Her Country Heart

by Reggi Allder

  The intercom went dead.

  Mike wouldn’t give her chance, didn’t want her around, and even lied to her, not knowing she knew about the two job openings in the store. He wasn’t even polite enough to end the call by saying “goodbye”.

  Tears of frustration burned in her eye. “Thanks for your help,” she whispered to the woman cahier and then rushed to the exit.

  In the Volvo, she let out a cry. The farm was going to sell and she couldn’t stop it.

  At Christmas she’d planned to have a big tree with all the trimming and was going to surprise Bobby with a Border collie puppy, the perfect dog for a farm. Now they probably wouldn’t be living there. She wiped a tear from her cheek.

  “Oh God, if we can’t keep the farm where will we go? What will I do?” Where would she and Bobby spend Christmas?

  CHAPTER 29

  “Wyatt, are you sure you want to do this?” Judge Wilcox asked. “It is not necessary.”

  Wyatt brought his attention from the view of Sierra Creek’s main street to focus on the middle aged judge sitting behind a mission style desk in the book-lined office.

  “Yeah. I’ve spent the last three weeks thinking about it.” He caught the eye of the man and noticed the tentative expression. “I know what I’m doing. Christmas will be here in a few weeks and I want this over with by then.”

  “All right, but you’re going against Granny’s wishes. She wanted you to sell, not do this.”

  Wyatt grunted. He hated explaining his motives, but the judge had to understand. “She wanted Amy to be happy. I’m helping Granny make that come true.”

  He cleared his throat. “You know my dad deserted me and my mom when I was a kid.”

  “Yes.”

  “I never told you, but after my mom died, Amy’s grandmother helped me. She never talked to anyone or made a big deal about it. Just gave me support when I needed it. Made sure I had a place to live and enough to eat. And she taught me good values. Something money can’t buy.” He paused and ran his fingers through his hair. “I owe her a debt that’s hard to repay. Money won’t do it, but maybe this will help balance my liability and give another kid, a chance.”

  He watched the judge’s features tighten as his eyes narrowed. “I see.”

  “This is a way of paying Granny back.”

  The older man glanced at his watch. “It’s early. I’ll have the papers ready by the end of the day. Come back then.”

  “Thanks, Judge.”

  ***

  Almost cold enough to snow, it was beginning to feel like Christmas. Usually her favorite time of year, Amy fought the despair that threatened to overwhelm her. For Bobby’s sake she had to be outwardly optimistic even if she didn’t feel it.

  In the early morning air, she shivered and quickly entered the farm’s craft shop. The sales of the handmade ornaments, table clothes, and Christmas trees had exceeded her expectations. If only the shop could have another busy day.

  She took off her wool coat and hung it on a hook near the door and adjusted the collar of her red turtle neck sweater. From the pocket of her blue jeans, she pulled the list of things to be done today and scanned it. Yesterday she’d sold the last tree topper. Her friend, Laurie, would bring in more today.

  Amy turned on the lights and strings of white lights twinkled from the rafters. The ornaments her friends had made sparkled on the huge Christmas tree in the corner of the room, all of them for sale. The neon sign in the window said “open”.

  “Hi Amy.” Johnny popped his head in the front door. “I’m going up to the Christmas tree grove to chop a few more trees down. I’ll bring them back and set them up.”

  “Thanks, Johnny. Did you have breakfast?”

  “Yep, no need to feed me this morning.” He winked.

  Not a guy to waste words. The man was gone before she could say anything else. She smiled. Johnny had taken on the job of cutting Christmas trees and bringing them to stand next to the shop so people could choose one. For those hardy families who wanted to cut their own tree, he took them out and made sure everyone returned safe and sound with a tree in hand.

  Even though all seemed to be going well, happiness eluded her. No matter how much money she made with the crafts and tree sales, it wouldn’t be enough to buy out Wyatt.

  The battle to keep the farm was lost. It was just a matter of time until she had to move. She prayed Bobby could at least spend Christmas there.

  “Amy, where do you want the rest of these little Christmas Bears?”

