Page 52 of Caleb's Cause
“Will Staci be able to pass a background check from Duane, and Jake over at Brotherhood Protectors? Another thing to think about is this…” She waited until she had his full attention before continuing, “Will Erin even allow someone new on the property while this shit with me is happening? I’m not making it all about me, but that’s a thought.”
“Damn,” Caleb said, dejected, and slumped back in his chair. He shook his head and looked at his notes before he looked at her. “What do you think?”
“I can’t give you an answer. I’m just someone here hiding from some very bad people. I don’t want your friend to get caught in the crosshairs of my life.”
“I understand. Will you go over and talk to Erin with me? I’m only asking because I might forget to tell her some crucial information. I know we can’t expect Staci to come tomorrow, and I told her it might take a few days for me to get back to her. The first step would be to see if Erin would even allow me to hire her.”
“Yes, I’ll go with you,” Katherine said, then handed him a paper back. “You might want to revise this list.”
Caleb took it, looked down at the names and the body part which needed to be revised and back at her. “What’s wrong with this list.”
“You don’t have Reid’s name on it.”
“Reid has a prosthetic?”
“A leg, I believe he lost it, or they took it at mid-thigh.”
“Wow, I didn’t know that. Thank you for pointing it out. If you want to change, I’ll give Erin a call.”
“Why would I need to change?” she asked in confusion, then looked down and gave a squeal, she was still wearing a rattytee full of holes, and a pair of skimpy shorts. She gave him a wrinkled nose, jumped to her feet, and hurried to her bedroom, followed by his laugh. To make him pay, she decided to take a shower, and it was an hour later when she emerged and nodded when he had done the same thing.
“Did you get ahold of Erin?”
“Yes, she said to come over when we’re ready.” He drew in a deep breath and let it out slowly, picked up his papers, and nodded when he was ready to go. Instead of taking the golf cart, they opted to take his truck. They grimaced during the roughest parts, and when they came out from behind the barn onto smoother paths, they both sighed in relief.
At Erin’s Way, they emerged from the truck, and heard someone call their names, they looked up and saw that Erin was at the reception barn and several of the people from Broken and Erin’s Way were bringing the chairs and tables from the barn. They approached and Erin nodded to them.
“What’s up?”
“Nothing, it can wait,” Caleb said.
“Bullshit, you wouldn’t have called me if it wasn’t important. I had hoped that by now, I don’t take bullshit from anyone, and I don’t suffer fools lightly. What do you have on your mind?”
“It’s complicated.”
“Come inside here, there’s snacks, and you can uncomplicate it.” She grinned as she turned away, and Caleb felt like he was being led to the principal’s office. He looked at Katherine, and nodded when he received her encouraging nod. Inside, he waited until his eyes adjusted, and didn’t know whether to be glad or mad when Erin called everyone’s attention that Caleb had something to say.
Taking the bull by the horn, he nodded, and looked directly at his uncle when he talked. “When we got the call you were MIA, Dad and I were shocked. Mom not so much.” They shareda smile when Ryan snorted. “Anyway, you know I was in school, right?”
“Yes.”
“I am a licensed physical therapist, as well as a doctor of chiropractic medicine.”
“Yes, I’m aware.”
“What you might not be aware of is that before you came home, I had joined a group of people that were trying to get our feet in the door for making custom-made prosthetics. I don’t know if Jake Cogburn said anything, but when I arrived here a few months ago, I stopped by the B&B and gave him his new leg. My one friend in the group and I were the only two that worked on it.” He looked around and saw he had everyone’s attention, then turned back to his uncle.
“When you came to the house, you were bad.”
“I remember,” Ryan said, and looked at his friends. “I had only been out of the hospital for three weeks before driving from the base to Seattle. It was hell.”
“And Mom was no help when she started hitting you for being alive.” He looked at the others and saw Ryan’s nod. “Mom thought because she was Uncle Ry’s only blood relative, then she would get his death benefits regardless if he was alive or dead. She said she was entitled to them. When Uncle Ry walked through out door, she attacked him. If Dad and I hadn’t pulled her off him, he might have gone back into the hospital. Except that Dad had taken preemptive measures and the police were waiting in the street. Mom was arrested, and while in jail, she was served divorce papers. Turns out she’s doing at least eighteen years now for some other shit she’s done. The last time I saw her was when she was sentenced. I wanted to make sure she would not be in our lives again.” He drew in a deep breath and nodded when Katherine stepped up and rubbed his back.
“Anyway, when Uncle Ry left our house to come here, I made a vow to myself, when I got back to school, I hunted Staci down, and told her that I had a cause in my life. I came here as part of it. Please, don’t think I’m a bleeding heart, but almost every one of you served your country, and when you got out, you were shit on. I want to help you if I can. Not only can I help with physical therapy, and chiropractic services, I know how to make prosthetics. I want to do what I was hired to do, but I also want Staci to come and help me make prosthetics for you guys.” He drew in a deep breath and turned to Erin. “I know Staci and I can make a hand for you that you’ll be able to bend your fingers. I wouldn’t say you would be able to pick up a coin, but you’ll be able to pick up a pen.” He turned and told everyone what he could do for them, then turned to his uncle.
“I also know that between Staci and I, I could make you an eye that would match your good one. Until we get in there and see the damage, there’s no guarantee that you’ll be able to see out of it, but you wouldn’t have to wear a patch any longer.”
No one said a word after his speech, and he sat down, grateful for Katherine’s silent strength beside him.
