licked my wound, but it wasn’t deep. Certainly not enough to stop me.

If I got shot again, though, it could all be over.

Adrenaline might allow me to still reach him if he missed my head or heart, but at this range, even a bullet to a non-vital area might be lethal.

But if Emily was in that cabin, I needed to get to her.

It was time to let my tiger hunt.

I crouched low, moving around the hill instead of over and listening for any sounds.

The scrabble of Ray’s feet against the dirt.

The harshness of his breathing. When I reached the edge of the hill, I prepared to cross the open area that led to another hill.

I should be right alongside the ATV now, and much closer than before.

Keeping near the ground, I poked my head out and saw Ray crouched behind the ATV, rifle up as he used the scope to look for me.

I waited for him to pan to his left, then sprinted for the next hill.

I circled until I was behind the cabin and darted over the hill’s peak, not stopping until I reached the rear of the building.

Ray shouted, cursing at something. The sound was moving away, toward the front of the cabin. I took the opportunity to move up to the front corner of the building. Smoke wafted on the breeze, accompanied by the crackle of a fire.

I jumped forward, took the corner at a run, and in a few leaps was on Ray, knocking him over. I roared, swiping my paw at his arm which reached for the rifle he had dropped. He screamed as claw marks in his skin welled with blood.

Heat radiated into my side. A quick glance showed the front door engulfed in flames, which were spreading to the rest of the cabin. I clenched my teeth around Ray’s arm and dragged him away from the cabin and the gun. I shifted back to my human form and hissed as the wound in my side reopened.

Ray stumbled to his feet, clutching his arm to his side. He kicked out, the movement more of a stagger, and stumbled forward. I punched him, fist connecting with his jaw, and heard a crack. He fell backward, and I turned to the cabin to look for Emily.

Ray launched himself at me, digging his fingers into the gash in my side.

I hissed, fur flashing over my arms as my tiger fought to shift and deal with the threat.

Instead, I threw an elbow backwards, catching him on the side of the head.

I spun around, following the hit up with another punch to the face, putting all my shifter strength behind it. He went down.

A crash came from behind me. Turning, I saw that the fire now almost reached the edge of the cabin. Another crash sounded, and a piece of wood flew outward. Then again, and again before the burning door fell outward, followed by a chair.

I stepped closer just as Emily ran through the opening with her arms protecting her head. She immediately lay in the dirt and rolled, trying to put out any flames that may have caught her.

I rushed over, running my hands over her, looking for injuries. “Em, are you hurt?”

She threw her arms around me, clutching me close as a sob wracked her body. “I thought I might never see you again.”

I pulled her close, breathing her in. Her scent was mixed with smoke from the fire, but was still the best thing I’d ever smelled. “I’m here. I’ll always be here.”

She pulled away too soon for my liking. Her eyes, filled with panic, met mine. “I need to get back to the ranch. Now. Ray gave me a shot of the botulism toxin. There’s antitoxin in my kit, but I’m running out of time.”

My blood ran cold. “The ATV.”

We ran closer to the cabin, the heat from the fire now strong enough to feel like a physical push against us, and climbed onto the ATV. I fired it up and headed for the ranch, eking out every bit of speed the machine had. Every minute stretched on forever, knowing Emily’s life was at stake.

Emily

We couldn’t take the most direct route, as a fence stood between the two ranches. Instead, we raced out to the road, stopping only to open the gate that led to the highway. I clung to Austin, careful not to touch the wound on his side.

My mind churned, analyzing anything that could be a symptom of botulism.

Muscle weakness, check. Though it could also be an aftereffect of the adrenaline spike.

Vision changes, check. The landscape blurred as we rushed by, but that could be because of our speed.

Difficulty swallowing, maybe. A lump filled my throat, but I was also on the verge of tears.

If I didn’t make it, Austin needed to know how I felt about him. I couldn’t let him live his life thinking I didn’t forgive him. I shouted, trying to be heard over the roar of the ATV’s engine, “I forgive you! For everything. And I lo?—”

“Stop.” His voice was raspy, the words barely audible over the wind that tried to snatch them away. “We’re going to make it, Em. We’ll have plenty of time to talk.”

“But—”

“No. I won’t lose you. Don’t even think it.” He took the turn onto Shifter Ranch’s driveway at almost full speed, the outer wheels leaving the ground as I clung harder to him. “We’re almost there.”

“My smaller kit with the leftover antitoxin is in the barn.”

He nodded, bypassing the house. He narrowly missed hitting Declan when he whipped around the gallery, still not slowing. The ATV skidded to a halt right outside the barn door, and I stumbled off the vehicle, knees wobbling.

