"Billy you need to get in," Sam told me as I just stood there, frozen. "We need to go!"
"Sam is he...?" was all I could get out.
"Diane called. He's in good hands," Sam told me as he walked me to the passenger side. "Adam Patrick was on duty. As was Donna Montoya." I actually smiled at the good news.
"Billy! Is Mouse up there hurt?" Sebastian asked me as I got in the car.
"She had two broken legs," I told him and Tommy. "I had to put her down."
"Call the game wardens. The number is by the house phone."
"Then get up there and keep an eye on Mouse," I told them. "Keep the coyotes away."
"I'll take you there," a crying Peter told them.
"She's down the hill from the higher spring," I told them. "Peter you can go if you think you can be back before dark."
"We'll go with him," Daniel told me, as Angel nodded.
Sebastian and Tommy understood why. As coyotes started to howl. And I wondered, had they found the fallen Mouse?
Then I saw Tommy and Sebastian both had their rifles. And I felt better about them going up there.
"Billy are you okay?" Bob asked me. But he knew the answer. I was not okay. I was reliving the night Ann died in my arms.
"NO!" I told him rather harshly. I hadn't meant for it to be.
"Uncle Billy you need to go!" Amelia commanded. "Uncle Dante needs you there." Then she kissed my cheek.
So I closed the door. I don't really remember the drive. But I remember Sam and I talked. We talked about that other night. My fear of possibly loosing Dante. And I cried it out, I hoped.
"Billy we're here," Sam said bringing me out of it. As we walked in Adam saw us, and rushed over to us, to me.
"Billy Finally!" Adam said as he got close enough. "We've done initial radio graphs, x-rays."
"And what have they told you?" I asked him, as I came back to myself. So Adam took a deep breath.
"Dante has five broken ribs, at least two cracked ribs. He also has a concussion. A dislocated left shoulder. There is related brain swelling as well," he told us. "But that is minimal."
"But he's still unconscious which concerns me."
"Can we see him?" I asked.
"Definitely," Adam told me. Then he lead us to Dante's room. "I need you to talk to him. We need him to say something or at least react to you. One of you."
"Diane has tried, but no luck."
When we entered Diane and Donna were both there. Diane was holding Dante's unhurt right hand. I felt a tear roll down my cheek.
"It's about time," Donna whispered in my ear.
"Sorry," was all I said to her.
They had Dante sitting up to help him breath easier Adam told me. Dante was bruised from his head to his feet. They had to cut his clothes off. Including his boots.
Diane got up and lead me to the chair on Dante's right side. I took his hand and squeezed it as I cried. I saw Sam whisper something to Donna. He was telling her about Ann. I was sure of that.
"Billy," Adam said getting my attention. "We need you to authorize more tests. X-rays, CT scans and an MRI."
"So since your his P.O.A.*, I need your okay." * (Power Of Attorney)
"Of course you've got it Adam," I told him. "But can I have just a minute before?"
"Sure. I have to go get the paperwork for you to sign," Adam told me. Then he turned to leave. "I'll be right back."
"Dante I'm here," I whispered in his ear. "You're going to be fine. But we need you to open your eyes."
"I love you Billy," Dante said in a raspy voice. But Sam, Diane, and Donna heard him. Diane kissed his cheek as Adam walked in.
"Baby, your dad and I are here as well," Diane told here son. Dante smiled.
"I'm fine mom," Dante rasped. "Billy's here."
"That's great," Adam said having heard it. "Dante. It's Adam. Can you talk to me?"
"UMMM," Dante groaned
"Okay," Adam said. "If you can, try to take a deep breath."
Dante tried to take a deep breath. That it hurt him was obvious. Adam took his stethoscope away.
"I don't like how he sounds," Adam told us as the orderly came in. "Get him to radiology quickly."
"Well go with," he told me.
I jumped up and hugged Sam and Diane. Donna came with us. I hung onto Dante's right hand. All the while I squeezed his right hand. And he squeezed mine back.
It took them nearly two hours to get all the images. Then we took Dante back to the Trauma and Emergency room.