  She looked up to see Vanna enter the shop carrying a cardboard box, her nose red from the cold weather, a smile on her face.

  “I guess we could put them on the shelves next to the reindeer.”

  “Okay. Whoa, looks great in here. Very festive.” Vanna tossed her coat on a hook next to Amy’s. “Should I start the Christmas music or will you go nuts if you hear another carol?”

  “Put it on.” Amy laughed. “I can take it.”

  She helped Vanna fill the shelf with the Christmas bears.

  “Have you heard from the realtor?”

  “No and it’s been days and days. Wyatt said he’d send paperwork so I could see the offer, but I haven’t received anything. It’s pretty annoying. I’m just hanging here on pins and needles.”

  “Maybe the people who made the offer changed their mind.”

  “Could be.” she said but didn’t really believe it.

  “Call Wyatt.”

  “That’ll be a cold day in… She paused. “I don’t know what to think. Bobby still talks about a puppy for Christmas.” She forced a smile. “I told him we couldn’t get a dog this year, but I can see by his expression he still hopes. He thinks I want to surprise him when I bring out a puppy on Christmas morning. I didn’t have the heart to tell him we have to leave the farm. He loves it here.” She swallowed hard. “I can’t break his heart—at least not until after Christmas.”

  “Amy.” Vanna gave her a hug.

  “Bobby hasn’t asked where Wyatt is. I don’t know what I’d say if he did. He must wonder why Wyatt has stopped coming by. It’s almost as if Bobby knows he shouldn’t talk about it.”

  “Mommy.” Bobby stood in the doorway still dressed in his pajamas. “My tummy hurts.”

  “Oh, honey.”

  She ran to him and when she lifted him up he cried.

  “It hurts. It hurts.” Tears ran down his face.

  “Did you eat something that’s not on your list?”

  “No. Honest—I didn’t.”

  “Are you sure?”

  Bobby was crying too hard to answer.

  “Vanna, I’m taking him to the hospital.”

  “I’ll drive. Amy, you hold him.”

  ***

  In an admitting office near the emergency room of Sierra Creek General Hospital, Amy paced. Vanna had gone with Bobby while she gave information to a clerk.

  “How long before I can go to see my son?”

  From her desk, a thirty something woman frowned. “Mrs. Long, the doctor is taking good care of him. You can join your son as soon as you give me the needed information.” She hesitated. “Now how are you going to pay for this visit?”

  “What?”

  “How are you planning to pay for the emergency room visit?” The woman paused then said, “Insurance, credit card, cash? We don’t take checks.”

  “Well I—it depends on how much it costs.” Amy blinked and tried to focus. “Look, can’t we do this later? I really have to go to my son. He needs me.” Her heart raced.

  “I understand. Did you fill out the form? It’s important we have that.”

  Amy filled in as much as she could and handed the paperwork back to the woman.

  “And your payment method?” the woman said.

  “Uh—credit card.”

  “Good. Well that should do it.” The woman made a copy of the credit card and handed it back to her. “ Thank you Mrs. Long you may go now.”

  She grabbed the card and ran toward
the emergency room. Dear God, please don’t let the woman run the credit line and find out it’s maxed out.

  What would the woman do if she knew the card was no good? Would the clerk have the hospital send Bobby home without helping him? Could they do that?

  “Excuse me?” she said to the first nurse she saw. “My little boy was just brought into the emergency room.”

  Before the woman could answer, Vanna ran up to her. “Come with me.”

  The nurse shrugged and walked away.

  She followed her friend to a curtained cubicle.

  “Bobby’s in X-ray. He’ll be right back.”

  “Oh good.” She sat on a small stool next to the gurney in the enclosure.

  Vanna paced. “The nurse asked so many questions about Bobby’s medical history. I couldn’t answer. I told them you’d be right back.”

  “Vanna, you’re shaking.”

  “Am I? I was just so scared for Bobby.”

