Chapter 3
Staci’s head was on a swivel as she followed Caleb as they passed two buildings, then drove into the trees, she started paying better attention. The truck ahead of her stepped on the brakes, and when Caleb leaned out of his open window, she rolled hers down and looked out.
“Park in front of the second cabin!” he yelled, and went to the left and parked his truck before a cabin, but it was next to a car.
Caleb hopped out of his truck to point. Staci looked over then gave him the thumbs up sign that she understood.
She went over there and by the time she turned her vehicle off, he was there with a beautiful woman standing beside him.
She hopped out and when they asked if she had any luggage, she went to the back to open the door.
“Holy shit,” Caleb said when he saw all the boxes and cases stored there.
“Just the pink suitcases,” she said hurriedly. “The others are parts for protypes. Work.”
“Ah, okay, Katherine Miller, this is Staci Hardt. Staci, this is Katherine.”
The two women exchanged handshakes, then Katherine led her to the cabin Staci had parked before. It shocked Staci that she opened the door and walked in without using any type of key or keypad.
“Do you always leave your doors unlocked?”
“Yes, there’s no one here. Out of the four cabins, Caleb and I share one, you’re in this one, the one the furthest away is occupied by my mother and Jason Black. The one between yours and theirs is empty.”
“How big is this?”
“Two bedrooms, two bathrooms, if you don’t want to use the spare room as a bedroom, you can set it up as an office.
” Caleb admitted as he brought the three suitcases in.
He placed them just inside the door. “Go ahead, walk around, and pick out what room you want. I’ll bring your cases to whichever room you pick.
” They let Staci walk at her leisure, and when she returned she wore a grin, and Caleb followed her with the cases.
Back in the kitchen, Staci said she’d unpack later, and at Caleb’s raised brow, she reassured him she would.
“Okay, Mom and Jason know you’re arriving today, Mom threw something in the crockpot this morning before she went to work.”
“Where does she work?”
“Over at Erin’s Way, she and Jason are lawyers and they have a case they’re working on for Erin.
What I’m saying is that once they get home, then with what she has, I’ll add something to it, and we’ll have a meal together.
I’m not saying this will happen every night, but it’s a welcome of sorts.
The official welcome will be in a couple of weeks.
Everyone who works for Erin has a BBQ, and you’ll meet everyone there.
We’re waiting for one new person to arrive later this week, and we’ll have the welcome BBQ when he’s here and all settled in. ”
Staci turned to Caleb, and scowled when he grinned.
“Tomorrow. I’ll show you the office tomorrow.
I’m not telling you what to do either, but I sort of know you, you won’t unpack until you can’t find anything to wear.
There are washers and dryers, so you won’t have to lug everything into town, like you did in Seattle.
We’ll leave you to get settled. If you need anything, we’re just next door at the cabin I parked in front of.
My phone number is still the same, so you can text me if you need us for something. ”
“Okay, and the guy named Duane is supposed to give me a tour of the property tomorrow.”
“Then when you get back, tell him to drop you off at our office. We will be sharing one of the buildings we drove past.”
“Okay, come get me when supper’s ready,” she laughed at his expression and as soon as they left, she turned on her heel and went to the bedroom she’d picked.
She liked that Caleb had placed all the suitcases on the bed.
She unzipped all three and started unpacking.
An hour later, she put was putting the empty cases beneath her bed when there was a knock at the door.
She hurried out and opened it to see Caleb, Katherine, and an older couple standing there, all holding dishes. She stepped back and invited them in.
They came in and made themselves at home and Katherine made the introductions of the older couple as they worked. As they quickly got the meal of roast beef, vegetables, salad, and biscuits on the table, Staci and Caleb set the table. As they began to eat, Staci looked at Caleb with a grin.
“I unpacked. I even threw the clothes I used on my trip here in the washer.”
“Good,” he said with a nod, then turned to Ilsa and Jason. “I’ve known Staci for several years. Don’t let her fool you, she’s smart with an IQ off the charts. However, she sometimes forgets to eat, or sleep, or sometimes, even shower when she’s lost in her work.”
