Page 4 of Caleb's Cause
“Oh, wow, her operation is that big.”
“You have no idea,” Jake laughed and shook his head as he placed his hand on Caleb’s shoulder and gave it a squeeze. “I can’t describe it. No one can, it’s better to see it in person.”
Caleb nodded and left within the next five minutes. He took note of his surroundings on the drive, and after about thirty minutes, he shook his head and sighed. “What a boring ass ride,” he said to himself, and found a radio station with his favorite music. He cranked up the volume and settled in for the rest of the trip. When he went around the bend in the driveway, he slammed on his brakes and whistled at the sight before him.
“Holy hell,” he whispered, and slowly started forward. He didn’t know exactly where to park, so he took the last spot next to a line of vehicles, and with his head on a swivel, stepped out of his car.
“Help you?” came a voice from behind him, and he whipped around to see a man around his father’s age standing there, looking at him sternly.
“Yes, please. One, I have an appointment at nine with Erin Riceman. Two, I would also like to speak with Ryan Carter.”
“Who are you?” he asked, and that was when Caleb noticed for the first he held a clipboard, and nodded with a thought this must be Manchester, the security guy.
“Caleb Lassiter.”
“Yes, I have you on the list. I can take you to Erin now, seeing Carter might take longer, he’s out there.” Caleb turned to look where he had pointed to, and all he saw was hills, valleys, and wide-open spaces.
“Oh, I guess that’s okay, and I know you don’t know me, but when you contact Uncle Ry, could you not tell him I’m here? Just say something like he’s wanted over here.”
“I can, but not until you give me a good enough reason.”
“Oh, I’m his nephew, Caleb.”
“From Seattle?”
“Yes.” Caleb pulled out his wallet, then his license and showed it to the other man. “Are you Manchester?”
“I am, that’s my last name, my first is Duane. How did you know my name?”
“I was in Fool’s Gold last night at Gunny’s B&B. I had business with Jake Cogburn, oh, and he’s going to be contacting you later.”
“About?”
“Me.”
“Please elaborate.”
“I’m here to see Erin for a job interview. If I get hired, I’ll be the new physical therapist. Uncle Ry had told both me and my Dad that Erin does a background check on all new hires. Dad had someone in his office do one on me, I gave Jake the results this morning. I mean no disrespect, but I didn’t know about you before I had the check done, or I would have had a copy for you.”
“Where does your dad work?”
“He’s a homicide detective with the Seattle Police.”
“Ah, got it, so it wasn’t a private eye doing the check?”
“No, it was the police,” Caleb admitted, then frowned when Duane pulled out his phone and sent a text. As he waited for a response, he looked at Caleb sternly.
“Is Ryan expecting you?”
“Yes and no. Yes, because I was invited to his wedding. Dad’s coming too, but not for another two weeks, the week before the wedding. I’m here now because I have an interview with Erin, and if she hires me, I want to be settled into my office before the wedding. I don’t want to think that I’m shirking my duties, but I thought if I arrived before the wedding, I could get any paperwork out of the way, get set up the way I want it, then get familiar with the area and the people working here before I open my doors. If everything in my head goes as planned, on the Monday after the wedding, I can be open for business.”
“I like the way you think, so will Erin. Can I give you a word of advice?”
“Okay, I guess.”
“Tell all your plans to Erin. She might be young, but she’s got a great head on her shoulders, and if you are open and honest with her, it will be better for you. Erin values honesty and hard-work above everything.”
“I understand.”
