A mountain man just kicked open my door while holding his daughter and she was barely conscious.
A week ago, I crashed my car on a mountain road and he carried me half a mile to his cabin.
When I woke up his little girl was sitting beside me whispering, “Daddy told me to take care of you while he gets firewood.”
Tonight, he’s the one standing in my doorway soaking wet with his hands shaking, and she’s limp in his arms.
I take her from him and lay her on the table, she’s burning up and barely breathing.
Her tiny fingers still gripping his flannel like she’s afraid to let go.
I press my stethoscope to her chest and start working, her breathing steadies.
Suddenly, her eyes flutter open, and she reaches straight for him.
He scoops her off the table and holds her so tight as she buries her face in his collar.
Then he turns to me, and growls,
“She hasn’t stopped asking about you since you left.”
