Hope Valley - October 1920
Faith Carter was now the sole owner of the only doctor's office in town. She never thought seven years ago when she met Jack Thorton in Hamilton she would decide to move to Hope Valley. Hope Valley was a small town in a Canadian province that she now considered her home. It was crazy to think how much and how little her life had changed in the past seven years.
She sat in the doctor's office all alone. Quietly she looked at her pocket watch which read 8:30 pm. It was time to get home and get some sleep. Tomorrow would be a long day. She would be traveling to Hamilton for a few days. Maybe a week she whispered to herself as she sighed.
As she locked up the clinic she saw Spurlock walking towards the saloon. Something about him she didn't trust. He was a Pinkerton detective who should be trying to uphold the law. Though instead, he was always around Wyman Walden who by all accounts was a very shady businessman.
Faith needed to put back some supplies she borrowed earlier from the pharmacy. If she didn't do it now she knew she would forget. As she crossed the street she saw Spurlock talking to Bill Avery and the town's mountie Nathan Grant. It was starting to look very tense. As if a fight may break out at any moment.
"Nathan, could you please help me for a minute?" Faith asked as she walked up to the three men. She hoped to break up the brewing tension.
"Sure." Nathan glared at Spurlock as he walked towards Faith.
"Sorry, it was starting to look tense. I thought a diversion may help." Faith said quietly as they walked away from the saloon.
"Thanks, I don't trust him. He and Walden are up to something. Anyways how are you tonight? It's late. Were you still at work?" Nathan asked as he quickly turned to see Spurlock and Bill were no longer standing in front of the saloon.
"I needed to catch up on some paperwork that I have been delaying. It overwhelming at times to own your own business. Carson made everything he did look so easy. How are you?" Faith asked as she looked at Nathan.
"I'm tired but doing good. Occasionally I am still having headaches a few times a week. But that could also be because I haven't been sleeping the best for the past two weeks. That's just the life of a mountie." Nathan laughed and smiled at Faith as they stood in front of the pharmacy.
"You need to take care of yourself as well." Faith reached out touching Nathan's right arm with her left hand.
"Your right. Honestly, I should take some time off now that Allie is home. But that won't happen anytime soon. Would you like me to walk you home tonight?" Nathan asked.
"I need to drop something off at the pharmacy. Would you like some ice cream?" Faith asked as she walked up the stairs to the pharmacy.
"You know how much I love ice cream. Yes, I would like that." Nathan looked up and down the street checking for any signs of trouble before he followed Faith up the stairs.
"Is it weird being here now that Mei is gone?" Faith asked as she opened the door and turned on the lights.
"A little. Mei was like a tornado in my life. She came in as fast as she left. Have you heard anything from her?" Nathan asked curiously.
"No, I haven't. Honestly, I didn't know Mei very well before she came to Hope Valley. I met her for the first time the day Jeffrey and I graduated. The second time was for dinner at Jeffrey's house with a group of friends." Faith shut the door after Nathan walked through.
"I assumed you were friends with both Mei and Jeffrey. I should have asked you." Nathan said as he shook his head in disbelief.
"It wasn't just you. Everyone assumed we were close friends. Jeffrey was not the person I thought he was. I never would have thought he was married to someone else. Or forged a marriage license to Mei. I feel foolish. I was the one who recommended him to Ned." Faith stood looking at the door afraid to see Nathan's expression.
"It's not your fault. Men like this take years to perfect their deception and lies. They prey on people who are kind and trusting." Nathan walked and stood behind Faith.
"Thank you. You are right. I just feel bad Mei is being punished for Jeffrey's lies." Faith turned around standing in front of Nathan.
"Agree, I pray Mei will be ok." Nathan said as he looked at Faith intently.
"Umm, let's have some ice cream." Faith said nervously as she looked at Nathan. She turned and walked behind the counter.
"What flavors do you have?" Nathan asked as he sat at the counter.
" We have chocolate, strawberry and vanilla. Which one would you like?" Faith asked as she got the ice cream scooper.
"Hmm. That is a hard choice. Surprise me." Nathan smirked at Faith.
"Ok, let me decide. Close your eyes so it's a surprise." Faith laughed as she saw Nathan close his eyes. She scooped the ice cream into two bowls placing them on the counter. And then poured two glasses of water.
" I'm ready." Nathan laughed as he heard Faith sit next to him.
"Open your eyes. I hope you like my choice." Faith laughed as she watched Nathan.
"Yum! I get all three flavors." Nathan smiled at Faith as he took the first bite of his ice cream.
"I couldn't decide. So I decided we can try all three together." Faith took a bite of the strawberry ice cream from her bowl.
