hoss's Guestbook

It wasn't long before Andrew, Joe and Jennie arrived at the hospital. And after talking to Hoss for a while, even after parking his truck and turning the engine off, they were all ready to go inside and check not only on their brother Adam, but on Hoss as well. When Andrew asked Joe and Jennie who they wanted to go check on first and they both said Hoss, which he should have known, that's who they would have wanted to see first. So, Andrew let out a sigh and took Joe and Jennie up to Hoss's room, where they met up with Laura. After introducing everybody to everybody, Laura told Andrew that she had a few things to do and before she could finish her thought, Andrew said that they would be more than happy to wait for Hoss to come back and stay with him until she got back. It wasn't too long after Laura left that they brought Hoss back, who was now awake and not looking all that good. The nurses quickly got Hoss hooked back up to all his machines again and Joe and Jennie ran over to give him a hug, though Andrew told them to be careful, which they were. Andrew let Joe and Jennie spend some time with Hoss and after a couple of hours, he sent them out to the waiting area so that he could talk to Hoss before they went and checked on Adam. Both Joe and Jennie nodded and gave Hoss one more hug and soon left to go sit in the waiting area for Andrew to finish up with Hoss.

Andrew went over and gave Hoss a gentle hug. Then he pulled a chair up next to Hoss's bed so that they could continue their conversation that they were having on the phone. Andrew tried to give Hoss his best smile, though it was hard to do because of the circumstances with Hoss. Andrew then cleared his throat and began to speak to Hoss with the gentlest and warmest tone he had. "Little brother," Andrew started to say, still wearing that painted on smile as he did so. "I wouldn't worry about the nurses or making any boats," he told him with a chuckle. "You and I both know that the nurses, both men and women, love you," he told Hoss. "But then again, you have always been a very likeable man, especially after Laura gave you that boost of confidence all those years ago," he told Hoss, who was also chuckling now, though Andrew could see he was still having trouble breathing. Andrew reached over and took Hoss's hand into his and held it gently. "And speaking of Laura," Andrew started. "You and both know that she is much stronger than even she knows," Andrew said. "And letting her see your vulnerable side, doesn't mean you are weak. It just means you love her so much that you are willing to share every bit of you, including the broken parts with her," he added as he continued. "And as far as her dragging you through hell by the ear," Andrew said with a chuckle. "I believe she would do just that and more if she really had too," he added as he moved onto Adam.

Andrew sighed and then became serious as he went onto speak to Hoss about him not being there to help Adam. "Hoss, even if you weren't in here, you still wouldn't have been able to do anything," he told him. "Or even if you tried to help, you might have ended up in worse condition than Adam," he told Hoss, not in a scolding tone but more of a stern tone as he went back to Hoss's favorite subject, which was Laura, though Andrew cleared his throat first. "Anyway, you will be happy to know that Joe and Jennie have finally met Laura and they love her, especially since she loves you as much as she does," Andrew told Hoss with a smile. "And I'm pretty sure that Laura is in love with them, though she hasn't had a chance to see just how wild those two can be," he said with a chuckle as he moved onto Hoss's wedding. "And of course you are going to be at your own wedding," Andrew said. "You have dreamt of marry Laura as long as I can remember," Andrew told him. "I remember you even drawing pictures of you and Laura getting married," Andrew added once more chuckling and then he got serious again. "But anyway, is there anything I can get for you little brother?" Andrew asked Hoss as he once again forced a smile on his face. He gave Hoss's hand a little squeeze as he waited for Hoss to say something, though Andrew couldn't help but let his eyes wonder to Hoss's monitor that showed his BP and his heart rate, which was very low and shocky.

After taking care of Adam the best she could, Lynda now moved onto Hoss. This time she let Ben come with her. She had filled him in on Hoss's condition and might have found cause of why Hoss's heart was so weak. Laura was sitting beside Hoss talking and laughing when both Lynda and Ben walked it. As Ben went over to hug Hoss and say hello to Hoss, Lynda, who was in doctor mode at the moment, wasn't as warm as usual, though when she spoke the warmthness was there. "So, Mr. Cartwright," she started, letting Hoss know she was disappointed that he hadn't been keeping his appointments with her. "I see you haven't been to see me in a little while," she told him. "I thought we had a deal that if I let you do some light work because your friend was coming back, that you were to come for a check up once a week to make sure your heart was doing okay?" she asked him. "Care to tell me why you haven't been keeping your end of the bargain?" she asked him as Ben was looking at her with a stern look that Lynda just ignored. It was then that Laura was about to say something, but Hoss squeezed her hand gently and told her he would take care of this.

