Chapter 69. The Break-in
RING. RING. RING….RING. RING. RING….RING. RING. RING...
Rosemary's eyes flashed open wide. She wasn't sure she'd heard right.
RING. RING. RING...
Rosemary had definitely heard right. She elbowed Lee. "Lee, darling. Lee! Lee, wake up!"
Lee was fast asleep, and had no intention of… "Lee! Lee, wake up." Rosemary called to him.
He didn't want to wake up, but it was Rosie calling him. He opened one eye and looked at her, though he really didn't intend to get up, no matter what she thought she needed.
RING. RING. RING…
"LEE!" She elbowed him stronger now. "Lee! The phone is ringing. There must be an emergency. Lee!"
He managed to get both eyes open, and he said, "Okay. Okay! I'm up. I'm up." And he rolled toward the edge of the bed, put his legs down, and stood.
RING. RING. RING...
It finally registered with Lee, that the phone actually was ringing and there really must be an emergency. So, he moved faster now.
RING. RING. RING...
Lee opened their bedroom door, and started out into the hallway, and Jake met him there at the top of the stairs.
"Jake. The phone. There must be an emergency." Lee told him, still a little groggy, as they both headed down the stairs.
At night, in case of emergency, the telephone exchange was always left connected, between Lee's house and the infirmary. Normally this was meant to work one way. The emergency system was this: Anyone in the row houses with an emergency, would go to Lee and Rosemary's and pick up the phone, which would immediately ring to the infirmary. However, because it was left connected, of course, it could work in the other direction. It didn't matter which end picked up the phone first, the other side would ring. But, the system had been put in place, with the assumption that it would be the row houses that would need the infirmary, and not the other way around.
But this night, in the middle of the night, when Julia had regained consciousness on the floor of the infirmary, she had only needed to pick up the phone on her end, and it rang immediately to Lee's.
Lee picked it up. "Hello?"
"Lee?" The voice was small and tiny, coming through. "It's Julia. Is..is..is Jake there? There's been a break-in at the infirmary."
Lee held the earpiece and the mouthpiece out to Jake, "It's Julia. She's asking for you."
Jake immediately took the phone and placed the earpiece to his ear, the worry evident on his face. "Julia?"
When she heard Jake's familiar voice, Julia started to weep. She couldn't get any words out, so she took a deep breath and blew out slowly. Finally, she managed to speak, though her voice weak. "Jake? I…I was attacked. Someone broke into the infirmary. Jake, can you please come?"
"Julia, I'll be right there. Lock yourself in your apartment, and stay put. Don't open for anybody. I'm coming."
"Ok." He could hear her quiet sobs, as he hung up the earpiece. He bounded up the stairs to get his uniform. He quickly got dressed, though remembered as he did, that his serge was still hanging in Julia's apartment. No matter, he came down the stairs two at a time, and slid into his boots by the front door.
Lee met him there, and told Jake to take his car.
Jake went flying out the door, got the car started, and rumbled off towards town. On the way, he stopped the car in front of Nathan's.
BANG. BANG. BANG….BANG. BANG. BANG….
Something seemed to call Nathan out of his deep sleep, but he didn't want to come out of his deep sleep. He was having a great time with Julia. They were in a field full of flowers and he was down on one knee…
BANG. BANG. BANG. BANG. BANG…BANG. BANG. BANG. BANG. BANG...
Nathan's eyes shot wide open. Someone was banging on his door. He sat up and bed, and knew that meant only one thing. There must be an emergency.
BANG. BANG. BANG. BANG. BANG...
He quickly rose, pulled on his henley and his jodhpurs, and threw up his suspenders as he came hurdling down the stairs.
BANG. BANG. BANG...
Nathan pulled open the door and found Jake standing there, with Lee's car running behind him.
"What's happened?" Nathan asked, worried now.
"Nathan, It's Julia. There's been a break-in at the infirmary, and someone…attacked her." Nathan felt like someone had just knocked the air out of his lungs. And, his hands began to shake. He had to get to her, now. He took a deep breath, regained his composure, and went into Mountie mode. He slid on his boots in a matter of seconds and grabbed his serge by the door.
