Page 49 of Raymond's Forever

“Commander, United States Army National Guard.”

“For how long?”

“Twenty-two years.”

“So, is it honest to say that you take life seriously?”

“Yes.”

“What about oaths?”

“Extremely seriously.”

“What if someone broke one? An oath?”

“If they were a soldier under my command, then we would go through the inquest, then the disciplinary action. The recruit would be reprimanded by being disciplined by the measures already set in place.”

“And if they tried to argue their way out of it?”

“Actions, words, and proof, Sir. That’s what oaths are based on. Oaths have equal rules. If you break an oath, you break a rule. Once that oath is broken, you will never get your own integrity back. In my personal experience, people who break oaths have never repented, and once they start with the lies, they never quit. Several court marshals have been issued because of soldiers breaking their oaths to their country.”

“Thank you for your honesty, Mr. Hall.” Raymond nodded and walked back to the table and picked up a piece of paper, read it, then looked up at Shay. “Mr. Hall, can you tell the court what happened six months ago? The reason why you had to use the medical services of Dr. Amelia Johnson.”

The entire courtroom saw Shay shake his head, and his cheeks actually turned red.

“It’s okay, take your time.”

“Sorry, but that was a shameful time, and I still kick myself in the behind for my own stupidity.”

“Take your time,” the judge spoke this time.

“After retiring from the National Guard, I move to Colorado, and I got a job on a horse ranch. I had been there for about six weeks when I was helping the farrier.”

“What’s that?” Raymond asked.

“The person that works on the horses’ feet, trims the hooves. Well, I helped them with the horse, and I wasn’t paying attention when we finished, and the horse put its foot, with the new shoe on it, on the ground, and kicked out. I didn’t move in time, and the horse clipped me, just above the right knee.” As he described what happened, his hand reached down and started rubbing the outside of his right thigh, right above the knee.

“What happened?”

“I left the barn, drove home, and because where I work is a family, another man that works there was at my cabin in minutes, along with the ranch manager, and owner. The first man that arrived helped me remove my shoes, and pants, so the injury could be examined. It was determined that I should go over to the medical building and at least get x-rays. I did that, and I was given the name of Dr. Johnson. The doctor who took the x-rays wasn’t qualified to do anything else, that’s why he recommended I see an orthopedic surgeon.”

“Why couldn’t the doctor at the medical center you went to treat you?”

“He wasn’t that type of doctor. He’s a chiropractor, and licensed physical therapist. He said he could help me with therapy, but not until after I saw an orthopedic doctor and follow all of their instructions. Once I got the clearance from them, I could see him for therapy if I needed it.”

“What happened, as best as you can recall, when you went to see Dr. Johnson?”

“Because of the people that helped me when I arrived home from my injury, I was equipped with a pair of crutches, and a wheelchair. The next day, the receptionist from Dr. Lassiter’soffice had called to make an appointment for me, they had worked with Dr. Johnson before.”

“So, Dr. Johnson was a referral to you?”

“Yes.”

“Okay, please continue.”

“Someone drove me to my appointment, and pushed my wheelchair. When I got to the office, I filled out the paperwork, and was called back. The nurse was friendly, but apologetic. She explained that because I had never been there before, they had to get my vital signs, weight, height, blood pressure, temperature. She apologized because I had to stand for the first two.”

“First two?”