Small excerpt from the beginning.

 

 

     Mr. Reynolds rushed to the phone as it reached its fourth ring. He grabbed the receiver from the wall-attached phone and answered, not expecting any particular person.

     “Hello,” he said calmly with a southern drawl. As he held the phone up to his ear, he pulled his baggy pants up with his other hand.

     “Mr. Reynolds?” an unfamiliar voice asked.

     “Yes, that’s me. What can I do you for?”

     “I apologize for disturbing you, Sir. Is your daughter Katy Lynne Reynolds?” the voice asked.

     “Yes, she is. What is this about?” He glanced at his wife as she washed the dishes.

     “Katy Lynne was brought to our emergency room.”

     “Why? What happened? Is she all right?”

     Mrs. Reynolds grabbed a towel and rushed over to her husband. “What’s happening?” she cried out.

     “It would be better if you come to the hospital. Do you have transportation, Sir?” the woman on the other end of the line asked.

     “Uh, yes. Give my wife directions and we’ll be there as soon as we can.”

     Mrs. Reynolds pulled one strand of loose hair back behind her ear as she grabbed the phone from his farm-roughened hand. “Who is this? Johnny, are you foolin’ around?”

     “No, ma’am. I’m the receptionist at Grouner Hospital.”

     “Oh, my God. Something did happen. Is my baby okay?”

     “As I told your husband, I think it would be better if the two of you came to the hospital. I wasn’t given any information, Ma’am. Do you have a pen and paper?”

     She grabbed a small piece of paper and wrote everything down. The old car’s engine began to rumble as she scribbled everything down.  As she walked out the door, she turned on the porch light so she could see going down the steps. They creaked as they gave in a little under her weight.

     Grouner Town was a few hours away but Mr. Reynolds shaved most of the time off by speeding. The old country roads were deserted at this hour. They passed the intersection where three cars were blocking the road and Mrs. Reynolds feared the worst. The sheriff let them pass, giving them directions to the town’s hospital. Her heart wouldn’t stop racing. And his hands wouldn’t stop shaking.

     “Please, let her be all right,” she prayed repeatedly as the car sprinted down the street.

     Mr. Reynolds parked the car, in front of the hospital. They rushed in and began speaking together to the receptionist.