“We’ll help keep an eye on you,” Jason said with a grin. “What line of work are you in?”
“I have a PhD in bio engineering, and orthotics. I have a government grant to work with twenty-five veterans to get them state of the art prosthetics, free of charge.”
“Oh my god, you’re Dr. Staci Hardt?” Jason asked in shock.
“I am, how do you know me?”
“I’m Jason Black, I know the name doesn’t mean anything to you, but for the last twenty-some years, I worked as the lead lawyer for the DOD.
” At her confused look, he grinned. “Department of Defense. I was the one that gave the legal okay for them to issue the grant to you. But only on the condition that the other people you had worked with in Seattle have nothing to do with your grant. I could tell by the work they turned in, they only knew half of what they were talking about. After your interview with the committee, we all knew they were trying to ride on your coattails. I was the one to come up with the legal jargon in the contract that they can’t work with you and that their names will have anything to do you yours in conjunction with your work. ”
“Thank you,” Staci said, and turned to Caleb and the others.
“They tried to steal my work. No offense to anyone, but they were in the business for twenty years already, and when I came along and blew their research out of the water, they got pissed and tried to discredit me. However, I had the facts on my side. Scientific facts. I documented everything I did, recorded every conversation, and made sure my backups had backups. When they kicked me out of the college, I went to the Dean and told them what was going on. I don’t know if it was because she was a woman, or what, but they were immediately put on probation and an investigation was opened.
When I filed for the grant they tried to say the work was theirs, that’s when they kicked me out permanently, but they tried to take my files. ”
“How old were these men? Not that it matters, but I’m curious,” Ilsa asked.
“In their late forties to early fifties.”
“Ah, so they are of the mindset that women couldn’t work in their field because they’re not smart enough.”
“Pretty much,” Staci agreed with a nod. She turned to Jason. “Thank you for doing what you did. I now have five years to get this program off the ground. I only now need people to help.”
“Help how?” Ilsa asked.
“Volunteer to allow me to make a brand-new state-of-the-art prosthetic for them.” She turned toward Caleb. “Have you discussed this with Erin?”
“I have, and she’ll talk with you, but isn’t your grant for military only?”
“For twenty people, I can use it for five people that are not current or previous military.” She shrugged. “I think this would broaden the scope of my work. Though, in my personal opinion, the military has plenty of people that need my services.”
“Oh, then yeah, you can talk with Erin. I told her about the one you developed that the fingers moved like real ones, and she wanted to know if she could pick up a pen with it.”
“She can, she’ll also be able to use it to write, type, and do everything she did before she lost it. You’re still a physical therapist, right?”
“Yes, and I’ll be working with any clients you have before, during, and after the process. That’s part of my job here, and I’m sure it might be part of your grant. I’m not trying to take anything from you, just letting you know that I’m available when you need me.”
“Good.” Staci nodded, and when everyone was done eating, she started clearing the table, with Jason and Katherine’s help.
By the time she was left alone for the night, she was ready to call it a night.
She had driven a lot, now with a full stomach, she wanted a warm bed.
She gathered her clothes, took a shower, then was in bed and sound asleep before nine that night.
The next morning, Staci was able to make herself some toast for breakfast. She had just finished, and was on her second cup of coffee when a knock came at the door.
Expecting Katherine or Caleb, she called for them to come in, and froze when Duane Manchester walked in.
He saw her expression and held up his hands.
“I come in peace.” He nodded. “Have you had breakfast yet?”
“Yes, I just finished. Are you here to give me the tour?”
“Yes.”
“Okay, when you’re done, can you drop me off where Caleb works?”
“I can. If you’re ready, we can head out.”
“Is it still snowing?”
“No, but it’s cold. You can’t tell being in the woods here, but it’s really cold, so if you have a coat, I’d wear that.”
“Okay,” Staci said as she finished her coffee, and went to her room. She returned with a hoodie, and followed him out. They were on the front porch and he pointed out what was there, which happened to be the four cabins.