Austin caught me before I hit the ground and lifted me in his arms. He yelled at Declan, who was stalking toward us. “Open the door!”

Declan sprang forward without question and tugged the door open.

Austin rushed through the opening, only putting me down when he reached the cabinet I’d stored the kit in.

My movements were frantic as I pulled it out, hands shaking, fingers struggling to grasp the zipper.

I tried to slow my breathing, but urgency held me in its grip.

Austin grabbed the bag, opening it for me. “What do you need?”

I sorted through the kit, checking labels.

When I found it, I grabbed the rest of the needed supplies as my brain tried to focus on the math needed to calculate an appropriate dose.

Please be right. I diluted the antitoxin with the saline solution and prepared the IV catheter.

After taking a few slow, deep breaths to calm my jittery hands as much as possible, I sterilized the site for the IV and inserted the needle into my arm.

Sweat beaded on my forehead as I started the infusion slowly, monitoring myself for a possible allergic reaction. I checked my kit, confirming I had a vial of epinephrine and a syringe if needed. To distract myself, I calculated the correct dose.

“We need to get you to the hospital.” Austin swept me back up into his arms. “Declan, can you send Mason after us to stitch me up again?”

I studied Austin. His face was pale and sweaty. He was losing too much blood. “You need to be stitched now. Someone else can take me to the hospital.”

“I’m not leaving you.” His jaw firmed.

I cupped his cheek. “I can’t lose you. Not now. Please, for me.”

“I’ll get her to the hospital.” Declan stepped forward, holding his arms out to take me from Austin. “Mason will bring you as soon as you’re stitched up and clothed.”

Austin squeezed me to him for a moment, and his lips brushed against my forehead. Then he handed me over to Declan. Our eyes met and held, his full of turmoil. “I’ll be right behind you, Em.”

I squeezed his hand. “I know.” Declan turned to walk away, and my heart twisted at the thought that it could be the last time I saw Austin.

My brain scrambled, running through everything I wanted to say to him.

Everything he needed to know. “Wait! Vince is behind the sabotage. He’s responsible for everything. Don’t trust him.”

Austin’s eyes darkened, his fists clenching. He growled, and fur sprouted on his arms.

Declan shook his head. “Not now, Austin. We can go after him later. He won’t get away with this.”

Austin shuddered, and the fur retreated. For a minute, it looked like he wouldn’t listen, but then he gave a quick nod, jaw clenched. His gaze met mine, a promise in his eyes, before turning to head for Mason’s shop.

The drive to the hospital flashed by as I filled Declan in. The admitting nurse’s brows raised when she saw my IV, but when I explained, she rushed me back into a room and ran for the doctor. I was still in the exam room waiting for a bed when Austin rushed in.

“I don’t think you’re supposed to be back here.” My eyes took in the nurse standing behind him, wringing her hands.

“This is exactly where I’m supposed to be.” Austin clasped my hand in his. “With my mate.”

I shot the nurse an apologetic look but just shrugged at her. I didn’t want Austin to leave, so I couldn’t bring myself to tell him to. She huffed out a breath but left.

“I’m surprised she didn’t make you go. ER nurses are no joke.”

“It’s because I’m a shifter. Sometimes it’s useful that we make humans nervous.” He kissed my hand. “Ethan and Gabriel went back to the cabin to see if Ray is still there. I knocked him out, but he may not have been unconscious for long. Mason went after Vince.”

I frowned. “Should he have gone alone?”

“Couldn’t stop him.” There was worry in his gaze. “Luke was in town looking for you, so I had Ethan call him and send him to your family’s ranch. He won’t be far behind Mason.”

I looked away and plucked at the sheet beneath me. “I’m sorry.”

“You have nothing to be sorry for.”

“I do. First, for Vince. He’s my brother, and I feel a certain responsibility for his actions. I don’t know why he did it, but if I’d come home sooner, maybe I could have stopped him.”

“His actions are his own. No one will hold it against you.” He caressed the back of my hand with his thumb. “As for why he did it, Mason might shed some light on that. We’ve never pushed him to tell us what happened while they were in the army, but that’s going to have to change.”

“I’m also sorry for not telling you I forgave you sooner. And for not telling you I still love you. I never stopped.” Tears pricked my eyes. “When I was in the cabin, the thought that I might die without you knowing…”

“Shh…” He swooped forward and brushed his lips against mine. Achingly sweet. Just a soft whisper of a touch that promised so much more. More time, more kisses, more touches. “I know now. That’s what’s important.” His forehead rested against mine. “And Em? I love you, too. Always and forever.”