Sam and Diane were still waiting of course. Sam told me everyone was in the waiting room. They all wanted to see Dante, or me.
"You have people to see," Adam told me. "So I have to talk to the radiologist. And I am waiting on blood tests."
"Come on Billy," Sam said. "I'll walk with you to the waiting room." So we went to the waiting room.
"Thanks Sam," I told him as we walked down the hall. We heard the kids. And Peter's voice was the first we heard.
"Here he comes!" Peter yelled. The kids piled into the hall. Bob, Jean, George, Sherry, Jessie and Shaun stepped out behind them.
"Go ahead Amelia," Sherry told Amelia. Amelia was obviously the chosen spokes person.
"How is Uncle Dante?" Amelia asked me.
"Well he has broken and cracked ribs," I told them. "He dislocated his left shoulder , and is badly bruised on his left side. Head to foot."
"He has a concussion with some brain swelling. And Dr. Patrick is worried because he isn't quite awake."
"Billy Come Quick!" Donna yelled down the hall from Dante's room. My stomach dropped.
Sam and I rushed to Dante's room. Jean herded the kids back into the waiting room. When we got there Dante was spitting up blood.
"Call the O.R. and tell them we're on our way with a punctured lung!" Adam was shouting.
"We're taking him to the O.R.," Adam told us when he saw us.
"Where's the Operating Room?" I asked him.
"Second floor," Donna told us.
"We're headed for the second floor!" I yelled back down the hall.
Everyone soon showed up to the second floor waiting room. Donna rushed in with the paperwork for me to sign. Then she hugged me and gave me a kiss. Then we waited and waited.
I hadn't noticed but Sam and Bob had slipped away for about a half hour, I think. When they returned they had a burger bag. Which Sam promptly handed to me with a burger and fries.
"What's this for?" I asked him. So my stomach growled in answer. Linzie walked up . I guess they had picked her up as well.
"It's to eat!" she commanded. Amelia was standing next to her. She had a smile.
"You haven't eaten since lunch," Amelia told me. "It's after midnight."
Then they watched me as I ate the burger and fries. Then I threw away the empty bag. They gave me a round of applause. By then it had been nearly two hours since they had taken Dante into surgery. Then Adam came in.
"He was lucky he was here," Adam told us. "One of his broken ribs punctured his lung. And severed an artery."
"They've moved him to the I.C.U.. So go home and get some sleep."
"No way in hell," I told him. "I'll be here when he wakes up. Whenever that is."
"Okay," Adam told me. "I can't make you go home."
"Bob would you and Jean take the kids back to the ranch?" I asked them. "I think Linzie will need a room if we have it."
"Billy I think I'll take my kids home," Ethan told me suddenly.
"Ethan don't do that," I told him. "WE said you guys could stay all summer."
"If you take them home because of this. It'll hurt Dante's feelings. He'll feel responsible."
"Besides they have horses to take care of," Angel said with a smile. We all laughed.
"You got a room for me?" Ethan asked with a smile and a cheer from the kids.
"Jean?" I asked her.
"More than enough," Jean said as she hugged me. "Now let's load up kids."
"Linzie," I said, turning to give her a hug. "Thanks partner."
"What are partners for," She said patting me on the back as we hugged. "Now go be with him."
"Do me and Dante a favor?" I asked her as we broke our hug.
"Sure," she replied.
"You get Bass and Amelia to show you their horses in the morning," I asked her. "I know Dante would like that."
"Can do partner," she said giving me a kiss on the cheek. Then I hugged Amelia, Peter, who had both held back. Then they trailed the rest to the elevators.
"Hey partner!" I called after. "Can you bring my Wrangler in the morning?"
"Sure. Where are the keys?" she answered me. I shot them across the floor to her.
Donna was waiting for me. She took me to see Dante in recovery, and she gave me a kiss on the cheek.
"I'm sorry," she whispered in my ear. "Sam and Bob told me about Ann."
Adam was giving another Doctor information on Dante and what had happened, when Donna and I had walked in. They turned when we stepped in.
