Jim and Sue walked into Donald’s room after an unbearable wait and he turned his head toward them and grinned. “My peeps!” He said in a raspy tone.

  Sue and Jim looked at each other and laughed! “Where did that come from?” Jim asked.

  Sue said, “Don’t try to talk, Donald. Your throat is probably very dry from the tubes. It will heal pretty fast.” She and Jim walked over to the bedside and both sat down. “You look so good; how are you feeling?” Sue said, forgetting she had just told him not to talk.

  “Oh, a little loopy and glad to be alive. No pain. They are taking good care of me.” He looked at Sue and asked, “Marry me? I’m alone. It’s not good. It’s ok Jim, I still love you but you are not Sue.”

  Jim and Sue had to cover up their smiles. They realized he was affected by the drugs and wasn’t really in control of what he was saying. Jim thought what a true friend Donald was, being concerned about his friend in his condition.

  Donald’s eyes were drooping. The nurse had just told them she had put a strong drug in his IV and that he might drop off to sleep. Donald said, “you didn’t say anything. Sue, don’t break my heart.” Then he broke out in the most off-key singing, “My achy, breaky heart. No Sue, don’t break my achy heart!” In the middle of his wacky song, Donald drifted off to sleep.

  After waiting to see if he would wake up, Jim and Sue walked out quietly. They checked in with the nurse about when Donald would be released and finding out it would be three days, Jim turned to Sue and said, “You need to get some sleep. You will be very busy taking care of a cranky SOB who will want to get out hunting again when he gets home and you need to be rested for that venture!” He took her hand, against her objections and took her outside to the snowmobiles. They rode home to mass confusion.

  As soon as Max heard they were back, he made a beeline for them. “How is Donald?” was his first question. When he heard Donald was recovering, he instantly asked Jim to go aside and talk with him. “I took the Thompsons out to hunt today. It was a disaster. That young girl may be a trophy wife, but she is a hunters’ nightmare. She was noisy and drove off our big game, she was teasing the dogs and almost got bit, she must have complained four times about the cold while we were out and somehow she broke my rifle! She has no business being here, Jim. What do we do?”

  “How much longer are they supposed to be here?” Jim asked.

  “I heard them say their plane will leave in two days. I am not taking her out again, Jim. She is trouble, “ Max emoted.

  “Hey, hey, calm down. I agree with you. I will talk to her husband and explain it and I’m sure he will understand. After all, because of her, Donald almost lost his life. I will let him know he can hunt with one of us, but she will have to remain behind during the hunt.”

  “She’s not going to like it one bit,” Max said.

  “Well, they will just have to deal with it. “They are lucky we haven’t sued them.” Jim said. He went to check on Sue. She was frantically cleaning her room and crying.

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  Jim said, “Sue, do you have any benadryl?”

  Sue answered, “Yes,” pulling it out of her closet and handing it to him. “Who needs it?”

  Jim produced a spoon and said, “Open wide!”

  Sue protested, but ended up taking the benadryl. Jim sat down and talked with Sue until she got drowsy, had her lay down, covered her up and said, “Happy dreams.”

  Sue quickly fell asleep. Mission accomplished. Jim tried not to think about how tired he was. He had lost track of how many days he had been up. He went downstairs and found the Thompsons. It was time to take the bull by the horns. “Hello Angel and Randall. How have you been?”

  Angel answered, “I got really cold on the hunt today. Isn’t there a heater we can take with us? I can’t wear any more clothes on the hunt. Also, can’t we get better food? I don’t like game meat and this is our vacation.”

  Jim said, “I think we have a solution, at least for your being cold. We have had to restrict you from going on the hunts, after the injuries. Randall, you are welcome to go on the hunts.”

  Angel said, “Why are you doing this to me? This is not fair. After all, Donald was not hurt bad and the hunt went fine today.”

  Jim said, “There is a man in the hospital because of you. He had to have a blood transfusion and he almost didn’t make it to the hospital. He actually died for a few minutes. Your carelessness with the gun almost took his life. Then today, you broke Max’s rifle. I think you will be much happier staying here.”

  Angel said, “These people are not nice, Randall. They are picking on me. I want to go home.

  Randall said, “If that’s what you want, then we will call the airport today and get it rescheduled. I’m sorry, Jim, but I won’t be going on any more hunts with you. We are going to head back home.”

  “Well I’m sorry you have made that decision, but I respect it.” Jim said.

  After a phone call, the Thompsons were scheduled to leave that evening. Sue woke up rested and told Jim she was headed back to the hospital. Jim said, “Sue, I’m going too. Let’s drop off the Thompsons on our way.”

  Jim and Sue went to the hospital and stayed with Donald until he was released. When Donald saw them come into the room, he lit up with a big smile. “Hey, you two! It is so good to see you! Hey I had a crazy dream. You were both here and I was singing Achy, Breaky Heart to you, Sue. Can you believe that?”

  Jim and Sue looked at each other and Jim said, “You did!”

  Donald’s face grew red and he got really quiet. “Sue, did I ask you to marry me, too?”

  Sue giggled, “Yes, you did. Don’t worry, I won’t hold you to it. You were under the influence of some pretty strong drugs. They will make you say and do things out of character, sometimes.”

  Donald looked at Sue, thoughtfully. He started to speak and changed his mind. Then he opened his mouth and surprised himself by saying, “But it wasn’t out of character. I have been thinking about asking you ever since the night you brought a plate up to my room. Oh, what the hell. I don’t have a ring and this is not the kind of proposal I had in mind, but Sue I love you and I want you to be my wife, if you will have me.”

  Sue said, “Do you want to think about it and wait until you have gotten off of the drugs? You may change your mind, Donald.””

  Donald said, “No, I am tired of waiting. Will you marry me, Sue?”

  “Yes, I will, Donald. I love you too!

  Donald said, “You heard what she said, Jim. You are my witness.”

  Jim said, “I think that part comes during the ceremony, Donald.” All three of them started laughing.