Danny Ray (Ray Trilogy) by Kelley Brown Page B

walked to his bed with an animated expression, “Mom, I would like for you to meet Lisa Marvel. Isn’t she marvelous?”
    Laura trying to swallow her surprise, smiled and said, “I’m sure she is,” as she reached to shake her hand. “My name is Laura Bailey. I’m glad to meet you.”
    “She brought me another bouquet of flowers, see them over there?” he indicated toward the extra table that the nurses had brought in to hold his excessive amount of bouquets. There in the center stood an urn with a dozen red roses with other assorted flowers included.
    “That’s very pretty,” Laura agreed. She didn’t ask him how he felt. Right now she didn’t think he hardly knew his name. She visited a short time and excused herself to get something to drink in order to give them some privacy.
    The next time she encountered Dr. Barnes, she asked the question that continually lodged in her throat, “Doctor Barnes, will Danny be able to play football again?” Laura asked fearing she already knew what his answer would be.
    “That would be highly unlikely, Mrs. Bailey?” he answered.  “With a break like this, he may have trouble with it for the rest of his life. I hope in his case it heals well. We did the best we could to set it straight. Now, we have to wait and see how well he heals.”
    “I apologize for taking your time, Dr. Barnes, but is there a possibility that Danny could be transferred to Tulsa to complete his treatment?”
    “Not at this time, Danny shouldn’t be moved. It would be very painful and very expensive. I don’t recommend it.”
    Laura watched the nurse ’s work with Danny. A physical therapist visited his room every day rubbing his muscles. They made him cough which hurt his broken ribs tremendously. He took a breathing treatment twice a day to help keep his lungs expanded and help promote good pulmonary circulation. Every time they came in Laura had another question for them. Soon she began to understand his treatment and they agreed for her to assist in any way she wanted in addition to what they were doing. Laura hated to just sit there when there was something that she could do to help her son heal.
    Danny appreciated her administrations. H e told her his back hurt from lying in the bed all the time. Both of his legs hurt, one because of the fracture but also from being in traction and the inability to bend his knee, the right leg hurt from inactivity. She had trouble getting him to eat and knew he was losing a lot of weight.
    A few weeks later , the lowest blow came to Danny when a tall, silver haired man with a serious face wearing a well cut business suit entered the room with another man. He introduced himself to Laura wearing a big smile, “I’m Jerry Jones, the manager of the Cowboys.” He shook hands with Laura and Danny.
    “It’s so good to see you again, Danny. I hate it like everything about this accident.” 
    Laura stretched out on her recliner under the large oak tree and drifted off to sleep. That’s where Danny and Art found her at the end of their ball game.

 
     
     
    CHAPTER TEN
    He received a call that the baby chicks he had ordered were in. When he got home with them, he placed them in the little shelter he prepared for them in the milk room. He turned the red light on over them to keep them warm. He spoke softly to them, “Now little chicks, all you need to do is eat, drink, and grow.”
    Frisker followed him out of the milk room recently converted into brooder house. Danny turned to secure the Dutch doors he placed there so he could leave the top door open and still keep the other door closed. That way he could look in on them without having to go in and they also could have fresh air.
    On the way back to the house he saw a squirrel standing under a tree munching on something in his front paws. Danny squatted by Frisker and pointed toward the squirrel. Frisker raised his ears and came to attention with his tail straight out. He knew he was getting important