Hell's Coming with Me

Going Back to Cali

Going Back to Cali

After being taken home from the hospital by Ryan, I found myself too overwhelmed to return to the spike camp. Understanding my emotional state, Ryan remained by my side that evening, offering support and comfort to ensure that I didn't become too stressed or upset.

Despite Jimmy's shortcomings as a cowboy, he had managed to deeply impact the lives of everyone at the ranch. This was especially evident in the case of my father, who despite expressing his concerns about Jimmy's risky bronc riding, visited the hospital every day to receive updates on his condition. This display of concern revealed the depth of Jimmy's impact on the ranch community, extending even to those initially critical of his choices.

Daddy had a close relationship with his grandparents in the past. He always spoke highly of them and considered them to be good people. However, there were some troubles within the family, and Jimmy ended up under the care of his grandfather. Unfortunately, the grandfather struggled to manage Jimmy, who ended up getting involved in some trouble and ended up in prison. Despite this, Daddy had a soft spot for Jimmy's grandfather and felt responsible for his well-being, which led to Jimmy being brought to the ranch. It seemed like my father felt a deep sense of obligation to look after Jimmy.

When we arrived at the hospital, my father and I made sure to speak with Jimmy's doctors. Initially, the doctors were hesitant to provide any information, citing patient confidentiality. However, my father, being Jimmy's caretaker, pointed this out to the doctors. As a result, we were able to obtain detailed insight into the specific injuries that Jimmy sustained from the rodeo incident.

"Mr. Dutton, Jimmy is going to need months of therapy," the doctor looked sympathetic as he delivered the news. "According to the tests, he's fractured his hip, several vertebra in his back are broken, and there is extensive damage to his neck."

"How long will Jimmy need to be in the hospital?" I asked, while my father had to take a moment to digest that information.

"It will vary," the doctor said. "I can't say until we know how Jimmy will respond to the surgeries. The best-case scenario is a few weeks. Worst case. . .Months."

"Has he been told?" When my father inquired, the doctor responded with a solemn nod, his lips forming a tight, grim line.

"He has been educated about his upcoming surgeries. Also about the fact that Jimmy will never be able to rodeo ever again," the doctor dropped that bombshell onto us.

"What about riding a horse?" I questioned, feeling nausea rise up in my stomach. "That's his job. Riding horses and gathering cattle on my father's ranch."

"That won't be a problem," the doctor stated, shaking his head. "Don't worry, Jimmy will be able to do most of the things he was able to before. He just can't get thrown off a bucking horse. There would be a real concern about the irreparable damage if that were to occur."

"Thank you," I replied to the doctor who gave us a sad smile.

"This would be the youngest hip replacement patient I've ever operated on," Dr. Smith admitted. "But he's lucky to be alive. He'll pull through this."

As my dad led me to Jimmy's room, I felt a mix of anxiety and anticipation. Stepping inside, my eyes immediately fell on Jimmy lying in the hospital bed, his body carefully wrapped in bandages. The sight of him stirred up a whirlwind of emotions within me, and tears welled up in my eyes as I tried to process the reality of the situation. Meanwhile, the nurses bustled around, making the necessary preparations for his upcoming surgery.

"It's alright," Daddy said, holding me in a tight embrace, providing comfort and warmth. After spending several minutes together, Dad decided it was time for me to leave the hospital. He reached into his pocket to retrieve his phone, the next step in our journey ahead.