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When I got to the Hospital, their grief counselor was waiting for me. I had known Jeanie for a long time. Not only from working at the hospital (where my vending machines were) but because she and her husband were also Moose Lodge members and her Barber husband cut both W and Bears hair. (It's a small town, and they didn't know yet that I was seeing Bear.) It was Jeanie who first described the wound to me. W. had hit mostly the inside of his left arm inches below the armpit. A .30-06 (I know nothing about bullets, but TK gives those details on a comment) does a lot of damage. So his left ribcage was hit also and there was damage all the way to his shoulder. They weren't sure they could save his left arm, and warned me it was very possible he'd lose it. Their first priority was blood loss and he needed a Vascular and a Neurourgeon. They didn't have either in our town and wanted to know if I wanted him taken to Mansfield or Columbus. My first thought was my own Neurosurgeon in Marion. He was still treating my A.V.M. and I trusted him. Marion and Columbus were of an equal distance away. I asked why I couldn't take him to Marion and they readily agreed. Especially when I said that my sons were already going there with my Parents and we'd have a place to stay. It was quickly settled. Then Jeanie asked if I wanted to see him now, before the ambulance was ready, and I decided I was ready to see him.

When they took me to him, the others left us alone. The very first words out of his mouth were, "You can't leave now, you have to take care of me." Years of training and compassion took over and I just told my crippled husband, "I know. First we're taking you to Dr. N. E. in Marion." I really can't remember anything else that was said. The room filled up quickly and they were hurrying to move him to better care. Once again I declined riding in the ambulance. I was going to need my car in Marion and I told them I'd follow right behind. They stressed they would need my signature for surgery as soon as we got to Marion. I hurried to phone home, but there was no answer, so I assumed my parents had picked up the boys. Dad must have made a flying trip. I left right behind the ambulance and followed it all the way to the Marion Hospital.

I learned later that Dad had asked for us at the emergency room just after we left, while the others waited in the car. So they knew where we were going and he took the family home with him.

Once at the Marion Hospital, they had W prepped and in surgery immediately. I didn't even see him again. The Emergency Squad members did tell me he had done well on the trip. They didn't believe his life was in any immediate danger, barring new complications. He had been alert and talkative the last they saw him, and that was good.

They took me to the surgery waiting room. All I could do now was wait, and think. I was realizing that he really had meant to trap me. I believed then and I still believe it was no accident. And a real strong anger/bitterness was setting in. After all he had already put me through, now he was going to make me take care of him. After not even visiting me in the hospital, he expected me to take care of him. Dad brought Mom to me and we talked a bit. They felt the same way I did. They had already heard JT's version. Then Dad said Mom could stay and he'd go back home to stay with the boys. I asked Dad to phone W's Father because I didn't think he'd been told. W's Mother was already dead and his Sister was way out in Oklahoma. He wasn't close to any other family member.

Mom and I waited for hours, well into the evening. FLF and B.G. showed up sometine. Both had been with me at the bowling alley. They told me JT had phoned right after I left and word had spread of some kind of shooting accident. That was how they found me. They were prepared to wait with us till the surgery was over. Both women and their husbands had been very close friends of W and I. B.G. and G.G. had been almost the first people I met when I first came to Mt. Vernon. They were the only couple to drive to the Hospital when I'd had the Aneurysm. The four of us had bowled on the Sunday night couples league for the whole of my marriage to W. Over 14 years. Not to mention our card club.

We were still waiting, when much to my amazement, Bear also showed up. Come to think of it, I don't know how he found out or how he found us. But, when Bear walked in, both FLF and B.G. made their dis-pleasure known. FLF had of course known about Bear. B.G. hadn't even known till he showed up. Their reaction upset me a lot. Mom had never even met Bear. He offered to leave and said he was sorry and hadn't meant to cause any problems for me. Mom talked to Bear while I tried to talk to my best friends. But, the girls walked out on me. Mom took to Bear right away. She wouldn't let him leave and she told me that my friends just needed time. If they were truly my friends, they'd come around. I guess she was right. One eventually did come around, but the other proved to be the kind of friend nobody needs.