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“No, it was my friend Katie. She’s also my nurse, so you might meet her in the morning. Enjoying the peace and quiet? Wait, you’ve had plenty of that on the trail. You’re probably bored silly.”
“I’m too tired to be bored. I’m not used to feeling so weak.”
“Listen to your body. It needs time to recover.”
That was an understatement. He felt tired just sitting here. But the thought that had been forming before she returned was beginning to solidify into an idea.
He gestured toward the carriage house. “What do you use that for?”
“Well, nothing much at the moment. A previous owner turned it into... I guess you’d call it a mother-in-law suite. I did give it a thorough cleaning—I was hoping to offer it up as partial salary for the doctor I need to hire. I thought a good cleaning would bring it up to acceptable standards, but no.”
“Seems like it needs some TLC.”
“I’m afraid it’s stuck in the eighties, inside and out.”
Wes sat on that information a long minute. She needed a restored carriage house, and he needed to settle a debt. The trade would set him back a couple of weeks, a real drawback. But it would also allow him to approach Lillian and his life in Albany almost debt-free.
He was also eager to settle up with Avery, who seemed to work hard and have financial struggles of her own.
His gaze sharpened on the young doctor.
Seeming to feel his appraisal, she met his gaze. Their eyes locked for a long beat, a question shifting the expression on her face.
“I have an idea,” he said.
Chapter6
Avery leaned forward, curiosity getting the better of her. “Okay, let’s hear your idea.”
“You asked me before what I do for a living. I was a residential contractor before I went overseas. I worked for a builder in Indianapolis. I’ve spent the past several years in Colombia building shelters for refugees who flood in from Venezuela. Converting hotels, that kind of thing. So... I noticed your carriage house there and remembered what you’d said about wanting to renovate it.”
“Ah... You’re interested in a trade of some kind.”
“Maybe. I’d have to take a closer look, make sure the building’s structurally sound.”
“Well, trust me the renovations will far exceed your medical bill.”
“I can see right off you need new windows and a new roof, some fresh paint. And I’m sure the interior could use some help, depending on how much updating you want done. But maybe Icould get it going at least. Labor in exchange for what I owe you.”
It would be ten times easier to find a doctor if she could offer attractive housing. Of course, there was still the cost of materials, but she had a little money set back. “I have to say I like the sound of this. But what about your hike? And don’t you have something you have to get back to?”
“I want to finish the trail, of course, but I can delay it awhile. And there’s nothing too pressing in Albany. It’s more important that I pay what I owe you.”
She tilted her head and stared at him. He was a curious man. Paying your own way was a noble trait, but Wes seemed to take the discipline to a new level. “You really don’t like debt, do you?”
“Does anyone?”
“Touché.” But was Wes really qualified for the work? She had no idea what his skills were or even how to rate them as she was mechanically challenged herself and knew nothing about construction.
As if reading her mind, he said, “You’re welcome to call my previous employer, Dave at Carter Construction. I worked for him for several years before I went to South America. You could also check with ESI. I can get you the numbers.”
That was encouraging. “Okay, thanks. Do you feel up to having a look-see?”
“Sure.”
Wes pointed to a ceiling tile over the living room. “You’ve had a leak there sometime in the past. Couldn’t say if it’s been repaired.But I could check the wood when I replace the roof. Hopefully it’s not rotted through.”
Avery had opened a window to air out the hot, stuffy room. The space consisted of a living room and a closed-in kitchen. A bed and bathroom took up the back part of the building.
