Chapter 68 – Arrangements
James looked around the table.
"How was jumping this morning?" James asked.
"Good." Jack said. "Bandit rode well."
"Athena was dream to jump." Nathan said.
Suddenly everyone other than Jack and Doug stopped and looked at Nathan. Both Charlotte and James had a look that Nathan couldn't quite make out.
"What?" Nathan asked.
"You jumped Athena?" James asked.
"Yes." Nathan said. "Jack said I could if I wanted to try. She easily sailed over a meter twenty. She is very responsive and was loving it. I had to hold her back as we didn't run at competition speed this morning. I am sure if I would have let her, she would have galloped between fences. I was barely able to hold her to a slow canter. I honestly think that she misses jumping and competition. The moment that she saw the sand ring, she was dancing around."
"You gave me primary on Athena." Jack said. "It was my choice. If she hadn't been up to it, I would have stopped him myself. As it was, it didn't look like she had missed a step. Didn't you agree whoever was primary had final say on what happens with a horse?"
"Okay." James said. "My surprise was more in the fact that she allowed someone to handle her, we all know how she is."
"I was too." Jack said. "Athena has taken to him from the first moment we entered the stables. She seems to like him more than me."
"As long as it is working." Gran said. "She was always such a pretty jumper."
"How did things go this morning?" Jack asked, looking at Lee.
"Fine." Lee said. "We pretty much have everything done that we can do. We have vendors, food trucks, tents, picnic tables and bounce houses. We even have a few people registered."
"Great." Jack said. "I talked to Marco and he is going to work on the courses. I also have a meeting with Brandon and a couple of the other security guys on Monday. They figured that they would let me get through the weekend."
"Good." Nathan said. "Just let me know when."
"After we jump on Monday." Jack said.
"Don't forget that I am sitting in on that meeting." Thomas said.
"How could I forget?" Jack said sarcastically.
Nathan wasn't happy with Jack at the moment, so he decided that he was going to change the subject in hopes of cutting some of the tension.
"James." Nathan said. "The books that I ordered arrived today. They are on the counter. I was going to go through and highlight a few things for you if you want."
"Great." James said. "That would be helpful. I also need to talk to you about that other thing."
"What other thing?" Jack asked.
"Nathan knows someone that might be willing to come work here." James said. "She has a botany degree and knows all about herbs and natural treatments."
"That is wonderful." Jack said. "Let me know if there is anything that you need to help move it along."
"I will." James said. "We haven't even talked to her yet."
"I am sure that she will take it." Nathan said. "I will just need to arrange to get her up here if that is what you really want."
"I have an offer ready for her." James said. "I was going to talk to you about it this afternoon."
"I can get a message to her." Nathan said. "Then I will have to figure out a way to get her up here from Southern Pennsylvania."
"Where is she, exactly?" Jack asked.
"Lancaster." Nathan said. "Another friend and I got her a job working with some Amish."
"So you think that she would be willing to come up here?" Jack asked.
"Very much." Nathan said. "The last time that I talked to her, she was eager to find a different job so that she could better use her degree. She needs to work to keep her daughter, but she has no family support."
"Does she need housing?" Gran asked.
"Yes." Nathan said. "I told James that."
"That small two bedroom over the family stable is open." Gran said. "It has some furniture, but no dishes, towels or linens."
"We can deal with that." Jack said. "Does she have a car?"
"No." Nathan said. "I was going to call my friend Gabe and see if he could bring her up here, but if I want Gabe here for the show, I don't think I can ask him to take that much time off."
"Does she have a phone?" Jack asked.
"Yes." Nathan said.
"Then call her." Jack said. "If she can be ready I will have a ride there for her by Monday noon. It will be an overnight trip and will make arrangements for them to stay somewhere. I know that they could drive it one day, but with a little one it will be easier to break it up. How much stuff does she have?"
"Not a lot." Nathan said. "I am sure it would fit in the bed of the truck. She doesn't have any furniture that I know of, maybe a nightstand, but that would be it."