"Dr. Tim Morrison this is Marshal Billy Hickok," Adam said making introductions. "He's Dante's fiance and has his Power of Attorney."
"Billy this Dr. Tim Morrison. He'll be taking care of Dante tonight." We shook hands.
I then took Dante's hand and squeezed it. Dante squeezed it back with a smile. Adam and Dr. Morrison saw it and they both smiled.
"I understand that you'll be staying with us tonight?" Dr. Morrison asked me.
"Yes. You may need me," I told him. "Or better yet. He may need me."
"Fair enough," Dr. Morrison told me. "The next 24 hours will tell us most everything we need to know."
"Now get some rest. I'll wake you if we need you," he told me. "Donna could you get him a pillow and a blanket?"
Donna got me that Pillow and blanket. I had moved the recliner around to Dante's right side. Then Donna helped me lower the bed . So I could hold Dante's hand. And I went to sleep. With his hand in mine.
During the night the nurses were in and out checking things. Like heart rate, blood pressure, stitches and and temperature.
"Hey there sleepy head," Dante said, waking me up. I smiled at him.
"How bad am I?" he asked me. "I have stitches."
"You're awake and alive," I told him. Then I kissed him. Then I called the nurse.
"Yes," said the nurse over the intercom.
"He's awake. On his own," I told her. To her obvious surprised.
"And hungry!" Dante yelled just as Dr. Morrison came in.
"That's fantastic," Dr. Morrison said as Adam also came in. "He's hungry."
"That's fantastic," Adam replied.
"Adam, how bad is it?" Dante asked.
"Dante you have five broke ribs, two cracked ribs, a concussion, with brain swelling," Adam told him. "You're bruised from head to toe on your left side. Oh! and you punctured a lung that we operated on."
"Hey Tim, Adam," said another doctor coming in. "I heard he was awake."
"Dante, Billy this is Dr. Mark Greene," Adam told us.
"Mine has an extra 'e' at the end," Dr. Greene added. "I'll be taking over."
"I'm going to rerun all the radio graphs, and blood tests, " Dr. Greene told us. "I'm a little worried about blood loss from your bruises and the operation."
"So you think his blood loss is that bad?" I asked Dr. Greene.
"It could be," Dr. Greene told me. "Better safe than sorry."
"Okay," Dante said "But now. "Can Billy go get me something to eat?" Causing us to chuckle.
"Well Doctors. Can I go get him something to eat?" I asked.
"I think your having an appetite is a good sign," Dr. Greene said. "What do you want?"
"I'm thinking pancakes and sausage," Dante said with a grin.
"Well we do have to evaluate you," Dr. Greene told us. Marshal how about you go get him some pancakes."
"Hey Adam, aren't you off today?" Dr. Morrison suddenly asked Adam.
"Yeah, but Dante's a friend, " Adam told him."So I thought I would check on him before I head home."
"You're that worried about me!" Dante asked him.
"Dante you could have died last night," Adam scolded Dante a little. "Why you're not hurt worse is sheer luck."
"Oh!" Dante said in surprise.
About then Sam and Diane came in. They were thrilled to see Dante awake.
They let Sam and Diane stay while I went to get Dante some pancakes. But as I started out Dante stopped me.
"Before you go," Dante said suddenly. "How is Mouse?" I froze at the door.
"I had to put her down Dante," I told him. "She had two broke legs."
Dante started crying, and shaking his head. So I went to him to comfort him.
"Now you listen to me," I started to tell him.
"I'm sorry Billy! It was my fault," Dante cried as I hugged him.
"Don't you do this," I told him as I lifted his chin. "It was that cougar. Not you." Then I hugged him carefully.
"Now I'm going to go get you some pancakes," I told him. "She had a good life. She was the horse I saved from the bear in Wyoming."
"Marshal Hickok," said a nurse sticking her head in. "There are some people waiting to talk to you in the waiting room."
"Especially a young lady and an anxious young man." Amelia and Peter.
"Well now that he's awake doctors. When can they come in and see Dante?" I asked them.
