Chapter 2

Morning came bright and early. Ed slowly staggered out to the kitchen and reached in the refrigerator. He pulled out a beer and twisted the cap off the bottle. About to take a sip, he realized what he had just done. Pouring it out in the sink, he decided that today he was going to clean all of the beer out of the fridge. There were still a couple of cases in the pantry as well. He wondered who would appreciate them.

It was a bit more work than he was used to doing in the morning, but he brewed a pot of coffee. Staring blankly at the coffee pot, it seemed to take forever for the coffee to brew. He poured a cup and went to the table. Sitting down, he stared at the house across the street thinking about the man that lived there.

Despite the fact that he had gotten out of bed early, it still took him more than an hour to fully waken. Before long, it was time for him to head over to the hospital. He smiled at the thought of seeing Kelly. She was everything that he had ever wanted in a woman. He wasn’t sure about the marriage thing, but he decided that he would keep an open mind.

When he entered the hospital, he saw Kelly at the nurses station. He went over there and said, “Hello, Kelly.”

Turning, she looked at him as though he was a total stranger. She had hoped for a telephone call last night and when he hadn’t called, she had give up on him. She said, “Oh, it’s you.”

Surprised by the cool response, he slumped down and then said, “I’m looking forward to Friday. I hope it’s still on.”

His dejected look surprised her. She said, “I thought you were going to call last night.”

“I worked late last night. We had an auction and I was there until ten. I didn’t want to wake you,” replied Ed. He had put her number on the dining room table to call her tonight.

Kelly seemed to bloom like a flower exposed to the sun for the first time. She said, “Oh, I’m sorry. I had thought that you had blown me off.”

“Never. You’re the most beautiful woman I’ve ever met,” replied Ed without moderating his words or thoughts. He was totally captivated by her. He added, “You’re even more beautiful today than yesterday.”

Laughing, she ran a hand through her hair as she answered, “Oh, come on now.”

Leaning on the counter, he looked at her and said, “I haven’t had a drink since yesterday morning. It’s the first time in years that I’ve gone a full day without a drink. I’m seeing things a lot more clearly today. When I say that you look better today, I really mean it.”

The revelation shocked Kelly. She looked at him and noticed that he didn’t look like he was going through alcohol withdrawal. She asked, “Did you have a drinking problem?”

He shrugged and answered, “I don’t know. It wasn’t like I ever craved it. I reached for a beer like it was a soda. I don’t feel bad from not drinking.”

Unsure of herself, she smiled and said, “That’s good.”

Ed could see that she was uncertain about him. He said, “I told you yesterday that I wasn’t a very nice person. After watching what John did yesterday, well ... I decided that it was time for me to take a little firmer control over my life. I’d like to be the best person that I can be for you.”

This was tough for him and she could see that. In a way, his honesty was refreshing. She said, “Will you call tonight?”

A smile burst over his face as he answered, “You bet.”

Dr. Hayes was coming down the hall towards them and Kelly turned to watch her. She whispered to Ed, “I’m going to have her as a wife.”

The doctor was a very attractive woman in a Nordic sort of way. Tall, blond, and light skinned, she really was very stunning. Ed wondered how he could ever get a woman like that interested in an old cowboy like him. He was about to reply, but the doctor had stopped at the station.

Dr. Hayes looked at Ed and said, “You can take him home. All of those cuts are completely healed. I’ve never seen anything like it.”

“Those cuts were deep. I saw him make them himself.”

She shook her head and replied, “I know, but they’re all healed.”

In shock, Ed stood there thinking about John. Some of those cuts had been a half an inch deep. He followed Kelly to John’s room, his mind divided between the swaying of her hips and his curiosity about John.

Kelly leaned over to Ed and said, “He’s an interesting one. He was reading to the kids and playing games with them all day yesterday. I’ve never seen the kids so happy. This morning, we had a patient pass away and John talked to him about what it was like to die. The patient thanked him and then just slipped away without complaint. It was really amazing.”

This was just strange and Ed didn’t know how he felt about strange. When they reached the room, he went in. John was seated on the edge of his bed looking out the window at the view it allowed. He turned with a smile and glanced at the pair of them standing at the door. He said, “Hello, Ed. Hello, Kelly. My, don’t you make a nice couple.”

Blushing very slightly, Ed smiled and handed the clothes over to John. He said, “I brought your clothes.”

John grabbed the clothes and started getting dressed. The fact that he didn’t seem to care if Ed and Kelly watched, made Ed a little uncomfortable. It wasn’t until he remembered that both of them had seen him naked yesterday that he relaxed. He glanced at Kelly in time to catch her call me gesture as she returned to the nurses station. Nodding his agreement, he watched as her face lit up.

