Page 106 of Worth the Fall

“I’ll try,” he said, but he was out of breath. “Jasper! Where are you, boy? Jasper.”

The damn dog kept at it. He barked and barked like he was trying to reach us, and my chest filled with something that definitely felt a lot like hope. Jasper’s barks grew louder, which meant we were closing in on him. I prayed he didn’t stop until we found him, and I prayed even harder that he’d found Clarabel.

“Jasper!” Patrick yelled once more as we rounded a bend of trees, everyone’s flashlights hitting a pair of glowing yellow eyes. “He’s here.” He moved the light behind his dog. “She’s here!”

I dropped Brooklyn’s hand and ran as fast as I could toward my little girl, who was huddled in a ball, holding Jasper in her arms like a lifeline.

“Clarabel. Clarabel.”

I touched her. She was so damn cold.

She looked up at me, almost confused. “Daddy?” she asked.

I scooped her into my arms right as Brooklyn reached us, unzipped her jacket, and wrapped it around our little girl.

“You need to keep that on,” I growled.

Brooklyn shook her head. “She needs it more. She’s freezing.”

“Over here!” Patrick yelled toward the cops who knew better than to try to take my little girl out of my arms.

“We need to get her to the hospital, Thomas,” my dad said as soon as he reached us.

“I know that.”

“The paramedics are already on standby in the barn,” the chief added, and I was grateful for all the foresight.

Clarabel was out of it. Shivering so hard that her little body shook violently in my arms. I rubbed her shoulders, hoping to generate some heat, but I really needed to get her out of the cold.

“Good boy, buddy. You did so good.” Patrick was petting Jasper, and I glanced down at the dog, feeling like I owed him my life.

Clarabel’s eyes opened for a second. “I got lost. I’m sorry, Daddy,” she mumbled before looking toward Brooklyn. “I’m sorry, Mama,” she added before closing her eyes, and I almost fucking lost it. “I’m so cold.”

“I know, sweet girl. I’ve got you. We’ll get you warm.” I kept kissing her forehead and holding her tight against me, hoping it all helped.

My daughter was alive. And I’d do everything in my power to keep her that way.