Page 55 of Her Cadillac Cowboy
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
Sara took two aspirins, picked up her phone, and it blared in her ear. Despite waking with a headache and a stuffy nose, she’d come in to work early.
“Ms. Carson, I have Steve Chavez on line one and your father is on line two.”
Great, a double whammy. “Put my father through and tell Steve I’ll have to get back to him after lunch.”
“Hello, Dad.”
“It’s past ten o’clock and that damned nurse you said was coming hasn’t shown her fanny yet.”
“I’m certain Mrs. Masterson will be there, Dad.”
“What makes you so certain? Ain’t one of those nurses you had mauling me could do anything right.”
“Dad, Josh promised me...”
“You took the word of a McKinley!”
“Dad, please...”
“Are you trying to kill me?”
“No, I’m trying...”
“You get yourself home now. You promised me I’d get out of this damned bed today. There ain’t no nurse here to help me, so you best get out here and keep your promise yourself.”
“Dad, I can’t leave the dealership.”
“You can and you will, little girl, or you can have my death on your conscience for the rest of your life. I’m feelin’ mighty peaked.”
She sighed. “I’m on my way.” The phone clicked.I love you too, Dad.
Sara dialed the number of the daycare that Josh gave her the previous evening. After ten rings she gave up. Where was Josh, and where was that nurse? She dialed Doc Biggers’ office.
“The doctor is not available. After the tone, leave a message. If this is an emergency, dial St. Lucia’s Hospital at 555-9191.”
Sara left a message giving the details as she knew them and asking Doc to call her at her office in an hour. She’d finally gotten rid of the Mazda and was driving a Gran Turismo from the dealership. She would bring Dad back with her. Maybe by then someone would have found Josh or Mrs. Masterson.
???
An hour and a half later, she opened the door to her office suite for her father. Doc Biggers and Steve Chavez waited in the outer office.
“Doc, am I ever glad to see you.”
“Ms. Carson...” Her body shop foreman held his cap in his hands.
“I’m sorry, Steve, whatever it is will have to wait until I’ve got my father settled.”
Her father pulled to a halt. “Now that’s no way to run my business, girl. Let’s hear what Steve has to say.”
Steve swallowed and looked very uncomfortable.
It has to be Will Talmidge. Dad will have a fit if he finds out how much damage Will’s been doing.“Please, Dad. I don’t want anything to cause you stress.”
“I still own this place, and seeing it run like this is plenty of stress.”
“Don’t work yourself up, Carl.” Doc Biggers’s calm tones took over. “I need to check you out. We’d best go into Sara’s office and get it over with.”
