Nurse Parker entered the room with an orderly. "Mr. Houston, we have to get Mattlock ready now," she said.

Mattlock looked panicked. Bill squeezed his hand and looked him in the eyes and stroked back his hair. "Son, I'm going to have to leave. You are going to have to be brave now."

Mattlock couldn't reply, but his eyes welled up with tears.

"I promise you, Son, you will be fine. I've had surgery. A lot of people have surgery in their lives. You'll probably have it again. This surgery is minor and lots of children have it. Have I ever lied to you? Would I?"

Mattlock paused and shook his head.

"Mr. Houston, if you'd like to stay while I give him the sedative injection, that's fine," Nurse Parker said.

Mattlock looked at his father through tears and nodded.

Bill rubbed Mattlock's hair vigorously and smiled and said, "Okay." He continued holding Mattlock's hand while Nurse Parker readied the sedative injection. The orderly stood near the door and waited silently.

"Okay, sweetie," Nurse Parker said as she took a cotton swab to Mattlock's arm. "This is going to hurt a little bit and then you're going to be very sleepy."

"It's better if you don't look, Son," Bill said. "Just look at me."

Mattlock's eyes widened and he focused on his father's eyes. After just a few moments, Mattlock's eyelids became progressively heavier until they closed altogether. Bill put Mattlock's hand down and stood up from the bed and leaned in and kissed him on the forehead.

"You can wait in the surgical waiting room down the hall. The surgery shouldn't take long and a nurse will come get you, Mr. Houston," Nurse Parker said.

"Thanks," Bill said, as the orderly helped Nurse Parker move Mattlock to a gurney. Bill stood with his hands in his pockets and watched as the orderly covered Mattlock with a sheet up to his chin, and pushed him out of the room followed by Nurse Parker.

Roger pulled the car into the Parsons' driveway and he and Cady got out and walked into the house together. After he closed the door, he whispered to Cady, "Now, we have to be quiet. Remember that your momma is sleeping."

Cady looked at him askance to indicate she was fully aware of the fact. Roger smiled and they both went into the kitchen.

He said a little louder, "Would you like me to make you a sandwich?"

"Sure," Cady said, as she pulled out a chair at the kitchen table.

Roger reached into the refrigerator and got out some sliced turkey, lettuce, and tomato. "Mustard or mayonnaise?"

"Mustard," Cady replied. She sat leaning against the table with her elbow on it and her head rested in her hand while she quietly watched Roger make sandwiches. After he was finished, he walked over and placed her sandwich in front of her and he sat down across from her with his. She turned to face her sandwich and Roger.

"What do you want to do after lunch?" Roger asked.

"Go back to the hospital," Cady replied.

"We can't go back right away. Matt needs some time to wake up and recover a little and spend some time with his Daddy," Roger replied.

Cady frowned. "I don't know, then," she said.

Roger took a few bites of his sandwich. "It's a nice day. We could go for a walk, go to the park, or a movie."

"Nah," Cady replied after chewing some of her sandwich.

"Play a board game?" Roger asked.

Cady shook her head.

"Watch television?" he asked.

"There's nothing on," Cady replied.

"Okay. Now I think you're being stubborn, young lady," Roger said without sternness in his voice.

Cady shrugged and smiled coyly.

"Well, I haven't read the paper yet today. How about we sit quietly and read after lunch. Then, we'll think about what we both want to do before going back to the hospital."

She frowned and reticently said, "Okay."

After the two finished eating, Cady put her dish in the sink and Roger washed and dried their plates. Cady went back to her room. Once Roger was finished, he went into the living room and sat down to read the paper. Moments later, Cady emerged with a book in hand. She climbed into his chair next to him. He wrapped his long arm around her and held his paper while she held her book sitting in the crook of his arm.

"What are you reading?" Roger asked.

She showed him the cover. "Gone-Away Lake," she replied.

"What's it about?" he asked.

"Don't know yet. I just started it. A brother and sister are going to go visit one of their cousins," she replied.

