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And Nash had wanted to go over some details regarding the new schedules this afternoon too; maybe talk about bringing on another hand or two before next summer.
Jakob knew his assistant manager could handle the schedule himself just fine. Now, if only Nash himself would realize that.
It had been months since the duck incident, but Jakob couldn't shake the feeling that Nash still wasn't quite settling into the responsibilities of his promotion. It was like with the schedules — while the decision on new hires obviously called for Jakob's input, the day-to-day details of the staffs’ shifts didn't.
But it seemed to make Nash feel better to have Jakob's sign-off, even on the things he was more than qualified to handle on his own. And Jakob certainly didn't mind lending a hand as needed. The man had plenty on his plate, especially after Nash had already taken on most all the more physically demanding parts of Jakob's job for him after the accident.
But… Jakob knew Nash's history, had talked to him enough to know how it made Nash doubt himself sometimes. Felt honored, honestly, that he had trusted Jakob as much as he had.
So if it helped make him feel more confident double-checking his decisions with Jakob, then Jakob was more than happy to take the time. He would try and help build up the man's confidence until Nash realized that Jakob hadn’t just given him the position because of their shared history, but that he hadearnedhis new role. Show him also that the promotion was due to Nash's own accomplishments and not merely Jakob's new limitations. Not to mention the ranch's growing popularity, now that the riding program had taken off as it had.
Frankly, Jakob had been in way over his head even before the accident. He just hadn't realized it yet. Not until he had been forced to slow down; to delegate almost all of his own duties as he focused on his surgeries, his recovery.
The accident had confronted him with the fact that there was no chance he could keep up with it all on his own. Even better, it had shown him that he didn't have to. These days things weren't like when the place was only another smalltime operation; barely able to sustain itself on only a handful of horses to work the cattle herds that had once been its bread and butter.
When Jakob had added the riding school program, all that had changed. Especially now that it boasted several nationally ranked competitors among its clientele, and a number of up-and-comers as well.
The fact that Cassie was one of them brought Jakob no small amount of pride, either.
All that to say, Jakob's recent inability to spend all afternoon stacking hay bales like he used to didn't even factor into his decision to add an assistant manager role. And Nash had simply been the most natural choice to fill it.
Jakob scratched his beard, musing on how to drive that point home to Nash when his phone rang, answering it as soon as he saw Ethan's name flash across the screen.
"Hey,buddy," came Ethan's voice from the other end, his tone sounding strange in a way that couldn't be blamed on Jakob's phone. "Would you hang on a moment? Seems I've got guests."
"Ethan? Everything okay?" Jakob asked quietly, turning slightly in the hope Alex wouldn't overhear. There was the sound of a lock turning, then a door opening in the background on Ethan's side of the line.
"Hello Officers, what can I do for you today?" came Ethan's voice, and even over the phone Jakob could tell his cheerful tone was forced.
Jakob waved to get Alex's attention, pointing to his phone once he had gotten it. The kid jogged over and Jakob held a finger to his mouth for silence as he muted the call and switched it to speaker.
"Sir, are you alone in the house? Do you mind if we step inside for a moment to talk?"came a voice over the phone.
It was muted, as if from far away. Not nearly muted enough, though, as it turned out.
"Shit," Alex hissed, his eyes going wide at hearing the voice. "That's Tony, one of my dad's friends."
"Just me here," came Ethan's answer, his tone steady and strong. "I'm sorry. Officers. Is there a problem?"
"You done shopping?" Jakob asked, nodding at the bundle of clothing Alex was clutching tightly under his arm.
At Alex's anxious nod, Jakob began herding him in the direction of the nearest register.
"C'mon. Let's pay for this and get out of here," Jakob told him, trying to keep his words outwardly calm, while internally he fervently prayed they wouldn't have to hunt all over the store for someone to ring them up so they could leave.
"Sir, would you please hang up the phone and we can go have this conversation inside?"came Officer Tony's voice again faintly.
"Wish I could, officer," replied Ethan in that same falsely cheerful tone, now coming in loud and clear — at least compared to that of Officer Tony's. "But this is a real important call. Something like a family emergency, I'm sure you understand. Can you come back another time?"
But finally, it seemed that lady luck had decided to smile on Jakob and Alex as they found that rarest of all miracles in a mall department store; an empty register staffed by an efficient salesperson. It was no time at all before Jakob was tucking the receipt into his wallet as they headed in the direction of the nearest exit; a ride-share driver already only eight minutes from their location and counting.
"Sir," came Officer Tony again, the single word so clipped and loaded with meaning it made Jakob wince to hear it. "Your vehicle was seen at the scene of a kidnapping, being driven by someone fitting your description. I'm sure you'd like to put the phone away and open this screen door so we can have a conversation in private — instead of out here on your porch in front of all your neighbors."
"What I would like, Officer, is for you to leave my door alone, please. It’s locked, not stuck. And I’d also like to see a warrant if you gentlemen are so insistent on invading my home uninvited," Ethan replied; matching Officer Tony's tone with a bit of that old steel Jakob remembered so well, something deep inside him practically purring at the sound of it.
Not the time, he chided as he willed that part of himself down.Save it for later.
Now though, Jakob could faintly hear someone talking; but the actual words themselves were too low to make out. Was Officer Tony holding a discussion with his partner, maybe? Or more? Just how many of them had shown up at Ethan's door?
