Dr. Mack was at her father's side in seconds and he waved over another man. Alex watched as they picked her dad up and carried him into the office and out of sight. Her mind and heart were paralyzed into inaction and she didn’t know how long she stood there before Dr. Mack was shaking her arm. “Alex, Alex, he’s okay! He just fainted. He has a high fever and getting up just took the strength from him. Come in to the office.” Alex numbly followed the doctor into the office and saw her dad lying on a pallet made up of hay with an old horse blanket thrown over it. His face was pale white except for two flushed red spots on his cheeks from the fever. When his eyes fluttered open and focused on her, the paralysis that held her broke and she rushed forward to kneel beside him. Her voice was lost in the joy of just looking at him. His hand came up and pulled off her cap, dropping it to the floor, and then settled softly on her red curls. His eyes welled up with tears and he said her name on a breath before his strength left him again and his arm fell to his side.
