Chapter Two:
Progress
One summer afternoon, Jack came into the Clinic looking for Charlotte.
"Hey! What're you doing here? You've already had your check-up," she laughed when she saw him come in.
"I wanted to see if you would come to Mother's Hill with me," he said, "I want to show you something."
Charlotte looked back and noticed Elli waving her hands and mouthing "Go, go!" She smiled and nodded. "Sure, let's go," she said, hooking onto Jack's arm and dragging him outside.
Hiking wasn't her strong suit, she could barely keep up with him as they made their way up the hill (or, as she would argue, mountain). Eventually she was lagging behind so much she lost sight of Jack for a moment. He came running back and apologized over and over again for leaving her.
"Its fine!" she wheezed, out of breath still, "Just carry me the rest of the way," she begged, falling into her arms
Jack laughed and put her on his back, "You're such a drama queen."
"So? Now mush!"
It was just about sunset when the couple reached the top. Jack set Charlotte down on the grass and plopped himself down next to her, a bit tired from the trip.
"So, what is it you wanted to show me?" she asked, curious.
Jack raised his eyebrows and shrugged, "I dunno, I just wanted to take you up here," he said, grinning.
She rolled her eyes and pinned him to the ground, "That's one lame reason," she said on top of him.
"Wanting to be alone with you is lame?" he asked.
She paused and smiled, "Nope! Surprisingly smart for a farmer like you."
"What's that supposed to mean?"
They had a good laugh, and after a while she noticed him staring.
"What?" she asked.
"Your hair," he said, running his fingers through, "It's red in the sun."
"Oh?"
"Yeah, I love it."
She giggled and laid her head on his chest, "Really?"
"Yeah, almost as much," he paused, "as I love you."
Charlotte raised her head and blinked in disbelief. She stared at him for a moment, watching his face for any sign of a joke or regret for saying so, but his face was stuck in a serious stare.
"Really?" she asked, she couldn't think of anything else.
Jack's eyes widened and he looked to the side while he began to sweat, "Well, yeah, Char," he said, "I love you."
Tears filled her eyes as she sat up and wiped the escapees with her sleeve. Jack propped himself up on his elbows and watched her, waiting for a response.
"Jack, oh my Goddess, I can't believe it," she said, more to herself than her farmer, "I love you too!"
His eyes just about popped out of his head at her words, but he was smiling. She grinned but for once she was the one blushing as she tackled him and put her arms around him, kissing him with more excitement and passion than ever before.
The next day, Charlotte was dancing around the clinic, well, more so than usual anyway. It came to the point where everyone was smiling when they saw her; such was the amount of sheer happiness that was radiating off of her.
Elli was watching her in amusement after the doors closed. Charlotte was so distracted she hadn't noticed that the doctor was nowhere to be seen, until she stopped spinning.
"Where's Trent?" she asked Elli.
"He went to the Valley earlier today. You didn't notice him leave?"
"No…"
She laughed, "Well, he should be back soon."
Speak of the devil, and he shall come, or in this case, Dr. Trent. He opened the door and took his coat off, putting it up on the hook. "I'm back," he called, and then he noticed the girls in the lobby, "Oh, hello."
"Where have you been mister?" Charlotte asked.
"Didn't Elli tell you? Forge-Me-Not Valley."
"I did," Elli said, walking to her husband's side and pecking him on his check, "Welcome home."
"Well, what were you there for?" she asked, "And did you see my brother?"
"I saw Chester, he was doing fine," he said, sitting down at the table, "I went to see Dr. Hardy."
"Oh," she sat down with Elli following. Her previous silliness had to be put on hold; she knew there was a possibility of a job if Dr. Hardy were to retire.
"He said since his last patient died, he's wanted to fully retire, not to mention that patient's great granddaughter has been sickly since she was born, and it's becoming tiresome for Hardy to take care of her. And with more people moving to the Valley he feels he could use some help, Charlotte."