"Hopefully this afternoon," Dr. Greene told me. "I need to get those radio graphs and blood tests out of the way. Then into a new room." I could tell Dante didn't like the sound of that.
"Behave," I told him as I kissed him.
As I walked down the hall I heard Amelia. "But Uncle Dante needs us!," I heard her tell someone.
"Yeah!, " Peter added. "What if he's awake already?"
"Well he is," I told them as I walked in behind Peter. Who jumped.
"When can we see Dante? Is he alright," Peter asked before Amelia could. Who promptly huffed.
"They're hoping this afternoon after x-rays and blood tests," I told them. "He slept fairly well through the night. He woke up on his own, and he's really hungry."
"Aren't they going to bring him something?" Angel asked me.
"Well I'm going to go get him some pancakes and sausage that he asked for," I told him.
"So how did you sleep Uncle Billy?" Bass asked me.
"Like when your dad..." I froze. I realized what I was talking about.
"Like when dad was shot," Bass finished. "It's okay Uncle Billy."
What could I say to that. But I could hug the stoic young man. And I did.
Linzie hugged us both. And Amelia hugged us all.
"So who called you in partner?" I asked Linzie.
"Bob called me right after it happened," she told me. "He said you looked like the night Ann died." I froze and took a deep breath.
"It's a night I'm glad you don't have to relive," she told me. Then she kissed my cheek as we rode the elevator.
"Don't let Uncle Dante see you two," Amelia said with a smile. We all broke out laughing.
"You know she's right," I said causing us to all roll again.
We got in line at the cafeteria. I got two orders of of pancakes and sausage. Bass was carrying Dante's. But as we got to the I.C.U. Bass stopped.
"Here Amelia," Bass said handing her the container. "You can take this in to Uncle Dante." Amelia looked at her brother in surprise. Then she looked at me and I nodded.
Amelia immediately squealed with delight. Then she got up on her tiptoes to kiss her brother's cheek.
As we walked into Dante's room. He was finishing a basic breakfast of scrambled eggs, bacon and toast. Which from the look on Diane's face. Had not lasted to long.
"Amelia! I am doing fine," Dante told her when he saw her. "But I'll be better if that's pancakes and sausage."
"Well you asked for pancakes and sausage," Amelia told him as she handed them over. "But you're probably not hungry after eating that other breakfast."
"Oh! But I am still hungry," he told her as he opened the container.
"Still eating?" Dr. Greene asked as he came in. He had a smile on his face.
"Well I missed supper last night," Dante told him. Then he stopped for a moment
"It was last night?" Dante asked, truly not sure of the date.
"Of course it was last night," Amelia snapped at him. "Uh! Adults."
I looked at Dante. Who looked at me as if he were proud of the comment.
"Adults huh?" Dante asked her.
"Yes!" she replied. as she climbed up on the recliner. Where she gave Dante a hug and a kissed on the cheek. "Now eat."
Diane, Dr. Greene , and I laughed. Amelia just huffed at us and frowned.
"Well Dante. When you're done eating," Dr. Greene said. "They can give you a unit of blood."
"Then later today we'll get some new x-rays, CT scan, and maybe an MRI," Dr. Greene told us. "Then we'll move you to another room where you friends can visit."
"That will be wonderful," Diane said at that news.
"Yeah we could all visit," Amelia said.
“Doctor?” Amelia asked. “Can Uncle Dante have a few visitors if I leave?”
“Who were you thinking of?” I asked her.
“Daniel and Angel to start with. Then Charlie, Bass, and Peter,” She told me. “They’re all more worried than you know.” Diane hugged Amelia and kissed her forehead.
“Well we have about an hour before the other tests,” Dr. Greene feining deep thought. “But we do have to give him a unit of blood.”
“Well keep it to just a few at a time. But not all five and you.”
“Thank you,” Amelia said giving the doctor a hug. Then she grabbed my hand, as she drug me out to the hall. We could hear Dante laugh painfully.
So I brought Charlie, Bass, and Peter in first. They were so happy to see Dante. Peter cried and Charlie definitely shed a tear.
