Chapter 8

The next morning Jesses started to wake up. As he woke up he saw his friends and Walker there.

"How are you feeling?" asked William.

"Sore, but I will be alright," said Jesse.

"We knew something was up, when you didn't show," said Richard.

"Yeah, we were worried," said Alvina.

"Thank you, and thank you Walker for coming," said Jesse.

"Your welcome," smiled Walker.

"Walker what's going to happen to him now?" asked Lisa.

"Nothing, he's old enough to make his own decision," said Walker.

"You mean he won't be shipped away into foster care?" asked Richard.

"No, he's old enough not to be in the system, once they turn a certain age, they are on their own," said Walker.

"Oh, that's good news," said Lisa.

"Yeah, because I was worried when I was younger, because I didn't want to leave, this is my home," said Jesse.

"I'll tell you what, come live with me Jesse, you'll be better off, you will still be able to come to the reservation it's only a two-hour drive from where I live," said Walker.

"That does sound great, I've known you since I was born, and you are like a father to me, okay I'll live with you," smiled Jesse.

"Good, this will be great, you're going to love it, you'll see lots of things, and you will be helping me work on my ranch," said Walker.

"Wow! You live on a ranch?" asked Jesse.

"Dude, that is awesome," said William.

"Yeah, there's lot of things to explore on a ranch," said Walker.

Jesse was filled with joy and excitement, because he always dreamed of living with Walker when he was a kid.

"You guys can come and see him as well, and he'll be back here as well, to see you guys," said Walker.

"We know he will, he'll be just fine, and in a better environment, and he can be somebody," said Richard.

"This is true," said Walker.

Then the doctor came in.

"Hey Jesse, how are you today?" asked the doctor.

"I'm good," said Jesse.

"Are you in any pain, do you need any pain medicine?" asked the doctor.

"No doc, I'm fine thank you," said Jesse.

"Okay, if you're feeling in pain, just call one of the nurses and she'll give you your pain medicine," said the Doctor.

"Hey doc, may see you outside," said Walker.

"Sure, come on," said the doctor.

"When will he be able to go home?" asked Walker.

"He'll have to stay a couple more days, until his wound as healed a little, and then he'll be able to go home," said the Doctor.

"Good, that's great," said Walker.

"When we took x-rays of him poor kid, I don't know how he managed to get up every day and walk to school and even go to school," said the Doctor.

"Why do you say that?" asked Walker.

"Well he had old fractures, I've known this kid since he was born, and growing up he has been in and out of this hospital with stories that I've heard so many times from other kids just like him. The x-rays showed old bone fractures, from his shoulder, his ribs are just now started to heal properly, his knee, he had a fractured wrist that was coming together in the x-ray, he had an old fracture on his skull, which is healing up nicely, his body was battered up, now with his knee the way it is, he'll be able to tell when the weather changes or if it rains, but he's a strong young boy I give him that," said Doctor.

"I know doc, his parents did a number on him his whole life, now he has to be reminded of that when the weather changes, but he's going to live with me now, so I can give him a better life, and show him what it truly means to be loved, and to be happy, and not to be scared anymore," said Walker.

"Oh, that's good, I'm glad you're taking him in, he'll be much better," said Doctor.

"Thank you, this will be good for him as well," said Walker.

"Yes, well I better get back to work, he'll be able to go home in a couple of days," said Doc.

"Thank you, doctor," said Walker.

"I wonder when you'll be able to go with Walker?" asked Alvina.

"I'm not sure," said Jesse.

"Hey Jesse, I talked to the doc and he said you'll be able to go home in a couple of days, that will give your wound time to heal," said Walker.

"Great, I can't wait to see your place, before we go can we go to my old house to get my stuff first," asked Jesse.

"Sure, if you want to," said Walker.

"Yeah, I need to get my clothes, I think that's all I need is just my clothes, and my regalia as well," said Jesse.

"Yeah, sure, whatever you want to take with you, because I'll be bringing my truck anyways," said Walker.

"That's cool," said Jesse.

"Yeah, well I better get back to work, I'll come see you tonight when I get off work," said Walker.

"Okay, I'll be waiting then," smiled Jesse.

So, everybody left the hospital and went home.