Chapter 22

Chapter 22

    “Oh sorry, didn’t mean to interrupt.”
    Katie laughed, “Oh it’s okay.  How is he Doc?”
    “Katie, things are looking good.  He’s holding up.  Just need him to get out of the darn coma.  I’ll be back in a few hours.”
    “Thanks Doc.  Jeff, I don’t know how much longer I can take this.  What if he never wakes up?”  Katie started to cry.
    Jeff put his arms around her and she buried her head on his shoulder.  “Katie, he’ll be okay.  He’ll wake up.  Believe me, he wouldn’t leave you for anything.”
    They stood there for a few minutes.  Finally Katie spoke up.  “Thanks, Jeff, I can always count on you.”  He kissed her on the forehead.  Then from across the room they heard very faintly, “Katie? Katie?”
    “Jeff, is that him?”
    “I think so, go check.”
    Katie walked over and there were Mark’s beautiful baby blues looking up at her.  He looked and her and smiled.  Katie leaned down and kissed him.  “Jeff, go get the doctor.”  Katie couldn’t believe it.  He was awake.  “Mark, honey, how do you feel?”
    “Okay, I guess.  Just great to see that wonderful face.”
    The doctor came in.  “Well, we must have some happy people in this room.  Hello Mark.  I am Doctor Chadwell.  How do you feel?”
    “Well, my head hurts pretty bad, my shoulder hurts, my side and my back too.”
    “That is understandable, but I am glad to hear that you feel everything.  I’ll give you something for the pain.”
    “Doc, can I take this stupid neck brace off?”
    “I’m afraid not Mark.  You have a cracked vertebra and we had to repair it.  You’ll have to wear it for several weeks.”  The doctor left to get Mark’s pain medicine.
    “Mark, sweetheart, do you remember what happened?”
    “I remember giving you a kiss on the porch, and you telling me to be careful.  Then I remember getting on Coal Miner and that’s about it.”
    “Well, Coal Miner really threw you off and hurt you pretty bad.  That was about four days ago.”
    “Wow! I have been out that long?”
    “Yes, oh and Jeff is here.”
    “Hey Jeff.  You keeping everyone in line at the ranch?”
    “You bet pal.  Speaking of which I gotta get back.  I’ll tell everyone the great news.  Katie, keep us informed.”
    “Sure will Jeff.  Thanks again. Bye.”
    As Jeff was leaving, the doctor came back in.  “Okay, Mark, here is your pain medicine.  It goes into your I V, so it will take a few minutes to work.”
    “Thanks doc.  So how am I?”
    “Well, we need to run a series of tests to make sure there is no permanent brain damage and also check the swelling.  If all is well, you could go home in a couple of days.”
    “That’s great!”
    “Tell you what Mark, you rest, visit with Katie, and get something to eat, and we’ll get started after lunch.”
    “Sounds great.  See ya doc.”
    Mark and Katie just sat there and talked until their lunches were brought in.  Over lunch, which consisted of delicious hospital food, they started discussing the wedding.  They already had a date set of October 20.  They both loved fall and the changing leaves.  What better way to begin their lives together than an outside wedding on the ranch among all the fall foliage.
    It was now February 22.  Katie had about eight months to plan.  She already had the general idea of what she wanted but had to bring it all together.  It would be a beautiful wedding.  They were discussing it when the doctor came in to take Mark for his test.  “I’ll have him back to you in a jiffy Katie.”