Chapter 2
Arriving at UT Medical Center in Knoxville, Tn., Caleb had strode straight to the front desk with his heart heavy and mind whirling with all that he'd just seen. His mind was in a different place at the moment, and was not aware of the nurse.
Looking up from her pile of work, the annoyed nurse behind the desk, spoke first, "Sir…can I help you? Hello…sir?" Clearing his throat, Caleb's mind snapped to the here and now and said, "Yes um, I'm here to see Luke Collins." Insensitive and rolling her eyes, "Are you family?"
"What?" Caleb asked. "Are you family?" she asked again this time more stern. Responding in a confused manner Caleb answered, "No, but I…" Cutting him off in a snarky way the lady said, "I'm sorry sir, only family members can see him!"
Irritated, and on the verge of exploding right here on this woman Caleb began to debate his cause, "I was at the Rodeo with him and I…" Raising her hand to stop him from continuing on she said, "Since you are not a family member you'll have to take a seat, or leave!" The nurse raised her eyebrow while nodding to an empty seat in the lobby, and pointing to the door, making her point quite clear.
He didn't know whether to stay or go, but he thought he would ask this, irritatingly insensitive, woman one more question, "Could you at least tell him that Caleb Odell was here."
A woman came in just as Caleb had asked his question, and she stopped, "Caleb, is it you?" He turned around and said, "I'm sorry, do I know you?" Apologizing, for her outburst she introduced herself, "I am so sorry Caleb, I am Luke's mother, Linda. Can you wait just a moment?" Then approaching the nurse's desk she announced, to the same snarky, insensitive nurse, "Pardon me miss, I'm Luke Collins' mother, and Caleb is with me! We'd like to see my son." '
"Thank you Ma'am, please have a seat." The nurse said without apologizing to Caleb.
Linda motioned for Caleb to follow her to where they could talk, somewhat privately. Linda's face showed the strain of a concerned and desperately worried mother who was sorry they had to meet under these circumstances; she started "You were on the same circuit as Luke... He spoke of you many times when returning home." Placing her hand on Caleb's shoulder and wiping a fallen tear with the other, she couldn't say much more. Caleb was beside himself, with grief, and seeing Linda for the first time, like this brought a tear of his own that he could no longer hold. He wasn't sure if he should tell her what had happened, so he decided to wait for her to ask. He certainly did not want to be rude and just blurt out disrespectfully the horrific scene.
There was a pause before either of them said a word, quietly allowing the other to grieve in their own way.
Linda, curious as to what happened, broke the silence first and asked "You must've seen the whole thing?" Caleb took a moment to clear his head and throat before answering, and while nodding in agreement he said "Yes Ma'am … I did … but how much do you want to know?"
She understood his question, but she needed to know everything, just as it had happened. She said, looking to his eyes, "Luke's father was in the rodeo too, so this isn't new for me or easy. Damn it…I just hate the rodeo. Every time his father came home racked up and hurt it made me sick. I will never understand what it is that draws you men to such abuse, that being said I need for you to tell me everything you saw. These doctors will only tell me so much, so if I can piece together what you tell me and what the doctors tell me, I will be able to make some sense of it. So, please Caleb, tell me what you saw."
Caleb, forgetting his manners earlier, now took off his hat and placed it on his lap then swiped his hair back with his other hand and with a coy charming smirk he nodded, "Pardon my lack of manners… but ok … I'll tell you."
After clearing his throat again, Caleb began;
"Ok…um Mrs. Collis, oh sorry … Ma'am."
Linda squarely looked him in the eye and blinked a couple of times saying "Caleb we're beyond these pleasantries, I hope, no need to call me by my last name and please… don't call me Ma'am. You may call me Linda."
This put a smile on Caleb's face, and it helped him to relax a bit, given his balled up nerves and not exactly, quite sure, how he should tell her, but gathering his thoughts he said,
"Linda … you have to know that Luke is one of the best, if not the best bull rider out there. He just got stuck with the wrong bull. Believe me… that could have been any one of us in there. That bull is a monster, and when Luke came out of the chute Big Ugly Critter was on fire and bucked him real hard. When Critter's front end came up and their heads smacked together - wham." Caleb clapped his hands for added effect, startling Linda who now sat up straight.
Caleb stopped for a minute as he looked down, remembering what happened next. Then trying to clear that lump forming in his throat he continued, "He um … Luke was knocked out cold, and there was a lot of blood. He was thrown … with Luke still attached to Critter. The cowboys and rodeo clowns were all over the place trying to stop the bull. They were able to get him free, but the Critter came back for him … and trampled him."
Looking down again, this time that lump sort of exploded so that tears streamed down his red taut facial expression. He couldn't look at Linda right now, because Cowboy's aren't supposed to cry like this. Roping in his flowing emotions was a bit harder than he had planned. His thumb and index finger swiped his eyes in a pinch, and Linda could tell that he was beating himself up with regret.
Linda got out of her seat and knelt in front of Caleb placing both hands on his shoulders she began "Caleb, listen to me. There is nothing you could've done. Heck I couldn't stop him from joining the damn circuit, but you being there … thank you. He looked up to you, and spoke of you fondly. This is what he chose to do. All I ask is that you continue to support him and be there when I can't … eh?" "Yes Ma'am" Caleb said.
They both stood now and both embraced in a well needed hug.
The doctor in the waiting the room now, asked for, "Mrs. Collins?" They both look at the doctor with expectancy. "Hello, I'm Dr. Gordon. I need to speak with Mrs. Collins privately." Linda shaking her head no said, "No I want Caleb with me." The doctor, giving a disagreeable look at Caleb said "Fine, let's sit down."
Dr. Gordon began;
"Let me start with the less serious of Luke's injuries." Linda nodded, while Caleb quietly listened.
"Luke needed 30 stitches to his forehead because of the deep laceration, caused from the impact. He also has several broken ribs, a broken collar bone, with many cuts and bruises to his torso. Now, Luke also has incurred a concussion, and he may have temporary blindness and memory loss due to the concussion, with plenty of rest and *NO* activity for at least 4 to 5 months, his temporary memory loss and blindness could go away. He's going to need around the clock care. We prefer to keep him here for at least 3 to 4 weeks, depending on how his recovery goes." Linda was fine with that. Dr. Gordon asked if she had any questions for him, she did not, because this was not her first ride on this particular merry go round.
However, she did ask, "Is it ok if we see him yet?" The doctor frowned upon too much activity in the room, so Luke could continue resting and allowed them to see him for no more than 30 minutes today. Linda nodded and understood, and asked "Can Caleb come in with me?"
Dr. Gordon answered, "You'll have 10 minutes, but then you'll have to leave. Is there anything else?" Linda said "Not right now, but will you be in later to check on him?" "As soon as I can, Alright then if there's nothing more, I'll see you later Ma'am, Caleb" Shaking their hands Dr. Gordon was off, making his rounds with other patients.
Linda looked at Caleb and said, "Are you ready?" Caleb nodded and said, "Yes Ma'am, let's go", Looking up at Caleb, Linda grinned.
To be continued
