Looking For You All My Life Part 171

"That's what hypothermia does to you."

Leah nodded sadly. "I was so scared. But I did think to

pray, Maggie, and that made me feel a little better. I figured

if I died at least I'd go to heaven."

Maggie smiled. "Well, it must not have been your time.

"I thought you were an angel when I first saw you.

Thanks for coming."

"It was the only way I'd get any sleep tonight. You know

what a worrier I can be sometimes."

"I'll bet you're tired. Do you want to go back home,

Maggie?" asked Leah, a trace of fear in her dark eyes. For

the first time, Maggie noticed how much she looked like Jed.

In amazed wonder, she just stared at the girl for a long

moment. In that same moment a strong maternal love rooted

deeply in her heart, and she knew no matter what happened

between her and Jed she would always love Leah as a

daughter.

"No," said Maggie. "I'm not going anywhere tonight."

Leah smiled in relief while Maggie removed the dishes

and tray. She returned to stuff several more pieces of wood

into the woodstove.

268Melody Carlson

"If you push in that handle on the side of the stove, it will

burn longer," said Leah. "It's a damper, and there's enough

wood in there right now to last for most of the night."

Maggie pushed in the handle, and then turned to Leah.

"I think you should sleep right here by the fire tonight. Will

you be comfortable on that couch?"

Leah smiled and snuggled down into the blankets. "Yeah,

it's fine. I'm finally getting warm. You can have my room if

you like, Maggie. It's the one to the right of the bathroom.

It used to be Jed's when he was a little boy."

"Okay. Is there anything I can get for you first?"

"No, I'm fine. And thanks again, Maggie, for every-

thing."

"I'm just glad you're all right," she said, her voice

choking a little. "Now sleep well, okay?"

"Okay. Good night."

Maggie straightened up the little kitchen, then, taking a

moment to place a gla.s.s of water on the table next to Leah,

she paused to watch Leah and Lizzie. Illuminated by the

orange light of the gently flickering flames showing through

the woodstove's gla.s.s door, she could see that both of them

were sleeping comfortably. Then she took a quick, hot

shower in the tiny bathroom, admiring the handsome

wooden shelving that was obviously the workmanship of

Jed. She wrapped herself snugly in a dark plaid robe she felt

certain must belong to him. Going into the little room that

belonged to Leah, she realized that this was where she had

ripped the blankets from the bed during her initial rush to

get everything together in the cold, dark cabin. And so she