John said, “I wouldn’t let her get away if I were you. She’s a good caring person. You should see her work with the patients around here.”

Ed nodded his agreement. Looking at John’s ankles, he realized the doctor was correct. All of the bites had healed, leaving behind little scars. It was miraculous. He replied, “I see that you’ve healed up already.”

“It’s a gift from the Goddess. I heal very quickly,” replied John as he pulled on his socks. He reached over for the hiking boots as he added, “To tell the truth, I would prefer not to have to use that gift quite so often. I spend a lot of time in hospitals.”

Ed didn’t really know what to say. He had seen all of the scars and knew the truth of that statement, but talking about the Goddess was a little strange. Deciding that a non-committal answer was probably the best, he said, “I can see where it would be a hassle.”

“My last injury cost me my girlfriend,” John said with a sigh. He missed Betsy more than anything. He added, “She saw me get shot on television and broke up with me because she didn’t want to be a young widow.”

The admission shocked Ed. He hadn’t thought about how all of those injuries would affect others. He asked, “She broke up with you because you were shot?”

Fully dressed, John stood up and stretched, working out his stiffened muscles. He nodded and answered, “She felt that after I was shot, that I should have stopped trying to rescue people. I can understand her sentiment, but I wasn’t even aware that I had been injured.”

“Amazing,” replied Ed. He couldn’t imagine getting shot and not realizing that he had a hole in his body.

John looked over at Ed and said, “Please don’t tell other people about my past. I really don’t like to talk about it. It was just that seeing you and Kelly standing together reminded me of Betsy. She’s a nurse, too.”

“No problem.” Ed realized that John really missed his girlfriend and wondered how long ago they had broken up. It was also at that time, that he realized he didn’t really want to talk about his date with Kelly. That was odd, not too long ago he would have been boasting to everyone that a nurse had come on to him. He shook his head as though trying to clear it. He asked, “So are you ready to go?”

John looked around and realized that he didn’t have any other possessions with him. He nodded as he said, “Yes, I am.”

After checking out, John followed Ed to the truck. When they reached the truck, Ed said, “I’m going to have to drop you off. I’ve got to get to work. We had an auction last night and the buyers will be there to pick up their cattle.”

John was tempted to go there and watch, but realized that would be imposing. He asked, “I take it you’re a real cowboy.”

Adjusting his hat, Ed laughed and answered, “I guess so. I ride a horse and push cows around. Most days I’m at the auction house, but I do get some time out on the range. It doesn’t make me a Clint Eastwood, though.”

John laughed at the reference and asked, “Do you like it?”

The question really confused Ed. It was the first time anyone had ever asked if he liked his job. Jobs were just something that you did to pay the bills. He answered, “I’ve never thought about it. It’s a job.”

John watched the scenery go past. He said, “There is so much beauty in this landscape. It must be nice to ride on the range surrounded by it.”

Ed sighed and answered, “I guess that is what I like about my job the most. There are times when the sight just takes my breath away.”

Nodding his understanding, John said, “I was reading about Ansel Adams once. He had described the feelings he had while watching nature all alone in the wilderness. As I read, I couldn’t believe how well he captured the same feelings I get when I’m hiking. There’s a connection that gets established between a person and the environment that is sensual. Reading what he had written, I realized that there was nothing wrong about the emotions I felt when in a natural surroundings. I realized that men could love nature like a woman.”

Ed knew exactly what John was talking about. There were times when he was nearly moved to tears when he was on the range. Something about the majesty and power that nature had that made a man feel small in the grand scheme of things. Once after a rain, it was like the whole desert had bloomed. The smell of cactus flowers on the breeze tickled his nose, even as the wind caressed him. The sun warmed the body while the sounds of the desert teased the ears. The worn weathered leather of the saddle had that special feel under the hand that lent a sense of durability. He had been glad that he was alone that day, he couldn’t have taken having anyone see him feeling so moved. Ed said, “I know what you mean. There are times out there that it just gets overwhelming.”

John smiled and said, “There are times when it’s good to be alone out there. Then there are times when it’s nice to share it with someone special. Betsy would occasionally go hiking with me. I’ve always enjoyed sharing sunsets with people. It seems to me like it leads to a special quietness and closeness.”

During the course of this conversation, Ed realized that he had shared more feelings with John than he had ever shared with anyone. The thought made him wonder what it would be like to share a sunset with Kelly. Maybe that’s what they would do Friday on their date, drive out into the desert and watch the sunset together. It would be a very different experience than his normal date where he would take the woman to a bar and try to get her drunk. He noticed his surroundings and remarked, “I can’t believe we’re home. I’ll let you out here and head on to work.”

