Prologue
"Leave it to me to screw this one up."
Sheriff Arnold Shortman tried to pick himself up off the cold Wyoming ground.
He felt a sharp pain down his right calf and he collapsed back on the ground.
"Shit." He muttered to himself. He could feel warm blood running down his leg. Warming up the cold skin around his ankle.
"I guess they shot me pretty good." He rolled over on his back to get a better look at his leg. He grunted through the pain of his sore and tired body as he leaned over to roll up the pant leg of his jeans.
Once he got the pant leg rolled down. Through the light of the full moon, he could see blood dripping down from his leg and onto the ground.
"Okay." Arnold said softly as he tried to control his panic." Need to cut the blood flow off the best I can."
He could feel his heart rate start accelerating.
'Think Arnold, think!' He thought to himself. Placing a hand on his face, Arnold let out a sigh.' I need help.'
Arnold lifted his hand off his face and held it up above him. He could feel the wind picking up. Rain was coming.
WHOOSH
A huge gust of wind whipped through. Blowing loose soil into Arnold's eyes.
"Shit!" He announced to no one as he took his outstretched hand down to wipe his face.
Using the sleeve of the tan colored button up police uniform he was wearing, he wiped the soil out of his eyes.
"Damnit." Arnold said as he could feel his eyes watering. Cleaning out the rest of the dirt he missed.
Lifting his arm back up above him. His eyes noticed the sleeve on his outstretched arm was unbuttoned and torn.
"Bingo." He whispered to himself. He immediately took his free right hand and started yanking at his sleeve.
After a few pulls. He could hear the sleeve rip off almost at his armpit.
"Good thing these things are cheap made." Arnold whispered to himself as he took the sleeve and wrapped it around his leg. Making a homemade tourniquet.
After making sure the knot was secure and tight, Arnold grabbed his flashlight and turned it back on.
"Still a mess but I stopped the blood." Arnold could feel his racing heartbeat start to slow down.
"Okay." He said as he switched off his flashlight." Time to get off the ground now."
Arnold could feel sharp pangs of pain flow throughout his entire body as he tried to roll over onto his good leg.
His plan was to roll over, get enough leverage on his good leg, and maybe have enough strength to get to safety.
Arnold finally pushed through the pain to get himself propped up on his side. However, he didn't pay attention and his wounded leg on his right side brushed the ground.
"AHHHH." Arnold yelled aloud as days of pain shot up his leg and all the way up his back.
"OVER HERE!" He could hear a voice yelling.
Looking up. Arnold noticed flashlight beams heading his direction.
"Shit." He whispered to himself. His heart rate right back up where it was. Trying to pound out of his chest.
He could hear the footsteps getting closer as he tried to find a place to hide.