Can love be found

Chapter Nineteen

I lay next to him all night, not getting much sleep. The nurse comes in and checks on him throughout the night. She lets me know he is doing well and should be awake in the morning. I thank her and cuddle back into him, after she leaves. I see the sun pek over the trees and I finally fall asleep. The light is bright and I feel a hand stroking my back and I look up and see his beautiful eyes staring back at me.

"Good morning, doll."

"Good morning my cowboy. You scared me yesterday."

"I am sorry, my love. I scared myself too." He grimaced as he tried to adjust himself and sit up a bit.

"You're hurting, aren't you?"

"Just a little."

"Don't be the tough guy, babe. I will call the Dr. to let him know you're awake and you are in pain." I kiss him softly on the lips and go to let the nurse know and come back into the room and sit in the chair next to him. The doctor soon comes in.

"Well, good morning Jacob. How are you feeling this morning?"

"Like I got run over by a bull." He laughed and immediately winced from the pain in his ribs. The doctor checked out everything and went out to send the nurse back with the pain medication. I help him sit up and take it. We had been sitting and talking for a while when Brad and Crystal came in with breakfast and a change of clothes for me.

"Glad to see you are awake man, That was kinda scary yesterday." Brad said.

"Thanks man."

That was seriously scary. I am glad you are okay too. Especially for Jess' sake."

He reaches over and squeezes my hand and I squeeze back. It is so good to see him awake and to hear his voice. I don't know what I would have done if anything worse had happened. Crystal and Brad stayed for a few hours and then left to go get something to eat and bring us something back, and went back to the hotel. They suggested I come back with them to get some real rest and I told them that I was staying here and I would get rest at home. The next morning I called my boss to ask for some more time off and to let him know what happened.

"Good morning, Mr. Johnston. I hate to call you like this."

"Good morning Jessica, how are things going there in Texas?"

"That is the reason I am calling. Jacob had a terrible accident and is in the hospital. He will be here for a couple days before we can come home and will be laid up for a while. I was calling to ask for some time off to care for him. I know I just had time off but if I can't we'll work something out."

"Oh, honey. I am so sorry. You take off as much as you need. We can work it out for you to work some from home. You let me know when you are home and I will get everything brought out to you."

"Thank you so much mr. Johnston. I greatly appreciate it.

I will call you when we get home."

Your welcome dear. I will do everything to keep you around. You are the best. Talk to you soon."

I hang up with my boss and see Jacob has fallen asleep. The pain meds had taken effect. I hate to see him in pain. While he was sleeping I headed down to the cafeteria for some coffee and got some for Jacob. I then headed back up to the room. He was awake when I got there.

"Hey cowboy, how are you feeling?"

"Much better now that you are here."

"Aww, did you miss me while I was gone?" I say as I hand him his coffee and sit down beside him. He scoots over so I can lay beside him and watch a movie together. Soon the others come to visit . Eventually there were a few people with the event to see how he was doing. They stay for a couple hours and leave. The doctor comes in and checks on Jacob again.

"Well, everything is looking good and you seem to be doing very well Jacob. I think if everything keeps going the way it is. We will send you home tomorrow."

"Thank you doctor." Jacob says as he shakes his hand.

"Yes, thank you so much." I add.

"Come here, doll." He reaches out his hand to me and I curl up into his side. He kisses the top of my head and I relax into him. It will be so nice to get home. The next morning the nurse comes in and disconnects him from everything. Not long after the others come in with a change of clothes for both of us. I help Jacob out of bed and into the bathroom to change. After about an hour or two the doctor comes in with discharge papers. The nurse then comes in with the wheelchair and we are on our way. We head back to the hotel and back to our room. We lay down on the bed and I curl up into his good side and he wraps his arm around me stroking my side.

"Thank you so much for being here with me. You are too good for me."

"I will always be here for you. My boss said I can take all the time I need and he is setting it up so I can do things from home so I can take care of you."

"Doll, you don't have to do that."

"It's not that I have to, I want to. You took care of me when I was ill. Now it is time for me to take care of you."

"You know after this I am never gonna let you go. You are the best thing that has ever happened to me."

"You know what, who is going to take care of the farm? You won't be able to."

"Brad will be there. He is my right hand. He helps me with the work. So don't worry. He's got it covered. It will be fine. Let's just sleep. It's nice to be in a normal bed without cords and lines."

I curl up on his chest and pull the blanket up and we fall asleep together.