Chapter 11
Tony parked his truck, hopped out, and hurried around to help Staci from the passenger side. They stayed back to follow the others, since they didn’t know where to go, and when they entered a barn, they paused and looked around, impressed by the set up.
“This is where Ilsa and I work,” Jason said as he paused beside them.
He pointed over to a wall and nodded. “That’s where we keep our files, but we work in this area.
A few months ago, Erin set this up as a BBQ place for everyone because the area they always used wasn’t big enough any longer.
This also blocks out any cold weather. The BBQ pits are out back, and this place will be used for the holiday parties. ”
“Remind me again what the two of you do.” Staci cocked her head to the side.
“Ilsa and I are both lawyers. Erin has a case that’s been going on for a few years now, and the trial date has been set. We’re going over the case to represent her against the bad guys.”
“Oh, wow, I’ll have to remember that if I ever need a lawyer.
” She grinned and looked around at the people milling around, and entering.
She stepped back to let everyone enter, and it took about thirty minutes for everyone to arrive and place their food dishes on the table.
When an older couple entered with two other couples, Tony leaned down and whispered.
“That’s Cole and Lois.”
“Ah, okay, isn’t that Duane, the security guy? He’s the one that gave me a tour, but we didn’t get out of his truck.”
“I’m sorry about that,” Duane said as he stopped near her with a woman at his side. He looked around with a sheepish smile. “It was cold out, and had started to snow. I didn’t know if Dr. Hardt wanted to go in and out of the barns.”
“I wouldn’t have minded, but that’s neither here nor there, who is everyone?”
“This is my fiancée, Laurie Gibson. Her mother is Lois, and she’s dating Cole. On the other side of them is Lorissa, Laurie’s daughter, and the man beside her is Tom Stolls.”
They stood around talking and it was Lois that reached out and laid her hand gently on Staci’s forearm. “Not to be rude, but I heard you are looking on how to learn to cook?”
“I am,” she said with a grin. “I was craving chocolate the other night and went over to Katherine’s cabin. She taught me how to make brownies. It was from a box, but I was successful.”
The others laughed along with her, and Lois nodded. “Good, then you should be able to cook anything. I’ve put together some recipes and if you agree, I can come over on the weekends to teach you how to make them.”
“Don’t you mean to learn me?”
Lois looked shocked, then she threw her head back and laughed. “Yeah, once you learn, you’ll always know.”
“That’s what Tony said. That I need to learn and not be taught.”
“Exactly. Are the weekends okay for you?”
“Yes.” Staci pulled out her phone and handed it to Lois so she could program her number into it, and she did the same with Lois’s. Then the others started sharing their numbers with both her and Tony. They looked up when someone called for their attention.
“Hey, everyone,” Erin called out, and waited until they all gathered around.
“Thank you for coming. As you know I call these BBQ’s a family meeting, and they give us an opportunity to catch up on our lives.
I called this one today, because we don’t have one, but two new people joining us here at the ranch.
” She walked over to where Tony and Staci stood and smiled when the others stepped to the side.
“I’d like to introduce you to Dr. Staci Hardt, she’s working over at Broken Two with Caleb.
Next we have Tony Jacobs, who is working over at New Double with Ann and the horses.
Go ahead and introduce yourself, I don’t expect you to remember everyone’s name today, and later I’m going to ask you to pass your phone around so everyone can enter your number.
” She pointed toward the side and grinned at their sucked in breaths.
“I took the liberty to post your numbers so they can program your numbers into their phones. So, introduce yourself.” She stepped back and watched as Tony and Staci exchanged looks.
“Hi, everyone.” Staci gave a small wave at the people gathered around.
“Erin was right, I’m Dr. Staci Hardt, I’m here working in Caleb’s building.
I have a government contract to work with veterans and prosthetics.
I’m not going to force anyone here to work with me. It will be strictly voluntarily.”
“What type of work will you do?” a man called out and came forward. “I’m Reid Garret. I’m engaged to Erin.” He walked over to her and stood next to her. “I had heard you were coming, and I want to know if you will be fixing what we have now, or will you be making us something new.”
“Both,” she said with confidence. “I’ll inspect what you have, repair or fix it long enough for you to get by until I can build a new one.”
“How long does it take?”
“Comfortably six months.” She looked directly at Reid as she talked. “This isn’t going to be a cookie cutter prosthetic, not something you can pick up off a shelf and put on. No, this will be custom made to fit your body and what you need.”
“In the process, you can help me with my leg rubbing my stump raw in places?”
“I can. How many socks are you wearing?”
“Five. Well, two are doubled up, and I use a whole one to cover them, but it still slips around them. That’s where it’s rubbing raw.”
“The only thing I can tell you right now is to stop by my office tomorrow and I’ll take a look. Without examining you, I won’t be able to help you.”
“What about if the prosthetic you were given at the VA never fit properly to begin with?” a woman asked as she came forward, and that’s when Staci saw she didn’t have her left arm from what she assumed was above the elbow.