Charlotte's whole face was lit with hope, "Please tell me you're serious."
"Aren't I always? You can go see him tomorrow about the arrangements."
She smiled and jumped up, hugging the doctor tight, making it hard for him to breath.
The day after getting the news, Trent allowed Charlotte to take the day off to speak with Dr. Hardy about taking over his job. Trouble was she didn't know how to get to the Valley exactly, but she figured she'd find her way. Lucky for her she found a guide before long.
"Hello there!" called out a young voice. Charlotte turned around to find a young man with luscious black locks running after her he was pulling a cart behind him.
"Heya!" she greeted, cheerful as ever. The man's hair distracted her it was long, soft, and shiny. Hell it looked healthier than her hair.
"Are you traveling to ForgetMe-Not Valley?" he asked.
"As a matter of fact I am."
"Well, may I escort you the rest of the way?"
What a lifesaver, Charlotte smiled and bowed, "Gladly!"
"So, may I ask the name of a beautiful flower, such as yourself?"
Charlotte giggled, she thought it funny that this boy would even attempt to flirt with her, but she thought to play along for a while, "You may call me Charlotte, young prince. And yourself?"
"Veit. What is your business in the Valley?"
"Well, Veit, I'm headed to a job interview. You?"
"I'm a traveling salesman. I travel from town to town, trading, selling, and buying from various people."
"Wow, so you must go to a lot of places."
"I do, however Forget-Me-Not Valley has to be my most pleasant stop."
"How'd you find it? It isn't exactly note-worthy for the most part."
"Well, an old colleague told me of the route shortly after he retired. Van had kept it secret from most others and felt it was time he shared the secret. I was lucky he chose me."
"Wow, what a privilege."
"I agree, and knowing of the valley has allowed me to get to know some very interesting characters and places," he said, leaning in close, "Including the spring without a Goddess."
"Huh?"
"You see, rumors have it that the Harvest Goddess once lived within the Fountain, a small lake within the valley. However one day she simply disappeared; never to be seen again. The Harvest Sprites have made it their life's mission to revive her with acts of kindness, but nothing seems to work. Such a sad tale, the Harvest Sprites are meant to aid the Goddess in the progression of life, that is why they often flock to hard working, good hearted farmers, but without Her they cannot do their destined duty."
Charlotte nodded she was more interested in the Harvest Sprites than the Goddess. Jack had once confided in her that he thought he was crazy, that he had seen little gnome-like creatures running around his farm, calling themselves Harvest Sprites, and that he had once met the Harvest Goddess when he accidently through a weed in the Spring. She told him he wasn't crazy, but she didn't take him seriously when he said he was beginning to think they were real, that they were tangible and asked to help with his farm, but now she was beginning to think that maybe, just maybe he wasn't out of his mind. It's better to think your boyfriend is goodhearted than insane, after all.
"You seem intrigued," Veit said, pulling her out of her thoughts.
"Yes very," she admitted.
"Than shall I take you? An evening under the stars, doing kind things for each other to help awaken the Harvest Goddess."
That was too much creep for even Charlotte, she gave a fake smile and slowly shook her head, "I'm sorry, Veit, I don't date anyone more than five years younger than myself."
"How would you know my age, young maiden? Besides, you can't be any older than twenty. I am nineteen, plenty mature for you."
She laughed, "I'm flattered, really. But I'm twenty-nine, not to mention the fact that I'm in a very committed relationship."
"You must be joking," he said, apparently he could believe the short heroine to be the age she claimed.
"Nope, but don't worry I get that a lot," she said, patting his head.
"What a disappointment, I could give you such a delightful evening."
"Aw, you're adorable! But I'm still not interested."
"Well, at the very least may I continue walking with you?"
"Well, of course silly!" How else would she know how to get to the valley? At the very least she was making progress, to the valley and in her relationship; life was good.
Author's Note: Well, chapter two. Enjoy it.
