第19章鸽子的奇迹AbigalsDove（2）
“ItoldthepastorthatIdidaoetothebooniesforme。”“Nonsense。”Igriioningsnaddrinksbyhisbed。Behhisgruffexterior，Billwassweetasdy。Hisheartmedihadtobetakeneveryday，andlivingoianysurvivingfamilymembers，heneededasmuchhelpaspossible。“Well，lookwhatyourstubbhtyou。”hesaid，pointingtothesnow-coveredroadoutsidethewindow。Hisfingersclaspedmyhand。“Stayhere，Karen。Iwantyousafe。”Ikissedthetopofhisheadbutdecidedtobravetheroads。Itwouldbeworselater，Ireasoned。“I’llbeokay。”Itoldhim，rememberier’swordsbeforeIleft。ThoughtsofAbigailmadememoredetermihome。Imissedheralready。IgotintomyVolkswagenandgraduallytriedmakingitdoweephill。Rememberingoldinstrusabintheshepasedgear。Thewindiingwavesofblindingwhite。
AsIsquihroughthewindshield，holdih，Isdjerkedthewheel，narrowlymissioodfrozes。TheVolkswagenhittheemba，plummetedoffthesideoftheroad，ahebottomofaravinebelow。Whentherollingmotionfinallystopped，IopenedmyeyesaIhadbeenunsetime。Nighthadarrived—andwithittheforecastedacofsnow。Panig，Itriedopeitwouldtheresistingsnow。Slidihepassenger’sdoor，Irealizedthatthedoorhadbeebyatree。Iturarttheehebattery>
Myhdostocrawloutvaheataeg，Icurleduponthebadwaitedforhelp。Thefrigidairenvelopedme。Shivering，Ichastisedmyselffforacelikethis。Mytoesandfingerswerealreadyyseemedtopass，andasIlistehewindandsnowhittingagainstthecar，Iprayedformyfamily，whowouldbesickwithworrybynow。AbigailwouldprobablybedrawingpiewhenIarrivedhome。Sinceshe’dbeeoholda，she’ddrawhtenthedaysofherlovedoocalmmygrowimysafety，Iyeyesaedohoughts。
Driftingintosleep，IsawAbigail。Abigailinthewarmsunlight，laughiabeautifulwhitedovetome。Thedove’sgraceful，sereheloveshininginmydaughter’seyesfilledmewithpeaightgrewdasIfloatedinandoutofess，IfixedmymindontheimageofAbigailaogether，theykeptmepanythroughoutthenight。Hourslater，asthefirstraysofdaybreakappeared，Iheardtappingonmywioseeanemergeeam，mystifflipstriedtosmileastheyhoistedmeodintoanambulaal，IwastreatedformildfrostbiteandaheadwtoldI’dhavetostayhtforobservation。Anxioustoseemyfamily，Iproppedmyselfuponthebedpilloatiently。Bef，thedooropenedandmymotherburstintotheroom。
“orriedaboutyou!”shecried，rushiohugme。“Ikrouble!Motherssehesekindsofthiernalinstinctssurfacedassheappraisedthefoodtraynearby。“Yourteaiscold!I’llberightbagtheopportunitytohavemealltailtothebedandburiedherfaeck。Iscoopedhercloser。“I’vemissedyousomuch。”ImurmuredsasilkystrandofhairfromherfadwhathaveyoubeendoingwhileI’vebeenaway?”“ot!”sheexclaimed，jumpingoutrabalargetubeofstrupapernearby。“Idrewthisforyoulastnightwheknowwhereyouwere。
IthoughtyoumighthavebeensdIwaofeelbetter。”Asifitwereatreasuremap，Iuandoohedaheimages。“Well，that’sourcar。”Isaid，pointingtotheredsquare。“Andthat’sme。”Ilaughed，tougmyfioastiwithlonghair。“ButwhatamIholding?”Abigail’seyesbrightenedasshepushedherfihesmallobjethepaper。“That’sGod’sspirit。”shesaidexcitedly。“IdrewitasadovelikeIsawinSundayschool。”Shepressedhersoftlipsagainstmydadded，“Ididn’twantyoutobealone，Mama，andsoIgaveyouthebestfriendIkof。”“，”Iexclaimed，regthewhitedovethathadgiveiofnights。“Yourdovewaswithme。”Takingherhaheheavenlybohersanddaughters。“Andwhatareyoutwolookingat?”mymotheried，plagasteamingcupofteaoaedtomoveaway，butIgrabbedherhandandbroughtitbetweenAbigail’sawasaremarkablefeeling，thisiieiatthelovethatflowsbetweenus。”Iwhispered，kissiopofmydaughter’sheadasImetmymother’suaurnioAbigail’spicture，Istudiedthebeautifulbirdthathad，onsuchadismalnight，ydaughter’sheartwithmier，thatextraordiinhterrelationshipbeasthe“miracle”。ThemiracleofAbigail’sdove。