A Better Idea
A/N: Annie's characters, Annie's words where appropriate.
Chapter Twenty-Six
Thursday, June 9th, 1983
Ennis Del Mar awoke, stretched and yawned. He checked the sky through the window across from his bed. Looks like it's going to be a fine day, he thought. Then his mood shifted 180 degrees away from optimism, when a memory struck him like a load of dirt coming off a dump truck. Oh no, it's Thursday. John C. Twist comes home today. "Shit!" he said; the word like buckshot flung against the walls of the empty trailer. Biting at a hangnail on his thumb, he started the coffee, then went to his bathroom, intent on pounding the negative images outa his mind with a scalding hot shower.
While he soaped himself all over, Ennis thought of Jack, as he did every day at this time. Usually this was a pleasant, sensuous time; beginning his day remembering the feel of Jack's hands and eyes on him as they glowed with passion. But this morning he wondered how his man was feeling right now; didn't think they had to go pick up JC till 2 p.m. I hope my darlin' is busy with chores and family, and not worrying himself sick over this thing.
Ennis thought my poor family, up there in Lightning Flat. He imagined Jack, Bobby and Mom at home wondering How will we deal with this mean old man?
Neither Jenny nor Junior had time to come over tonight, so Ennis guessed that it would be a long evening for him. Miss them so much now, even though seeing them more than ever. Enjoying them more than ever, too. he thought.
Wouldn't take a million dollars for the company of Jenny on the drive back to Riverton on Sunday evening, never knew she was so comical. Surprised him too how she insisted on spelling him, and taking her turn at the wheel. She's a good driver, my girl. Junior seeing a lot of that Kurt fella, nowadays, hope they take their time, don't rush into anything.
Ennis continued thinking on the people he loved as he drove to the ranch, the morning routine well behind him. He knew it would be a good day, and a busy one. Lots to do and only one more day after this till he could head on up to Lightning Flat again and let his body be where his heart was waiting, up there on the Montana border.
Pulling into the eastern gate of the Stodemeir Ranch, Ennis turned his thoughts to the days' work. The herd was in as fine shape as he could ever remember, knew it would be time to move them again in a week or two, depending on how much rain we . . . BANG!
Herman had been attempting to start his beloved automobile, the Bahama Yellow, 1967 Porsche 912, when it suddenly backfired, then rumbled to life.
Charlie Warren was directly behind the old car at the time, riding the new gelding Hot Flash, known to have a low startle point. The horse screamed and leaped into the air, with Charlie hanging on for dear life. Hot Flash raced away in fright from the loud noise, oblivious to Charlie's attempts to comfort and control him. The horse's intended trajectory was directly at Ennis' truck. Ennis had slowed to enter the gate, and then resumed speed to go around to the barn and stock pens, before he heard the car backfire.
It seemed to Herman as if it was choreographed; it almost looked like a Keystone Kops skit, except that it was not funny, not in the least bit funny.
Ennis Del Mar knew his truck's capabilities. He turned the wheel toward the charging gelding knowing that momentum would carry them well past each other, and avoid any sort of impact. Ennis tapped the brakes lightly to slow the truck, not wanting to lock them up. He maneuvered his vehicle as if it were an extension of himself, toward the safety of the roadside. Just then Hot Flash hesitated for a hairsbreadth, but blindly turned directly into his path. All Ennis could see was the rolling eyes of the gelding as it bore frantically down upon him, hurtling poor Charlie toward a disastrous end.
Wrenching the wheel hard right, Ennis was able to prevent the collision but was not able to avoid the inevitable. The old truck flipped, end over end, as though in slow motion, it's screeching metal twisting painfully upon itself.
Herman came on a dead run even before the truck came to rest on its top, astride the blacktop drive. Yelling instructions over his shoulder to Bruce Adams to call an ambulance, and to wait for them at the main gate and direct them back here; he fearfully touched Ennis' throat at a pulse point.
Momentarily relieved, Herman cried out, "Breathing! He's still breathing!"
Ennis was semi-conscious. He tried saying something like, "Jack Fuckin' Twist, look what you done! I'm kilt." Then blackness overtook him. He had been thrown clear, about ten yards from the pick-up. His face looked like someone Herman did not know, someone puffy. His arm was lying at a peculiar angle, and there was a large red knot rising on his brow.
