THE WILL 13

the next morning tobey was up early doing chores roberto was late to work. a truck pulled up to the gate. tobey unlocked it and the driver went to the fresh hay stack and backed up to it. when tobey got there the driver in a demanding voice hollerd out the window, " five bales, hustle up!" tobey picked up a couple of hay hooks and pulled bales down into the truck and stacked them so they would ride. he rehung the hooks and jumped down and brushed the hay dust from his clothes. " hey! how much i owe you?"the driver yelled out the window. "forty dollers" tobey was trying to be casual. "here!" the man stuck his hand out the window with the money in it. tobey stepped up and took the money. "are you the man who took this place over when the mex abuser cashed in?"the beligerent man almost shouted. "no one abused any one here. they told me themselves they wernt abused. where did you hear that?" tobey was instantly mad. " oh i heard it around town why?" because i find the man spreading that lie ill settle up on it. its a lie, and telling it on a dead man is bull. he cant defend him self, so i guess i will. tobey was stepping up to the mans truck " who told you?" tobey demanded. the man started his truck and roared out of the yard. roberto had arrived just as the man left he came to tobey" sorry i was late, i had a flat tire. so you met hadley huh?" " thats who that was? i wish i knew it before. he is still spreading the lie about blake." " he is a bad man, he wants juana to go out with him, she hates him and wont go." roberto spoke plain. tobey went to his truck and left for town. he was going to be late at the hospital. when he started down the hall in the hospital he could hear hi yelling and cussing. the tall real estate sales man was backing out the door of hi s room holding his hand out toward hi"now, now, it was just a offer, its nothing to get upset about " he ducked as a empty bed pan came flying at him. tobey stepped up" you better leave, they been trying to keep him quiet. you might kill him doing this leave!" the agent spun and huffed down the hall. tobey picked up the bed pan and walked in. hi was fumming. " that crook said i better sell to his buyer if i know whats good for me. he all but threatened me! if i had a gun i would have killed him.!" hi was mad clear through. " well he is gone so settle down." tobey was putting the bed pan on the side table. two nurses rushed in the first one looked at tobey" what did you do? his moniter is off the charts!" hi sat up in bed" he didnt do it it was that other crook who was here." the nurses were checking his blood pressure and pulse , the head nurse produced a syring from her apron pocket and injected hi with the contents." now get some sleep and cool off!" she told him. hi s eyes began to droop almost instantly. " aw hell pard come back later." tobey stepped out of the room only to run into alexis. this morning she was dressed in wrangler pants with bell bottoms a plain white blouse and a pair of athletic shoes. her make up and hair were perfect. tobey almost swallowed his tounge. she smilled sweetly" is hi awake?" tobey explained what had transpired. her composure seemed to crack but she held it in. " so i guess we cant tell him about out partner ship deal. i ougt to go run that cheap crook down"alexis was showing her brothers temper. " lets go have a cup of coffee and let him sleep and you cool off." tobey was almost to laugh at her.