"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 glass 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 glass 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