"It's gotta be better than what's in this paper," Roger said as he folded it over and placed it on his side table. He picked up the new Texas Magazine that came in that day's issue of the Houston Chronicle. The two sat reading quietly together for about an hour when they both dozed off. Cady lay asleep against her father's chest with her book open in her lap and Roger's head was slumped back on the back of his chair while he slept.

Back at the hospital, Mattlock was back in his room, still groggy from the anesthetic and Bill sat in the chair next to his bed reading the newspaper. The door opened to Mattlock's room and Bo and Lamar entered.

Bill stood up and shook both of the men's hands. "He's only half-awake right now," he said looking over at Mattlock.

"Poor little cowboy," Bo said, plunging his hands into his pockets.

Lamar had removed his hat and said, "Bo went in this morning to feed the horses and José told him that you and Mattlock were here. He called me and told me and we came as soon as we could."

"It's not an emergency or anything serious, boys, but thanks for coming. I'm sure Mattlock will appreciate your visit," Bill replied.

Bo walked up to Mattlock who was struggling to keep his eyes open. "Howdy pard'," Bo said.

"Mmm?" Mattlock replied groggily.

Bo rubbed Mattlock's head playfully. "I believe this is the first time I've seen little Mattlock at a loss for words."

"Maybe we could get you whatever they're givin' Mattlock," Lamar said to Bo. Bill and Lamar laughed at Bo's expense.

"Ha-ha, Lamar. That's real mature of you – makin' fun of me in front of a sick child," Bo said.

"He doesn't know which end is up, Bo," Lamar said. He turned to Bill and said, "We didn't know what to get him. We figger'ed he wouldn't be able to eat."

"That's right. You didn't have to bring him anything. It's just kind of you to visit," Bill said.

"Cain't imagine not visitin'," Bo said. "We love the little rascal."

"We did bring some of his comics from home," Lamar said, and handed them to Bill. "Sergei sends his best."

"Thanks," Bill replied.

"Well, when he comes to, please tell him we stopped by," Lamar said.

"Absolutely," Bill said.

"When does he get to come home?" Bo asked.

"Tomorrow sometime," Bills replied.

"That's fast," Lamar said.

"Like I said, it's not serious," Bill replied.

"That's a relief. We'll leave you two alone, then," Lamar said. "C'mon, Bo. Beulah's expectin' me for dinner."

They shook hands again and Bo and Lamar left.

Cady squirmed on Roger's lap as she woke up. Her squirming awakened him and they yawned at the same time.

Roger looked at his watch. "Wow. It's almost time for dinner," he said.

"What about Matt?" Cady whined.

"Now, we're still going to visit, Matt. Relax," Roger reassured. "We'll run out and get dinner first and then drop by to visit him, okay?"

"Okay!" she said with an enthusiastic smile. "I'm going to get some of my board games to bring."

"Alright, just don't wake your momma," Roger replied.

Cady ran back to her bedroom and pulled out a couple of games from under her bed.

Roger sat down on the couch to write Cynthia a note. He wrote: Gone to dinner and then to see Matt. Love, Roger and Cady.

Cady returned from her bedroom and walked up to Roger. "I'm going to bring checkers and my Sergeant Preston game. I don't really like it but I bet Matt will," she said.

"I thought you liked it," Roger said.

"Nah," Cady replied.

Roger looked surprised, but said, "Well, at any rate, I think you're right that Matt will like it. It seems right up his alley," Roger replied. "Let's go to dinner, then." Roger walked into the kitchen and put the note on the refrigerator under a magnet and then he escorted Cady out the front door with his hand on her shoulder. He put the games in the trunk of the car and they drove off to dinner.

Shortly after Roger and Cady left, Cynthia woke up, did some laundry, and made herself some dinner from leftovers in the kitchen. She read the note from Roger and smiled to herself and sat down to eat. After she was finished, she sat down in the living room to read the Texas Magazine that Roger had put down earlier. She immediately was riveted to a story about the new cardioscope at St. Joseph's Hospital that was used to detect cardiac arrest during surgeries. She also read an article about a pilot in the Texas Air National Guard at Ellington Field named Buck McCune and looked at some ads for sundresses at Foley's. After a short while, she showered and then got ready for her shift at the hospital.

