Chapter 5- Fishing Tales
As Charlotte had assumed, Allie was knocking on the front door of her row house, early the next morning. Two rods flung over her right shoulder.
"Uncle Nathan left for Brookfield a few hours ago. He said that you could use his fishing pole," Allie said, extending one of the reels in Charlotte's direction.
Charlotte reached out and took the fishing pole that Allie had offered, closing the door behind her, the pair started on the hike to their "secret spot".
"Allie. Charlotte?" Elizabeth's voice called out to the girls. "Where are you two going this morning?"
"Ms. Thompson and I are just going to our secret fishing spot."
Charlotte caught the way Allie accentuated the word "our" in her reply to Mrs. Thornton. Catching a smile forming across her lips. Charlotte was finding pleasure in having these little secrets with the Grant family.
Elizabeth turned to Charlotte. "I didn't know you fished Ms. Thompson."
"I haven't for years, but we had a creek and a few large stock ponds on the ranch where I grew up. My dad would take me fishing all the time in the summer."
Charlotte looked over to Allie, who was staring back at her with what looked like admiration. "Allie we should keep going. You know that fishing is best early in the morning."
"Have a nice day Elizabeth," Charlotte politely nodded in the direction of Mrs. Thornton as she and Allie started back on the path to the stream.
Once the girls arrived at the fallen log, it didn't take long for Allie to bring up the subject that Charlotte had found herself randomly thinking about over the past few days.
"I bet you're wondering what Uncle Nathan and I saw in Mrs. Thornton," Allie bluntly stated.
Not willing to confirm Allie's comment, Charlotte instead said, "She is a beautiful woman and an excellent teacher, I'm sure there are plenty of things you both saw in Mrs. Thornton."
Allie smiled, but without prompting did go on to explain while the two fished along the shoreline of the stream for the next few hours. About how Elizabeth had lost her husband Jack in a Mountie training accident that Nathan was supposed to lead instead. The tragedy caused Nathan to feel it was his duty to take Jack's old post, making sure his widow and young son would remain safe. With time though both he and Allie started feeling Mrs. Thornton could be more to them than just a friend and teacher. But about a year ago, Mrs. Thornton had claimed she did not feel the same about Nathan and the only reason she had felt a spark with him was because Nathan reminded Elizabeth of her late husband, Jack. Leaving Nathan and Allie brokenhearted as Mrs. Thornton quickly ran into the arms of Mr. Bouchard, the safe choice.
Charlotte's mind swam with all the new information. She could clearly see that the broken relationship between Mrs. Thornton and Nathan hurt Allie deeply. A pang of guilt filled Charlotte. Was Allie looking to fill her motherly void with Hope Valley's new assistant teacher?
Charlotte made a mental note to keep up her boundaries with Nathan in order to not give Allie any false hope of something more happening between her uncle and Charlotte. She enjoyed Allie's company, but Charlotte was convinced she could never make a good mother figure for the girl.
And Nathan. Well, he deserved more than what Charlotte could ever offer him.
Before the ladies called quits to fishing, Allie had told Charlotte the rest of her life story. Allie did not know her father, as he left when she was a young girl. Her mother, Nathan's sister Colleen, passed away when Allie was only four years old. Orphaned, Nathan stepped in to raise Allie. The pair traveled over much of the province, being stationed at various forts and towns. Never putting down roots until they arrived in Hope Valley.
As the sun reached its high point in the sky, Allie and Charlotte decided to start their walk back to town. The pair had caught so many fish on their trip, choosing to release most of the trout back into the stream and only keeping two to fry up for lunch back at Charlotte's house. Charlotte had to admit, she was enjoying spending time with Allie. The girl had a way of making Charlotte forget about her life's troubles. Even if it was just for a few moments.
It had been a long time since Charlotte had cleaned a fish, so Allie took care of that detail while Charlotte set about prepping the rest of their lunch. The two enjoyed their fresh catch and summer veggies at the dining room table. Telling more about their different childhoods. Allie's nomad lifestyle. Charlotte's being raised on a cattle ranch.
The afternoon flew by for Charlotte when she was in Allie's aura. It was obvious the girl poured out happiness, sass, and love in every aspect of her life. Nathan had to be so proud of the amazing woman he was raising.
When the conversation turned to books, Allie convinced Charlotte that they should go to town and check out the library. It really did not take much convincing though. Charlotte had missed her books. She only had room in her trunk and bags for the most precious of her worldly possessions. Some of her most cherished novels had made the journey, but many had been left behind. A few new books would be the perfect way to spend time between lessons this summer.
Charlotte and Allie made their way into town. Stepping through the doors of the library, Charlotte was enveloped in the comforting and familiar smells of leather bindings and well-worn pages. The space was intimate, shelves lined many of the walls. A table, chairs, and small couch provided an area for townsfolk to sit and pass the time being transported into other worlds.
At that moment, a wooden plaque hanging on the wall caught Charlotte's attention.
ALWAYS DO WHAT YOU ARE AFRAID TO DO ~ RALPH WALDO EMERSON
"Uncle Nathan made that," Allie commented, noticing Charlotte being physically drawn to the thank you gift he had made Mrs. Thornton years before.
Like an out of body experience, Charlotte's fingers reached out and ran along each letter and detail of the carved oak, "Nathan made this?" Her voice barely above a whisper.
"Yep," Allie's interests had already turned to looking at the titles of books on a shelf in the far corner of the room.
Charlotte stepped back, still staring at Nathan's handmade work. The Mountie knew poetry? She had not expected that one.
"Ms. Thompson, have you ever read this book?" Allie lifted a novel in Charlotte's direction.
"Riders of the Purple Sage?" Charlotte asked squinting to see the title. "Yes, I have."
"Would I like it?" questioned Allie.
"Well, that depends. Do you like stories about adventure, mystery, family-" Charlotte paused "Love?"
"Not sure about the love part, but the rest seems right up my alley."
Charlotte smiled, "Then I think you should give it a try."
"What was the name of your favorite book you mentioned last week at school? The one written by the author your parents named you after?"
"Jane Eyre."
"That's it!" Allie answered excitedly. "What's that one about?"
"Jane is a plain woman. She accepts the position of governess to a young girl in the care of a Mr. Rochester. Jane and Mr. Rochester fall in love, but a grave secret tears the two apart."
"Well, that doesn't sound so good." Allie's nose crinkling in response.
Again, Charlotte laughed. "My description does not do it justice. You are just going to have to trust me on this one.
Allie and Charlotte scoured the library for Jane Eyre but were unable to find the novel.
"You are still in luck; Jane Eyre is one of the few books that made the journey with me to Hope Valley. You can borrow my copy when we get back to the house," Charlotte offered to Allie.
"Aren't you going to choose a book?" Allie questioned Charlotte as the two were getting ready to leave.
"I've scanned most of the titles in our search for Jane, but nothing really piqued my interest today."
"Have you read Mrs. Thornton's book?"
"No, I have not," Charlotte answered. She had seen a few copies of Elizabeth's book strewn about the library. "But since you trusted my suggestions, I will trust yours."
Charlotte reached for one of the copies she had seen on the table at the center of the room. An uneasy feeling turning her stomach into knots.
A Single Mother On The Frontier