"So you think that she could be ready by Monday?" Jack asked.
"Yes." Nathan said.
"Good call her and get an address." Jack said.
With that, Jack stood up and stepped away from the table, since he knew about how Gran felt about phones at the table. Jack quickly made a call and got things arranged. He said he would send a physical address later. He also let his contact know to book two rooms for them at a nice hotel for the overnight and he would pay him back. Once Jack had everything arranged, he went and sat back down.
"JP?" Charlotte said.
"What?" Jack said. "She needs to get up here and I can help with that."
"I don't think that was your place." Charlotte said.
"What?" Jack said. "I am part owner of this farm. I have been wanting to go natural for awhile. It was one of the things I have talked to Grandpa about, but the incident with Ghost made it even more clear. I didn't know that steps had been taken beyond Nathan ordering some books."
"Who did you call?" Thomas asked.
"You are not the only one with friends and contacts." Jack said.
Jack didn't say anything else and went back to eating his lunch. He got up and made himself another sandwich and grabbed some more salad. Shortly after Jack sat back down, Nathan rejoined that table.
"Katie said she would be ready Monday." Nathan said. "She said she didn't have much, some clothes for her and Opal. Some toys and a few quilts that had been given to her. She also said that she would need a carseat for Opal."
"How old?" Jack said.
"Five." Nathan said.
"Okay." Jack said. "Gran, I am sorry, I need to make one more call."
Gran nodded her head.
"Jack, her location is also in your messages." Nathan said as Jack stood up.
Jack walked over to the counter and hit a few buttons on his phone.
"Hey man." Jack said when his friend picked up. "I just sent you her location. You will also need to have a carseat for a five year old girl … Okay … No problem … I will deal with it. …. Got it. …. See you next week."
Jack hung up his phone and went back to the table.
"Everything is set." Jack said. "He will be there Monday by noon and they will set out as soon as everything is packed. He said that he would pick up a carseat that she would be able to have for her daughter. Nathan, I sent you the information of who is picking her up, including a picture if you want to forward it Katie."
"Good, thank you." Nathan said. "I will send that to her when we are done."
Charlotte sat there with a scowl on her face as everyone made plans and talked like she wasn't even there. Charlotte's scowl didn't go unnoticed by Jack, Nathan or Gran, but they also weren't going to acknowledge it. If she wanted to pout, they were going to let her.
"Elizabeth." Gran said.
"Yes." Elizabeth said.
"Would you like to go shopping with me on Monday?" Gran asked.
"Okay." Elizabeth said. "What are we getting?"
"Stuff for the apartment." Gran said. "I know what is up there and what is needed. I just thought that you might like to help me pick out some things to welcome Katie and her daughter. We will get some food, but hold off on things other than the staples unless Nathan knows what she likes. I figured I could always take her for a quick trip on Tuesday after she gets here."
"Sounds great." Elizabeth said.
"Thank you." Nathan said. "I think she would prefer you take her. I know some of the things that she likes, but she can be particular about some things."
"I guess that is settled." James said. "Nathan, I was thinking that I might need her help in the office for a bit while we get things set up. That would also give me a chance to get to know her a little better."
"I am sure that will be fine." Nathan said. "I am sure that it will take a couple of days for her to find care for Opal."
"She can bring her to the office." James said. "Not the first little one that we have had in the office and I am sure that it won't be the last."
"She can always come up to the house if you need." Gran said.
"I can help Gran keep an eye on her." Elizabeth said.
Charlotte and Thomas both stopped and looked at Gran.
"What?" Gran said.
"You have never invited an employee to leave their child up here." Charlotte said.
"Actually." Gran said. "I have. I also understand that she won't know anyone and it will take some time to get settled. Besides, if her daughter is five, she is not going to want to sit inside all day. I figured we can do something fun. This is also a different situation. This woman is a friend of Nathan's and from what James had told me, it sounds like she could use a friend. Besides, it is my house and I can do what I want."
