The officer who came around the corner seemed to grow taller by the footstep.  “May I help you?” 

“I- Well, I don’t know if this is the right place to come but-”

Chad smiled at the slightly windblown woman.  His training, second nature to him already, classified her as she stood there fidgeting.  “Young, early twenties at best, five-five, one-twenty, brown hair, green eyes, out of date dress.”

Willow tried again, interrupting Chad Tesdall’s assurance that he’d help or find someone who could.  “My mother is dead.”

 

Willow Finley was born on the farm she shared with her mother.  Though twenty-two years old, she never played with other children, never went to church, never went to school.  Willow has never used a phone, never watched a movie, and never ridden in a car.  Oh, no, they are not Amish.  Her mother was her only companion throughout her life until that Tuesday.   Now Willow is alone and learning that integrating into the rest of the world is both exciting and disappointing.  Knowing that people have feet and hands of clay is one thing but seeing them in action is another.

 

For Chad, he’s seeing the world through fresh eyes.  The more he bucks a friendship with Willow, the deeper he’s drawn into her life.