Chapter 2 - Discoveries
It was early afternoon and Charlotte's face again cringed at the remembrance of last night's events. What had she been thinking leaving her window open? She had hoped it would allow an evening breeze to float into her bedroom and cool the heat from the upstairs. Instead, Charlotte had probably woken half of Hope Valley when she called out in the throes of a nightmare. A very real nightmare she seemed to relive every night.
Of course, it was her luck that the constable and his family lived in the house right next to Charlotte's. She had hoped this town would provide her with a clean slate to begin again, but Charlotte was quickly realizing, nothing would ever be that simple. Her past continued to haunt in more ways than one.
Charlotte had a hard time getting back to sleep after the nightmare, but finally after a few hours of tossing and turning, exhaustion took hold and she drifted off again. Awakening when the first light of morning, spilled into her room through the uncovered windows. Charlotte lay there on the bed for a moment longer, still in her travel clothes from the days before. Surprised she was able to fall asleep at all with no sheets, quilts, or pillows on the bed. Unfortunately, she had not been able to bring those things along for this journey and right now Charlotte would have given almost anything to be wrapped in the comfort of one of her mother's quilts.
She made her way downstairs and found a kettle in the kitchen, filled it with water and set it on the stove to warm. A few tins lined the cabinets including one that stored a small amount of coffee grounds. Well, at least, Charlotte would be able to have some coffee for breakfast.
While the water warmed, Charlotte opened the larger of her two travel bags. Inside was a clean skirt and another long sleeve blouse. The thought of putting on the heavy material made her cringe. Even though it was early morning, the day was already turning into a scorcher.
As soon as she was changed a knock came at Charlotte's front door, causing her to jump. Thoughts of the night before and Constable Grant beating on the entrance made her cautious as she walked back down the stairs and peeked out the side window. It must be the Canfield family, as Charlotte recognized Cooper standing on the bottom step just off the porch.
Charlotte quickly stepped to the door and removed the lock before opening it to her first guests. Four kind faces stared back at Charlotte from across the threshold.
"Good morning Ms. Thompson!" The man removed his hat in greeting. "I'm Joseph Canfield and this is my wife, Minnie. I believe you have already met our children Angela and Cooper."
"Morning Ms. Thompson!" both children chimed in unison, causing a smile to spread across Charlotte's face.
"Good morning!" Charlotte greeted in return, "Please come in. I'm ashamed to say it, but I haven't had any time to unpack. When the Coulters dropped me off last night, I barely had enough energy to wash my face before falling asleep on my bed."
Charlotte caught the glance between Joseph and Minnie as they stepped into her house. Great. They had heard her as well last night. Charlotte could feel her cheeks blushing in response.
"I baked up some fresh strawberry muffins this morning. The strawberries are coming on strong, and the children love to go pick them in the woods out back." Minnie mentioned as she set the basket of muffins down on the dining room table. "I'm sorry we weren't able to get over to the house before you arrived. I wanted to bring over these extra pots and pans for you to use. Cooper told me that you love to cook."
"That I do." Charlotte responded. "My mom was a wonderful teacher. She did most of the cooking for the ranch we lived on when I was growing up. Dad was the foreman and mom ran the cookhouse for the cowboys."
"Was?" Minnie questioned gently, already seeming to know the answer.
"Yes. Both my parents became ill with tuberculosis years ago and passed away within days of each other. I was away at college when it happened, otherwise the same fate would have probably found me as well." Charlotte responded softly before changing the subject, "Can I offer you and Joseph some tea or coffee? I have a kettle on, and I believe there were some tea bags that I found earlier in my search through the cabinets."
"Here allow me," Minnie said as she reached and squeezed Charlotte's arm when Charlotte had started to dig through the tins.
"Aaahhh," Charlotte quickly retracted her arm in pain from Minnie's grasp, now clutching it closer to her chest.
"I'm so sorry!" Minnie's face washed over in concern. "I didn't realize I had grabbed you that roughly. I was just wanting to help you search for the tea."
"No. No. I'm sorry." Was this Charlotte's new life. Apologizing for everything and anything that happened to her? "I think I may have strained my arm yesterday when my trunk handle broke unloading it off the stagecoach."
Minnie looked at Charlotte's face, raising her brow in a question. Charlotte quickly turned away from Minnie to disguise the real pain that was probably so visible to the other woman.
"Maybe you should have it checked out by Dr. Faith." Joseph kindly suggested across the room. "Also, I should be able to fix this up in no time, if you would like." Pointing down at the trunk handle that had broken the day before.
"No. I'm sure I will be fine. Nothing some rest will not fix over the next couple of days. And thank you. I would appreciate that immensely."
"Coop! Let's go get my toolbox and I'll teach you how to fix this handle for Ms. Thompson." Nodding in the direction of the ladies before heading back out the door, his son following close behind.