Jake and Nathan ran out to the car, climbed in, and rambled towards town. When they pulled up in front of the infirmary, they saw the condition of the front door, which had been violently forced open, and the window cracked.
"Someone put a shoulder into this." Jake stated as they both flew through the door, and headed to Julia's adjoining door.
As they ran past, Jake could see quite a mess and a ruckus, near the desks. But, his first concern was his sister.
Nathan lightly tapped three times on the door, and said, "Julia, you can open the door. It's me, and Jake."
Julia pulled the door open wide, and in a flash of red, went flying into Nathan's arms. She was sobbing uncontrollably and hid her face in his chest. He just held her…and held her…and held her. In fact, Nathan kept ahold of her, like his life depended on it, and thanked every star in heaven that she was okay. He finally let himself breathe again, though he realized he was still shaking.
Jake was standing right next to them, rubbing her back, and telling her it was going to be okay. They stayed just like that for a very long time. When her sobs finally slowed, she pulled back just a little bit, and they both caught sight of her face.
Nathan felt his stomach wretch when he saw her, when he saw what someone had done to her. That someone had slugged her, and slugged her hard, right on the side of her face. Her left eye was nearly swollen shut, and already turning blue. She had a bruise forming right at her temple, and radiating down her cheek. And, the entire area was swollen.
Jake went to her icebox and took out some ice. He wrapped it in a tea towel and brought it back. He placed it gently on her face, as she moaned in pain. Jake took note that she was wearing his serge, though he didn't mind.
Nathan didn't seem ready to let go of her, but they needed to eventually ask her a battery of questions, to find out what happened. So, Jake tried. "Julia, can you tell us what happened?"
"In the middle of the night, I heard a loud bang, and some noise coming from the infirmary. I took a candle and went to investigate. And, when I came around the curtain, someone…" Julia's chin quivered. She was overcome with emotion, and couldn't get anymore out.
"Hit you?" Nathan asked her gently.
Julia nodded. "That's the last thing I remember."
"So, the blow knocked you out?" Jake asked. He needed to know how much she remembered.
"Yes." Julia told them. "As soon as he hit me, everything went black."
Jake was silently praying, as he asked the next question. He didn't want to, but had to know. "Did he do anything else to you?"
Julia shook her head no. Jake's head hung limp in relief, for a long moment. He was so glad it was not any worse. When Jake brought his head up, he made eye contact with Nathan. Both were so thankful that it wasn't any worse. It was bad enough already.
Nathan gently tucked some hair behind her ear, near the ice pack, and asked her, "What happened next, Jules?"
"I woke up on the infirmary floor, all alone. I crawled over to the phone, and picked up the earpiece." Julia told him.
"Lee answered, and gave it to me." Jake told Nathan. Nathan could piece the rest together.
"Did you know the guy, Julia? Did you get a look at him at all?" Nathan asked her.
"Yes. I saw a flash of red hair. Jake, remember the guy in Henry Gowen's office yesterday?" Julia looked at Jake.
Jake nodded his head. He remembered the guy exactly. Jake explained to Nathan, "Fiona told us the guy was trouble with a capital T. His name was Danny, was it not?" Jake asked Julia.
"Yes, you are right. Fiona called him Danny." Julia told them both. "I'm sure it was that guy, Jake."
"Why would he break in here?" Nathan asked, almost hypothetically.
"I think I know." Jake said, looking at Nathan. Oh, he definitely knew. "When we were in Henry's office, Julia mentioned that the infirmary had recently been given a sizable donation."
It made perfect sense. He was looking for that donation, knowing it would be in cash, and could be easily stolen.
Jake stood and carried an oil lamp over the infirmary. He had a look around and sure enough, drawers were left open and stuff tossed everywhere. The perpetrator had definitely been looking for something in particular.
Jake came back and told them both. "He tossed the place. He was definitely looking for something specific. What does your cash box look like, Julia?"
"It's a standard wooden cash box." Julia told him. "But, the donation isn't in there. Faith took it to the bank last week."
Both men were relieved to hear that.
"The cash box had less than 5 dollars in it." Julia told them both. "I counted it this morning, before I opened."
