Cord said they’d drive to the county hospital, meet Tina there, and shortly after that, he set off, with Shallie, Carly and Susan. Carly told them she’d try to get in touch with Lindsey and Eric to arrange for cat coverage at Meg’s. Both her friends responded quickly (and now she did think of Eric as a friend, which would’ve been a shocking idea a couple of months ago); both wished Mitch well and said not to worry about MPS or Meg’s cats, that they were on it.

At the hospital, the group spent about three hours in the waiting room, trying to comfort and reassure Tina. Many tears, much hugging.

Cord knew, they all did, that Mitch was only seventy and had always been in good health. His own thoughts had instinctively and immediately reverted to his grandfather’s death—of a sudden heart attack. Cord had been trying to stave off the memory. He’d told Shallie about Bill’s death in their conversation the day she’d arrived, and she obviously remembered. She kept her arm around him and whispered that his grandfather would be proud of him, whispered words of encouragement. Susan sat in the same position with her mother, after calling her sisters. Caroline and Elspeth showed up as soon as they could, family members trailing in after them.

Meanwhile, Cord called Eli and J.P. and they came, too. As did Russ after Shallie sent him a text.

The small waiting room was soon filled to crowding with Mitch’s family and friends.

Eventually, one of the surgeons walked in, still wearing his scrubs; he asked Tina if she’d prefer that he speak to her privately. “No,” she insisted, this was her family.

The doctor nodded, then said, “Mr. Robbins had what we consider a minor heart attack. It’s the damage to the heart muscle, or muscles, that determines the severity of the incident. He has a blocked artery and we’ve dealt with that by inserting a stent.” He then asked if anyone had questions.

Susan did. Would her dad be on any kind of medication?

Mitch would be on beta-blockers to reduce his blood pressure, the surgeon explained, and he’d be receiving very specific physiotherapy. As far as Cord was aware, Mitch hadn’t ever had high blood pressure before—but what did he really know?

There’d be another important change, this one to his diet; he’d have to avoid saturated fats and high-sodium foods…

He and Tina would meet with one of the hospital dieticians to discuss these restrictions, and Mitch would need regular medical exams and tests.

One final caveat. He’d have to restrain his physical activity.

Cord took that to mean Mitch’s work at the ranch was finished. Not that Cord was giving him a choice; he refused to risk his friend’s life. So Mitch would have to consider himself retired.