Charlie was in agony, blaming himself for not controlling Hot Flash, and to make matters worse, he could now smell burning grease, and spilled fuel from Ennis' truck. He was urgently insisting that they should move Ennis further away even before the EMT's got there. He returned the goddamn horse to its stall, and came back to try to lessen, if he could, whatever damage had been done to his friend.
Herman was feeling Ennis' ribs, arms and legs, the ones that were not just obviously busted, and softly called his name, "Innis, Innis, can you hear me, boy?" He glared at Charlie, and shook his head No, when he approached, wanting to move Ennis. "NO Charlie! Vurst think ve coult do, moof him!"
The ranch hand knew his boss was right, but he wanted to do something, anything to try to make up for his part in this horrible accident.
Charlie began throwing dirt on the smoldering truck joints, and covering the spilled fuel, as well. He remembered seeing a fire extinguisher in the stable, and ran to retrieve it. He sprayed where he could feel intense heat radiating, not knowing if he was accomplishing anything, or not. By then they heard the siren, and anxiously watched and waited for Medical help to come.
Ennis again began to mumble, but his boss could not make out the words. Herman called to him, "Can you hear me, boy? You trying to say something?" He put his ear down near Ennis' mouth to hear better. It sounded like bits of nonsense; something like "tar iron" and then clearer, "fuckin' bastards". The poor boy is delirious, he thought, and that's not surprising with all that's happened to him.
When Ennis awoke finally, Junior and Jenny were standing beside his bed with frightened faces; their eyes wide with worry. He was glad to see them but didn't know why they were here, wherever 'here' was. And he said "My angels" . . . well, his brain said My Angels, but his mouth did not move. He tried to sit up, but a jolt of hot pain shot through his left arm, and his rib cage, so he changed his mind about that sitting up business.
The girls noticed that daddy was waking, and started crying in earnest then. He wanted to ask what was going on, but couldn't. Herman Stodemeir walked in looking like he'd lost his last friend. Is this some kinda weird dream? Am I dead? thought Ennis. Must be dead. Herman pulled chairs up for the girls.
Momentarily, Doctor Donohoe came in with a clipboard in his hand, and said "Looks like you finally decided to join us, Mr. Del Mar." He took a pen light out of his pocket and shined it in each of Ennis' eyes, probing around them gently. "Uh huh, uh huh," was all he said. What the shit does that mean? raged in-the-dark Ennis. Then he raised his eyebrows questioningly at the doc, Guh! Even that hurt!
The doctor informed him that he'd been in an accident, and that he had some broken bones, but nothing that wouldn't heal nicely in time. "You are in good hands here at St. Ann's, we'll get you better in due time, do not doubt that." With that pronouncement, the doctor left the room, with Ennis not knowing much more than he did before.
Ennis' right hand had some red, iodiney lookin stuff on it, but it was not in a cast, nor was the arm. He tested it, found he could lift it and reached out to his girls. They each clung gratefully to his arm. "Daddy, We were SO worried about you! How do you feel? Oh we know you can't talk, sorry. Daddy, Mr. Stodemeir has been here all afternoon, waiting to see you."
When Ennis looked at him, Herman began telling him how very sorry he was, that this was all his fault, and that he would do everything in his power to see that Ennis had a full recovery, and for him not to worry about anything.
He realized that Ennis probably still did not know what had happened, how he had been hurt nor what his injuries were.
So, in his earnest and heartily sorry voice, Herman informed Ennis and the girls of the car's backfire, the horse's fright, the change of direction, and as he spoke, it was all coming back to Ennis' memory, up to that point.
When he continued, he told of the truck flipping, end over end, and Ennis being thrown free. The girls couldn't hold back then, crying profusely, they said "Oh, poor daddy!" and patted his good hand and arm.
He pantomimed Writing, with his right hand, and the girls found him a pen and small tablet. Ennis wrote, "how bad?" So Herman filled him in about the particular injuries he'd sustained. He pointed at his own jaw and said "Broken, undt Vired Shut!" Then he touched his own left arm below the elbow, and said "Multiple Fractures – dey operated on you earlier today." And then thinking, he added "got pins now," pointing to his own arm again. He pointed to his ribs and held up one finger, "cracked", he said, "taped now." And last, Herman pointed to his own forehead, and told Ennis "goose ache". He could not figure out what Mr. Stodemeir was trying to say, so he looked at the girls, and Jenny said, "you got a big bump, daddy." Junior told him "Goose Egg size". He thought; Guess I ain't winnin no beauty contest today.
