Dimples73- It is very frustrating. Every other story I have written had TONS of people reading/reviewing. Glad you are sticking with it!
(Chapter 10)
Julia was slowly walking around the hospital floor using crutches when the elevator doors opened and Daisy and the boys got off.
"Hey Julia, really learning to work those things." Bo smiled.
"I have been making laps around the floor, trying to keep my strength up. Find a pair and we can race." She chuckled.
"Careful of your stitches, you don't want to tear them." Luke said.
"I am being careful. Doctor says if everything still looks good in the morning, I can go home. I am still pretty sore, but working through it." Julia said.
"Hey, no more IV." Daisy noticed.
"Yeah, they took it out this afternoon, which is why I can get around without someone to push it for me now." Julia said. "Doctor said I am getting enough fluids on my own now."
"You look great, got your color back and up and moving." Daisy hugged her.
"Prettiest girl in the hospital. Besides maybe that nurse I saw as we were leaving last night." Bo said. Julia raised her eyebrows at him. "Okay okay…prettiest redhead in the hospital, she was a blonde."
"Must've been closing time." She giggled.
"I bet you can't wait to get home." Luke said as they walked towards her room.
"Oh yeah, get to sleep in my own room. No more poking and prodding. See my babies." Julia said.
"They are all doing great. Even Elvis has calmed down a bit." Luke said.
"That's good. Of course it will probably be awhile before I can ride Cannonball again." Julia said.
They walked into her room and Julia carefully got back in her bed.
"I am so glad you are doing better." Daisy said.
"I think a lot of it is the good company I have had. And you staying nights has been a big help." Julia said.
"Well I was glad to do it." Daisy said. "And when you get home, I will stay nights with you to help you out."
"You don't have to do that." Julia said.
"Oh I would be glad to. That way if you need anything, someone is there." Daisy said.
"But I can do for myself. I am used to it." Julia insisted.
"You always were too independent. But this time I am staying with you, no ifs ands or buts because you are injured." Daisy said.
"And we'll still be coming around during the day to help tend to the animals." Luke said.
"I don't want to put you out." Julia said.
"You won't, we would be glad to do it." Daisy said.
"And it'd be a lot easier than dealing with Uncle Jesse worrying about you all the time." Bo chuckled.
"As long as you're sure it's not a problem." Julia said.
"It's not. Trust us." Luke smiled.
"Can y'all tell me what is going on with my car? Cooter was in yesterday and every time I mentioned Lonely Blue Boy, Cooter kept saying we would discuss it when I got home." Julia said.
"Uhhh, you know Cooter, he probably just doesn't want to worry you." Bo said.
"And we'll be here in the morning to take you home." Luke said.
"Daisy, will you bring me some clothes to wear home? I don't want to go in my pajamas." Julia said.
"Sure thing honey." Daisy smiled.
(Next Day)
The next morning, just as promised, the Duke family arrived at the hospital to take Julia home. The doctors had given her a final exam and released her to go home with instructions that she keep the bandage on her incision changed, keep her ribs bandaged, and keep her stitches and cast dry.
"Hey Julia, hear you get to come home today." Jesse smiled as they walked in.
"Yes and I can't wait." Julia smiled. "I already signed my release papers."
"I brought you some loose shorts and a loose fitting shirt. I figured it wouldn't hurt your stitches or bruises." Daisy said.
"Thank you; I'll go change in the bathroom." Julia said.
"You need help?" Daisy asked.
"I'll manage. I am getting better at this." Julia said, and grabbed the clothes, carefully making her way to the bathroom on her crutches. She shut the door behind her.
"So independent, just like her daddy." Jesse chuckled.
"Until all this happened, I didn't realize how grown up she really was." Bo said.
"Looks like she has her stuff all gathered up. She must really wanna go home." Luke said.
"Can't blame her, hospitals are dreadful places." Daisy said.
"I am just glad she is okay, that accident scared the daylights out of me." Bo said.
"Well, she has some special angels looking out for her." Jesse said.
After a few minutes, Julia came out of the bathroom, dressed and ready to go home.
"Now where is that nurse, I want to go home. A week in the hospital is enough to drive anyone crazy." Julia said.