“Is the empty cabin going to be filled soon?”
“Not that I’m aware of. There’s another new guy coming later this week, but he’s going to be working over at New Double, so he’ll take one of the cabins or bunktels there.”
“What’s a bunktel?”
Duane explained it, then grinned. “I’ll show you when we get over there. Wait, no, I can show you on the back way to Broken.” He saw her confused look and grinned again. “Trust me.”
“I guess I’ll have to.” She followed him to his truck, and for the next four hours, he drove around all of the properties and explained how they came into existence, and how or why Erin thought of doing them the way she did.
By the time she was sitting in front of Caleb’s work building, her mind felt like mush.
She turned to him with a shake of her head.
“Thank you for totally blowing my mind.”
“No problem, now you get to go inside and have Caleb blow what’s left of it.
As I mentioned when I first arrived at your cabin this morning, there’s another guy that’s supposed to arrive later this week.
We’ll have a welcome BBQ at the office Jason and Ilsa were working in once he arrives and settles in. ”
“Where is he coming from?”
“He left Pennsylvania yesterday. I don’t know how much I should tell you, but he’s former military.
He was in a work-related accident years ago.
Shattered hip, shoulder, knee, and ankle.
Several operations, and pins and plates put in.
Before you ask, I don’t know his medical status now.
I do know that he was finally discharged after his last operation, and the person he was in the accident with talked to Erin about inviting him here to work.
You haven’t met her yet, but Marcia Ramos was with this guy when they realized their parachutes had been messed with and wouldn’t open.
They were able to get them halfway open and crashed into the side of a mountain and not slamming into the ground, like the guy that messed with them did. ”
“I take it he died on impact?”
“Yes, and Marcia and this guy, Anthony Jacobs, were severely hurt.”
“What type of injuries did this Marcia have?”
“Broke all the bones in her body one or two times except for her skull or spine. This happened four or five years ago. Marcia’s been here, I believe, almost two years, and Jacobs is now able to join us.”
“Wow.” Staci shook her head and stared out of the windshield. “No prosthetics needed?”
“No, but I do know that Caleb is working with Marcia because of stiffness in the cold weather.”
“I can only imagine. Thanks, Duane. For the tour, the insights and for dropping me off here. I only have one question.”
“What’s that?”
“How would I get to the cabins from here?”
“Through the path on the left of this building. You can walk or drive.” He looked around and pointed to Caleb’s truck, and the golf cart.
“The truck is Caleb’s, the golf cart is what Katherine uses.
You’ll have to ask her about her story. I probably already said too much about Jacobs.
Have a good day. As interesting as the stories are, they really aren’t mine to tell.
I would only give speculations and not facts, so I don’t like to discuss what I don’t know personally. ”
“Thanks again, Duane.” She hopped out of the truck and went into the building, and grinned when she saw Katherine sitting behind the desk.
“You’re just in time for lunch,” Katherine said as she stood and invited Staci down the hall, and they stopped at Caleb’s office and told him it was lunch time. They sat and ate, and Staci was questioned about what she thought about the ranch.
“Mind blowing. There’s a guy coming later this week, then there’s going to be a welcoming BBQ, I’ll meet everyone there. Duane and I didn’t really get out of the truck. He parked and discussed the different areas. I did see something cute though.”
“Let me guess,” Katherine said with a laugh. “A guy was playing ball with a horse?”
“Yes.”
“The horse’s name is Katie, not Katherine. The guy is Erin’s boyfriend, Reid Garret. He has a prosthetic leg.”
“Wow, I’ll have to talk with him sometime. I never noticed it as he played with the horse.”
“Yeah, he wants to know if you can do anything with what he already has.”
“What’s wrong with it?”
“Not all the time, but sometimes, his stump is rubbed raw by the end of the day.”
“Got it, now, show me around.” She grinned and got the tour of the entire building and was told where she would work, and what areas were hers.
She rubbed her hands together and when she was left alone, she walked the area and set it up in her mind and on paper before she would bring her stuff over the next day to do it physically.