Page 54 of More Than a Fling

“You got that there young buck werkin fer ya now, I’m gist an old worn out cowboy.”

“You know that’s not true. You aren’t ready to be put out to pasture yet.”

“Thanks fer that,” Slim said, gifting Gabe with a rare smile.

“I mean it. I don’t think I could manage the place without you.”

“I’ll try to not let ya down.”

“Keep me posted.”

“Fer sure.”

After he left, Gabe tried sleuthing out what Slim had been searching for. It appeared that he had been in his side drawer because it wasn’t closed all the way. Pulling it open there was a folder not completely tucked in. Gabe grabbed it and saw that it was his employment applications file. Not a very thick one at that. Why the hell would Slim be interested in that? He stuck the file back in and shelved the mystery for the time being.

* * *

Since Pepper knew that Slim had no family, she made sure that she was there when they took him back for his catheterization. She had promised Gabe and Sam to report back to them. The chest x-rays were clear of any tumors and the lung function tests didn’t show any signs of COPD or emphysema and they were now checking for any heart blockages.

“Slim I’ll be here when they bring you out.”

“I’m sure ya got better thangs to do then hover over me.”

“Nope not really.”

“I thank ya fer that.”

The cardiac nurse came in to wheel Slim into the heart cath lab and Pepper said, “I’ll see you when they finish with the test. It will be over before you know it.”

“If something were ta happen ta me, take care of my little Gus.”

“Nothing is going to happen, but I promise you that I will make sure Gus is well taken care of.”

She felt oddly emotional watching him get wheeled away. He looked so scrawny in that hospital gown with his tufts of gray hair sticking out everywhere, and his weathered skin seemed so thin and fragile. His faded blue gray eyes had looked into hers for a moment and she swore she detected relief and gratitude that she was there. He was so alone. She wondered if he had ever had a family or a true love. Someday she hoped to hear his story.

About an hour had gone by and the doctor appeared and told Pepper that Slim had several blocked arteries that they were leaving alone, but the main artery to the back of the heart was over 90 percent blocked. They were going to try and open it with angioplasty then put a stent in. In the case they weren’t successful, OR was on standby, prepared to do open heart surgery.

“Thanks for letting me know Dr. King. Take good care of my friend.”

“He’s a real character,” Dr King said.

“That he is.”

Keeping her promise to update Gabe, she dialed his number and left a message on his voice mail. An hour later she was surprised to look up and see Gabe and Annie enter the waiting room.

“Any more news?” Gabe asked.

“No, not yet. I consider that a good sign. If they were going to run into trouble they probably would have by now. I suspect they’re having success with the angioplasty.”

“I hope he doesn’t have to go through open heart surgery,” Annie said.

“I know,” Pepper said.

“I brought a deck of cards, anybody in?” Gabe said.

“Start shuffling,” Pepper said. “I hate waiting.” The three sat down at the round table and Gabe dealt out a hand of cards to kill the time until they got news about Slim.

* * *

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