They would need to do a full investigation, and go through all the mess next door. But, their first priority was Julia.
She pulled the ice back from her eye, and realized her eye was completely shut now. "How bad is it?"
Julia looked at both of them with the one eye she had left, and could easily read their expressions. She whispered, "That bad, huh?" Nathan gritted his teeth, knowing she would be in pain for a few days. She saw the look he gave her, and put the ice back on the side of her face. And, he pulled her back into his embrace. After a while longer, Nathan led her over to her salon, and sat her down.
Jake took an oil lamp, and his notepad, and went back over to the infirmary. He started to take notes, aware that once the infirmary opened in the morning, all the evidence would be disrupted. So, he need to take very careful notes, and he needed to take them now. After a few minutes, Nathan came over and joined him, and they conducted the investigation together.
Under some of the mess, they found the cash box, though it had been broken open and emptied. Some of the medical cabinets had also been forced open, though they had no way of knowing if anything was missing. And, the medicine cabinet had also been broken open. They would need Julia and Faith to have a good look and make a list of what had been stolen.
Next, they went to the front door. It had definitely been forced open by a shoulder. The doorframe had been split open and the door wouldn't hold now. That meant anyone could come inside, at any time, until it was repaired.
Jake turned to Nathan. "We'll have to stay here tonight and stand guard."
Nathan nodded in agreement. Nothing could make him leave Julia now, anyway. He would stand guard, one way or the other.
Jake took a few more notes related to the door and exactly how the entry had been forced, as well as a few measurements. He made sure to note precisely the height of the shoulder that impacted the door.
Then they went back over to check on Julia.
She had laid back a bit in the chair to let the ice rest on her face, and had fallen asleep. Nathan gently gathered her up into his arms, and brought her over to the bed. With Jake's help, they managed to get his serge off of her, and Nathan gently laid her down.
They covered her up, and Nathan brought a chair over and sat down. Jake did the same.
"Who in the world would hit my sister?" Jake asked as he looked at her, looking so sweet and innocent in her bed.
"He must really be a scumbag." Nathan told Jake, gritting his teeth and imagining exactly what he'd like to do to the guy. Jake was imagining the exact same thing. But, then a thought occurred to Nathan. "It's far fetched, but could it be that he saw the serge and struck her before he realized?"
"You mean, he meant to assault an officer, instead of her?" Jake said, thinking the guy was a scumbag either way.
"At first light, we'll find out. We'll ride out and arrest him. He must be staying out by the oil rig, right?" Nathan asked.
"I would assume so." Jake told him. He looked around thinking that they should try to get some sleep, to be ready for a long day tomorrow. There was a lot to do, and a criminal to catch.
"Jake, there's a bed set up over next door, if you'd like to get more comfortable. I can sit and keep watch over Julia." Nathan told him. "And, that way, you can keep watch over the other side, since the door is all busted up."
Jake looked at the clock, in a few hours they would need to be up. And, neither Jake nor Nathan would leave Julia now. Not until someone else could take their place and sit with her. So, Jake went over, slipped off his boots, and laid back on the bed.
Nathan extinguished the oil lamp and slipped off his boots, next to Julia's bed. He shifted and tried to get comfortable in the chair.
Nathan managed to sleep an hour, before being awakened by sobbing and a loud whimper. Though in the dark, he realized the noise was Julia. Nathan came over and sat on the bed next to her. He whispered, "Jules, are you okay? Jules?" He put his hand on her shoulder.
As soon as she realized he was there, Julia immediately moved into his arms, and cuddled her face low in his chest. Nathan held her while she cried. She must have had a bad dream, or re-lived her harrowing experience from several hours before.
Nathan spoke very quietly to her. "It's okay, Jules. I'm here. You're safe. No one can hurt you, not on my watch." Nathan whispered and held her, until the sobs subsided. Julia wouldn't let go, so Nathan shifted until his back against the wall. She eventually fell back asleep.
In those last wee hours of the night, Julia slid down until her head rested in Nathan's lap. He managed to slide a pillow under her head, but her arms were still firm around his back. So, Nathan laid his head back against the wall, and held her just like that, until morning.
