to face, even if it meant humiliation.
Then, just as she slowly navigated a sharp, uphill curve,
Maggie spotted reflector lights off to the left. She turned on
her bright lights and slowed down to spot Jed"s pick up
hanging diagonally off the road and facing toward her. It
*must"ve spun out of control and become stuck in the deep
*rut next to the road, but at least there appeared to be no real
damage. Just the same, her heart began to pound as she Looking for You All My Life259
parked her Volvo. Leaving the engine running for Lizzie "5
sake, she leaped out of the car and ran over to see if Leah
might possibly still be inside.
The pickup"s front window and hood were completely
coated in snow, and it was at such an angle that Maggie
could barely reach to open the cab door on the driver"s side.
Then she ran around to the other side to find the pa.s.senger"s
door more accessible. Finally she was able to jerk open the
snow-encrusted door. Leah was slumped across the bench
seat, wearing only blue jeans and a lightweight jacket. Not
even any hat or gloves. And she was not moving! Maggie
quickly climbed into the pickup and cradled Leah"s head on
her lap. Her heart raced furiously as she spoke to her with
urgency, "Leah! Are you okay?" The old pickup"s interior
was as cold as ice. "Leab!" cried Maggie, tears forming in
her eyes. "Leab, speak to me!"
aggie pulled off her mittens and set her hand in
front of Leah"s nose to feel for breath. It seemed
to be there but it was ever so faint. Maggie had
quickly grown cold, and suspected by Leah"s cool skin tem-
perature that her problem must be hypothermia. She took
off her own wool cap and thrust it onto Leah"s head, and
then did the same with her mittens and her thick, down-filled
coat.
"Come on, Leah," she spoke loudly as she pulled her to
a sitting position. "Wake up!" She gently shook her and
wondered if she might possibly be able to carry the lifeless
girl over to her car. "Come on, Leah!" she yelled now
"You"ve got to wake upi" And slowly Leah began to
respond. She opened her eyes and looked at Maggie as if in
a daze, then finally she spoke.
"Maggie?"
"Good girl," said Maggie. "Now, come on. We"ve got to
get you out of here. We"ve got to get you to where it 5
warm." She quickly pulled Leah out of the pickup and tried
to help her stand with her arm wrapped tightly around her
waist. "Come on now, honey. Try to walk. Let"s get you into
my car." Somehow they managed to stumble across the road,
261.
262Melody Carlson
Maggie tugging and pulling. Finally they reached the car, its
motor still faithfully running. Lizzie watched with interest
from the backseat as Maggie opened the pa.s.senger door and