Charlotte allowed Minnie to set about making the tea and instead turned to where Cooper had sat Angela in the chair behind the desk. Despite being blind, the girl always had a joyful expression upon her face. One that reminded Charlotte so much of her childhood friend.
"Angela, I hear that you are getting very good at reading braille." Charlotte started as she walked over closer to the girl.
Angela smiled in response, "I so enjoy all the stories and places I get to go to when reading. I just wish I were better at all the science projects Mrs. Thornton had us doing this past year." The girl stuck out her tongue and squinted her eyes in a mocking disgust which caused Charlotte to chuckle.
"But science is such a fascinating subject!" Charlotte exclaimed. "Think of all the modern discoveries that the world is finding just because of science. New medicines, flying machines, and even the radio. All are thanks to inventors and science."
Angela again smiled. Part of the reason Mr. Landis had hired Charlotte was because she already had a license to work with blind students. Not that Charlotte had any at her last teaching assignment, but at college she did the work and took the test mostly to please her childhood friend, Megan. Megan, like Angela, had become blind when she was a young girl because of an illness.
By that time, Minnie had finished with the tea and set a cup in front of Charlotte on the desk.
"Allie and Nathan's bouquet is beautiful." Minnie looked slyly at Charlotte across the top of her cup while taking a sip of tea.
Charlotte turned her eyes again to the flowers. The heat of the day, aided in filling the space around them in the loveliest of fragrances.
"I didn't know who brought them." Charlotte mentioned, reaching her fingers to touch the delicate petals before her. "Forget-me-nots have always been my favorite flower."
"Ah, yes. If I am not mistaken, they represent true love, fidelity, and a long-lasting connection." Minnie stated matter-of-factly. "Allie told me last night at the café, her and Nathan picked them yesterday morning from the high meadow."
Charlotte almost spit out her sip of tea. As much as she read, Charlotte was not sure she had ever looked up the meaning behind specific flowers.
True love? Fidelity? Long-lasting connections?
She only could hope the givers of the bouquet had no idea of their special meaning either.
The return of Joseph and Cooper brought a reprieve from the subject and soon enough, as Joseph had promised, the handle was repaired and then carried up to Charlotte's bedroom.
"Do you not have any bedding?" Minnie questioned upon her and Joseph's return to the first floor.
"Unfortunately, no. I had to leave them behind at my last school provided housing." Somewhat of a lie, but one Charlotte felt obligated to tell in the moment. "I will have to go to the mercantile later and purchase some material on credit since I don't receive my first paycheck until the end of the month."
"Nonsense," replied Minnie. "I'm sure we can round up some extra pillows and sheets from the townspeople to get you by for the time being. Lord knows it is much too hot this summer for needing any sort of heavy blankets or quilt. Someone will be here later to bring what you need."
"Thank you. I appreciate you all stopping by and helping this morning." Charlotte said, extending her gratitude to the sweet family.
"Anytime." Joseph responded, as his wife and children started walking towards the door. "I look forward to seeing you tomorrow at church. I hear the pastor gives a riveting sermon."
"Well…" Charlotte stuttered. She was usually a devout Christian, but after everything that had recently happened. She would be lying if she said her faith in a higher power had been shaken to the core. But something in the look Joseph gave her in that moment, caused Charlotte's heart to soften. "Yes. That would be nice."
"If you need anything, don't be afraid to reach out." Minnie said at the base of the porch. "Remember we live right next door and are happy to help in any way possible."
Charlotte had spent the rest of the morning, unpacking her few belongings and starting a list of everything she would need to purchase at the store later. Her neighbors had done a lovely job of filling the space with basics, but Charlotte still needed to purchase some more food, coffee, cleaning supplies, and personal items.
But as the day moved along, Charlotte found the heat inside her house suffocating and decided a walk outside to explore was just what she needed. After leaving the secluded safety of her house, Charlotte turned right and continued straight past the path that led into town. This was the road she had come in on the day before and remembered seeing a lovely stream not far away that Charlotte predicted would make a lovely, shaded spot to sit and relax a bit. Alone and separated from the very friendly people of Hope Valley.
Not that she hadn't enjoyed most of the townsfolk she had met so far, but after the Canfields left, it seemed to be an ever-revolving door to her row house. First, Fiona Miller and Dr. Faith Carter stopped by to bring a pitcher of lemonade and an invitation to stop by Fiona's shop for a "new do" on the house. Next was the return of Rosemary Coulter, but this time accompanied by Clara Flynn. They had received Minnie's mayday call for help furnishing Charlotte's bedroom. Laden with linen sheets, a light grey blanket, and two matching pillows, they made their way past Charlotte and upstairs to her room. Fixing the bed in no time at all. Her most recent visitors were a vibrant red head, named Molly Sullivan. Molly's right arm looped through that of the town's judge, Bill Avery. Both offered Charlotte a welcome to Hope Valley, but also caused her a bit of an uneasy feeling. Molly from the porch, scanned the room behind Charlotte and its lack of homey decorations. Her partner, instead scanned Charlotte's face. Making his own assumptions about the girl and no doubt formulating her past history. He was a judge after all.