As the sun made it's first mention, somewhere between sleeping and waking, Julia realized Nathan was still there and he was still holding her. As she roused a little further, she felt a dull constant throb on the side of her face, pounding and painful. Which did not make her want to wake up, certainly not when she felt so safe and comfortable in Nathan's arms.
But, Nathan also started to rouse, and as he did, he slowly looked down at her. The side of her face was less swollen, but darker in color. Julia would be stuck with a black eye for a week or two.
Julia finally managed to open her eyes. She slowly turned her head and looked up at him. When she did, she met his gaze as he looked down at her. "Hi." He said slowly, in his usual way.
"Good morning, Lawman." She told him.
"Good morning, Jules." He replied. "How's your eye feeling?"
"Like I was in a bar fight, and I lost." Julia smiled shyly up at him.
"Let me get you some more ice." Nathan told her, and he started to slide out from under her. Though, she sat up then, and moved her pillow so he could get up. He chopped more ice, placed it inside the tea towel from last night, and brought it to her. He placed her pillow behind her back.
He sat in the chair next to her, while she laid back against the wall and placed the ice gently against her eye.
Jake came in a few minutes later, and sat down on the bed next to her. "Good morning, Jules. How are you feeling?"
"It's painful, but I'm okay, Jake. I'll be fine." Julia told him.
Nathan looked at Jake and said, "We should go soon and get this guy." He paused, "But, I don't want to leave Julia alone. Maybe we could ask Faith to come and stay with her?"
"I'm sure Faith wouldn't mind, Nathan. And, she can also take a look at Julia. I'll go get her." Jake offered, and he stood and went out the front door of the infirmary.
When Jake had gone, Nathan rose and went over to the stove. "Jules, could I make you some coffee?"
"Yes, please." Julia said. "Make as much as you like, and I'm sure Jake would like some, too."
Nathan went about the task and was serving the coffee, when Jake came in with Faith. She rushed in to Julia's side, unable to believe the shocking news.
"Julia, are you okay?" Faith sat on the bed next to her and lifted the ice pack. "Ouch. Julia, wow. That's some shiner. Is it okay if I take a closer look?"
"Of course, Faith." Julia answered, and Faith went about doing a short examination.
After a few minutes, Faith gave her assessment. "The good news is that nothing seems broken." She reported back. "But, you are going to be in pain for a few days." Faith paused and looked at the men. "I can't believe someone broke in here. Who would do that?"
"That's what we intend to find out, so we can bring him to justice." Jake told her, taking a cup of coffee from Nathan.
Nathan brought two cups over and handed one to Julia and one to Faith. "How do you take your coffee, Faith?" He asked her. He had already put the milk in Julia's.
"A little sugar, if you have some." Faith told him. Nathan went and got Julia's sugar bowl and brought it over with a spoon.
The two men quickly drank their coffee. When they were all done, they both donned their serges, and prepared to go. They looked serious and determined and focused. They were on a mission.
Julia stood and walked over, suddenly worried. She'd seen both of their expressions. "Please be careful, both of you." She said, looking back and forth between them. "Don't do anything dangerous, on my account. Please." Julia looked shyly up at Nathan, suddenly unable to imagine him in harm's way. She took a deep breath and insisted, just above a whisper, "Promise me."
Nathan saw the worry in her eyes, "I promise." He said softly.
Julia shifted her gaze to Jake, her eyes intensely on him now. "You too, brother."
"I promise, Jules." Jake told her.
Nathan stepped forward and kissed her on the cheek that wasn't bruised. Then, the two men headed out, to bring the guilty man to justice.
Julia turned and looked sadly at Faith, sure she wouldn't be able to think about anything else, until those two were back safe.
Faith saw the worry in Julia's eyes, and made an attempt to lighten her load. "Allie and her friends were right. We do have the two most handsome Mounties in all of Alberta."
At that, Julia managed a little smile. She came back over and sat down with Faith, thankful for their friendship. Julia tried to focus on Joseph's words, about trusting the Lord. She said a silent prayer for both of these men that meant so much to her. And, she started to feel better.
Fiona came about 10 minutes later, with three blueberry muffins from the café, and so, the day was looking up a little bit more.
