My Country Home

𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 11

At the hospital, Amelia paced around in the waiting room while the doctors worked to stabilize Clint as the door swung open as Wyatt, Luke, and Theresa rushed into the hospital behind her.

"Amelia, where's Dad?"

"He's still in surgery."

"Thank you for getting him help so fast."

"I just hope it was fast enough."

Just then, a nurse entered the waiting room and approached their group.

"Are you Clint Birchwood's family?"

"Yes, how's my dad?"

"He had a serious heart attack but he's stable for now and he'll need to stay here for a few nights to be monitored."

"A heart attack!"

"At least he's stable."

"We brought him back to his room if you'd like to see him."

"Of course!"

The nurse led them into a room where Clint was hooked up to a bunch of machines.

"Clint, I'm so sorry to see you like this and I didn't mean to get you all worked up with the community society meeting."

Wyatt placed a comforting hand on Amelia's shoulder.

"It's not your fault, Amelia. His doctor warned us that this was coming if somethin' didn't change but guess we were too late."

Clint opened his mouth weakly as he was trying to say something.

"Clint, what're you saying?"

"Trail..."

"What is it, Dad?"

"Walk... The Rocky Road Trail... together. All of you. For me and you'll see..."

Clint fell back onto his pillow, completely tired.

"Okay, I'm afraid we need to let him rest."

"We'll be back soon to see you."

"We love you, Grandpa."

"Love... you..."

Wyatt took Clint's hand and squeezed it gently as Clint smiled faintly and closed his eyes while the four of them quietly walked back to the waiting room as Amelia glanced down the hall and saw Silvia walking towards Clint's hospital room with tears in her eyes and then turned back to the Birchwoods.

"Did you see how he looked?"

"Like it was the end for him."

"Don't say that, it's not the end!"

"He's still talkin' about the trail."

"We're goin' to do it."

"With the way he looked?"

"The nurse said he was stable for now but I just have this terrible feeling that if we don't hike the trail, he may never recover."

"I agree with Wyatt, he's asking you to go as a way to help him recover and he's asking you to do this difficult thing at the same time as he's doing a difficult thing."

"I don't know, with everything that's going on..."

"Uncle Wyatt is right, Dad because it's what Grandpa wants."

"For Dad."

Luke turned away with tears in his eyes as he swallowed hard.

"For Dad."