Ennis' face looked worried, as he wrote "gotta work" on the tablet. Herman shook his head back and forth. "Innis, yur chob right now iss to get vell. Nutting elss. Yur veekly vages will be pait, as usual, sints this vas my fault, undt happent on my property; I am responsible. The ranch vill be cofering all a yur medical bills, you are not to vurry yourself about anyting!"
Ennis still looked quite confused and worried. He motioned for the tablet again and wrote "my truck?" and then upon further reflection wrote beneath that line, "Charlie ok?"
Herman told him that Charlie was fine, just worried about him. But the news about the truck was not so good. Totaled.
All four of the people in the room became quiet, thinking how much worse it might have been. And what would need to be done to get him well again, and everything back to the way it was. The girls were wondering if everything would ever be the same again. Herman resumed, "Iss dere some vun at home to take care uff you when you are releaset, Innis, or vill I hire you a nurse?"
Junior said, "Please sir. My daddy wouldn't want no nurse in his house." Ennis agreed with Junior by moving his hand in a refusing gesture.
He was feeling as hurt and vulnerable as a small child. He realized who he needed the most right then. The one who would take care of me has her hands full with her husband now, I wish I could be there, at home and let Mom comfort me and shoulder all my worries. Ennis recognized that he had thought "home" when thinking of Lightning Flat, and let his mind hear it again. Home. Tears gathered in those cinnamon eyes.
He looked at the girls again, needing the tablet. "Called Jack?" he wrote. They said they had not yet, waiting to know how bad he was and so forth.
"Need you call – talk 4 me." They nodded their heads yes, firmly.
Herman took off for the ranch then, to tell everyone how Ennis was doing, and to lie down. The events of this long day had drained him. He felt so bad for his part in unintentionally causing the chain of events that had injured this fine young family man. The guilt was a heavy weight on his chest. He was determined to make all this up to Ennis; he only had to figure out how.
Ennis wrote out the phone number for Junior to dial, and she, being the oldest was to tell Jack what had happened to their daddy. Ennis began to wave his good hand at her, he wrote, "ask, grandpa twist come home?"
When Junior reached the Twist house, it was Gran who answered. She called Bobby in to ask him to run out to the barn and get his daddy; say that Junior was on the phone. She didn't want him overly alarmed before he got in the house, so guessed that was the right thing to say. She was so nervous that she wouldn't step too far away, worrying and wondering why Ennis did not place the call for himself.
Jack grabbed up the handset, "Junior, what's wrong?" he demanded. She knew he was frightened, so first she summarized, and only then filled in chronologically what all had taken place today. "So you, Jenny and your dad are at the hospital now? And he's going to stay a day or two, you think?"
"Well, Jack, maybe only one more day. But they say he must have someone stay with him when he goes home, to take care of him for several weeks. At least as long as his jaw is wired shut."
"Course he must, course." Jack mulled over the situation trying to think but couldn't. His insides were trembling and he missed Ennis so much already. "Junior, you tell him Jack says "I love you, babe."
"Oh, Jack, you can tell him yourself. Just a sec, I'll hand him the phone. He has one good hand and arm. He can't answer you though. Oh wait; before I give daddy the phone, he wanted me to ask if grandpa Twist came home today. Okay, here's daddy."
"Ennis? You there, Cowboy?"
"Uh huh"
"You alright, baby?"
"Un"
"You're not, huh? Ennis, I love you so much. You know that, don't you?"
"Uh huh"
"Cowboy, can I come get you and bring you home?"
"Uh huh"
Jack was choking back tears, trying to think clearly, and stalling; hoping his power of reasoning would return. Jack was used to thinking in tight situations, but having his Cowboy hurt has completely undone him.
"Ennis, Junior said you wanted to ask if my dad came home today. He did. It tired him out quite a bit, the traveling, loading and unloading. So he's been sleeping a lot, kind of reserved. With him, no news is good news, you know?"
Jack took another second to think.
"Ennis, darlin', I'm coming to get you. I don't know how or when yet. But it won't be long. I just have to figure it out. Okay?"
"Uh huh?"
"Ennis, I'm sorry I ever wished for you to be quiet, and not so blamed argumentative. I take it all back. When you get well, you can talk all day and all night. I mean it, love."
