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“Thank you,” Michael replied. “When do you need me to start?”
“You said your dad’s coming home tomorrow,” Brand said, “so you’ll need to get him settled and let him meet Josiah. How about the day after? Thursday. Unless you’d rather start the first full week on Monday.”
“No, Thursday is fine. I appreciate it. Coming up here from Austin was a last-minute thing, and while I packed for an extended stay, I didn’t exactly plan for anything. I’m grateful I don’t have to spend a lot of time job hunting.”
“I don’t blame you. Ranching is hard work, and it’s getting even harder to find qualified people. We had to hire temps to get us through calving season last spring. But that’s boring business stuff you don’t need to worry about. If you’ve got ideas on improving our website and online presence, though, I’m all ears.”
Michael checked the time on his phone. Still had two hours before the bed was being delivered, so he brought the Woods Ranch website up. “Well, the first thing I noticed is that it isn’t very mobile friendly, but that’s an easy fix.”
Brand waved him forward, and they headed back to his office to continue their chat.
Josiah was looking forward to meeting Michael and Elmer at the Pearce house on Wednesday a lot more than he probably should—not only because Josiah needed to keep busy and this meeting meant a new job, but he’d spent a lot of time thinking about Michael. Michael’s patient smile and sharp eyes and rumbling laughter. Things that made Josiah feel a touch safer around a near stranger when men of Michael’s height and size usually made Josiah nervous. He wasn’t as thick around the middle as Seamus and didn’t carry himself in a way that suggested everyone else was beneath him, a bug to be smashed. Michael was muscular in a way that would serve him well on a ranch, but he also stooped his shoulders a lot and walked with less confidence. As if a much smaller, more timid man lived inside that big body.
It made Josiah intensely curious about what the man had left behind in Austin.
Josiah was early, so he sat in his car with the windows down. It was still warm for September, but not awful, and he enjoyed the fresh air. He gazed around at the different metal sculptures in Elmer’s yard, things he’d only ever seen while driving by, but now he had time to really study them. A tall dinosaur made out of bicycle parts; a bench that looked like it might have been part of a car’s front fender; all kinds of silhouettes cut out of some sort of flat metal, including one he was pretty sure was of Elmer Fudd.
The charm of the yard woke up the little boy inside Josiah, who hadn’t been out to play in far too long. The one who used to have an imagination, hopes, and dreams. Dreams that had died with his parents and left him on the streets for a long damned time. But Josiah had fought his way back, fought his way to college and nursing school, and he was here now. Maybe he wasn’t happy with Seamus anymore, but he had a stable place to live and a job he loved. Helping others the way no one had helped him.
Except Andy.
Josiah closed his eyes and leaned his head back, allowing memories of those two years with Andy to filter back through his mind. Despite their financial struggles, they had loved and supported each other, cried on each other’s shoulder, and stood together against any obstacle. Until Andy faced an obstacle he couldn’t overcome, leaving Josiah alone again.
He pushed those final, hardest months away and focused on the great times they’d shared, until a car horn startled him awake. Michael was parked next to him, alone in his car, and Josiah was confused for the ten seconds it took for him to notice the ambulance behind Michael. Duh. If Elmer was having as much difficulty with his right side as his chart said, then bringing him home like that made the most sense. And it was possible Michael would have to think about installing a ramp over part of the porch steps, in case Elmer needed the frequent use of a wheelchair to get around.
Thoughts for another day. Today was about settling Elmer in and getting to know the older man a bit better. Josiah wanted to know the likes and dislikes and hobbies of his patients, so he could actively engage them, rather than just sit around waiting for them to need a bedpan or their lunch.
Josiah climbed out and met Michael in front of their cars, while the ambulance drivers saw to their patient. “How is Mr. Pearce this morning?” Josiah asked.
“Grumpy and ready to be home,” Michael replied with a snort. “The bed came yesterday, along with one of those rolling tray thingies, and a portable toilet. Not sure if he’ll be able to use that right away, but it’s handy to have once he starts getting his mobility back.”
If he got it back. Stroke patients were unpredictable, but Josiah planned to do everything he could to keep Elmer’s limbs exercised and his spirits up. Mental motivation and belief in recovery was hugely important, especially with older folks who might be ready to give up and let go.
“Oh, I got the job at Woods Ranch,” Michael added while the two paramedics pulled their burdened gurney out of the back of the ambulance. “Trial basis for four weeks, and I start tomorrow.”
“That’s great news. Congratulations. And tomorrow is fine. Like I said before, I don’t have any other clients right now, so my time is your time.”
“Awesome. I start at eight thirty, so if you could be here around eight? I don’t know if Elmer will be up or if you’ll have to make his breakfast.”
“None of that is a problem.”
“Cool, thank you.” Michael flashed him a smile that made Josiah’s belly wobble in a weird way, then trotted up onto the porch so he could unlock the door.
Josiah hung back during the brief production of bringing a grumpy Elmer into the living room and transferring him to the adjustable bed, which was set up facing the room’s large television. A sofa had been awkwardly jammed into the space, too, but Josiah wasn’t going to criticize Michael’s spatial awareness skills. As long as Josiah had a place to sit near his client, he wasn’t going to complain.
Once Elmer was comfortably installed in the bed, the paramedics left. Elmer was no longer on IV fluids or medications, and Michael had texted Josiah earlier that he’d purchased some reusable cups with lids and straws for the first few weeks to make drinking easier. He spotted a box of baby wipes near the portable toilet, plus other sanitary supplies tucked out of the way. In his experience, one of the hardest things to come to terms with for any weakened client was bathroom habits. So many hated the idea of bedpans or even portable toilets, and especially the idea of a near stranger wiping their ass, and it took a lot of patience to develop a routine.
“Mr. Pearce,” Josiah said when it was just the three of them. “We’ve met briefly a few times, but I’m Josiah Sheridan. Michael hired me to be your caregiver during the day while he’s working. It’s nice to officially meet you.”
“I remember you,” Elmer said, giving Josiah a squinty stare. “Founder’s Day Picnic last year. You tripped and spilled your drink on Sheriff McBride. Funny thing at the time.”
It had been funny in its own way, until later that night when Seamus took his humiliation out on Josiah. “That was me. I promise not to drop any drinks on you, though. I’m not usually so clumsy.”
“Sure, son, sure. Got nothing against you, so I guess we’ll get along okay. You seem a nice fellow.”
“Thank you. Michael has seen my résumé, but if you have any questions, feel free to ask them. I’ve been a caregiver professionally for about five years now, which may not seem like a lot of experience to some, but it’s been both challenging and rewarding. I like helping families get through a crisis.”
“Don’t always get through it, though.”