John answered, “That would be great. Thanks for the ride. I enjoyed it a lot.”

Ed dropped John off at the house and watched him go in. Turning the truck around he drove to work thinking about the conversation they’d had on the way to the house. John confused him, in very subtle ways. Here was a guy that could run into a burning building, get shot, and bit by rattlesnakes. In his book, that guy couldn’t be a wimp. On the other hand, he talked about his feelings with an openness that was unlike any man that Ed had ever met.

He stopped at the convenience store and picked up another six-pack of Cokes. Of course, he had gone to the beer section first, and caught himself grabbing a six-pack of beer. He put the beer back and went with the Cokes. He was about to go to the counter when he noticed the pre-packaged sandwiches. Picking up a ‘foot long’ one, he decided that he would have a little picnic for lunch today.

Work was boring, as he pushed cattle into the loading chutes. Once again, Nevada had not been aware that Ed was working until he came out of the office. He watched Ed deal with the customers, recognizing that there was something very different about Ed, today. It took him a long time to put his finger on it, but he realized that Ed was quiet and not his usual loud bragging self.

When it was time for Ed to take his lunch break, Nevada was surprised to see Ed ride his horse over to the truck and remove a sandwich and Coke. Ed rode off into the desert behind the auction house. He found a nice high spot and dismounted from the horse. The view from there was nice. There were better places to look at the desert, but they were too far from where he worked.

Eating the sandwich and drinking his Coke, Ed thought about his life. There were a lot of people that feared him, but very few that respected him. A screech in the sky drew his attention and he watched a hawk drift overhead before plummeting to earth. Somewhere out of sight, a rabbit had just given up its life so that the hawk could live.

It was about that time, that Ed came to a very profound realization about John. John knew who and what he was. It wasn’t necessary for him to boast to get other people to tell him that he was good, he knew he was good and that was all that mattered to him. Ed wondered why he needed people to tell him that he was good. Was it because he didn’t know who and what he was? That was a sobering thought.

He finished his sandwich while watching the desert. The desert was huge, quiet, and didn’t advertise itself. It just was and, in being, it overwhelmed mere mortals. For a long time Ed sat there appreciating the view, then it was time to return to work.

He worked the afternoon, staying a little late when one customer showed up late to pick up his cattle. Ed didn’t complain or make a comment, just went about the business of loading the cattle into the trailer. When that was done, he put up his horse, taking care to make sure that it was properly cooled down and combed out.

He was heading to his truck when Nevada called out, “Hey, Ed. Hold on a minute.”

Ed turned and walked over to Nevada saying, “Sure thing. What do you need?”

Nevada watched as Ed came over to him. Normally, he’d be chasing Ed to the truck. He said, “Ed, I’m worried about you.”

With a surprised look on his face, Ed asked, “Why? I’m feeling fine, Sir.”

“You just don’t seem to acting like yourself lately.” Nevada was wondering if Ed was ill. He’d seen Ed work with an incredible fever and boast about it. This quiet version of Ed was not normal.

Ed replied, “Don’t worry. I’ll be here tomorrow.”

Unsatisfied with the denial that anything was wrong, Nevada said, “I’d appreciate it if you would get checked up by a doctor.”

A worried expression crossed Ed’s face at the idea of being sent to a doctor. He replied, “I really don’t need to see a doctor, Nevada. I’m in better health than ever.”

Afraid that Ed would drop dead on the job, Nevada insisted. He said, “I’d feel a lot better if you would visit a doctor. I might have to keep you off the lot until I get the results of a physical.”

Rather than argue, Ed decided to comply with Nevada’s wishes. He shrugged and said, “Okay. I’ll talk to Dr. Hayes tomorrow. That’ll give me a chance to see Kelly.”

The easy compliance was just as shocking as anything Ed had done lately. Nevada frowned and said, “Good. I’ll see you after your physical.”

Just about to leave, Ed paused and said, “I have a date tomorrow. Is it alright if I leave a little early? I’d like to wash the smell of cow off before I pick her up.”

“You have a date?” asked Nevada, the incredulity in his voice very clear.

Looking off to the horizon, a small smile came over his face. He answered, “Yes, I do. It’s our first date and I’d really like to impress her.”

Nevada shook his head in wonder. Ever since had taken that guy to the hospital, Ed hadn’t been himself. He didn’t know what to think about it. Confused, he just said, “Well, have a good time. Leave when you need to go.”

Ed held out his hand for a handshake. Slowly, Nevada took his hand and shook it. Ed said, “Thank you, Nevada.”