The old man grabbed his chest as the pain spread down his arm. Oh Lord I knew this day would come. I want to be with you but...pain interrupted his thoughts, the darkness came rolling in from all sides. He tried to talk but no sound left his lips.
The other cowboy jumped down off his horse calling to his friend Jake Oh Lord, not here, not now so far from help. Jason ran to his friend who lay unconscious on the ground. Jason called 911, ” I need help I am in a field off county road 2199 my friend is unconscious and I can’t find a heart beat. ”
“Sir are there any markers that will give us direction on how to find you?”
“Just past the Crestwood ranch back away from the road by where all the bales of hay are stacked. What should I do, what should I do? ”
The dispatcher sent help and talked Jason through the process of using CPR. Jason shook as his adrenaline pumped through his veins. Please God don’t let my friend die. Oh Jesus, Jesus”
Then Jake took a breath and Jason could feel a heart beat. Jason heard the sirens in the distance, he sat down next to his friend his head in his hands tears pouring down his face, “Thank you Lord, oh thank you, oh my God” he gasped trying to compose himself.
Jake opened his eyes and coughed. Jason said, “Hey man help is on the way. Hang on Jake. Your gonna make it.”
Jake stood up and ran toward the road as he waved his arms to get the paramedics attention. They have to see me. The ambulance slowed and drove off the road Jason motioned to them as he ran back toward Jake.
The ride to the hospital was long. When they arrived at the emergency room the doctors ran every which way and after hours of prods and pokes Jake was moved to ICU.
“Man, you scared me, I thought you were done for.”
“Yeah, I thought I was fixing to see Jesus. Jason you saved my life, I don’t know what to say?”
“Nothing man, it was all I could do, but God brought you through. I am so relieved he did. Like I said I thought you were done for.”
Jake recovered enough to go back to the ranch. His girlfriend came to take care of him and Jason did the ranch work while Jake regained his strength. Libby, Jake’s girlfriend never really liked Jason but tolerated him as he helped keep things going on the ranch. It took about a year but things went back to the normal routine and it was time for Jason to move on. Jake thanked him and gave Jason a saddle as a token of his appreciation and friendship. The men hugged and patted each other on the back the way old cowboys do. Jason got in his truck and pulled out headed for other places with his horse in his trailer behind the truck.
Months later Jason ran into Jake at a horse training conference in California. The men were glad to see each other and worked quite few training sessions together. They were loading up and Jake pulled Jason aside. “It sure has been good to see you. You should come out and visit us at the ranch sometime.”
I might just do that.”
“Hey Jason when you come do you think you could bring that saddle. Someone gave it to me and I should not have given it away. I really need it back.”
Jason, stopped looked at Jake who was waving and smiling as he got in his truck to leave. What the heck, you jerk, you gave that to me. Its mine, his thoughts ran on through his mind. I bet it was Libby she always stirs up a mess. She always hated me. His thoughts continued as he caught a ride to airport.
Jason wasnt sure what to do. He thought, the saddle was a gift. It’s wrong for Jake to ask for it back. I earned it. He has no right to it anymore. oh heck now I don’t even want it he can have it and I am going to tell him what a dirty dog I think he is for asking for it back.
What would you do?
