“Let’s get you into bed. You have an irritation brewing on the back of your calf. Tomorrow, I want you to rest. Legs up. Sleep late, and I’ll bring you a laptop. You can work from here.”
Troy raised a brow and began to protest, “I’m okay.”
“I know you are. I need you to maintain a low profile. I want people to think you’re disabled in every sense. Then, when you start the program Saturday, you can watch and listen. Tomorrow, I need you to research if there are any cases like tonight in the country. And while you’re at it, call Ice; ask him to find out all he can about Keith Hartung.” Wes repeated what Keith told him.
“Got it. Wes, thanks.” Troy reached for the light.
Wes entered his own room. After stripping off his smoky clothing, he stepped into the warm spray of his rain shower. The jets from the sides sprayed him from every direction. Troy’s sobs maintained his feelings of guilt about not being able to get to him in time. Tucking away his own pain, he scrubbed himself clean.
Finished, he stood in front of the mirror and shaved. It was now 0630. Instead of lying down, he dressed in a fresh suit to head to the cafeteria to grab some breakfast. He needed to see Eleanor.
* * *
Eleanor filled a mug from a large urn with hot black coffee and placed it on her tray along with some fresh, fluffy scrambled eggs, a couple of strips of crispy bacon, an English muffin and a glass of cranberry juice. Tray in hand, she joined a large table filled with her team, the sting from last night still fresh.
“Good morning, everyone.” She forced a smile.
The group muttered back. “What’s on the agenda?” Theo asked.
“Besides diddling the boss?” Aaron asked crudely.
Eleanor stood and placed her hands flat on the table. “I don’t know what you did to get this job. But as far as I’m concerned, one more comment like that, and I will have you fired. Let this count as your warning. And my final warning to all of you. Aaron, I am officially documenting this to Mr. Clarke.” Her eyes narrowed.
“Well, finally,” Aaron said.
“Finally what?” She glared.
“You showed who’s boss. I can’t turn my back on a horse and have a lightweight watching my back,” Aaron retorted.
“I’m still documenting your crude behavior. Now that we have the power struggle over, I want to talk about the rest of the week. Our clients arrive noon Sunday. They will be living in Delta building. It is handicap accessible with its own dining hall. I would like four of us to share every meal with them on a rotating basis. I would also like two of us to spend the night in the building to make us available for unexpected needs. These men and women, among other diagnoses, are likely to share PTSD in common. Nights can bring about nightmares and flashbacks.” She knew that firsthand.
“Are you going to share all the charts with us, then?” Bria Novell asked.
“Not treatment notes, but history and treating therapist. Everyone is on call for our patients,” Ellie said.
“Today, after breakfast, I’d like to head to the stable and get to know the horses. Check their health. See their temperaments. Identify what type of patient a particular horse may work best with. After lunch, I’d like us all to take a ride. Explore the acreage.”
Everyone nodded in agreement, and they continued with congenial small talk, Eleanor’s leadership test complete. The medical staff walked in together, led by an older woman and Tuck Hanlon. She recognized him from the day she had her physical; the NP who examined her reported the scars along her back.
He’d been understanding when she explained her less than perfect childhood. The marks were left from a whip. The X’s were harder to explain. She told him about her kidnapping in the most basic terms. He promised he’d maintain her confidence.
PA Desi Barrett, the woman she was sure made one of the nasty elevator comments, stared at her. Her long red hair was tied in a demure bun, and her face, glowing with perfect makeup, met Ellie’s gaze and smiled.
Ellie lifted her mug and smiled over the edge. The look exuded power and confidence. Even if she didn’t believe it, she was taking a lesson from Aaron. She needed to show the filly who was boss.It’s never gonna end, is it?
The therapy group was clearing their trays when Wes entered the room with a man she didn’t recognize. One look and she realized neither had been to sleep. Though he was freshly shaved, the bags beneath his eyes were dark and puffy. She watched him fill two mugs of coffee and place them on his tray with two donuts.
“The breakfast of champions,” she muttered. “Alright, I’ll meet everyone at the stable in fifteen minutes.”
Eleanor bussed her tray and grabbed a fresh one. She shrugged off the eyes on her back as she filled it with a plate of some more eggs and bacon and a yogurt parfait. She crossed the large room, approaching the table with caution. The man across from Wes saw her coming and leaned into Wes, whispering something she couldn’t hear.
Wes turned and smiled. “Good morning,” he said, his voice raspy.
“Good morning. I don’t mean to interrupt. But I think this is better than those donuts.” She placed the tray in front of him.
The other man chewed his lip. Wes smiled and pulled out a seat beside him. “Only if you join us. Ellie West, this is Chad Thorn; he’s the second in charge of Zulu Team. Chad, Ellie runs our equine therapy program.”
“Nice to meet you, ma’am,” Chad said.
