Looking For You All My Life Part 167

folded Leah inside, taking a moment to buckle her in and

wrap the blanket all around her legs and feet. Then she ran

around to the other side and climbed in herself, shaking from

fear and cold. She cranked the heat up to high.

"Now, hang in there," she said as she tried to mentally

calm herself in order to drive. "I'm going to do what Jed

would do," she continued to speak, as much for her sake as

Leah's. "I'm going to pray as I drive." She put the car in gear,

but before she began to move, Lizzie hopped into the front

seat and cuddled down upon Leah's lap.

Maggie glanced at the dog in surprise. "Good girl, Lizzie.

Share some of that body heat with her." She thought she saw

Leah smile just slightly.

Maggie decided to proceed on up Jed's road. She knew

his house was only a couple miles away from where they

were, much closer than her own house, and the fastest way

to get Leah inside and warm. "Dear G.o.d," she prayed out

loud, "please help Leah. Help her to get warm. And please,

help me to drive safely." Although she could feel the heat

blowing out of the car's engine like a furnace, she continued

to s.h.i.+ver herself. "Dear G.o.d, help Leah to get warm," she

prayed again as she slowly navigated the curving road that

continued climbing upward. Suddenly she wondered if she

were a fool to attempt this drive. Perhaps she should've

turned back, but then she would've had even more distance

*to cover on this mountain road. Finally, after what seemed

hours but was actually less than ten minutes, she recognized

the dark shadow of the building that had once been their

church looming straight ahead. She followed the road

behind it past Jed's shop and on toward the little cabin,

hoping to see warm lights glowing from the window. But all

the buildings were dark. Leaving the car running, she ran on

ahead to turn on some lights, but after fumbling with a

couple switches, she realized that the electricity must be out Looking for You All My Life263

and inside the cabin was cold. She ran back to the car and

positioned it so her headlights would s.h.i.+ne right into the

front window of the cabin. She quickly located and lit

kerosene lamps, so handily positioned she supposed that

losing the power might not be such a rare occurrence out

here. Then she wadded up newspaper and stacked kindling

in the woodstove, pus.h.i.+ng the couch up close to it. She

searched the small cabin for quilts and blankets, placing

them near the woodstove to warm. Just as soon as the kin-

dling began to flame, she carefully placed some bigger logs

on it and then went out to get Leah.

She opened the car door, and Leah looked at her with

wide, frightened eyes. "Maggie," she whispered hoa.r.s.ely, "I

was so scared."

Maggie eased her from the car and helped her into the

house, Lizzie obediently following at their heels. After set-