The Little Girl at Rock Springs
A little girl stood off to one side, crying. Steve stopped chasing after Jan and turned his swim toward the little girl. Increasing his speed, he drew closer and closer to her. When he finally reached her, he got out of the water and ran to the little girl’s side. “Hey, little lady. What’s the matter? You okay?” Steve asked softly and reassuringly.
Obviously very frightened, the girl, who must have been only five-years-old or so, told Steve through her tears, “I lost my mommy and daddy!” Jan stopped swimming and looked back to see Steve approaching the little girl on the beach. She maneuvered her way around and swam up to the beach. She got out of the water and walked to Steve and the little girl. Reaching the two, Jan stood next to Steve and asked, quietly, “Steve, what are you doing?”
“Just helping this little girl. She seems to be in trouble,” Steve answered.
“Steve, you really shouldn't. These days, you try helping a kid and next thing you know, you're getting charged with trying to abduct them! Leave her alone.”
“I understand that. But we have to do something!” Steve told her with both passion and conviction. “How about this? You stay with her, and I'll go find a park ranger.”
“Okay, that'll work,” Jan nodded in relieved agreement.
Jan moved to stand next to the little girl. Steve avoided the water, deciding to run up the beach instead, which he decided, would be the much faster route. He reached the sidewalk parallel to the river and walked quickly toward a concession stand. A young couple were walking toward Steve, and he could tell they looked very worried about something. He approached the couple, carefully asking, “Excuse me? Are you looking for someone?”
This question surprised the mother, “Ah, yes, yes! Yes, we are! How did you know?”
Steve stood still for a moment, looking at the parents intently. “I just thought, you know. You have that look. That look of worry.”
“Our daughter. She's wandered off!” the father replied, quickly without hesitation. Steve gestured for them to follow him and walked off. “Come on. I think I found her.”
The father was walking quickly next to Steve. You found her?” he asked breathlessly. As Steve led them back to the beach, he explained. “Well, my girlfriend and I did, and I was going to alert the rangers when I saw you. I sort of had the feeling that you two might be her parents.”