Chapter 3: The Stranger in the Snow
Chapter 3: The Stranger in the Snow
Nearly forty minutes later, the generator failed.
Darkness swallowed the cabin.
Only the fireplace cast trembling orange light across the room.
Emily's vision blurred.
The baby's head was crowning.
"I can't..."
Another push.
Another scream.
Then—
A distant sound.
Not thunder.
An engine.
She stopped breathing.
Headlights appeared through the blizzard.
Impossible.
Someone was coming.
The vehicle struggled through the snow before stopping outside the cabin.
Heavy footsteps crunched toward the porch.
A loud knock.
"Hello!"
A man's voice.
"Is anyone inside?"
Emily tried to answer.
Only a weak cry escaped her lips.
Another knock.
Then silence.
The stranger looked through the window.
His expression instantly changed.
He grabbed a shovel from his truck and smashed through the frozen drift blocking the porch before forcing the front door open.
A broad-shouldered man covered in snow rushed inside.
He took one look at Emily.
Another at the blood.
Then immediately removed his heavy coat.
"My name's Ben," he said calmly.
"I'm a volunteer firefighter."
"I'm here now."
Emily's eyes filled with tears.
Not because she was afraid.
Because for the first time that day...
Someone had chosen to stay.
Ben quickly radioed emergency services.
No response.
The mountain repeater towers had failed.
He looked back at Emily.
"We're delivering this baby together."
She nodded.
One final contraction hit.
Then everything happened at once.
One push.
Another.
A tiny cry filled the cabin.
May you like
Ben smiled.
"You have a daughter."
