Page 57 of Daddy's Little Farmer

Her eyes widened when the door opened again, and a man she didn’t know stood there.

The man frowned. “What in the world? Honey, what are you doing here?”

She stared.

“Tell me your name.”

She shook her head and pushed herself into the corner.

“All right.” He stepped on. “Easy. I’m a doctor. I won’t hurt you. Can you tell me anything about yourself?”

She shook her head.

He sighed.

They went down to the first floor, and the elevator doors opened.

“Let’s just sit over here.”

She stayed as far away from him as possible but sat in one of the chairs.

“Okay. This is good. My name is Alex. Can you give me a hint at yours?”

She shook her head.

“All right. I think we should go to the hospital so they can check you out.”

She screamed and tried to run. He caught her carefully.

“Easy. We won’t go. Sit back down.”

She did but was ready to run.

“Oh, honey, what did you do to your feet?”

She looked down. She could see the little cuts and the blood. “I don’t know.”

“Okay, I’m glad you have a voice. Now about your feet. They’re also filthy. Did you run without shoes?”

“Yes.”

“We need to get them cleaned as soon as possible,” Alex said.

“Why?”

“Because you could get a serious infection if we don’t.”

She shrugged—nothing mattered.

“You don’t care that you could get sick?”

“I … I don’t know.”

“Okay, we’ll figure it out. Our best bet if we’re not going to the hospital is to go to my home. I can take care of you.”

She shook her head.

“Honey, where else would you go? Is there a friend I can call for you?”

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