"Hunn!" Ennis came pretty close to laughing at that, and knew that no one in the world but Jack Twist could do that to him in the state he was in tonight.
"Ennis, is there something you want to tell me, too?"
"Uh huh!"
"You love me don'tcha Cowboy? You're just stuck on me, bigtime, ain'tcha?"
"Uh huh!" and Ennis smiled the best he could.
Junior and Jenny felt much warmer, and calmer as they watched the change come over their father. They knew Jack was working his magic.
Jenny touched her daddy's good arm. "Dad, I need to talk to Jack when you're through."
Ennis was tired; just holding the phone seemed to tax his strength.
Taking the phone from her dad's hand, Jenny spoke swiftly and efficiently.
"Jack, are you coming to get daddy and me?"
"Yes, I am."
"Jack, can Mauro fly you to Riverton, and bring us all back up there?"
"Uh, I don't rightly know, darlin'. Hadn't thought of that. My brain has kinda froze up on me."
"You wanna check it out, and then call me at home? I need to tell mama that I'm going to take care of daddy, and I'll be away for several weeks, as long as it takes."
"Jenny, I think that's a perfect idea. We'll have a regular little infirmary set up here, Miss Nightingale."
"I'll pack while I wait for your call, Jack. Either way, we're coming up there. Even if I have to drive us. Oh, wait. Daddy's truck was totaled. Did they tell you that? Somehow, me and Junior will pack up daddy's clothes and stuff too. Jack, don't you worry about daddy too much. With our tender loving care, you and me will have him back to his old self in no time. You hear me, Jack?"
Jack finally let the tears roll, "yes, darlin' I hear ya. Thank you."
Jenny looked at Ennis as he was nodding off. Finally the pain medication was working. "Daddy says he loves you, Jack. Talk to you later tonight." She rubbed his good hand while she told that little bit of a stretch on the truth. She believed if daddy'd been awake, he Would have said that.
Alma came to the hospital to pick up the girls as soon as they called her. She came in to check on Ennis, and it was all she could do to hide the lump in her throat for the man who was her first love. She was not used to seeing him hurt and vulnerable. She didn't like it one bit. She said a prayer for him to get well and regain his strength soon. No way for this strong man to be, laying all helpless in this hospital bed. She wiped her eyes on her sleeve as the girls gave their home phone number to the night nurse, as first contact.
Junior was frustrated that she had to go to work, had to stay in Riverton. After all, she was her daddy's best girl, always had been. Well, she thought, Kurt will be glad I'm not leaving town without him again.
She knew that Jenny would keep her updated every day if necessary, while they were up there in Lightning Flat. Still, I will miss them. We'll have to see what we can do. It's still my job, as the oldest, to take care of my daddy.
After Jack called and updated Alma, he talked to Jenny. "Seems that tomorrow, as soon as the morning legislative session is over, Mauro has to fly Governor Herschler from Cheyenne, up to Gillette for a long weekend with his in-laws. Works out perfectly, Mo can pick me up here, and we'll meet you at the Riverton airport. You have a way to get you and your daddy from that hospital to the airport, Jenny girl?"
Jenny admitted that she did not, at the moment have all that nailed down, so she'd have to let him know tomorrow. Jenny wasn't worried, she'd handle it.
Her first call was to Herman Stodemeir. As soon as she told him of her plan, he offered to give Ennis a pick-up truck as a replacement for the one that got totaled this morning. Jenny declined politely, thinking that daddy would Never accept something that big from a friend, and Herman was a friend.
She told him she needed good solid transportation from the hospital to the airport. Something that would not jar him about, and cause her daddy extra pain. "Ach! I know yust the ting! My aunt Greta has a brand new '83 Lincoln Town Car. Large, luxurious, and up to the minute. I vill personally pick you up from the hospital and take you to the airport. Yust call me vhen you know the time uf his release."
Alma agreed to run Jenny over to Ennis' trailer in the morning to pack his necessary items, and to bring Jenny's and Ennis' luggage to the hospital for her, or to the airport, whichever makes the most sense.
Bobby was nagging Jack to take him along to Riverton to pick up Ennis and Jenny, but Jack wasn't sure about space. If Ennis needed to stretch out, he wanted to have the room available for him. Bobby can go with us another time. "Besides," Jack whispered in his son's ear, "Jenny will be here for two or three weeks, maybe more. You don't need to be in that big a hurry to see her." He deliberately watched for Bobby's reaction, and he saw the pink climbing up his neck and splash across his ears. That's just what he thought.