“Oh! Dante!” Peter squealed upon seeing Dante. Who patted the recliner. Which Peter immediately climbed up to hug Dante. We all smiled.
“Come on Charlie,” Dante said holding out his arms.”Your turn my friend.” Charlie smiled with pride at Dante calling him a friend.
“Thanks Dante,” Charlie told him. “Are you going to be home for the cookout?”
“Only if the x-rays come back with no surprises,” Adam said coming back in. “But he is going to be here at least til Friday.”
“Where did you go?” Dante asked Adam. Adam let out a nervous laugh.
“Oh! They’re not upset with you are they?” Dante asked him.
“Well we did some talking on my assisting,”Adam said. “But they saw it was the only way to keep you alive.”
“So you forgot to ask permission,” Peter said. “I do that sometimes. But I’m getting better.” We all smiled at that.
Peter, Bass, and Charlie talked with Dante for a few minutes. Dante talked to Peter about starting Tickles on halter training. But Peter was more interested in seeing more of Dante’s bruises. Dante agreed if Peter would listen to him.
“Would you be able to help me with that Dante?” Peter asked him.
“Probably not for a while.” Adam told Peter. “Dante is going to be healing for awhile.”
“I can help some,” Dante told Peter. “I won’t be able to handle Tickles to show you thought.”
“Speaking of,” I said tapping my watch. So I took Charlie, Bass, and Peter out. Charlie was giving Daniel, and Angel the four one one. When two game wardens showed up.
So they split us up. One talked to Peter while the other talked to me. Jean got permission to be there for Peter. They asked to talk to Dante. But Dr. Greene told them not today.
“Well Billy you can call John he can have the Cougar’s pelt,” the senior warden, Stan Brock, said.
“I can do that,” I told him.
"At least it was old four toes,” The younger warden, Marlin Fowler said. “Well at least we’re rid of that cat.”
“Peter here was the one to find his tracks,” I told them. Patting Peter’s shoulder with a smile.
“He went after a turkey hunter last spring,” Marlin said. “He took a load of bird shot.”
“That would have been nice to know,” I said a little sarcastically.
“Well we had him up by Santa Fe,” Stan told me. “And that was just the first of the month.”
“Maybe you guys should have put one of those radio collars on him,” Peter told them.
“They tried that,” John said as he entered the waiting room. “That was one hard cat to track. They hired me to try.”
“John we just told Billy you could skin that cat,” Stan told him, who smiled. “Don’t tell me your done.” John just smiled.
“It wouldn't take an expert long to skin a cougar,” John said rather matter of factually. “Oh! The boys got Dante’s saddle off and buried Mouse.”
“Where’s Tally?’ Peter asked as the elevator dinged.
“Right there,” John grinned pointing as she stepped off the elevator.
“Ha Ha John,” Peter said. Then he turned and hugged Tally.
“I’ve seen him,” Peter told her as they hugged. “He'll be okay.”
“He will,” Tally replied. “Well that’s good to hear.”
“He’s really bruised up,” Peter told her. “He thinks I should start halter breaking Tickles.”
“Is he right?” Peter asked Tally.
“I would say so,” She told him.
A nurse had to came to get me. They were taking him to radiology.
They did x-rays, and a CT or cat scan. They also x-rayed his left hand. It seems he had two broken fingers. And few more cracked bones, in his hand.
His new room was just down the hall from the waiting room. So we didn’t have to move everybody.
They gave us time to get Dante in his room and change his gown. When Dante took off the first gown I heard Diane inhale sharply. He was bruised from his head to his feet. Dante noticed her reaction.
“Mom, I’ll be okay,” Dante told his mother. “It’s not like I haven’t had it happen before. Spot and I rolled that time.”
“I know Dante,” Diane quipped. “It’s hard though. To see you this way.”
“You’ll understand when you and Billy have children,” Diane said with a smile. Dante looked and me and I smiled.
“I guess we will,” Dante told her. Diane and I hugged. Since Dante couldn’t.
“So you’re okay with us..?” Dante asked her. She answered with a smile and a kiss. The joy on Dante's face was priceless to me.