Roger and Cady had had dinner at the Triple A as they had many times before. They arrived back at the hospital around 6 PM. Cady was so excited, she barged right through Matt's door and ran up to his bed. Roger trailed slowly behind her. Her abrupt appearance startled Matt but he smiled after he realized it was her. He sat up but didn't speak.

"He still can't talk, honey," Bill said.

"That's okay," C.J. replied. She put the two games next to Matt on the bed. "I brought Checkers and Sergeant Preston."

Matt picked up the Sergeant Preston game and turned it over to look at the back. He smiled.

"I think you'll like that game," C.J. replied. "You get to hunt down and capture fur thieves."

Matt looked at the game and nodded and smiled at her.

"Want me to help you two set up the game to play?" Roger asked.

"No, Daddy. I can do it," C.J. replied.

Roger smiled at Bill. Bill asked, "Roger, have you eaten?"

"Yes. Cady and I ate before we came back," Roger replied.

"I think I'll go to the cafeteria before it closes. Would you like to join me?" Bill asked.

"Sure," Roger said. He turned to Cady and said, "Cady, don't you run off. Stay in this room with Matt."

She was busy organizing the game play for the evening but stopped to say, "Okay, Daddy."

"We'll be back in a bit," Roger said. Cady didn't reply because she was engrossed in thoroughly explaining the game to Matt who was a silent captive audience.

They started playing the game together.

"Oh! I know what I should have done," C.J. realized aloud. "I could have brought my book with me and read it to you."

Matt shrugged as he spun the dial to move his game piece around the board, which had a snowy, small town scene complete with Mountie headquarters, a hotel, a mine and some tepees. He dialed a 4 and moved his game piece. She took her turn and moved her game piece. She talked to him while he listened.

Once Bill got his food, the two men sat down at a table in the corner of the cafeteria. It was empty except for the two of them.

"Matt seems fine," Roger observed as he sat leaned back in his chair.

"He is. The surgery was not very long. He spent most of the afternoon trying to wake up and stay alert," Bill replied.

"He looked like he was feeling pretty well," Roger said.

"His throat is still sore but he can drink some fluids. He'll get to go home tomorrow," Bill replied.

"I guess it's an uncomplicated procedure like Cynthia said," Roger replied.

"She was definitely right," Bill said. "Cady sure has been a great friend to Matt during all this," Bill said.

"He's been her central preoccupation. I'm certainly surprised. I mean, I know they're friends but she's usually not this enthusiastic and demonstrative toward him," Roger said.

"She's probably just rattled that he's sick. But they seem rather close at my house. I couldn't ask for a better friend for him. She keeps him out of trouble," Bill said.

Roger laughed. "Women have that effect on us, don't they?"

"They certainly do," Bill replied with a smile and chuckle.

"She always talks a blue streak about what she did after she comes back from your place," Roger said. "She genuinely has a lot of fun. I'm afraid I may have a thrill-seeker on my hands."

"You and me both," Bill replied. He took some bites of his dinner.

"I'm glad I can trust you with her. I mean, at your house," Roger said.

"I consider her to be the daughter I never had, in all honesty. Well, at least, the daughter I would have wanted," Bill replied. "You and Cynthia didn't have any other children. Mind if I ask why?"

"No. I don't mind. Like family vacations, we just didn't find the time, and Cynthia loves her career, which I support. I'm glad Cady has Matt and Julia. I think she'd be a 'lonely only,' as they say," Roger said.

"Mattlock is always with Bo and Lamar so he's never bored or lonely. Still, since Cattle Annie moved back to West Texas, I'm glad he has C.J. as a feminine influence in his life. I don't think she can keep him out of trouble entirely, but she helps. And he's smitten with her."

