you. I remember how touched Phil used to be when Spence
would brag about how his dad was the best cop in all of L.A.
County."
"Yeah, I guess I missed out on all that. But even though
it feels good now, it's kind of scary and overwhelming some-
times.. and I'm just not sure I can deliver or live up to her
expectations...
"Don't worry, Jed. You can deliver. Just be yourself.
That's all any of us want from you. Some of us believe that
simply being Jed Whitewater is pretty special."
His eyes lit up. "Thanks, Magpie. That means a lot, espe-
cially coming from you."
Maggie made the appropriate phone calls, first reassuring
Audrey, then Abigail, that Spencer was going to be just fine,
and then she asked for everyone to pray for him and Daniel.
Just as she hung up the phone, Daniel's grandparents came
out of the ER and she rushed to meet them. "How is he?"
Suddenly the grandmother began to sob, and the grand-
father answered, "He's going to be okay. He may have a
cracked rib or two, but they've ruled out any internal injuries
for the time being, although they'll keep an eye on him for
the next couple of hours. He's on his way to be x-rayed as
we speak."
Maggie put a comforting arm around the older woman's
shoulders. She'd only met her once, but she understood
exactly how she felt. "It really could've been so much
worse," she spoke soothingly.
"Yes," she sobbed. "I was just so terribly worried. I guess
it's all coming to the surface now. Thank goodness they're
both going to be all right."
Loo~ing for You All My Life47
"And no more little foreign cars for my boy," steamed his
grandfather. "When Daniel gets better we'll buy him a tank
if need be!"
By three o'clock Spencer was released from the hospital with
a cast on his foot. His ankle was broken, but the doctor assured
him it would heal faster and more completely than a sprain, and
then he told Maggie to keep an eye on him for the remainder
of the day in case he exhibited any more signs of concussion.
As it turned out, Daniel had only one broken leg; the other was
just badly bruised. And the doctor convinced Daniel's grand-
parents that the facial lacerations were clean cuts that would
pro bably heal up just fine without the aid of any plastic surgery.
But they decided to keep him overnight, just to observe him for
any possible developments of internal injuries.
Jed drove Maggie and Spencer home. Then, leaving
Spencer in his grandmother's diligent care, Maggie went
back to town to fill his prescription for pain medication and
crutches. At the tiny drugstore, she noticed a copy of today's
edition of the Pine Cone resting on top of the pharmacy