I am so sorry that I haven't updated in so long! I hope I haven't lost anyone in the wait.
Mandie walked through the cold snowy forest as the sun slowly rose. Yet she could not see the sun because dark clouds filled the sky and snow blew swiftly past her. The wind was bitterly cold, and Mandie's whole body felt numb and cold. But she kept on going, even when she felt like her strength was failing. She needed to find Joe, even if it was the last thing she did. The snow blowing in front of her eyes practically blinded her, and she had to use her hands to find her way the ever-falling snow. The wind bit through her coat and her gloves, and stung her very soul. But the worst pain of, wasn't the snow blowing into her eyes, or the freezing wind that seeped through her cloths. It was the pain of losing the best friend she had ever known. Losing Joe. And it was this pain that pushed ever-on. Even through the horribly cold conditions. Finally, she was so exhausted that she had to rest.
"I'll never find him! It's impossible!" she cried into her arms. "Why did I have to act like that?" She buried her head in her arms as she sat on a rock. Then she suddenly remembered something. "What time I am afraid I will put my trust in thee. Please God, keep Joe alive a little longer, if he isn't already dead," she prayed. She stood up, filled with a knew strength. She kept on running and she was running so fast that she almost fell into a pit. She screamed and jumped back. But then she noticed something. She went down on her knees and bent down to look in the pit.
"J-joe!" she screamed. Joe was at the bottom of the pit unconscious. "Joe, please stay with us for a little longer. I'll get help!" She stood up and ran all the way back following her tracks before they were covered by the thickly falling snow. While she was running she bumped into her Uncle John.
"Uncle John!" she said embracing him. He hugged her back. "Oh Amanda we've been so worried! What were you thinking?" he asked. "I found Joe. But we need to hurry and get him. He could already be dead!" she cried. He nodded. "Don't worry, he'll be fine. Doc, Ned, come on, Mandie says she found Joe." They followed Mandie through the frozen forest until they got to the pit.
"Ned, go get some blankets. And hurry. We don't have much time," Dr. Woodard said. Uncle Ned nodded and ran back to the house.
The women were anxiously waiting for the men to return, hopefully with Mandie, when suddenly the door swung open and Uncle Ned came in. Elizabeth walked up to him. "Oh Ned, what's wrong?" she asked as he hurried past her.
"No time. Explain later," he answered shortly and came out with blankets and headed out the door. Elizabeth looked after him with a worried expression on her face.
Uncle Ned got back with the blankets and laid them down on the ground. Uncle John went climbed down into the pit and carried Joe back up. He laid him down on the blanket and they lifted him up, and carried him back to the house. The opened the door and went inside.
"Your back! What happened?" Elizabeth asked as she embraced Mandie. "I went out to find Joe last night. I had to. And I found him," Mandie said. Elizabeth hugged her daughter tighter. "Don't worry Mandie, I am sure he will be fine," she said. Mandie left and went into the parlor where her friends were waiting.
"Mandie!" Celia exclaimed and ran over and hugged her tightly. "I thought you were lost forever!" she said. Mandie hugged her back. "Well, I am back, and I wasn't lost. I went looking for Joe," she answered. Sallie ran over and embraced Mandie. "Oh Mandie! I am so glad you are okay! How is Joe?" she asked with a worried expression on her face.
"I think he'll be fine. I hope he will. All we can do is pray," Mandie said. Celia nodded. "Then why don't we do that now?" she asked quietly. They all nodded and sat down clasping each other's hands. Thy bowed their heads and each said their own prayer for Joe. Mandie was happy that she had friends like these. They always helped her in times of trouble. But her happiness went to sadness when it was possible that she could lose her very best friend of all time.
They had been sitting in the parlor waiting for about an hour for a report on Joe. Finally, Dr. Woodard came in the room. Mandie slowly rose. "So?" she asked shortly. Dr. Woodard nodded. "You may see him now. He has a very bad case of pneumonia. He's still unconscious but I have everything in order," he said. Mandie nodded. Her friends started to stand to follow her but Dr. Woodard stopped them. "Let her have some time by herself," he said. They nodded understanding completely.
Mandie slowly and quietly up the stairs and came to Liza. "In here Miss Mandie," she said opening the door to a room. Mandie nodded and went in as quietly as possible. Liza closed the door and Mandie went over to the bed that Joe was laying on. His skin was sickly pale, and his breathing was sharp and horse. Mandie pushed some of his brown hair out of his face. She drew her hand back startled at the burning heat of his skin. Her eyes filled up with tears at the sight of him.
"Oh Joe!" she cried. She buried her face in her arms, and cried for a while, but when she realized it was no use crying she looked up and whipped the tears off of her face. She stood up and leaned over the bed and kissed Joe on the cheek. She could have sworn she saw some of the color come back to his face. She smiled and grabbed hand and squeezed it. "Get well Joe," she whispered.