Yes. A walk to escape the confines of the house was just what she needed. Soon enough the stream, Charlotte had remembered seeing, appeared before a bend in the road. The terrain beside the water seemed manageable, so Charlotte turned to follow it a little further off the beaten path. She walked a way, before finding a fallen tree that jutted out over the stream. Charlotte decided this would be the perfect place to rest for a few minutes. The spot was shaded, and a slight breeze blew across the water. Charlotte looked around before bending over and removing her boots and stockings. She then sat on the trunk and scooted further down its base until her aching feet soaked into the cool mountain waters, pulling her skirt up to now sit above her knees, ensuring it would not get wet. Again, looking around to make sure no one else was in the area, Charlotte unbuttoned the cuffs on her blouse, rolling the sleeves up the length of her forearm and moving to the collar to undo the top three buttons. Gently pulling apart the sides of the blouse to allow the breeze to dry the sweat that had formed on her chest from the exertion of the hike. Charlotte closed her eyes and dipped her head back, her hair falling behind her back in a waterfalling cascade. Gently shifting her feet back and forth in the stream below her. Listening to the nature that seemed to envelope the space. The babble of the running water as it meandered around the rocks and stones through the creek bed. The calm rustle of the aspen trees above her. Their gentle waves creating a dance of shadows across the landscape and Charlotte's face. The sounds of the birds and squirrels created a soft melody that reminded her that she wasn't as alone as she once believed.
"Ms. Thompson?"
Charlotte gasped. Clutching the bark of the tree underneath her to prevent falling into the stream. Pulling herself back into an upright position her eyes quickly found Allie and Constable Grant, now dressed in civilian clothes, standing beside the stream. Fishing poles laying over their shoulders, both staring at her, mouths agape. It was at that moment, Charlotte remembered her appearance and quickly set about re-buttoning her collar and cuffs, before shifting, allowing her skirt to pool further down her legs and now into the water below.
"Allie. I am so sorry. I was just trying to cool off a bit on this hot day after I decided to take a walk and explore a bit." Charlotte's eyes did not move from the girl's still shocked face. Preventing her from acknowledging the man that stood beside Allie. Charlotte started to move down the log to the stream's edge, then bending, struggling to fit her wet feet into the stockings and shoes she had deposited along the shoreline minutes earlier.
"It is warm. But maybe if you would not wear such a heavy shirt, it would be a little cooler," the constable commented, causing Charlotte to finally look at him, her eyebrow raised in response. Who was he to comment on her wardrobe? Her intense gaze made Nathan feel harsh about his statement.
"I'm sorry. I didn't mean it in that way," Nathan extended his apology. "It is not my place to comment on what you do-" Nathan swallowed, "or do not wear. Please forgive me."
Charlotte nodded. Unable to form a worded response to the constable's candor.
"Uncle Nathan and I were just on our way to catch dinner. This stream is one of our favorite spots," Allie said, lifting the pole off her shoulder. "No one else knows it's here. Well, I guess you know it's here now. Please don't tell anyone!"
Uncle Nathan
The constable was Allie's uncle, not father?
"Your secret is safe with me," Charlotte assured Allie as she straightened and stood now that her feet were back in the boots. This would be an uncomfortable walk back to the house.
Charlotte, feeling a bit braver, turned to Nathan and questioned, "Does your wife wait at home, ready to prepare and cook the day's catch?"
"Wife?" Nathan almost coughed out the word.
"Uncle Nathan's not married," a smile making its way across Allie's face. "Not that he hasn't tried before with Mrs. Thor-"
"Allie!" Nathan stopped the girl sternly.
Mrs. Thornton? The constable had courted Mrs. Thornton?
Sensing the uneasiness of the topic, Charlotte shifted, "Thank you both for the lovely flowers on my desk. Minnie said that the two of you were the ones behind them. I love wildflowers. Forget-me-nots have always been my favorite. They are usually so hard to find."
"Oh, those were the ones Uncle Nathan picked. We have never seen any around here before either, but they were right at the edge of the high meadow yesterday morning. Almost like the fairies planted them the night before, just so he could find them for you. The cattails were my idea. Did you really like them?" Allie rattled, hardly taking a breath in between sentences.
"Yes. It was a lovely gesture. Again, thank you both, but I must be going. I need to go into town and pick up some supplies at the mercantile this afternoon." Charlotte stated as she started to move forward past the pair.
"You won't be going to the store anymore today. Mr. Yost closes early on Saturdays." Nathan mentioned.