When Nathan and Jake rode up to the oil rig bunkhouse, it was still pretty quiet. There were a few guys already on their way out, but most rooms were silent. Nathan stopped one young man as he was coming out, and asked quietly, "We're here on Mountie business. We're looking for a redhead named Danny. Where could we find him?"
"He stays in bunk room 3." The young man responded.
"Thank you." Nathan replied, and they headed to bunk room 3.
As a precaution, Nathan and Jake both opened the snap on their holsters, as they opened the door. Most of the beds were still occupied, and the occupants still sleeping. So, they crept around looking for a red head. But, there wasn't one to be found.
However, a blond head popped up and looked at them curiously. Nathan recognized the young man. "William?"
"Yes." William answered, just above a whisper. "What's going on?"
"We're looking for a red head named Danny." Jake told him.
William got up and came closer to them. "Danny took off early this morning. I think he's gone for good."
Some of the guys started rousing now, hearing their voices, so William motioned for them to follow him outside.
Once they were outside the door, Willliam continued. "He packed all this things and left very early this morning."
"Any idea where he might be headed?" Nathan asked him.
William offered, "The last few days he's been talking about Buxton. He has some distant relative there. I think he owes somebody here a lot of money, and he's splitting on his debt." William saw the way they looked at each other. "Why, what'd he do?" William asked them.
"Someone broke into the infirmary last night." Nathan told him. "And, whoever it was, assaulted Miss Matthews."
William looked very upset to hear that. "That's horrible. Is she okay?"
Jake spoke up. "She'll be fine, but she's got one heck of a shiner."
"And, you think it was Danny?" William surmised.
Nathan told him, "We have reason to believe so, yes."
"Danny was a troublemaker. He's the kind of guy that's angry all the time and pushes everyone's buttons. Even in our bunk room, he was always aggravating somebody. He's not the kind of guy who makes many friends." William told him. "I didn't know him that well, I tried to steer clear. But, if it helps, I'll tell you everything I know."
Nathan nodded, and they led him a little farther away from the bunkhouse, out of ear shot of anyone else.
"William, we appreciate your help. Tell us what you know." Jake told him. "What makes you think he owes somebody money?"
"Last night, I was working in the saloon, helping out my father, who tends the bar. He lets me pick up extra work there sometimes, on busy nights." William paused. "Danny was there with Sylvio, whose about his only friend around here." William continued. "They were about three-quarters through bottle of cheap whiskey, when a guy called Romeo came in, with his boys. They're a rough group, a new gang in these parts, aspiring to make a name for themselves. And as I said, the ringleader is called Romeo. He's got a long scar on his right cheek. Though, his real name is Jimmy McIntosh, and I only know that because Dad says he's some really distant cousin on my mother's side. But, he don't know me or even know who I am."
William took a deep breath and kept going, "I saw Romeo and his boys roughing up Danny in the back. They kept telling him to pay up." William paused and looked back and forth between them. "It's no secret that Romeo's a lone shark, so my guess is Danny borrowed some money and didn't make good on his repayment. They must have extended his deadline a couple hours, because when he left, he didn't look so bad yet. He stumbled out of the saloon, drunk and mad, just before midnight."
"Why do you say he didn't look so bad, yet?" Nathan inquired.
"Because when the saloon closed, I stayed and helped my Dad close up. It was well after 1 a.m., probably closer to 1:30, before I started home. As I was walking up near the bunkhouse, I saw Romeo and his goons roughing up Danny again, only this time they meant business. He took quite a beating. I hid out behind some trees till they were done. I didn't want to catch any of it."
William looked at Jake and then at Nathan. "As they left, Danny was down on the ground sputtering blood, and I heard Romeo yell back, "24 hours, Dannyboy. 24 hours." When I woke up this morning, Danny was gone."
"William, this is very helpful." Jake told him. "Now you said you thought he was headed to Buxton?"
"Yes. A few times this week he mentioned he had a distant relative in Buxton. His family name is Frisk. That's about all I know. He told us that he came here from Jasper, though I'm not sure how much of his story is true." William told them. "He used to brag a lot so we never knew when he was fibbing or not."
"Thanks, William. Anything else?" Jake asked him.
