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..."