“I’m Opal, I was in the military, but I didn’t lose my arm while serving my country. I was home on leave when it happened.”
“But you are former military? You have the proof that you served right? You have your discharge papers?”
“Yes.”
“Well, then you’re a veteran, and I can help you, or try. I’m not saying I can fix you or Reid overnight, but I will do the best I can to help you.”
“I’d like to come see you,” another woman said as she stepped forward. “I’m Adele, and I was driving a Humvee when a roadside bomb went off. I lost my right foot in the explosion. I’m not saying I need a new one, but I would like it tweaked if it is possible.”
“What is it doing?”
“It seems to be looser than when I first got it, and sometimes, if I’m not paying attention, I find myself dragging my foot and I’ve even been known to stumble.”
“Again, I can help with that, or do my damnedest to help you.”
“What will this cost us?”
“Nothing, like I said, I received a government grant, and that money will be paying for everything. I’m not telling you that you have to do this, but I would recommend that if you come to see me about your problems, then you’ll need to see Caleb and work with him.
You might not know it, but if your prosthetic is causing you problems, and has been for some time, then you’ll be walking differently in order to accommodate whatever hitch you might walk with.
The new prosthetic won’t work if you don’t fix whatever you’ve done to change your gait.
” She saw understanding dawn on their faces and nodded.
“That’s all I have to say for now. If you come over to see me, I’m there from eight to six Monday through Friday.” She turned to Tony. “Your turn.”
“Thanks. How many of you here know Marcia’s story?
” Most of the people there raised their hands.
“So, if you know her story, then you knew she hit the side of a mountain when an entitled asshole fucked with our parachutes. Sorry for the language, but it still pisses me off. I was the person that slammed into that slab of rock right beside her. I am Sergeant Anthony Jacobs. I prefer to go by Tony. I thought I had it easy because I only broke or shattered four joints, while Marcia broke all the bones in her body. I was wrong. She healed and got on with her life. This was almost six years ago, I’ve had nine operations to get to where I am now.
Yes, I do work over at New Double, and you can ask Cole, I’m slow, but steady in my work.
Since being here for a week, I’ve found myself more relaxed, though I’m stiff and sore, I’m also happy that I can finally be a productive member of society again.
That’s all I have to say about myself. I served my country proudly, paid my dues, now I’m ready and willing to give back.
” He turned toward Erin and gave her a nod.
“Thank you for allowing me to come work for you. I will do everything in my power to prove that I’m worthy of your trust. I’ve gone through a lot of trials and tribulations since hitting that rock wall, and I will do my best to overcome any other obstacle I encounter while still trying to heal from my ordeal.
” He stepped back, and it was Marcia that came over and hugged him.
That broke the tenseness, and then others came up to the two of them to introduce themselves.
Phones were passed around, and everyone either stood or sat around to talk.
When three older men entered from the back of the barn with platters of meat, several of the other men rushed over to help.
Once they were placed on an empty table, everyone stood to start to fill their plates so they could eat, and Erin told Staci and Tony to go first, since they were the guests of honor.
They filled their plates then found a table in the middle, and settled in. Marcia and Lloyd joined, then, and so did Katherine and Caleb. There wasn’t a lot of conversation as they ate. At one point Erin looked over at Tony.
“Hey, Tony, that name you gave me?”
“Yes, what about it?”
“Passed with flying colors, whenever Shay gets out of the service, tell him to come my way.”
“I will, thanks,” Tony said, and looked over at Marcia with a grin. “It will be good to be able to work with Shay again.”
“Shay?”
“Hall.”
Marcia shook her head and shrugged. “Do I know this person?”
“Oh, shit, yeah, you do. It’s Commander Hall, Commander Shay Hall.
For the last three years, he was there waiting for me in the hospital when I underwent another surgery.
We became friends. He’s retiring soon, and didn’t look forward to sitting around doing nothing, I told him about what you and Lloyd told me about this place.
I had his information with me and Erin passed it to the people who do the background checks. ”
Lloyd looked at Marcia in concern. “Is there a problem with having this person come work here?”
“No, not at all, please don’t think that. It’s just that I’ve never seen him outside of my Guard duties, or as a real person.” She shook her head and chuckled. “I know he’s a real person, but he was my commander, as I said, he was my boss.”
“He’s a great guy,” Tony said, and pointed toward Lloyd. “He sort of reminds me of Lloyd here.”
Marcia wrinkled her nose at the two of them and shook her head.
She laughed, “I did not pick dating Lloyd because of Commander Hall, that is the furthest from the truth.” They all chuckled, and the entire group of people enjoyed getting to know Tony and Staci, and by the time they called it a night to head back to their own homes, Erin had encouraged Staci to take a container with most of the leftovers in.
There wasn’t much, but it would serve her for a couple of meals.
Before they left, Lois had promised to call her Saturday morning to set up a time to come over and teach her to cook.
She gave Staci the task of writing out a list of things she wanted to learn how to cook, and Lois would help her with that task.