Page 45 of Merry Christmas, Cowboy

“No, Cody. He’s going to be just fine. Trust me.”

Cody sighed and relief registered on his face. The poor kid, he’d had so much tragedy in his life and it hurt her to think that was the first place his mind went after she’d told him about Garrett. That he could die. How tragic was that? To Cody, his uncle Garrett was not only his uncle, he was his parent and his best friend too.

“We can stay here at school and wait, or go to the hospital to check on your uncle.”

Cody didn’t hesitate. “I want to see Uncle Garrett.”

“You know what, Cody? I want that too.”

Cody gave her a shaky smile. “Okay, then when Paulette comes, we’ll ask her to drive us to the hospital.”

“’Kay.”

Half an hour later, Nicole held Cody’s hand as they entered the hospital. Little Cody must’ve asked her five times on the way over here if Uncle Garrett was going to be okay. She’d assured him again and again that Uncle Garrett would be fine. Eventually. She’d spoken with Taylor, who’d gotten it from Coop that his injury was pretty deep and long. He’d needed twelve stitches on his left arm.

Nicole walked up to the information desk in the lobby. “I’d like to see Mr. Brown.”

Just then, Coop came down the hallway, calling her over. “We’re in here, Nicole.” Once he spotted Cody, he tried to hide the blood on his sleeves. Maybe from her too. The thought of Garrett bleeding like that upset her stomach.

They got their visitor’s badges after some heavy discussion to allow Cody in to see his uncle. Luckily, the volunteer at the information booth had a child enrolled at Honeysuckle Elementary and she’d bent the rules a bit for Nicole.

Coop led them into a sectioned off room, with curtains separating patients. Nicole picked Cody up in her arms so he could see his uncle better. Garrett’s face was drawn, the pain he must’ve endured still taking a toll. His arm was bandaged from his wrist to his elbow and some smudges of blood stained the once-white bindings.

“Hi… buddy.”

The strain on his face was evident, even as he tried to make a good show in front of Cody. “H-had me a little accident.”

Cody took a swallow. Seeing his big, strong, virile uncle Garrett in the hospital bed affected him. Heavens, it affected her too.

“Does it hurt?” Cody asked, his focus on the bandaged arm.

“A little,” Garrett said. “They gave me something for the pain. It kinda makes me drowsy.”

“Did you get stitches?”

The ER doctor came in to check on Garrett. He took one look at Cody and shook his head. “The boy shouldn’t be in here.”

Nicole turned to leave, but Coop intervened. “I’ll take him for a snack,” he said. “You stay with Garrett.”

“Is this your wife?” the doctor asked.

“We’re friends,” Nicole quickly pointed out.

“She’s with me.”

Nicole stared at Garrett without saying another word. The doctor unwrapped the bandages, cleansed the stitched area with a solution, and then wrapped up his arm with fresh bandages. “How’re you feeling?”

“Drugged up,” he told the doctor.

“Is it helping with the pain?”

“Some.”

“I’m going to keep you here another hour or two. I’ll be putting you on a dose of antibiotics and giving you a prescription for pain. Right now, you should rest. I’ll come check on you later.”

He gave a slow nod. “Thanks.”

“Yes, thank you, Doctor,” Nicole said.

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