Lily: "Are you okay? Can you hear me?"
Marcus: "Water... cough... I can't... breathe..."
Lily: "Stay still! Don't move too fast!"
The muscular man coughed heavily, taking a ragged gasp of hot summer air into his lungs[cite: 1]. He blinked several times, trying to clear his blurred vision as he stared at the little girl kneeling over him in her pink floral dress[cite: 1].
Marcus: "You... you brought me back, kid..."
Lily: "I was so scared! I thought you were dead!"
Marcus: "YOU SAVED MY LIFE, LITTLE ANGEL! THANK YOU!"
The biker sat up slowly on the sunbaked road, resting his heavy elbow against his knee while Lily wrapped her arms around his shoulder in deep relief[cite: 1]. The bright suburban houses stood quiet around them under the giant American flag waving in the background[cite: 1].
Lily: "My name is Lily. Are you hurt bad?"
Marcus: "Just bruised up, Lily. My heart... it felt like a hammer beating inside my chest before I passed out."
Lily: "You shouldn't be riding in this crazy heat!"
Marcus: "I didn't have a choice, little girl. I had to deliver something critical today."
Marcus reached down toward his heavy leather vest, pulling out the large waterproof document folder that had spilled slightly out of his inner pocket when he crashed[cite: 1]. The corner was stamped with official legal crests and bold letters reading high court estate division.
Lily: "What is that envelope? It dropped out of your coat."
Marcus: "It's the reason I rode three hundred miles across Texas today without stopping."
Lily: "It has my last name on it! Look! It says Miller!"
Marcus: "Wait... what did you just say?"
Lily: "My name is Lily Miller! That envelope says Miller Estate!"
Marcus pulled back slightly, staring at the child in utter disbelief. His hand shook as he turned the thick legal document over in his palm.
Marcus: "Is your mother named Sarah Miller?"
Lily: "Yes! That's my mom! She's inside working!"
Marcus: "I was sent here to find her before five o'clock today. If I didn't reach this address, your family was going to lose everything."
Lily: "Lose everything? What do you mean?"
Marcus: "Your uncle's lawyer filed papers to steal your grandfather's entire inheritance."
Lily: "Uncle Richard? But he told Mom there was no money left!"
Marcus: "He lied to her, Lily. He lied so he could keep the entire family trust fund for himself."
Lily's eyes widened in horror as she looked from the paper back to the biker's sweaty face.
Lily: "Mom has been crying every night because of the house mortgage! She said we might have to move away!"
Marcus: "Not anymore, kiddo. Not if I can hand this original will to her before the court deadline."
Lily: "Come inside! Quick! Before Uncle Richard comes back!"
Marcus gripped the leather strap of his jacket and slowly pushed himself up from the dark asphalt, leaning on Lily's small shoulder for support as they walked toward the house[cite: 1].