Emergency

The next morning, Gunner heard Cheyenne cry through the baby monitor as he fluttered his eyes open before realizing she had gotten quiet not long later.

Gently moving Faith away from his lap, he laid her back down on the couch, making his way towards their daughter’s bedroom to check on her; only to find her unconscious. 

“Cheyenne?” he called, shaking her softly, thinking she was being a little prankster, but when she didn’t move, he grew anxious. “Cheyenne!” 

Swiftly picking her up from her crib, he ran towards the truck desperately, while shouting at Faith to wake up. She opened her eyes and saw him get out of the house, his back the last thing she saw as he pushed the screen door open.

“What’s wrong, Gunner?” she asked, putting her shoes on as her heart beat erratically, knowing there was something wrong. As soon as she made it into the truck, Gunner handed her their daughter, running around the truck before getting in and driving off.

He wasn’t sure how he was even able to get his keys, being as frantic as he was, but somehow, he managed.

“Wake up, my princess. Please,” Faith whispered in her ear, not knowing what to do. Should she give her mouth to mouth? Should she shake her to wake her up? Should she call 911? Her mind was in a haze, and she suddenly felt lost. 

More tears flowed freely down her cheeks as she held her closer to her chest, praying to God they didn’t lose their little angel right then and there. 

Shortly after, they arrived at the hospital. Gunner slammed on his breaks; his truck’s tire leaving a line on the pavement. Getting out of the truck, he opened the door for Faith to take Cheyenne in his arms, rushing inside. 

“Please, someone help me. My daughter is unresponsive!” he cried as soon as they made it in and the nurses jogged over, taking her and placing her on the hospital bed before wheeling her to a room.

Faith and Gunner ran behind them, not wanting to leave her alone while they worked to bring her back into consciousness. A few doctors hurried in and jumped into action, performing light CPR on her.

“Please, God. Don't take her with you just yet. She's just a baby,” Faith whispered, putting her hands on the silver necklace with a small crucifix she carried on her neck.

After a long five minutes, they were able to bring her back to consciousness as Gunner and Faith sighed in relief while hugging each other in tears.

“She's lucky, Gunner.” The doctor approached them. “But we'll have to monitor her. She was deprived of oxygen for a bit and we have to make sure she didn't have any damage to her brain.” He patted Gunner’s shoulder before he walked out while the nurses worked on getting Cheyenne comfortable. 

“She's only two. She shouldn’t have to suffer at such a young age. Why can't she just have a normal life, like other kids?" Faith asked, approaching the bed after the nurses were done while caressing her daughter's soft strands of dark hair.

“Our friends deserve to know. They've been there for us all this time; it's only fair we told them. I can see how much Palmer loves Cheyenne, and it would break her heart if she was left in the dark about it. They're her Godparents after all.”

She hugged herself, deciding whether to tell them or not. With their perfect life, according to her, they didn't need to be sucked into their problems. 

“I'll think about it…”

“Faith, we don't have to face this alone. They can be a great moral support.”

“We don't need moral support, Gunner. We need money, which we barely have for our daughter to survive!” She didn't mean to yell when the nurse walked in, telling her to calm down. She sat down on the couch by the corner, her head down as she tried to compose herself. 

Seeing Cheyenne in that bed sick had her, suddenly, losing faith in God. So many nights of unanswered prayers made her not believe in miracles anymore.

“Darling, we can't lose hope. Cheyenne is going to get through this. We are going to get through everything together.”

He held her hand, rubbing her knuckles while trying to comfort each other. 

“I don't have any hope left. You could have been out in the world, visiting countries and winning medals. Instead, you're stuck in here working in a clinic and not even earning enough. You stopped living your true dreams, and got a career you don't want anymore,” she took a deep breath, her eyes wet from her unshed tears. “And I could have been working for a major fashion designer house.”

“I don't regret anything. If it meant being here with you and our daughter.”

She smiled at him, raising her hand to stroke his cheek before kissing his lips tenderly. She felt like the luckiest woman in the world for having such an amazing man next to her.

"It's still not fair to you."

Faith decided she should stay with Cheyenne while Gunner went home to take care of things; the nurse brought her blankets and pillows to stay the day and night while he picked a few things for her stay in the hospital.

On his way there, he felt an ache in his heart, keeping him from breathing. He pulled over on the side of the road, letting his pain out, sobbing and screaming against the steering wheel until he couldn't anymore. 

“Please, God. Help us, I'm begging you,” he whispered, looking up as if he was talking directly to Him. A few minutes after he had finally calmed down, he kept driving to his ranch, only to see a car parked in his driveway and a man walking back to it after leaving a paper taped on the door.

He parked and got out of his truck with a frown on his face. Ignoring the man, he walked towards the door to check what he had left for them.

“What's this?” he asked, turning to face the heavy-set dark-suited man.

“That's your eviction and foreclosure notice. You have one month to vacate the premises, Mr. Travis. Have a good day,” he replied, getting in the car and driving off, leaving Gunner standing on his porch with his heart beating erratically.  

He couldn’t believe that on top of it all, that bastard had to come to their home and threaten him with eviction. He had to find another place soon, but for now, all he wanted was to worry about his family. 

Gunner stomped into the house, picked up a few clothing and personal items, and made his way back to the truck, tossing the bag on the passenger seat before he got in the driver's seat and left.

He wasn't sure if Faith would be upset at him, but they really needed their friend's help; if only one time.

Picking up his cell phone, he marked the digits and hit send, calling Christopher.

“Hello?” he answered, his voice tired.

“Hey, Chris. Sorry to bother you so early, but can you and Palmer meet me at the town hospital?”

That seemed to catch Christopher's attention as he sat up on his bed to listen to Gunner. Palmer was already out tending the horses and he felt guilty for sleeping in.

“What's wrong?”

“It's Cheyenne. Faith didn't want to tell you guys, but she's sick and we might lose her at any moment,” Gunner replied, his voice breaking at the end. All he needed was his friends, and no matter how stubborn Faith was, he wanted them there for their daughter.