Bill smirked. "Well, that is true, as we both can attest."

Roger laughed.

Back in Matt's room, he and C.J. had moved on to a game of Checkers. They both had decided it required less conversation. Matt was trying to calculate his next move with his determined face rested on his hand.

"I sure wish I could get to meet your cousin this summer," C.J. said.

Matt smiled and nodded.

"I'm glad I'm going to the beach, though," she continued. "I bet it's beautiful – the ocean." She made her move and jumped two of Matt's checkers, and stacked them near her leg as she sat on Matt's bed.

He frowned.

"Maybe we could play together some other time this summer?" she asked.

He smiled broadly and nodded.

"My momma works tonight so you'll see her, probably," she said.

Matt concentrated on his next move.

"I thought maybe I'd ask her if I could stay with you tonight," she said in a hesitant tone looking for his reaction.

He looked up at her from the board, and smiled and nodded expressively.

She smiled back at him. "I brought enough games and you still have your cards and the coloring stuff I brought by. We could have a lot of fun," she said.

Matt was beaming. He looked down again and made his move – a move that didn't acquire any of her checkers.

She concentrated on her next move. After she made it, she said, "I hope she says 'yes.'"

The two children played Checkers for a few more minutes when Bill and Roger returned. They walked over to the children. Roger leaned over C.J. and said, "Who's winning?"

Matt looked up at him, frowned, and pointed at C.J.

"Oh? Not going to let him win, Baby?" Roger said.

"He's feeling better, Daddy," she said with a broad smile.

"I see," Roger replied.

Just then, Cynthia entered the room in her lab coat with her stethoscope draped over her shoulders. She put her hands on her hips and said, "Well, busy room. How's everyone tonight?"

Bill replied, "We're all fine. Mattlock's doing great."

Cynthia picked up Matt's chart and read through it. "Says here you're going home tomorrow. Told you it was an easy operation," she said to Matt with a smile. She put his chart down and went over to him. She pulled out her pen light and said, "Open your mouth really wide, Sweetie."

Matt did so.

"Mm – hmm. Looks good. A really good job," she said. "Okay, Matt," she said, and he closed his mouth and she rubbed his head. She looked at her watch and then at Roger. "I think it's time that Cady went home. It's close to her bedtime."

"Momma, can I stay with Matt tonight?" C.J. asked insistently. Matt sat up straight to hear her answer.

"Overnight? Absolutely not," Cynthia replied. Matt slumped back down with a disappointed expression.

"But Momma….It could be like a sleepover, like I have with Julia sometimes," C.J. replied.

"Baby, this is a hospital, not someone's house," Cynthia explained further.

"The rules couldn't be bent a little?" Bill asked. "I know I'd feel better if C.J. was here overnight," he said, and winked slyly at Roger, who smiled back at him.

"What's going to happen?" Roger asked.

"Hospitals are busy places and we don't have staff to babysit," Cynthia replied. "And I'll be working."

"Yes, but you've said yourself that Sunday nights aren't that busy," Roger replied.

"Okay, okay…."

"Okay?!" C.J. exclaimed.

"No. Not that kind of 'okay,'" Cynthia replied. C.J. pouted. "I can see I'm outnumbered here, but rules are rules."

"Well, Honey….The rules are meant to be broken every now and then," Roger replied with his hand on C.J.'s shoulder. C.J. smiled.

"This is a tough room," Cynthia said. She paused and thought to herself for a bit. "Okay, but, you two better not leave this room. I'll be checking on you often and if I can't, I'll send one of the nurses."

"Yea!" C.J. exclaimed as she bounced on Matt's bed. Matt grabbed his throat and winced. She stopped and put her hand on his knee and said, "Sorry Matt."

"Now, Baby….My shift is over at 4 AM and that's when we'll be leaving. You're going to have to be awake very early," Cynthia said.

"I can do it! Thanks Momma!" C.J. replied.