Jack told Bobby how much he was depending on him to help Gran take care of grandpa Twist. "You know I will, daddy." Bobby promised.
As it turned out, Jack talked Mauro into flying into Riverton as early as he could Friday, after getting the governor settled in Gillette. He just could not sit and wait in Lightning Flat, nor in Riverton either; had to get to Ennis.
Alma offered to pick Jack up to take him to the hospital. While at the airport, she got Jenny's and Ennis' luggage from the trunk of her car, and suggested that Jack put it in the plane now. Before pulling away, she asked, "Don't your friend want to come along, get some lunch or something, Jack?"
Jack looked at her wide-eyed, but contrite. "I don't know, it was the farthest thing from my mind, Alma. Hold on a minute, please." He ran back to make offers of food and whatever Mauro might need, apologizing all over himself for his lack of manners. No need for that; Mauro understood and was concerned about Ennis, as well. Said he'd just go to the pilot's lounge inside the airport and have a bowl of soup and take a nap till they needed him. He gave Jack the phone number to call when they were leaving the hospital. "I'll be here whenever you need me, Jack. Now go along to Ennis, I'll be fine." Mauro clapped Jack on the shoulder, "Now, on your way."
In the car, Jack was visibly shaken and worried. Looks of him, he probably hadn't slept since getting the girls' call. Alma looked over at him as she negotiated the light midday traffic. "He's going to be okay, you know." she said gently. Jack turned big pleading eyes on her, "Alma, I have to see him for myself; I been sick with worry."
She reached over with her right hand and placed it on his forearm, "I know."
Only then did the tears streak down his silent cheeks.
She let him be for a minute or two, then said, "Now, you need to listen to me, Jack." Hearing Alma's firm tone, Jack sat up straighter, dried his tears, and licked his lower lip. "Need you to think this through. This place you're takin my . . . girls' daddy. It's pretty rural up there, ain't it?" Jack nodded. "Well, he's been on medicine for pain, and I don't know what all. You are the one in charge. You'll have to talk to his doctor, find out everything he needs, and get it before you leave Riverton. Might need several more prescriptions, and other treatments too, and the schedule for each, you got that? You need to be askin all the right questions. It's Ennis' health we're talkin about here."
Jack appeared to grow taller and stronger sitting there in the passenger seat next to Alma. Her words brought him back to himself, brought back his strength. He was under control as he thanked her. Ennis had recently told her that Jack was a good man. She could see that it was true. Instinctively, Alma knew this man would take care of Ennis Del Mar. She could let go now.
Alma and Jack walked into Ennis' room together. Jack had to take a deep breath and a moment to collect himself again, upon seeing evidence of all the damage his man had sustained. He surveyed the head bandages, the mouth hardware, the full arm cast, and the taped ribs; not to mention the scrapes, bumps and bruises just beginning to turn color.
Though Ennis was dozing, he was aware someone had come in and he was attempting to open his one available good eye, the other being completely swollen shut. He saw blue eyes, and a black hat. Jack Fuckin Twist, he thought. Ennis raised his right arm to touch this apparition, make sure that his man was really here. When he touched solid skin, his tears rolled down the sides of his face and into his ears. Tickled a bit.
Jack took Ennis' hand and brought it to his mouth, kissing the palm and holding it against his own face. Ennis could feel Jack's stubble, knew he had been worried, and rushed here. "Are you hurtin', darlin'?" Jack asked.
Ennis could not communicate with gestures either, as everything hurt. But he was able to hold his finger and thumb about a half inch apart in the sign for "a little bit". Jack wanted to know so much, but only asked, "Ennis, have they said when you can be released?" Ennis looked for his tablet and pen but had no peripheral vision.
Alma had seen him use them last night, and now she retrieved them from the table beside the bed. Handing them to Jack, she said "He wants to write an answer for you. Put the pen in his hand, and hold the paper, just so." Ennis had not known she was there beside him. He gazed at these two people he'd loved for so long, and was strangely pleased to see them here together.
