For the next three days, I stayed in the hospital on IV drips, under observation.

Maverick went to the office during the day and came to keep me company at night. He even told me he’d already mapped everything out—what was fun around Mount Clearwaters, what was good to eat—and promised he’d make sure I had the time of my life.

The day I was discharged, Maverick was supposed to pick me up. But Mr. Smith from Hansen called him over last-minute. I was more than ...