"Oh." Charlotte had not even considered that the store wouldn't be open. To be honest, this past week, with traveling, all her days had been screwed up.
"If you need any food or other essentials to get you through until Monday, I'm sure we could spare something. Or if you want to join us later for dinner, we will hopefully be having fish," Nathan kindly offered.
"Thank you, constable, but I will manage through the weekend." Charlotte answered, already tired of feeling like an imposition to everyone. "Again, thank you for the flowers and good luck fishing.
"Please, call me Nathan."
"Charlotte," she responded, pretending to not see Nathan's hand he had reached out to initiate a handshake greeting. Instead, Charlotte set out, rushing past Allie back down the path to which she had come a short while earlier.
Allie and Nathan watched as Charlotte disappeared around the curve in the path. Both releasing a breath they had not noticed they were holding.
"Uncle Nathan?"
"Yes Allie," Nathan looked down at Allie's wondering face.
"Did you see all the bruises on Ms. Thompson?"
Nathan's eyes closed before looking off into the woods behind them. So, Allie had noticed them too. Damn. "Yes. Yes, I did."
Charlotte stormed down the road. She just kept digging a bigger hole for herself didn't she. First the terrors last night and then exposing her secrets this afternoon. And of course, both times it had to include the town's law enforcement.
As Charlotte neared her row house, she could see a couple sitting on the steps. Great, Charlotte sighed. More company. Soon enough, she could make out that one of the individuals was Mrs. Thornton.
"Charlotte!" Elizabeth waved when she spotted Charlotte approaching down the road. "I wanted to come by and introduce you to the two men in my life."
Stooping to pick up the young boy at her feet, "This is my son, Jack. Jack, can you say hello to Ms. Thompson?"
"Hello." The little boy in her arms shyly said.
"Hello Jack," Charlotte responded, smiling at the child.
"And this," Elizabeth turned to the sharp dressed man that stood behind her, "This is my fiancé, Lucas Bouchard."
"Hello, Ms. Thompson." The man dipped his head in her direction, extending a large store-bought bouquet of flowers towards Charlotte. "Welcome to Hope Valley."
"Thank you." Charlotte said, taking the flowers and leading the group into the house. Mrs. Thornton. Fiancé Lucas Bouchard. Charlotte's mind was swimming, trying to wrap her head around it all. Too exhausted to concern herself with asking and opening that can of worms today, she made her way to the kitchen in order to find a vase for the fancy bouquet.
"Oh!" Elizabeth squealed from behind Charlotte, "I didn't even consider that you would have already been given some welcome to town flowers. Ned only had this bouquet to choose from when I went into the mercantile yesterday morning. Lucas, look at how lovely these wildflowers are."
"Yes. They are very quaint, aren't they?"
Charlotte's jaw clenched and hand tightened on the jar she just found at the tone Mr. Bouchard had used to describe the beautiful flowers Nathan and Allie had so thoughtfully collected for Charlotte the day before. Part of her wanted to mention who the wildflowers were from, given there must be some sort of history between Elizabeth, Mr. Bouchard, and Nathan. The other part of Charlotte, in that moment, had chosen to keep the source of the first bouquet close to her chest. It was such a sweet gesture and one that Charlotte decided would stay between herself and the Grants. Well, and Minnie too. Their own little secret. A smile spread across Charlotte's face at the thought.
Thankfully, the Thornton and Bouchard group did not stay long. Charlotte showed them to her front door, exchanging pleasantries and good-byes just as Allie and Nathan were returning home from what looked like to be a highly successful fishing trip.
The two groups coming and going, exchanged nods in greeting on the lane in front of the row houses, but did not stop to talk. Instead, Allie turned to Charlotte and yelled out, "Look Ms. Thompson at all the fish we caught in our secret spot. But I guess since you now know where it is, it makes things not so secret."
"I told you earlier Allie, your secret spot is safe with me."
"We caught so many fish! Are you sure you do not want to join Uncle Nathan and I for dinner? I promise he isn't as bad of a cook as it may seem," Allie continued.
"Hey now," Nathan chided to Allie before turning back to Charlotte. "She's right though. Fresh trout is about the only thing I will admit to doing a decent job at cooking up. The invitation from earlier still stands. We would be more than happy to have you join us tonight."
Did Charlotte catch Elizabeth looking back over her shoulder at them? A look of longing, possibly regret, sweeping across the woman's face before Mr. Bouchard took her hand and led them further down the road.
Charlotte shook her head, "Thank you, but I can't. I still have so much unpacking to do." Lie. "I'm also rather tired from my travels and lack of sleep last night." Not a lie.
"I can understand that," Nathan replied with a sympathetic smile that caused Charlotte to blush before telling the pair goodnight, returning into the house and locking the door behind her.