Looking For You All My Life Part 169

know you're not supposed to.. .but I just couldn't help it.

And the pickup went into a spin... and ended up.. well, you

saw it." Her lip began to quiver.

"I can understand how that might happen," said Maggie

soothingly. "I know everyone says when you lose control

that you're supposed to steer right into the direction you're

sliding into, but what if you're heading right smack into a

tree? I'm afraid I would jerk the wheel too."

"Well, take it from me, it doesn't help anything."

Looking for You All My Life265

Maggie patted her hand. "Are you feeling any warmer

yet?"

Leah nodded. "Thanks, and Lizzie is helping a lot too. I

didn't think I'd ever be warm again." She finished off her

cocoa.

"Let me get you some more cocoa," said Maggie. "You

lean your head back and rest a little."

She went over and made them both a mug of cocoa this

time. After taking a few minutes to find some crackers and

cheese to go with it, she returned to Leah. "Here, you must

be starving. Munch on these for now and I'll see if I can find

some soup or something to heat up for you." She tried to call

home on her cell phone, hoping to leave a message on her

answering machine just in case anyone was worried in the

morning, but she discovered she was out of range, probably

due to the mountains. She picked up Jed's phone again, but

it was still dead. Well, no one even knew she was gone

tonight, so no one would be concerned. And they would

simply drive back home in the morning. She found a can of

chicken noodle soup and began to heat it on the stove. Then

remembering the Christmas cookies, she made one last dash

to the car to get them. It had begun to snow again. She

stamped her feet and shook out Jed's coat when she got in

the house.

"Is it snowing again?" asked Leah in a fearful voice.

"Yes. Just lightly. We'll be fine in here with the fire going.

Don't worry."

She arranged the hot soup with more cheese and crackers

on a tray and took it over to Leah. "Okay, Lizzie, maybe you

should hop down now. She patted a rug next to the fire and

Lizzie obeyed. "You're a good old dog," said Maggie as she

arranged the tray next to Leah. "Old Arnold would be proud

of you, girl."

Leah smiled down on the dog. "I wish I could keep her,

Maggie.''

"Well, why not? Would Jed mind if you have a dog out

here?"

*266Melody Carlson

*"No, I'm sure he wouldn't. But you know I'm at work all

dayand..."