Page 140 (1/2)

"Wrong," he declared with the tone of a gong "He would have gone without you I was no help to hirief, And then he would have been up here all by himself and no one would have come in ti, you kept him alive," he said

I wanted to believe Uncle Roy I kneas telling me all of it to make me feel better, but maybe, just maybe there was some truth to it too

Later in the day Daddy and Mo the all this trouble, but they were just so happy to seeDaddy went off to confer with the doctors and Mommy remained with me

They checked into a motel nearby and came to the hospital every day for the next two days On the second day Harley woke He was very weak but slowly he was able to realize where he was and remember all that had happened

The night of day two, after Moot out of my bed I wasn't supposed to but I wanted to see Harley I waited until there was no one in the hallway and then I went to his rooo in I stood inside the doorway, frozen, silent, hardly breathing

Uncle Roy had his head resting against his pal at Harley's bedside

He was crying

Uncle Roy-- the gruff, powerful giant who lumbered across our property and his, who ruled with firmness over his work creho didn't ever see at Harley's bedside

Harley woke and turned to him Then he reached out and touched Uncle Roy's head and Uncle Roy lifted his eyes and they looked at each other

"Thanks for co for us," Harley said

"Hell, boy, you did a du"

"I know:'

"Your momma would have hated me for eternity," Uncle Roy said And then he paused and said "You don't need to go running all over the country looking for a daddy, Harley I'll be there for you We both lost a lot, but we still got each other if you want," he said

Harley eak, but hehim and hold him

I was crying so hard I didn't think I could reer so I quickly retreated and returned to my room