  “Me too.” She glanced at her own hands and noticed they were trembling. She took a slow breath and inhaled the antiseptic odor that floated in the room and listened to the foreign sounds of equipment in the ER.

  “I’ll call Laurie and see if she can run the craft shop today. I’ll be right back. I don’t think I’m supposed to use a cell phone in here.”

  “Oh Vanna, I hadn’t even thought of that. The only thing I could think about was Bobby.

  “It’s all right.” Vanna rushed out of the cubicle.

  “Mommy.”

  She spun around to see Bobby sitting in a wheelchair his eyes teary. In the big chair, he seemed even smaller than usual.

  A nurse helped her son onto the gurney and took the wheelchair away.

  “Hi.” She held his hand. “Are you all right?”

  “I—” Bobby stopped in the middle of the sentence and grimaced in pain.

  She squeezed his hand. “Honey you’re such a big guy. It’s going to be okay.” She swallowed a sob and closed her eyes to hold back tears.

  Just then a man walked into the cubicle. “I’m Dr. Johnson.”

  “Hi.” She scanned the average height man with thinning hair and a kind expression on his face.

  “The little guy tells me he’s had a tummy ache for a day or so. He hoped it would go away as it usually does.” He smiled at her son. “This time however, it doesn’t look like Celiac. After examining him, it’s a different animal all together. Of course we can’t be absolutely sure until we get in there, but it’s his appendix.”

  “No.”

  “Afraid so. And you’re right to be concerned. The main thing is to remove it. I’ve phoned the surgeon on call.”

  “Surgery?”

  “As soon as possible.”

  “You mean today.”

  “Within the hour I should think.”

  She gasped. “He’s so little.” Blood drained to her extremities pooling at her feet. She sat down on the stool. “Isn’t there any other way?

  “I’m afraid not. More time has passed than I would have preferred. The longer we wait the better chance the appendix could burst, and then it would be dangerous for him.”

  “Oh.”

  “Does he have any allergy to medication?”

  “Not that I know of.”

  “Good.”

  “When the other doc gets here, we’re going to take that mean old appendix out, cause you don’t need it anymore. Right?” the doctor asked her son.

  “Uh.” Bobby’s voice was no more than a squeak.

  “Okay.” Dr. Johnson walked away.

  What would she do if anything happen to Bobby? She flinched and her heart thundered.

  “Mommy?”

  “Yes.”

  “I want Ted. He’s under the front seat in the car.”

  “Well, I don’t know if they allow…”

  “Please.” Bobby started to cry.

  “Don’t. I’ll get Ted. If anyone asks, I’ll just explain he’s you favorite Teddy bear and you take him wherever you go.” She kissed him on the forehead. “I’ll be right back.”

  The bear was just where he said it would be. She grabbed the stuffed animal and rushed back to the emergency room.

  ***

  A tall, slender woman with short brown hair, wearing blue scrubs walked into the cubicle. “Mrs. Long?”

  “Yes.” Amy jumped up from the stool.

  “I’m Dr. Susan James. I’ll be doing Bobby’s surgery.”

  “Hi.”

  “Hey Bobby, who’s this guy?” Dr. James pointed to the stuffed bear.

  “Ted.”

  “Hi Ted.” The doctor smiled. “Now Bobby you’re going to come with me so I can take out that appendix. It’s hurting you.”

  Amy watched her son’s eyes widen, but he didn’t speak.

  “I bet you’d like your bear to come with you.”

  Bobby nodded.

  “Well, he’s going to have to wear a mask. You see everybody who goes to surgery has a special one.” Sort of like this. She pulled up a mask from around her neck and covered her mouth and nose, then took it off. “So if you see me in surgery that’s what I’ll look like. I just happen to have an extra one for Ted. You’ll get yours when you get into surgery. Okay?”

  Bobby nodded again.

  Amy smiled when the doctor put a disposal mask over the bear’s face. “Thanks doctor.”

  “We’re ready to go. You can give your mom a kiss. You’ll see her when you’re done.”

  Amy gasped. “So soon? This is happening too fast.”

