Story of seasons 3
Ford watched her as she rested, he didn't want to leave her unsupervised, and have her fall. Hector had told him that her family was coming in town to help her. When he heard a knock on the door, he saw a man standing outside. "Can I help you?" Ford asked.
"Who the hell are you? And, where's my daughter?" the man asked as he walked past Ford straight to Holly.
It took a couple seconds before he realized that this was Holly's father. Ford cleared his throat and replied, "My name is Ford. I am the town Doctor. Your daughter stepped on an animal trap someone carelessly left by the lake."
Holly woke up and saw her father standing over her. Her face went white before she greeted, "Hey daddy…What are you doing here?"
"I'm here to take you home," he said as he roughly grabbed her shoulder.
"No dad, I am not coming with you. I am not going to quit just because you don't think I have what it takes to be a farmer. This is what I want with my life." Holly argued.
Ford stopped him and said, "Sir, with all due respect, she is not well enough to travel. She can't put any weight on her foot."
"If she is in no condition to travel, then she is in no condition to work on a farm. Holly you need to forget this ridiculous fantasy of yours. How do you expect to run a farm when you can't even walk right now?" her father asked.
Holly frowned and answered, "Dad, if you didn't come to help me, then just leave."
"Atleast I know you're not dead," he muttered as he stormed out angrily and slammed the door behind him. Holly nervously started to play with her hair and said, "I'm sorry you had to see that Ford. He's not always like this, he just never liked the idea of me being a farmer."
Ford shook his head, "There is no need to apologize…If you want, I could help you with your farm for a few days while you heal." After the words came out of his mouth, he silently asked himself, 'What am I thinking? I don't know anything about farming?'
Holly looked up at him hopefully, "You have no idea how much I would appreciate that. I mainly need help with watering the crops. They only need to be watered once a day, so if you could do that in your free time, that would be wonderful."
The doctor nodded and said, "Since you are in no condition to be moved and your dad won't help you here, I am going to have to stay with you for a few days. As soon as Wayne gets back, I am going to run over to my clinic to grab a few things. Please don't try to get up while I am gone."
"Where are you going to sleep?" she asked curiously as she looked around the room.
"Wayne has a sleeping bag I can borrow," Ford answered. As if on cue Wayne stepped in. "Did you find out who set the traps?"
Wayne shook his head and replied, "No, Miranda said that a man from out of town ordered them. She couldn't remember his name, but said he had strange hair."
Ford frowned and asked, "Could you stay with her while I grab some things from the clinic?"
Wayne nodded and replied, "Sure, wasn't her parents supposed to come help her?" Holly cringed and Wayne knew he needed to change the subject. "Never mind that, take as much time as you need Ford. I will watch over her."
….
Wayne sat back in a chair. Holly had fallen asleep shortly after Ford has left. He assumed that whatever Ford gave her for pain, put her to sleep. Wayne knew that Ford had feelings for Holly. Ford was just too cautious to take action. Wayne decided to make it his mission to get these two together.
…
Ford eventually returned with some clothes, Wayne's sleeping bag, and the lasagna that he had cooked earlier. When he placed the lasagna on the table, Holly's eyes lit up. With all the chaos of the day, she almost forgot that Ford had cooked for her. She smiled and Ford asked, "Wayne, would you like to stay and eat some. I know you didn't eat yet."
Wayne thought about it but he decided against it. "Thanks, but Megan actually sent over some pasta for me tonight. So, I will see you two later."
Holly tried to sit up as Ford brought a plate of lasagna over, but her arms were just too weak to support her body at the moment. Ford noticed her failed attempt to sit up and placed her plate back down on the table so he could help her sit up in the bed. He placed his arms underneath hers and instructed, her to use her good leg to move herself up. With his help, she managed to sit up. He placed the plate in her lap and went to sit at the table.
Holly took a few bites from her food, but was unable to finish her plate. She was just too tired from blood loss. Ford watched her carefully, he wanted to speak to her but was unable to think of anything that wasn't medically related. It wasn't long before she fell asleep with her plate in her lap. Ford took the plate from her and scraped the remnants into the trash. He then checked her vitals again, before setting up his sleeping bag and going to sleep.
…
The next morning, Ford woke up to the sound of sniffling. He looked up and saw Holly in tears. When she saw him sit up, she said, "I'm sorry Ford. I didn't mean to wake you. But, this really hurts."
Ford stood up and walked over to her bedside. He sat down on the bed and moved the blanket to look at her ankle. It was an angry red looking color. "It looks like there is a slight infection. I am going to clean it again and get you both a topical and a pill antibiotic. What time does Wayne normally get here to deliver the mail?"
Holly looked at the clock on the wall and said, "He should be here within the hour."
Ford nodded and continued, "I am going to clean it now. When he gets here, I will get him to keep an eye on you while I am gone."
Holly crossed her arms, "I will be fine. I can take care of myself for an hour or so."
