My True Cowboy

Their dad looked to be fading fast, so Cal cleared his throat. “It’s time, sugar.”

“Bye, baby,” Dad said.

Ginny blew him a kiss, then trotted back over to Cal. “I’m ready now.” She peeked out the door, then turned back to Cal. “The nurses’ station has suckers. Can I go get me one?”

“You may.”

When they were alone, his dad looked like the grumpy old man that he was once again. With a ragged sigh, he leaned back into the pillows and closed his eyes. “That girl. She’s everything and a day, ain’t she?”

Cal smiled. “Yes, sir.”

“Really only four time-outs?”

“That’s all I’ve heard from her teacher.” Cal shrugged. “’Course, the year’s just starting. Ginny might be starting off slow. You know … breaking her teacher in slowly.”

His dad looked as if he was trying to look perturbed, but his eyes were glowing. “Maybe I should’ve told her no more often.”

“I tell her no all the time. It doesn’t seem to do much good.”

“Perhaps you’ve got a point.”

“Dad, do you need anything?”

“Only the same things as ever. I need to get pain free and out of here. I’m ready to go home.”

Except, he wasn’t going to be able to go home anytime soon.

But because he wasn’t ready to bring that up, Cal concentrated on his dad’s pain. “Want me to call for the nurse?”

“Nah, I’ll push my button when y’all leave.” After a moment, he murmured, “I’m glad you brought our girl here, son. Thank you.”

“You’re welcome. She loves you.” Briefly, Cal wondered why it was so easy to talk about Ginny’s love but not his own. Now was the time to tell him about Trent, but the words stuck in his throat. “So, Dad, we got a phone call….”

“What happened? Was it the accountant?”

“No. Business wise, everything’s fine.” Cal paused. “It’s about Trent. Dad, Trent got hurt in Albuquerque.”

“Oh, I know that,” he said wearily. “I wondered if you were ever going to tell me about it, though.”

“I didn’t want to bother you about it.”

“I’m old and falling apart, but I’m still your father. Trent knows that. He called last night. I talked to him.” He shook his head. “That boy’s going to be the death of me. If that little girl of ours doesn’t wear me out first.”

“I spoke with his doctor. He’s going to be okay. Just out of commission.”

“Hope he’ll use the time to come home for a while. I asked him to.”

“He said he’ll probably get this way in a month or so.”

“A month, huh? That boy. Always doing what he’s wanted to.”

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