"I'll go get her and tell her you are ready to leave." Daisy said.
"You got any prescriptions you need to have filled?" Luke asked as Daisy left the room.
"No, they just told me that should I start experiencing vomiting again to come back right away." Julia said.
"You just take it easy, you have to report to school on about a month and I want you well rested, so you make a good impression." Jesse smiled.
"Yes sir." Julia said.
Daisy walked back in with a nurse pushing a wheelchair.
"You're all set to go." Daisy smiled.
"Sure, just climb in and I'll take you downstairs." The nurse smiled.
"I'll go on ahead and pull my car around to the door." Daisy said.
"And me and the boys will get your bags." Jesse said.
Julia eased herself into the wheelchair and watched as the Duke men gathered her belongings. The nurse pushed her out of the room and down the hall to the elevator. The elevator carried them to the first floor where the nurse pushed her outside, she could see Daisy waiting with her car in front of the doors.
"Here you go Miss Collins. Is there anything else you need?" the nurse asked.
"No mam, thank you so much." Julia said.
She carefully got up from her wheelchair. Bo put his arm around her and helped her get into Daisy's car and get settled in.
"Careful with the seatbelt." Bo said.
"I will. Thanks." Julia said.
"We'll follow you home." He smiled and took off across the parking lot to where the General Lee was parked. Julia could tell Cooter had repaired the damage done in the accident.
"I am gonna drive as careful as I can, you just relax." Daisy told her.
Julia smiled. "If Rosco starts chasing us, you just give me the CB."
"You got it." Daisy pulled out.
"I never did find a handsome doctor. Had a cute male nurse…but he was wearing a wedding band." Julia said.
"I am sure there is some good looking guy around Hazzard that is just dying to go out with a pretty girl like you." Daisy chuckled.
"I wouldn't be much of a date. Leg in a cast, sore as all get out and can't wear a bra." Julia said.
"Well you'll be your old self in no time." Daisy said.
"I hope so." Julia said.
Julia relaxed as Daisy drove her home. She smiled as her farm came into view and Daisy parked in front of her house. Daisy parked the car and Julia opened the door in time to hear Jesse complaining out the doors of the General Lee being welded shut.
"Stay put sugar, I'll come help you." Bo said.
Julia swung her legs out of the car and Bo jogged over to help her stand and got her crutched out of the back for her.
"It is so good to be home." Julia looked around. "And there is Cannonball, he looks great.
Thanks so much for taking care of him."
"It was no problem. He is pretty easy going." Luke said.
"Let's get inside. I wanna see Blossom and Elvis." Julia said.
Julia carefully made her way up the porch steps and Daisy unlocked the door. Elvis immediately began barking and growling inside. When the door opened, Julia carefully walked inside.
"It's okay baby, mommy is home." She said and patted him. "No don't jump, mommy is injured."
Julia walked into the living room to the couch. She gently lowered herself onto the couch and petted Elvis who was sitting beside her.
"Blossom? Where you at sweetie?" Julia called.
A few seconds later Blossom ran into the room and jumped up on the couch.
"There is my baby. Did you miss me?" Julia stroked the cat.
"She is so happy to be home." Daisy smiled.
Julia sat with her pets, relaxing on the couch while the boys brought her belongings in.
"Just set them in my bedroom." Julia said.
"I will put your things away and start washing your laundry." Daisy said.
"Thank you, I appreciate that." Julia said. Daisy left to sort Julia's things.
"And me and Bo got you a few things to welcome you home." Luke said.
"You boys have done way more than enough already." Julia told them.
"Well, when we saw this, we just couldn't resist." Bo smiled.
Luke handed her a little box. She opened it up and saw records inside.
"Larry Gatlin and the Gatlin Brothers 'All the Gold in California'. It must be their new single." Julia said.
"Well we know you and the Gatlin Brothers." Bo chuckled.
"Conway Twitty 'Cross Winds'." Julia pulled another record out of the box. "I love Conway Twitty."
"We know." Luke smiled.
"Charley Pride 'You're My Jamaica'." She read. "Boys these are great albums, I love them. Thank you."
"We knew you would like them. And Daisy checked to be sure that you didn't have them already." Bo said.
"Oh thank you, I am sure I will listen to them a lot." Julia said.