"Thank you again." Nathan said. "I will still be here and I love spending time with Opal, so let me know if you need a break. I am sure that Opal would like to play in the pool, but I don't know if she swims well."
"I will." Gran said. "We can get her some of those floatie things for kids. I know that Abigail got some for Cody and he loves them. I know that he is younger, but same idea. Oh, James we will need to make sure that she gets a spot at St Clement's. I will make that call this afternoon."
"Margaret." Nathan said.
Gran stopped to look at Nathan.
"That is not necessary." Nathan said. "I doubt that Katie will be able to afford private school. Also she is not Catholic."
"Nathan." Gran said. "I have it covered. She is a small child that is coming from a sheltered environment, besides that, St Clement's is the best. Don't get me wrong, the public school is fine, but I have my issues with the way that they have been trending over the last few years. Children of other employees attend St Clement's so it will be fine. As far as not being Catholic, it is fine, it is not a requirement. We sponsor several of our employees' children. The first year is fully covered and they are expected to help with the costs after that if they want to continue going there."
"Okay." Nathan said. "I will not argue with you, but I am sure that Katie will."
"She can try." Doug sniggered.
Lee, Jack and Doug were all laughing until Gran shot them a look. They all ducked their heads and went back to eating as they knew that they were walking a fine line.
"Good." Gran said. "That is settled."
They were just finishing up their lunch when Jack's phone rang. He looked at it before answering it and then walking away.
"Seriously." Charlotte said.
"Is there a problem?" Nathan asked.
"I have just never seen him attached to his phone." Thomas said.
"Well." Nathan said. "From what I understand, he normally isn't. When we asked him about it earlier, he said he had business to take care of and he shut it down while we were riding."
"What business?" Thomas asked.
"He didn't say." Doug said. "And I wasn't going to push him. I have learned that is the easiest way to get him to shut down. You want to know, why don't you ask him."
Thomas didn't say anything, but just looked at Doug. Doug knew that Thomas was fishing for information and he wasn't going to get any from him. If Jack wanted to share what he was doing then that was up to him. Jack finished his call and walked back into the kitchen area.
"Gran." Jack said. "There will be one more for supper tonight if that is okay."
"Okay." Gran said. "No problem. I put two large roasts in the slow cookers."
"Thank you." Jack said.
"Mind me asking who?" Gran said.
"Father Mark." Jack said, with a smile.
"JP." Charlotte said. "Not that I don't love my nephew, but he is a busy man and he is already going to be spending most of Sunday here."
"Well." Jack said. "I know that, but coming over was his idea when I called him this morning to talk. He said he wasn't sure that he could get away. He told me that if was able to move some things he would let me know. When he just called, he said he had cleared his afternoon and evening so he could spend some time with us. I need to talk to him about a few things and I don't want to wait until Sunday. Besides that, with Bill, Abigail and the kids here, it wouldn't have been fair to take a lot of his time. He was the one that moved things around to come out. I didn't ask him, I just called to talk about a couple of things."
"It is fine, JP." Gran said. "He was the one that said he would be around if any of us needed to talk. I would love to have him for supper. There is plenty of food."
"Thank you Gran." Jack said. "I told him that I would be down at the stables. He should be here in an hour or two."
"Okay." Gran said. "I am sure he will stop at the house, but I will let him know."
"Thanks." Jack said.
"Jack." Elizabeth said. "I thought that we were going to ride this afternoon."
"We are." Jack said. "However I am not taking you on a trail until I see how well you ride. We will start in the round pen."
"I agree." Nathan said.
Lee saw the look on Elizabeth's face and knew how to make her feel better.
"Hey." Lee said. "I should probably start in the round pen as well. I haven't been on a horse since last summer."
"Good point." Doug said. "Who are we riding this afternoon?"
"I was thinking that we could take a couple of the trail horses." Jack said. "I arranged for four horses to be brought over. I was thinking if we wanted we could take a couple of the jumpers, just to spend some time with them. I was thinking of an easy trail, nothing too big once we got sorted."