Ford looked up at her and thought about it before saying, "I would really prefer if we waited. Here lets start cleaning this again."
Ford took off his lab coat, knowing that Holly didn't have any towels. He folded it and placed it under her ankle. He grabbed the bottle of alcohol and poured it directly onto the injury.
Holly let out an agonizing scream and tried to move her leg away but Ford was holding it still. As the stinging started to calm she asked, "What the hell Ford? Do you realize how much that hurts?"
Ford said in an unmoved demeanor, "Would you rather lose your foot from a bad infection?"
Holly laid her head back in frustration and tried to remain calm.
Ford saw Wayne and another man through the window. He stood up from her bedside and opened up the door to call Wayne inside.
Wayne and the other man walked inside. "Ludas, what are you doing here?" Holly asked.
Ford was surprised she knew this guy. He didn't seem to be from around Westtown. He silently wondered if Holly was in a relationship with this guy.
Wayne pushed Ludas and said, "Go on, cough it up," with an annoyed look on his face.
Ludas gave Wayne a dirty look and said, "Holly, I…I'm the one who placed the traps. I am so sorry. I didn't know you would get hurt."
Ford's face turned red with anger, "What were you thinking? There are children that play near that pond."
"I just wanted to catch some foxes and rabbits for fur. There fur doesn't sell for much right now, but if I save it for the winter, I will make a small fortune." Ludas explained.
Holly looked disappointed and said, "I forgive you Ludas, but please take down all those traps. I don't want anyone to get hurt like this again."
Ludas nodded and replied, "I will. I promise."
Ford turned to Wayne and said, "I need to get some medicine from my clinic, can you stay with her.
Ludas volunteered, "I'll do it."
Ford glared at him and replied, "I rather you not. I don't trust anyone who would use such a cruel trapping device."
Ludas crossed his arms, he really didn't like this doctor. He looked over to Holly and decided to leave when he saw how red her foot was. "I'll see you later Holly," he said before storming out the door.
Wayne sat down at the table and said, "Go get what you need Ford. I will hold things down here."
Ford nodded, grabbed his wallet, and left.
…
While Wayne waited he talked with Holly. "How are you feeling today?"
"I'm in a lot of pain, but Ford has been taking care of me, so I will be okay." She answered.
"That's good. Ford, doesn't have many friends because he is a little different. I am glad to see he seems to have warmed up to you. He will never admit this, but I know he is lonely," Wayne told Holly.
Holly became quiet, she didn't know how to respond because without her family, she felt lonely too.
Holly looked up at Wayne and replied, "I am glad to have met him. Really, everyone in this town has been so kind to me…I am not used to this kind of treatment."
Wayne smiled softly and replied, "Get used to it. You are one of us now."
…
Ford looked through his many cabinets of medicine and couldn't seemed to find the topical antibiotic ointment. Without any other options, he grabbed the pill form and decided to pay Mirabelle a visit. The bell above the shop door rang signaling his entrance.
Mirabelle came out from the backroom with a bright smile, "Good Morning Ford. How can I help you?"
"I was wondering if you could order me some more of that topical antibiotic ointment?" Ford asked.
Mirabelle nodded and said, "Certainly, just let me check in the back to see if I have any left first"
While he waited, he looked around the store and saw a pair of brown boots on display. The boots had flowers embroidered up either side. As Mirabelle came back without the cream and started to write the medicine on her order form, Ford asked, "How much for the boots?"
Mirabelle looked surprised and replied, "200G. If you are interested in them I can order them in any size… Do you have a girlfriend now Ford?"
Ford's eyes got big and he replied, "Uhhh no, I was just thinking of bringing my niece a pair for her birthday… I should go Mirabelle. I will see you later."
Mirabelle thought about what he said and thought, 'I didn't even know he had a sister…now he has a niece?' She shrugged her shoulders and went back to work.
Before Ford returned back to the farm, he stopped by the grill to pick up some breakfast for the three of them.
Brad greeted Ford and talked to him a bit while he cooked. "I heard that new girl Holly got hurt by the lake. Is she doing any better."
"I am not at liberty to give this information Brad. You know that," Ford replied.
Brad nodded and chuckled slightly, "I figured you would say that. Anyway, I hope Holly, Wayne, and you enjoy breakfast. I put an extra helping of veggies in yours. You are going to have to keep your strength up if you are going to be doing farm chores."
"How did you…" Ford asked.
"Wayne told me," Brad interrupted.
…
When Ford walked in, Wayne noticed he was two bags with to-go boxes from the Garden Grill. As Ford opened the bag he handed Wayne a box and said, "This one is for you and this one is for Holly."
As they sat there and ate, Ford looked out into the field at the crops that needed to be tended to and wondered how he was going to be able to handle so many. Sure he has gardened before, but he never had this many plants to tend to. As if reading his mind, Wayne offered, "Hey Ford, I have a few minutes before I have to get back on the road, why don't I water while you harvest?"
Ford let out a sign of relief and said, "That would be great, thanks."
…