TO FIND PEACE 19

ty kept kateys car in sight all the way to the turn off to his parents ranch. he almost didnt turn off but knew it wouldnt take but a bit to explain to his folks why he wasnt comming home right away. katey was pushing the speed lmit. hunched over the steering whell and gripping it in a white knuckle grip. there was a big sweeping tirn comming up just out side of town if anything she speeded up. cleve simply opened his eyes and said" slow down girl ime a long ways from dead, we got time." when she backed off the accelerator he closed his eyes again. a few minutes later she wheeled into the lane in front of the emergency room. she slammed on the brakes and jumped out and ran to the hospital door punching the button mounted there for service. in a few seconds a attendent came to the door and opened it katey blurted out about clive and the man brought a wheel chair to the car. clive looked at the wheel chair like he might with distrust. the attendent helped him into the chair and began wheeling him into the emergency room. katey was gettting in the car when cleve hit the hand break on the chair"where you going?" " ime going to park the car. ill be right there."katey explained. when she walked into the emergency room she could hear clives voice down the hall" not yet wait a minute for katey WAIT!" when she stepped into the curtin shrouded room she saw clive propped up in bed the nurse at hs side trying to put a i v in place but clive was squirming around ready to cuss her out. "ime here cleve, whats the matter?" katey asked " they are wanting to pump me full of something i dont know what . is it ok?"cleve kept squirming. " its standard , dextros we give it to every one until the doctor gets here." the nurse explained. katey nodded to clive" its ok lay back and rest the doctor is on the way." clieve relaxed. and let the nurse do her job. a girl with a clip board came in." we need some information can you help us?" " she will tell you everything you need, she is my daughter." cleve spoke without opening his eyes. katey looked at him in disbelief." ok what you need?" she asked the girl. they went to the lobby . just as katey finished filling out the papers ty came in the front door. he marched straight to katey" how is he?" was all he said. " resting , i think the doctor is with him now , lets go see." back at the bed side the doctor was sitting in a chair filling out a form on a clip board. cleve was sleeping. the doctor pointed out side the curtain and got up and led the way out to a waitting area. " its not as bad as it looked. a minor heart attack we can deal with it with medication and rest in time he should be back to normal." the doctor explained " but lets keep him here for a few days to be on the safe side.i dont think he will be the most model patient tho." katey shook her head" no, probabl;y not. we will go get lunch and come back maybe get him to settle down and relax."

TO FIND PEACE 18

cleve was in bed early. his skin a ashen color and he had a slight wheeze. i gave up on keeping it from katey he just didnt have the strenght. when he nodded off to sleep katey sat on the porch steps with the cowboy. " what are we going to do? ime scared he looks terrible." she blurted out. " lets keep a eye on him through the night. if theres no change or he s worse we take him to the hospital in town. he didnt want me to tell you about this but it was a bit hard to hide.. if we can get him stable ill need to run home and tell my folks i need to stay here a while."ty explained. " ill set with hime till midnight if you can after that?" katey said. ty nodded and told her to call him no matter the time. ty went to his bed roll and went to sleep. katey went back in the house and pulled a chair into the bed room. the next morning just a little past 6 cleve opened his eyes, looking to the side he saw ty snoozing in the chair. he needed two things, cofee and a trip to the bathroom but he didnt think he had enough where with all to pull off the second one. he cleared his throat, ty s eyes flew open but his head remain stationary. " will you help me to the john?" cleve asked. ty jumped to his feet and rolled back the covers on the bed. in just a few moments he had cleve in the bathroom. when cleve was back in bed and propped up with some pillows ty went for coffee.. when he returded he handed clevea mug of the hot brew then reaced into his back pocket and produced a pint of JIM BEAM bourbon. he held it out to cleve who snatched it from the young mans hand.: what you doing with this? you got no business with this." cleve poured a generous amount into his coffee. : dont tell katey about this" was all he said as he sipped the concoction. his color was still ashen . and it scared ty. quetly and almost under his breath ty said " we need to get you to a doctor, or the hospital. this isnt right " i hate those places, but your right. you got a plan?" cleve mumbled. " let me talk to katiey, i think she can take you. ill catch things up around here then come on in." ty explained.while ty did the chores katey has dressed cleve and made him presentable and loaded him in her car. waveing at ty she roared out of the yard toward the main road. she glanced over at cleve and he had buried his head into a pillow and his eyes were closed as she approached the end of the drive way she saw the state truck parked in the gate. she braked to a stop. the stubby range con walked up to her window with a attitude . " get out of my way , ime on the way to the hospital with cleve MOVE!" katey threw the statement at the beaurocrat. " i have a citation here for cleve i need to give him" he held a paper out in front of him. katey snatched it from his hand" move your truck now! " ty had driven up behind katey and was walking past the range con" ill move it" was all he said. the little man turned to say something but ty had engaged the transmission and was backing the state truck into the main roadway. katey roared out the gate and turned toward town. ty came walking up to the state man " dont ever pull that stunt again." was all he said through gritted teeth.he went to his truck then drove out the gate and followed katey leaveing the range man standing in the road.