He wrote "3" and Jack checked his watch, noting that it was two hours away. "Alma, will you stay here with Ennis while I hunt up his doctor?" and she nodded her agreement. Then she remembered that Ennis could not see her, and answered verbally. "Yes, Jack. I'll be right here." Ennis' heart swelled with gratitude. Not more than a week ago, he had asked Alma to try to call Jack by his name, and not "that man", and today, she has done so.
"Ennis, have you seen Jenny this afternoon?" She made sure the pen was firmly in his hand and held the tablet close. He wrote "Y" and then under that wrote "Dr."
"She's gone to find your doctor?" she asked if she had it right.
Again, he wrote "Y". Then she took the pen and tablet from his hand, laid them aside, and patted his hand. She said, "Okay, you just rest now."
Alma heard voices in the corridor and knew Jenny and Jack were coming back. But when they walked in, Jack had his arm around her Jenny, and she was looking up into his face, showing him the prescriptions they would need to pick up, and said she had a treatment schedule. Alma felt a shattering jolt of jealousy rip through her entire body. It's not enough he steals my man, now he's taking my kids from me too! Her fists clenched at her sides.
Jenny smiled and ran to hug her mother.
"Mama, Jack said you're such an amazing woman. You picked him up at the airport, knocked some sense into him and saved his life! He said you already put our luggage on the plane, and told him what he needs to do before we leave Riverton. I told him that wasn't news; we always knew that 'bout you!"
Alma blushed and suddenly felt her hands and body relax. "Aw, go on. I didn't do anything." she claimed.
Jack approached her as a student to a venerable teacher. "You really set me straight. I was a mess, Alma, and you know it. Thank you, for everything."
She just nodded, silently thankful.
Alma needed to leave; her husband and kids were waiting at home. But before she left, she had something to say to the three people in this room. "Ennis, are you awake?" He opened his eyes and blinked at her. "Jack, Jenny, you are my witnesses, now. Ennis, as long as Jenny is going to be staying up there with you, it's not right for you to be paying Child Support to me. So that ends, here and now."
Ennis reached for the pen and paper, and thrust it at her, "Not Right". She nodded her head and said "I figured you'd say that. We can argue about it later, when you get your wires out. We can have a nice long talk then. In the meantime, I'm not accepting any mail from you."
She hugged her youngest daughter tight, took Jenny's face in her hands and kissed her saying "I'm so proud of you, Jenny; you've turned in to a very responsible young woman. Take good care a your daddy 'n yourself too, ya hear? And don't you forget to call home!"
"Okay mama, I won't forget to call you." Jenny hugged her mother goodbye.
As Alma stepped to the door, Jack offered her his arm, which she graciously accepted. He walked her out to her car. "I'll take care a both a them, you know." Jack said, smiling down at her.
"Jenny will call you, as soon as we get home, I promise. Thank you once again, Alma, for everything." Jack felt gratitude to this strong woman.
"Bye, Jack, talk to you soon."
As she slid into the driver's seat, Jack said, "Ennis feels real strong on that Child Support, ya know." Alma smiled at him and said "Yes, I know. So do I."
While Jack was out of the room, Jenny called Mr. Stodemeir, and he was on his way. She tracked down the day nurse, got the discharge papers located, and the processing started. She was learning; nothing is easy in the hospital.
Jack gave Mauro a call, and told him of their expected timeline. Before he knew it, they were gingerly loading Ennis into the back seat of the Town Car. Jack thought it best to sit in front with Herman; he could stand it for the few minutes it took to get across town even though he couldn't get his hands on Ennis while in such a public place. Jack had helped put Ennis in the car and petted him as much as he could without inflicting pain. It seemed like a normal thing a friend would do, and it gave Jack comfort to have this little bit of contact with his Cowboy.
Jenny sat in back with her dad, his head in her lap. She lightly touched his good arm. Herman prevailed upon them to shop at his own Pharmacy, and charge everything they needed to his account. He took down Jack's phone number so he could call and check on Ennis in a day or so. Herman had long considered Ennis to be like a son to him, and it was breaking his heart to see him go so far away to recuperate. "By the vay, how iss Innis' fahter-in-law doink dese days?"
"Excuse me?" Jack asked, not sure he'd heard right. Jenny looked puzzled.
"Innis tolt me his fahter-in-law had a stroke, undt he vas helping oudt up at Lightning Flat. How iss he doink?
Jack Twist smiled, and said "Oh, pretty good, he came home from the hospital yesterday."
TBC