  “We’ll take good care of him. The surgical waiting room is on second floor. When I’m finished with the operation, I’ll see you there.”

  A nurse came into the cubicle carrying a clipboard. “Here’s the consent form and a pen.”

  Amy signed the papers and said a silent prayer.

  “Time to go.” The nurse took the form and then started to push Bobby’s gurney.

  Amy watched her son grip his teddy bear in a strangle hold, Bobby’s eyes wide with terror.

  CHAPTER 30

  Amy collapsed onto the orange vinyl sofa in the small second story waiting room and closed her eyes, thankful she was the only one in the room.

  Was it possible she could lose Bobby and the farm at the same time? What did Granny say in her letter? Look for the bright side of life and you’ll find it. Granny, I’ve looked, but I can’t do this alone. I need you. She bit back a sob.

  Futile adrenaline raced and her heart banged against her chest. Unable to sit any longer, she wandered around the room. How long did this kind of surgery take?

  It seemed hours since she’d entered the waiting room. But without a watch or a cell phone, she couldn’t be sure how much time had really passed.

  With her back to the door she stared out the window to Sierra Creek, the town she’d hoped would be a haven. She moaned.

  She’d lost Wyatt, even before she’d had a chance for a real relationship. “I can’t lose Bobby too. Please not my baby,” she whispered and wiped a tear from her cheek with the back of her hand. When she glanced out the window again, the town looked peaceful, a picture postcard of the perfect western town.

  “Amy.”

  In disbelief, she turned and saw Wyatt standing in the door way.

  “I just heard about Bobby.” He came to her and wrapped her in his arms.

  She leaned against him needing his strength, no matter their past disagreements.

  “Don’t cry.” He gently wiped tears from her face. “Let’s sit down.” He led her to the sofa. “I got here as soon as I could. Have they told you anything yet?”

  “No. How did you know?”

  “Vanna called me.”

  Amy sat up, and using her last bit of strength, pulled away from him. “I didn’t expect to see you again. Thought you were gone for good.”

  Pain flashed in his eyes. “Amy, the last time I saw you I tried to tell you I care.”

  “Do you? You could’ve fooled me.”

  He he
sitated. I’m not good at talking about my feeling and I don’t want to argue.”

  Only the sound doctor’s names announced over the loud speaker interrupted the quiet.

  Wyatt stood, walked to the window and glanced out. “You mean more to me than I can put into words.” He came to her and held out his hand.

  “Don’t.” She stood to leave.

  “Wait. You taught me it’s not about money, not even about the farm.” He paused. “It’s family. You and Bobby are my family.”

  Stunned, she gazed into his moisture filled eyes. She took his face in her hands, drew him close and kissed him firmly on the mouth, opening her mouth to let his tongue caress hers. She moaned and leaned into him and he deepened the kiss. Finally she let her head rest on his chest and listened to his steady heartbeat.

  “Bobby’s going to be all right. He has to be,” he said.

  Without speaking, she clung to him.

  The sun sank lower in the horizon and still there was no word about Bobby.

  “It’s taking so long. Something must have gone wrong.”

  “We have to be patient.” He pulled her back into his arms.

  “It’s so hard to wait.”

  “I know.” He caressed her cheek. “It’s going to be all right—has to be.”

  Time passed slowly.

  ***

  “Mrs. Long?”

  Amy looked up to see Dr. James, still dressed in scrubs, enter the waiting room.

  “How’s Bobby?”

  “He’s doing fine. The surgery went well.”

  “Oh thank God.”

  “The appendix was quite inflamed. It’s a good thing he had surgery quickly. He’s in recovery. When he’s fully awake they’ll take him to pediatrics on the third floor.”

  “When can I see him?”

  “It’ll be awhile before he’s fully awake. You could wait in his room. The nurse will get the number for you. But first, why don’t you and your friend get some coffee and bite to eat? There’s enough time.”

  “Thanks doctor. Thank you so much for taking such good care of him.”

  “My pleasure, now don’t worry. He just needs rest.” Dr. James smiled and then left the waiting room.