Snow came down harder, a wall of white behind Danny, sticking to his cap and jacket in clumps. He could feel the heat from inside the trailer and thought it sure would be nice to warm up for a minute or so, but if the deputy was visiting Mindy, he didn’t think he wanted to go inside.

“Whatcha doing out there, Danny?” Sokowski asked, his voice calm but with a hint of concern.

Danny looked up at him and put his hand protectively to his pocket, making sure Mindy’s birthday present was still safe. “Got something for Mindy, is all,” he replied, trying to sound nonchalant.

Sokowski stepped out onto the porch, his eyes fixed on Danny. “Yeah? Well, kinda late, ain’t it?”

Danny dug the toe of his boot into the snow. “Suppose so. Got her birthday present,” he said, his voice tinged with a hint of nervousness.

Suddenly, Sokowski’s expression changed. His eyes narrowed, and his voice took on a serious tone. “We got a little problem in here, Danny. Mindy had an accident,” he said, his words sending a shiver down Danny’s spine.

Danny looked at Sokowski, trying to process the news. Then he glanced past him to Carl, who quickly looked away, unable to meet his gaze.

Sokowski placed a hand on Danny’s shoulder. “Here’s the thing, Danny. I need you to do me a favor. She’s hurt kinda bad,” he said, his voice dripping with concern.

Danny swallowed hard, his heart racing. He nodded, trying to be brave. “Me and Carl are gonna go get help. I want you to go inside and stay there. That’s real important. You gotta stay here with Mindy,” Sokowski said, his words punctuated by a hint of urgency.

Danny nodded again, his mind reeling with the news. “Someone hurt Mindy, Danny. We got here, and someone did something real bad to her. You need to stay here just in case they come back,” Sokowski explained, his eyes locked on Danny’s.

All this scared Danny. He couldn’t figure out who would want to hurt Mindy, a kind and gentle soul. “Can I count on you, Danny?” Sokowski asked, his voice full of hope.

Danny swallowed hard. “Yeah. I’ll stay right here,” he said, trying to sound courageous.

“Good boy, Danny. We’ll be back as soon as we can,” Sokowski said, before turning and leaving, leaving Danny alone with the snow-covered trailer.

Carl followed Sokowski, his eyes downcast, his movements slow and deliberate. The two of them disappeared into the night, leaving Danny alone with his fears.

Danny watched the taillights disappear into the distance, his heart heavy with worry. He took a deep breath, mustering his courage. Mindy needed him, and he couldn’t let her down.

He walked up the steps slowly, peeked inside, and slipped into the trailer, his eyes adjusting to the dim light.