The ride to the hospital took about forty minutes. It was a mostly silent ride. The only time that changed was when
Brian stopped at a gas station to fill up the truck. The attendant came over to ask what we needed and Brian told him to fill
the tank.
"Do we have time-that I could go in for a minute?" Jill asked Brian, leaning across me. Polite as could be, I noticed.
"Yeah. We have time," Brian told her.
Jill got out of the truck, and went towards the station, going inside.
As the attendant began washing the windshield, Brian nodded towards the building, and said, "What was goin' on with
the two of you, back at the house?"
I looked at him swiftly, surprised. I mean, I knew that Brian had noticed something between Jill and I, but I was surprised
that he asked about it. That's not really his style. If her and I had been going at it, head-on, screaming or hair-pulling, then sure, then he
would have intervened. But, to ask about just an appearance of friction between me and Jill, that surprised me.
When I didn't answer immediately, Brian quirked an eyebrow. "Huh?" he prompted.
I shrugged. "Same old, same old."
"What's that mean?" he asked.
"It wasn't anything," I said. "We just don't get along. It wasn't any one particular thing."
"Mmmm," Brian said, and then, as the guy finished washing the windshield, and filling the tank, he took out his
wallet.
"Twelve bucks even," the guy said.
Brian pulled out a ten and two ones and handed it to him.
"Thanks," he told the guy.
"Why is that?" Brian asked, as the guy headed inside.
"Why what?"
"Why do you have such a tough time with Jill?"
I was shocked that he even had to ask me that.
"Because," I said. "Because she's whiny, and entitled, and-" I hesitated, as I saw Jill coming back out and towards us. "And-because
she doesn't really love Daniel."
Brian gave me a hard look. I had the distinct feeling that he would have said a lot more. Except for the fact that Jill
was opening the truck door, and sliding back into the seat.
Once we were in the elevator going up to the floor that Daniel was on, Jill laid her hands on her stomach.
"The lurching of this thing," she said, with a groan.
The elevator stopped, and a young couple got on, and we rode up another floor, and they got off.
"I should have eaten something else, I think," Jill said. "My stomach settles down after I eat, usually."
"You can get somethin' out of one of the vending machines," Brian said, in suggestion. "Or get some fruit from the
cafeteria. That might be better."
Probably a year or so ago-Brian wouldn't have suggested anything. But, now that he had a pregnant wife of his own, he'd definitely learned a good bit about
women's health, and tips and tricks to help.
Jill flashed Brian a huge smile, and said, "Good idea," as if he'd suggested the cure for the common cold or something.
I suppressed a huge sigh, but rolled my eyes heavenward.
Once the elevator came to a stop at the fourth floor, and the doors opened, Jill said, "He's in Room 283. Down this way."
She led the way down the hallway and when we went into the room, Crane, who was sitting with his long legs propped on the
end of the hospital bed, straightened, and stood up. Daniel was sleeping, and Crane snapped the television remote, turning off the
Bonanza rerun.
Jill went immediately to the side of the bed, to look down at Daniel, and Brian and Crane had a low-toned conversation.
"He's gettin' some rest," Brian said, nodding towards the sleeping Daniel.
"Yeah, he's been in and out," Crane said.
"They still plannin' on doing the MRI later?" Brian asked.
Crane nodded. "That's what they're saying."
I had gone to the other side of the bed, studying Daniel. He had an IV in his arm, and the other arm-his left-was in a cast,
held against his chest, with a sling around the cast. There were cuts on the side of his face and across his chin. He looked defenseless.
I couldn't help myself from reaching out to run my fingers over his hand that was sticking out from the cast.
Crane had stepped back over beside me, and I looked up at him, feeling really emotional.
"Is he in lots of pain?" I asked.
"They're giving him medicine for the pain," Crane said.
Jill had pulled a chair up to the edge of the bed on the other side, and had hold of Daniel's other hand.
So, after that, we all sat. And sat some more. There weren't enough chairs, so Brian paced back and forth, until Crane
told him to take his chair.
"I'm going to grab a cup of coffee," Crane said. "You need anything?" he asked Brian, and then looked at me
and at Jill.
Jill shook her head, seeming subdued. When Crane came back a few minutes later, though, he'd brought a drink carrier,
and coffee for all of us.
I let Crane have my chair, and he took it, and I perched myself, half on one of his long legs, and halfway squeezed into
what was left of the chair.
Daniel stirred as the nurse came bustling in, to take his vitals, and after that, Daniel opened his eyes.
He took in Jill, sitting there clutching at him, and said, "Jilly," in a hoarse voice.
I'd never heard him call her that before. Jilly. Then he turned to look at Brian and me.
"Hey, big brother," he said, and Brian and I came to the edge of the bed.
"Hey, yourself," Brian greeted him.
Daniel smiled at me, but I could tell it was a real effort for him to do so.
"Hullo, squirt," he said.
"Hey," I said.
"What's the idea?" Brian asked him. "Scarin' the hell out of everybody?"
It was such a Brian thing to say. Half scolding, half teasing. The corner of Daniel's mouth lifted in a slight grin.
"Sorry about that," Daniel said, in the raspy voice.
They brought in a lunch tray after that, and Daniel ate, and then he fell asleep again. Brian stood up, stretching out his
back, and then tapped my shoulder. "Let's go down and get some lunch," he told me.
I got obediently to my feet. I wasn't very hungry, really, but I was ready to stretch my legs.
Brian paused, looking at Jill. "You ought to eat," he told her.
"Could you bring me up a salad or something?" she asked. "I don't want to leave him yet."
"Yeah," Brian said, in agreement. He ushered me out of the room, and we went back to the elevator, riding it down to
the floor which held the cafeteria.