"I guess I'll go home now. I'll have the house to myself and I can get some work done tonight for tomorrow," Roger said.

"Me too," Bill said.

"I'll get an orderly to bring out a rollout bed from the doctor's lounge," Cynthia said. "I have to check on patients."

"Thanks, Dear," Roger said, and kissed her on the cheek.

She looked at him askance and said, "Alright, alright….I'll see you tomorrow morning." She shook Bill's hand. "I'll miss you tomorrow, but let me know if you need anything after Matt gets home."

"I will. Thanks Cynthia," Bill replied.

"You're welcome. Goodnight," she said, and left the room.

"Alright, Son, I'm going to leave you in C.J.'s capable hands," Bill said. He walked over to Matt and hugged him. "See you in the morning."

Matt smiled and nodded.

"Goodnight, Cady. I'll see you tomorrow," Roger said, and kissed her on the cheek.

"Goodnight, Daddy," C.J. replied. The two men left Matt's room. C.J. turned abruptly to Matt. "We're going to have SO much fun!" she exclaimed. He smiled. Minutes later, an orderly came in with a rollout bed and a blanket and a pillow and rolled it next to Matt's bed and opened it. "I have an idea! I don't know why I didn't think of this before," she mused aloud. "Do you have any paper?" she asked the orderly.

"Sure. I can get some from the nurse's station," the man replied.

"Thanks," she said.

"Be right back," he replied.

C.J. turned to Matt and said, "I brought the crayons. You can write what you want to say to me."

He smacked his head in realization with one hand and smiled.

The orderly brought back some paper and the children 'talked' for a while, mainly about what they might do together during summer. A little while later, Cynthia returned to the room with two containers. The children were sitting next to each other on Matt's bed coloring.

"I brought you two some sherbet. Matt can have it to eat. The cold will help with the pain," Cynthia said.

"Thanks, Momma," C.J. said.

Matt waved and nodded.

"Alright, after the sherbet, I want you two to go to sleep. I'll be back to tuck you in in twenty minutes," Cynthia said.

"Okay, Momma," C.J. replied. Cynthia left, and the two ate their sherbet in silence until it was all gone. Then, they resumed coloring.

Cynthia returned as she had said. "Okay, Cady, get in the rollout," she said. C.J. got off of Matt's bed and she jumped onto the rollout. Cynthia took off C.J.'s shoes and put them on the floor and pulled the covers over her. Then, she turned to Matt and pulled up his blanket and rubbed him on the head. "Alright, you two…I want you both to go right to sleep. No playing around, okay?" She picked up the pieces of paper with 'notes' from Matt and read a couple of them, smiled to herself, and placed them on his side table.

"Okay, Momma. We won't," C.J. replied.

Cynthia walked over to the bathroom door and turned on the light and closed the door until it was just cracked. "I'll leave this on for your night light."

"Okay, Momma," C.J. replied.

"Goodnight, you two," Cynthia said.

"Goodnight," C.J. replied.

After Cynthia left, Matt took out one piece of paper and wrote something on it and handed it over the edge of his bed to C.J. She could barely make it out in the dim hospital room, but it read, 'You're lucky to have a Momma.'

She whispered, "Yes. I wish you had one too." With that, they both lay back and fell asleep.

It did turn out to be a slow night for Cynthia, so she checked on the children often. When her shift was over, she went to the room and carefully and quietly awakened Cady so as to not disturb Matt. Cady was very groggy at that time of the morning so Cynthia picked up her shoes and then picked up Cady in her arms and carried her out to her car while it was still dark. She put her in the back seat. She was waking up by then and was sitting up, slightly dazed, with her eyes half-open. Cynthia got into the front seat and started driving away.

"Momma?"

"Yes, Baby?"

"When Matt gets all better can we take him to Kiddie Wonderland with us?" Cady asked.

"Sure thing, Baby," Cynthia replied, looking into the rearview mirror.

"Thanks, Momma," Cady said, and she curled up in the back seat and went back to sleep as Cynthia drove them back home.