"Nothing that I can think of." William told them.
"William, we appreciate you talking to us. And, thanks for all the information. Listen, keep it quiet about Miss Matthews for now, okay? Just till we track him down." Nathan told him.
William wanted to ask after Julia. But, he remembered the way Nathan had stood up tall in the infirmary, when William had tried to flirt with her. Constable Grant was definitely her suitor.
"Sure thing, Constable." William told them. He decided to play it safe and pass his well wishes. "Constable Grant, please tell Miss Matthews, sorry for what happened to her. I hope she'll be okay." He thought she was a great nurse and a nice person.
Nathan nodded and said, "Sure thing, William," with a kind smile.
Nathan looked over at Jake, who asked William one more question, "Where exactly can we find Sylvio?"
William pointed back towards his bunk room. "Sylvio is sleeping it off in room 3, on the right side, he's the dark haired Italian."
Jake and Nathan nodded at William, and both shook his hand in gratitude. Then they headed back into the bunk house, and pulled Sylvio outside.
Sylvio didn't know much more than William, except to confirm that Danny did indeed owe money to Romeo, and that they had come around about his repayment a few times already. But, according to Sylvio, Danny sunk everything into the bottle or lost it at the poker table. Sylvio was already asleep when Danny came in last night, and didn't see him leave this morning. But, he did confirm that Danny had a distant uncle in Buxton, and was probably headed there. It was all he had been talking about for the last week, as his debt came past due.
Jake and Nathan told William to let them know the minute Danny turned up. And, they headed back to talk to Fiona. They would need to track down Mike and Henry as well.
When they got back to Julia's, they interviewed Fiona, who didn't know much more than Sylvio. She offered to take them out to the office and look through his employee file. When they got there, Henry and Mike were just coming in, so they were able to talk to everyone at once.
Henry looked disturbed by the story Jake and Nathan had to tell. "I'm very sorry to hear this about Miss Matthews. I've been trying to get rid of Danny for a while now." Henry told them. He pulled out Danny's employee file and let them look it over. His family name was indeed Frisk. His full name, Daniel Frisk.
"Last known address was indeed Jasper, though the postal code doesn't look right." Nathan told Jake, pointing. "Does it?"
Jake nodded, "You are right. Isn't there a number missing?"
Mike told them, "Lucas hired Danny. I didn't take the time to verify everything. I apologize for that."
"Any idea where he'd be headed next?" Nathan asked them, looking around at each of them.
Mike spoke up, "He did mention some relation in Buxton. I think outside of Buxton to be exact. Did he happen to put down any address in there, for closest relation?"
Jake had already looked. "No, nothing." Jake told them.
Fiona told them, "I'm sure you guys can track him down easy enough, if he can't let go the bottle. How many saloons can there be in Buxton?"
They both nodded and looked at each other, thinking Fiona was exactly right. But they hoped to track him down on the way.
Nathan told the three of them, "Thanks for the information. We'll be in touch if we need anything more."
"Anything you need, fellas, just let me know. And, please, get the guy." Henry told them.
Jake smiled and told them with assurance, "Don't worry. We'll track him down. The Mounties always get their man."
Jake and Nathan bid farewell and went outside, mounted the horses, and headed back to Hope Valley.
Back in town, their first stop was at Bill's office. They filled him in on the events of last night, and told him to keep an eye on everything in town. They would leave in an hour, to track this Dannyboy down. They promised to call and check in with Bill this evening, or as soon as they were able.
Bill promised to check in on Julia as well, throughout the day.
Nathan went home to talk to Archie and Allie, and let them know what was going on. He took his bedroll and packed supplies into Newton's saddlebags.
Jake got his things from Lee and Rosemary's and gave them an update, before the two rode back to Julia's.
When they got there, Jake tapped lightly on the door. Faith opened, happy to see them back already.
Julia had washed up and changed clothes, and was applying ice again, on Faith's advice.
"Any luck?" Faith asked them.
"No, not yet. But, we will find him." Jake told them. He looked at his sister, hoping she would take the next part well. "We are loaded and ready, and we will ride toward Buxton. Nathan already called ahead and alerted the Mountie office there. So, hopefully we will apprehend him quickly."
