Not serious. Dear God, let that be true. She turned and bent so Nate could speak to her daughter.

"Hey, pretty girl. Are we glad to see you."

Ana let up her grip just a tiny bit. "Hi, Uncle Nate. Mama found me."

"She sure did."

Marisa faced the paramedic, a tall woman with a no-nonsense stare, who stood on the opposite side of the gurney. "Is he going to be okay?"

"We need to get him to the hospital."

She looked at Nate. "We'll be right behind you."

"No. Take care of her."

"But..." She wanted to argue, but Nate was right. She needed to take care of Ana, and the last thing the little girl needed was to spend the night in a hospital waiting room. "I want to be with you, too."

He reached out, and she took his hand. "Tomorrow. I promise."

Joy and fear bubbled, and she couldn't form words.

"Ma'am, we have to go."

She addressed her question to the paramedic. "What happened to him?"

"It's a stab wound."

She turned back to Nate. "He stabbed you? Oh, Nate—"

"I'm fine. As long as I know you and Ana are okay."

All the joy in Marisa's heart drained like water through a colander. Or the holes in Nate's body.

Marisa held her daughter closer, thankful to have her back. But Nate...

The blood on his shirt, the blood dripping from his head. What if Nate wasn't fine? What if the cost of getting Ana back was Nate's life?

Chapter 37

MARISA WATCHED AS THE paramedics slid Nate into the ambulance. The kidnapper was already on board. She could see him in the bright lights of the truck. He seemed unconscious, but just in case, someone had handcuffed him to the gurney.

A paramedic closed the back doors. A moment later, the ambulance drove away.

Brady stepped beside her. "I've got my guys processing the two scenes."

She turned, confused.

"This cabin and the other one."

"Oh."

"We should be able to get this one processed and opened up in the next hour or so. He just came in, took you, and left, right?"

"As far as I know."

"Good." He looked at the house, and she followed his gaze. A couple of police officers stood inside with two other people, neither wearing uniforms. Brady turned back to her. "I'll give you two a ride to the hospital."

"Do we have to do that?"

"Unfortunately, you do. They need to examine her."

Marisa squeezed her eyes shut at the images Brady's words brought. "You don't think..." She couldn't finish the sentence.

"Let's not guess, okay? Let's just wait, get the facts, and go from there." He nodded toward the truck.

"Can I get some clothes?"

He looked at the house again. "Let me grab you something. Be right back."

She slid in the front seat with Ana on her lap.