"Julia, is there anything I can get you? Do you want something to drink or eat?" Jesse asked.
"No thank you Uncle Jesse. I am going to see my animals." Julia said.
"Shouldn't you rest a bit?" Jesse asked.
"I have just spent a week in bed. I want to see my animals. I am sure they have missed me. I missed them." Julia said and slowly pulled herself up off the couch.
"We'll go with her." Luke said, knowing with her stubborn streak an argument was pointless.
Julia carefully walked on her crutches out of the house and made her way towards the corral, Elvis staying right by her side. She whistled and Cannonball walked over to the fence to where she was standing. Bo and Luke stood back and watched as she patted his nose and spoke softly to her horse.
"I still can't get over how much she has grown up." Bo said.
"You keep saying that." Luke said.
"Not just physically. I mean how grown up she is inside. She has been so brave and strong through this whole thing. And worries about others first even though she is hurt." Bo said.
"She is a really good girl." Luke agreed.
"She has a good heart to go with all that red hair and pretty face." Bo said watching her nuzzle her horse.
"Yeah, she is something else." Luke agreed.
They watched as Julia turned and slowly made her way into the barn, Elvis following her. They followed her inside and saw her talking to her rabbits in their pen.
"Oh the boys look fine. I worry so much about Ronnie with him being blind, but he seems just fine." Julia smiled.
"I noticed Eddie Rabbitt sticks close to him. I think he knows Ronnie needs a little more help." Luke chuckled.
"Animals are very smart and often take care of each other. Remember my mom's dog that let the kitten nurse with her puppies. Animals know." Julia said.
The boys smiled watching Julia check over her rabbits. Finally she walked out to her chicken coop and saw the chickens roaming in the yard.
"Everything is just fine. Boys I dunno how to thank you." Julia said.
"No thanks needed. We were glad to do it." Luke winked.
"Thanks so much." She smiled.
(Evening)
That evening, Bo walked into Julia's house to find her listening to the Gatlin Brothers record he and Luke had bought her. He smiled, watching her sing along, having picked up the song quickly.
"Enjoying your record?" Bo chuckled.
"Very much. I swear this is what the angels are gonna sound like when I get to heaven." Julia smiled. "Have I ever mentioned how much I love the Gatlin Brothers?"
"Oh a few hundred times." Bo sat beside her, Elvis lifting his head to be sure Julia was okay.
"Where is Luke?" Julia asked.
"Putting Cannonball in the barn. I just finished closing up the chicken coop." Bo said. "I just came in to say goodnight to Daisy before we head home for the night."
"You just missed her; she went to take a shower." Julia said.
Bo nodded. "You need anything else before we leave?"
"No I am sure I will be fine." Julia smiled. "How goes getting ready for the race at the county fair?"
"We have been so busy this week we haven't had much time to think about it." Bo said.
"I don't want you boys helping me so much that you don't have the time to put in practicing and getting the General Lee ready." Julia said. "I plan to be cheering you guys on to victory."
"Yeah…I do drive like Cale Yarborough." Bo winked.
"You wanna win you better drive like Richard Petty." Julia chuckled.
Bo smiled and looked at her. "I am glad you are home. I could tell how uncomfortable you were in the hospital."
"Who can be comfortable in a hospital? Besides, if I had been in there much longer you would've run off with one of the nurses." She laughed.
"Not me, but maybe Uncle Jesse and that older nurse that worked evening shift." Bo laughed.
"I dunno if Ms. Tizdale could've lived with that." Julia chuckled.
Luke walked in. "Cannonball is all secured for the night and I got the Gatlin Duck Brothers in their pen."
"Thanks Luke." Julia smiled.
"We better get going, Bo. Julia we'll see you in the morning." Luke smiled.
"Goodnight Luke." Julia waved as he walked back outside.
"Well, I guess I better go before Luke leaves me here." Bo said. "Get some rest, you can finally sleep without people poking and prodding you."
"I will. See you in the morning." Julia smiled as Bo stood up.
"You sure you don't need anything?" he asked.
"I'll be fine. And I got Daisy here." She said.
"Goodnight Julia." Bo smiled.
"Goodnight Bo." Julia said as he walked out.