"You are leaving, now?" Julia stood and looked at both of them, looking very worried again. Nathan nodded slowly and looked at Jake.
Nathan moved closer to Julia. "Bill is going to look after things here, and you, Julia. Archie and Allie would love for you to come and spend time with them, at my house, if you are up for it. You cannot stay here, at least not until the door and locks are secure again." Nathan told her, with a timid smile.
Jake spoke up. "Lee said he will send some guys straight away to start working on repairing the door and lock. So, if you ladies hear any noise next door, don't be alarmed, it's Lee's crew. Lee and Rosemary also said they would stop by and see you. You are also welcome at their house. Rosemary has already been looking forward to your coffee date on Monday, perhaps you could go today, Jules?"
"And, tonight, Julia, you can sleep at our apartment. Fiona and I would love to have you." Faith offered.
Nathan wasn't sure Julia had heard them, she was still so focused on him, with those worried eyes. He spoke to her low, "Julia, don't be worried. We will get him. Jake and I will look out for each other."
Julia nodded timidly. Nathan bent slowly and kissed her on the cheek. As he pulled back, Julia gently grabbed the front of his serge with both hands, and pulled him down again. She wasn't letting go of him yet. She leaned up and kissed him back, on the cheek. She let her eyes close, almost in a prayer, as she whispered, "Please take care of you."
When she let him go, he set back on his heels, smiling at her tender kiss. "That's the plan, Miss Matthews." He said quietly, but in his playful way, his attempt to pull them both out of the deep well of emotion.
She managed a soft smile at his cuteness. Just when she thought he couldn't get any more charming.
Julia looked over at Jake. "You too, brother. Be careful." She told him.
"Always, Jules." Jake told her, and he looked over at Faith. Faith seemed unsure how to handle this situation.
Finally she said, "Be careful, both of you." Though, she was clearly looking at Jake when she said it.
"Faith, may I speak with you, for a moment?" Nathan asked her.
"Sure." She answered, and the two went next door.
Nathan closed the door behind them and told Faith, "Perhaps it's best if you get her out of here. She suffered a shock and a small trauma last night. She would be better off spending the day anywhere but here. Perhaps at my house, with Allie and Archie. Or, with Lee and Rosemary. And Faith, she can't stay overnight here, alone. Even if she says she's fine, it's not a good idea, Faith. She had a nightmare more than once last night, which is understandable. Can she stay with you girls, not just for tonight, but for the next few nights?"
"Yes, sure thing, Nathan. I will give her only two options: Lee and Rosemary's or your house. I won't even give her the option to stay here." Faith paused, "She can sleep over at our apartment for as long as it's needed. Fiona and I can carry up the mattress from the infirmary cot, and she can sleep in with me. We'll make it fun. Don't worry about a thing." Faith told him.
"I have no idea how long it will take to find this guy. Jake and I don't know when we'll be back. But, I'll call and check in whenever I can. I'll call either Bill's office, here, or the Coulters, okay?" Nathan informed her.
"Don't worry, Nathan. We'll take good care of her. You and Jake, just focus on getting the bad guy, and staying safe." Faith told him.
Nathan nodded and turned the knob to rejoin Jake and Julia. But, before he did, he told her with a serious tone, "Faith, thanks for looking out for her."
Faith nodded, and they went back inside.
Nathan looked at Jake with a nod, and they moved towards the door. Jake opened it and stepped through. Nathan looked back at Julia one more time, with a sad grin, then he turned to go.
But Julia felt a tearing she couldn't explain, and suddenly called out to him. "My love, wait!" Nathan turned around just as she met him. She hugged him one last time, and then held his gaze as she whispered. "I love you." She couldn't let him leave without telling him, one more time.
Nathan hugged her again, and prayed the Lord would keep her safe. He laid his hand gently on her cheek, and she leaned into his touch, just like she always did. As he remembered what Julia had told him about his touch, what it meant to her, his breath caught in his throat. Her eyes softly closed as she relished his touch, and he silently memorized every curve and freckle of her beautiful face. "I love you, too." He told her before reluctantly letting her go. Then he slowly exited out through the front door of the infirmary.