" Have you had any luck finding money for your X-ray machine? Bill was telling me yesterday you would like one for the clinic." Nathan asked as his voice became more serious.
"No, and I need one. I need to be able to help my patients here. The longer my patients go without proper care. The more serious their condition will become." Faith sighed in frustration.
"Is Bill's condition that bad?" Nathan asked worried for his friend.
"I can't give specifics on his health. But it is serious. The X-Ray would help me to come up with an appropriate plan of care for him." Faith took a drink of her water.
"I'm sorry. What will you do now?" Nathan asked as he took the last bite of ice cream.
"Tomorrow I will be going to Hamilton. I still have a few contacts at the hospital. After that, I'm not sure. Right now I am just trying anything I can think of." Faith said frustrated.
"You are leaving. For how long?" Nathan turned looking directly at Faith.
"It could be as long as a week. I need to figure out what to do next. We should get going. I need to leave early tomorrow. The stagecoach is coming at 7 am." Faith got up from her chair. She picked up the paper bowls throwing them in the garbage.
"That is early. Here are the glasses." Nathan followed Faith behind the counter handing her the glasses.
"Yes, it is. I am already packed. So I just need to get some sleep." Faith walked to the front door.
"Would you like me to walk you home tonight? It's 10 pm now and dark outside." Nathan asked as he walked outside.
"I will be ok. It is not that far. Could you do me a favor and give Ned or Flo the pharmacy keys tomorrow?" Faith asked as she walked down the stairs to the street.
"You are giving me the keys to the ice cream?" Nathan laughed. "Please wait here a minute. I will be right back." Nathan left quickly walking to the jail.
A few minutes later Nathan returned carrying two lit candles. "I know you said you can walk home by yourself. But I would feel better if I know you got home safe. Let's compromise and I will walk you to the end of the road. I know your row house is the third house.
"Thank you. I appreciate you walking me home." Faith said a few minutes later as they walked in front of her house.
"Your welcome. Thank you for asking for my help tonight. Ice cream is a great diversion." Nathan smiled at Faith.
"I had fun. It helped me relax after a stressful day. Thank you. Good night." Faith turned and walked into the row house that she and Fiona shared.
The next morning Faith was up by 5:30 am. She made herself eggs and toast with a cup of coffee. As she ate her breakfast she worked on the word puzzle in the Valley Voice.
"Good Morning," Fiona said as she raced down the stairs at 6:15 am.
"Cutting it close. I'm leaving here at 6:30 am." Faith smiled as Fiona sat down at the table to put on her shoes.
"You have always seen me off on every trip. I wanted to do the same for you. " Fiona said as she tied her shoes.
"Thank you. You are a great friend." Faith said as she got up placing her dishes in the bucket.
A few minutes later Faith and Fiona left the house walking to the center of Hope Valley.
"The sunrise is so beautiful." Faith said as she looked up at the sky.
"So, you got home late last night?" Fiona asked curiously.
"Yeah. I worked late. Then Nathan and I had ice cream in the pharmacy." Faith said smiling.
"What? Why didn't you wake me up? That explains your happy mood this morning." Fiona laughed.
"It was nice. But we are just friends." Faith said as they turned onto the main road into downtown Hope Valley.
"You have had a crush on him for a long time." Fiona said as they arrived in town.
"He likes Mei. And I'm not sure if I am ready to date anyone right now." Faith said as she saw Nathan standing in front of the Mountie station.
"They are not dating. Please just don't shut yourself off if the chance for love comes again." Fiona said as she saw Faith looking at Nathan.
" I promise." Faith said as they arrived at the waiting area for the stagecoach.
"Good." Fiona smiled as she saw Nathan walking toward them.
Faith handed the stagecoach driver her luggage. "Please say a prayer for me." Faith turned giving Fiona a hug.
"Faith, can I have a minute?" Nathan asked as he walked up to the stagecoach.
"Sure, but I am just about to leave." Faith said as she turned towards Nathan.
"I will say goodbye." Fiona smirked patting Faith on the shoulder before she walked away.
"Hey." Faith blushed looking at Nathan feeling nervous after Fiona's farewell.
"I… um.. wanted to say goodbye and wish you good luck." Nathan said nervously.
"I'm glad you came." Faith said as she saw the stagecoach driver motion it was time to board.
"Here. Let me help you inside." Nathan held out his hand to Faith helping her into the carriage. He gave her hand a small squeeze before letting her hand go to shut the door.
"Thank you." Faith said as she smiled at Nathan.
"I have something to give you. I wish I could have done more." Nathan handed her an envelope. He stood there watching as the stagecoach pulled away.