We chose our food, and went to sit down at one of the few tables that was left unoccupied.
"We could take it back up to the room to eat," I suggested.
"Nah. Let's eat down here."
As we began eating, I asked Brian how he thought Daniel looked.
"I mean, he just seems so weak," I pointed out.
"I imagine he does feel weak. He looks rough," Brian said, bluntly.
"If the test shows his back is messed up, he won't be able to work, will he?" I asked.
Brian took a drink of his Coke, and said, "He'll heal up alright."
He said it in a confident tone, as if he was absolutely certain.
"What if he can't, though?" I persisted.
"Then we'll get him to physical therapy, or whatever else he needs."
I nibbled at my sandwich. It tasted bland. The roast beef was tough. I pushed what was left across the table
to Brian.
"You want the rest?" I offered.
"You eat it."
"I don't want any more of it," I said.
He looked at me, and I waited for him to insist that I finish it.
"I brought an apple," I said. "It's in Daniel's room. I'll eat that later."
Brian nodded briefly, and I waited for him while he went back to the line, and got Crane and Jill both a sandwich.
As we rode back up in the elevator, I said, briefly, "Jill said a salad."
"What?"
"Jill said she wanted a salad."
"The sandwich will be fine," Brian said.
I looked at him, raising my eyebrows in a 'whatever you say' sort of look. "Okaaaay," I said. "Be ready for the diva attitude."
Brian gave me a look right back again, and I could tell he was irritated.
"A sandwich, or a salad, that's the least of our worries right now, Harlie."
"I know that, Bri. Jill may not, though."
The elevator stopped at our floor, and we stepped out, and as I moved to start walking down the hall, Brian caught
my wrist.
"Harlie," Brian said, "Let's just do what needs doin'. Alright?"
I blinked up at him, at first, confused, and then, feeling scolded, although I wasn't sure that's what he intended.
"Okay," I said, somewhat defensively, and Brian gave a brief nod.
I looked towards the nurse's station to see if we were being overheard, even though Brian had been talking in a low voice.
"I don't know why you're getting onto me," I said, feeling emotional. "I haven't done anything."
"I'm only sayin' not to be provoked into anything with Jill. This is about Daniel. It's not about whatever's going on
between the two of you," Brian said, still quietly.
Wow. I felt quick, stupid tears spring to my eyes. I really, really felt scolded now. And, hurt. I felt blindsided,
like Brian was thinking that my first priority was not Daniel.
I gave Brian a long look, eye to eye, and then I looked away. "Fine," I said, shortly. Curtly. And, then I walked
back down the hall to Daniel's room.
Jill didn't say a word against the sandwich that Brian had brought. She just smiled, and thanked him so sweetly that
it made me sick. She ate it, and Crane ate his, while Brian paced some more.
Jill brushed the crumbs from her dress, and patted Daniel's hand. "I'll be right back," she said. "They should be
coming to get him soon for the MRI, the nurse said."
Daniel had been dozing, but he opened his eyes, as Jill stood up, and left the room.
I'd been sitting beside Crane, keeping quiet, and Daniel said, still in that hoarse voice, "Squirt-"
I looked at him, and he said, "Comere. Come and talk to me."
I scooted the chair over to sit beside his bed. He wiggled the fingers sticking out of his cast in a signal for me to take them.
I did, and I squeezed them gently.
"You okay?" he asked. His voice wasn't very loud, because it was so hoarse-sounding.
"I'm okay," I said, feeling emotional. "I'm not the one laying there, all busted up."
"Aw, this is nothin'," Daniel said, lifting the casted arm just slightly. He tried the grin out again. "What have you been
doin'? How's that renegade horse of yours?"
I tried to amuse Daniel, and I told him how earlier I had tried to entice D.C. to the corral with an apple, but he'd resisted, so
I'd gotten so mad that I'd started eating the apple myself, and hollering out to D.C. about how good it was, as though he
would understand me, and be sorry for his behavior.
Daniel did chuckle, and then coughed, as though it hurt to try to laugh.
Jill came back, and two hospital workers came to take Daniel down to his MRI appointment. They took him down in
a wheelchair, and as they were pushing him out of the room, he said, "You all headin' home?"
"We'll stay until you're finished," Brian answered.
"There's Adam," Crane said, and we all turned to see Adam coming off the elevator.
"Just in time, huh?" Adam said, resting a hand on the back of Daniel's neck.
The orderly told us we could wait in the room, or in one of the lounges, and that it would be an hour or so before
the MRI was finished.
We ended up going to the lounge nearest to Daniel's room. The television was on, with a cartoon, and there was a lady
sitting there, knitting, while her two little kids ran around the room.
"Did you eat lunch?" Adam asked me, as I sat down in the chair next to him.
"Yeah."
"How about you, Crane?" Adam asked.
"Yeah, I had a sandwich," Crane answered.
Adam's eyes rested on Jill, sitting across from us. "You need to eat, too," he told Jill.
"I did. Brian got me something earlier," Jill said, with another slight smile at Brian.
"Good," Adam said. Apparently satisfied that everybody had been fed, Adam began a conversation with Brian and Crane
about ranch stuff. I sat, quiet, and after a bit Adam reached over and laid his hand on my knee.
"You're quiet," he said.
I shrugged, and he said, "Are you feelin' alright?"
"Yes."
Adam tipped his head slightly, looking quizzical, and I said, "I'm just worried about Daniel."
"I know," he said, and patted my knee, comfortingly. "He's gonna be alright, though."
I looked up and saw Jill, watching and seeming to listen. Our gazes met, and then she gave a very, very slight smile, and
took a small notebook out of her bag, and began writing in it.
I wasn't sure what to make of that smile.
7