Laura could feel tears swelling up in her eyes as she listened to a struggling Hoss speak. She could also tell from how faintly he squeezed her hand that he was getting weaker. Then she began to speak as she was looking for a parking spot that was close to the door. "Trust me, Little Eric is way better than your nickname Hoss, which could be mistaken for Horse so easily," she said with a chuckle, hoping to keep him laughing until they got into the hospital. Laura finally found a parking spot, but it wasn't as close as she wanted, but she knew it would work. After parking the truck and shutting off the engine, she turned and looked at her beloved and began to speak to him sweet and softly. "Baby, I have got to go in and get some help," she said nervously and worried. "You are far too weak to walk up to the doors, and I can't get you up if you should fall," she said as she touches his face softly and sweetie. "While I'm gone, I want you to keep thinking about that wedding of ours and how very soon I'm going to be Mrs. Eric Cartwright," she said trying not to let the tears fall, but some fell anyway. She softly kissed his hand and then leaned up to kiss his lips softly.

Then she whispered something that she knew would keep him fighting. "I want you to fight, my love, not just for me, but for our little one that I'm pretty sure is growing right now inside of me," she whispered to him. And soon his face lit up like a Christmas and a warm smile came over Hoss's face. "Can you do that for me?" she asked him as he nodded slowly. Laura smiled back and touched Hoss's face softly one more time, then she let go of his hand and opened her door and got out of the truck. Laura then began to run towards the emergency room doors. She eventually disappeared into the hospital for what seemed like ever. But when she came back through those doors, Laura was being followed by a stretcher and some nurses. Once they reached the truck, one of the nurses opened Hoss's door as Laura got into the driver's side to get her purse and phone. Then she looked up at Hoss. "You're going to be okay baby," she told him. "You just listened to those nurses and try to help them move you over," she added. "And just know, I'm not that far away from you," she added as more tears were coming and she wasn't bothering to try to hide them now.

Laura looked over and gave Hoss a playful stern look. She couldn't help but squeeze his hand gently to let him know that she was right there and if he needed to stop, she would pull over in a heartbeat. "I'm sure by now, everyone in Virginia City knows that you were then and still are now, my little Eric," she told him with a smile on her face. "So, I don't think that your reputation will suffer too badly, though if it does, I promise you that I have a make-up plan that you will love," she told him. "Though I might still do it even if your reputation isn't suffering," she said playfully and then gave his hand another gentle squeeze. Then she turned serious as she spoke again. "I'm glad too. You don't know how badly it hurt for me not to be here all those years ago. It nearly destroyed me and now that I have a chance to make things right, I'm not leaving your side for anything, unless it's what you want," she added as she came up to a red light and stopped. She could see that they weren't that far away, which made her feel better because she could see that he was getting worse, which she never let it show, but she was scared that this time she really would lose him.

That's when she went back to talking about their wedding in the hospital. "After I get you settled in, I'll go see if I can find some wedding bands and find a preacher. I am not worried about your father and Lynda, they'll be hovering around, so they'll be easy to catch," she told him as the light turned green and they began driving again. She had heard what Hoss had asked her and she couldn't help but smile. But it wasn't until they got closer to the hospital before she gave him her answer. "Eric, of course I will marry you again after you get your new heart. I would marry you a thousand times if it makes you happy," she said as she squeezed his hand once more, this time with love behind it. "And a lady like me only gets one little Eric in her lifetime," she added as she made a couple of turns before finally turning into the parking lot of the hospital. "You doing okay, my love? Can you hold on for just a little while longer?" she asked. "We are just about there," she added trying not to let the worry come out but knowing it did.

"A reputation doesn't mean squat if you are six feet under," she told him. "And to me, you will always be a strong man, even though you are going to listen to the doctors," she told him as her facial expression and tone then softened. "And I know you are and that's one reason why I love you so much," she said as they got to his truck. She opened the passenger door and helped him inside, though it took a great effort. But they did it together and soon he was sitting there resting as Laura went on speaking to him being around to see their wedding. "Well, I'm kind of hoping you'll be more involved than just seeing it," she said playfully as she wiped some sweat of his forehead. She knew he had a bit of a fever, along with him being out of breath, so she stayed right by his side until she felt comfortable enough to leave his side so she could get into the truck. It was then that she had the best idea in the world, so she went onto sharing it. "Well, how about this, why don't you and I get married in the hospital with a preacher and your dad and Lynda as witnesses," she told him. "And we can always have a dream wedding later on, after you get a new heart," she told him.

"This way, your mom doesn't miss out, and we won't live to regret not having her at our wedding later on," she told him. She could see that Hoss was deep in thought and when she saw that smile that she loved come across his face, she knew he loved the idea. She leaned up and gave him a soft kiss on the lips and after the kiss, she began to speak again. "You do have a future waiting on you and part of it is right here in front of you," she told him softly and honestly. "Now, let's get you to the hospital," she said with a smile when she felt comfortable enough that he would be okay. So, after letting her go and she made sure that Hoss was inside, she closed the door and ran around the truck to the other side and she got in. She started the truck with no problems and soon was backing out of the hotel parking lot and heading onto the highway and towards the hospital. As Laura was driving, she reached over and took Hoss's hand gently into hers. Then she gave it a little squeeze as she began to speak to him. "Don't worry, my little Eric," she said with a teasing smile. "You're Lulu is going to make you feel all better, well, the doctors are, but I'm still driving you to the hospital," she said laughing and hoping that little tongue twister made him laugh too.