HER SECRET 35

The acrid smells of the hospital burned in Matt’s nostrils. He looked down on Sam, small and shrunken in the bed, plugged into monitors and bottles. Pain was etched in the old rancher’s weathered face despite the barrage of drugs intended to mask it.

‘I knew you’d come,’ Sam said, his voice barely audible, fading out.

‘You should have let them call me sooner, Sam. I wanted to be here.’

‘I don’t want a lot of moanin’ and cryin’. I had a good life. Matt.’

‘I don’t know where I would have been without you.’

‘Thank you for bein’ a part of it. I want ya’ to know you’ve never let me down.’

‘Yeah, I did, Sam. I stayed gone so long . . .’

‘Don’t make no difference. You’re here now. Matt, I lied when I told ya I didn’t care what ya do with that land. You take it and make yourself a home. Show this town what you’re made of.’



‘Sam, I don’t know . .

‘I won’t make you promise. Wouldn’t be fair. I’ve always believed in you. Matt. Enjoyed watching you grow into a man. But I’m gonna have to give it