Chapter Thirteen
Faith, Love and Intervention
Spurlock finally woke up again. "How long have I been here Dr. Carter? I have work to do. I need to get going."
"Mr. Spurlock you've been here for two days…mostly sleeping but up and down some too. Your vitals are all good. I do think you're going to live.", Faith said lightheartedly. "You still have quite the goose egg on the side of your head though so I do want you to be careful with what you do for a while."
"Just call me Pete. How did I..?", he asked while looking down at the gown he was wearing. "Who did…? Oh never mind. I don't want to know.", he said in typical tough man fashion.
Faith chuckled, "Don't worry Mr. Spurlock…or Pete. The judge and the sheriff were the ones that helped you get undressed and helped you put you gown on. We won't talk about the rest but I do have your clean clothes on the table over there for when you are ready."
"Thank you Dr. Carter. I do believe I am ready to get dressed."
Faith moved his clean clothes to the bed then started drawing the curtain around him. Hesitating for a moment she said, "You can call me Faith."
"Thank you Faith. That is a beautiful name."
"Thank you." Faith blushed again which seemed to be commonplace since taking care of this man. "Please be very careful when you move around. I will be right here."
"I'll be ok", Mr. Tough Man Wounded Kitten replied then grabbed the side of the bed after getting a tad woozy.
Faith slung the curtain back in time to help steady him. Instinctively he put his arm around her shoulder for support then instinctively too she steadied him by pressing her side against him with her arm around his waist. If at that moment, the electricity she was feeling could be harnessed, she could light the room. There was no doubt about it. Again…she blushed at the thought and bit her bottom lip.
"Steady", she said sounding professional. "You got this."
He managed to finish getting dressed then came out from behind the curtain. Faith assessed he was aware of this surroundings plus his vitals were stable so he should be good to go.
"I do want you to stay here for about 15 minutes or so to make double sure you feel ok standing and sitting. Can I get you a cup of coffee? It's the best coffee in the world…and perhaps a blueberry muffin that Elizabeth made?"
"I would love a cup of coffee…and the muffin. Thank you for being so kind."
Faith pulled up a chair at the little table for him to sit, drink his coffee and eat his muffin.
After a bit, Pete got up to leave stating that he needed to go check on the prisoners and to help escort them to Cattletown for sentencing. He hesitated before leaving then turned to her and asked, "Can I buy you dinner tonight?"
Her heart beat quickened. "Pete…you are my patient. I am your doctor."
"When I walk out this door you won't be.", he retorted with a sly grin and a twinkle in his eyes.
"Hmmm. You are so right. Maybe we can talk about this some other time. I have to go get some supplies and I am late". She fibbed about being late but was scared to say yes. She needed to think about this a while.
"I understand. I need to get my job done too. Maybe we will see each other at another time…when our duties are done?"
"Perhaps we will," she said with a grin and a slight nod of her head.
"Wait a minute. Wait a minute," Faith said before he closed the door. Surprised, he turned to her with the expectation she was about to accept his invitation to dinner. She stepped over to him then smoothed down a rooster tail that had formed on the top of his head. "There. You're good to go now.", she said.
He smiled, nodded and shut the door while being totally perplexed by this woman.
She watched him walk out the door and down the walkway to the jail. His gait was steady and he seemed sure-footed. She on the other hand felt a little loopy-loo.
Back at Elizabeth's house, Julie had telephoned. "Hello Sis! I thought I'd call to see how you are doing. Did you have a good trip home?", Julie prodded.
Earlier back in Hamilton, Elizabeth had cut short her visit to her family. Julie noted that Elizabeth had been quieter than usual after seeing Nathan and Allie in town. She had tried to get Elizabeth to talk about her feelings knowing that Elizabeth had put an end to any romantic relationship with Lucas. For whatever elusive reasons, Lucas's character had quickly changed after that day on the bridge and the mock book signing. Who was he really, Julie had wondered. She could tell her sister was thinking the same thing. Julie also saw the longing and sadness on her face after she saw Nathan and Allie. Elizabeth was in a pickle and they needed to talk.
"Hi Julie! So good to hear from you and yes my trip home was just fine."
"Have you seen Lucas since you broke it off with him?"
"No and I'm glad. Hopefully we can at least be friends but I won't hold my breath for that. How are you Julie…and Mom and Dad of course? Jack really had fun with all of you."
"Well we are all fine but you are changing the subject. You can talk to me about anything. You know that right?"
"Yes I know Julie."
"Nathan and Allie? Have you seen or talked to them?"
"Well, yes actually. It's a long story but a synopsis is that there were some bad guys that snuck up on Nathan, beat him and tied him up. They also captured Allie but she escaped and came to town on Nathan's horse and got help. The whole ordeal was so nerve racking but the bad guys were captured so all is well now. Nathan had some cracked or broken ribs but other than that he seemed fine. I took care of Allie while Nathan, Bill and the new mountie, Cyrus, got the bad guys in the jail cell. Oh Julie there is just too much to tell about that situation. Maybe when you come and visit I will fill you in more." Elizabeth fell silent.
"Elizabeth…what is it?"
'Why aren't things ever clear Julie?"
"What do you mean? Are you talking about your love for Nathan and Allie."
Shocked that Julie used the word "love", Elizabeth was quiet then admittedly whispered "Yes." , then a pause. 'Why was I so blind but now I can see it so clearly. Where did that side of me come from Julie? I don't think I have always been that self-centered."
"That came from fear Elizabeth. Fear of a deep love verses a superficial attraction that can't hurt you so much. You know this. I suppose it is hard to take one's own advice when in the thick of things. You have to forgive yourself first. All you can do after that is try to make amends and let your true feelings be know and without a doubt, come what may."
"Easier said than done," Elizabeth came back with. "But you are right. I have not journaled in a long time. Maybe that will help me find my own forgiveness first."
"You need to let Nathan know how you feel once you know you have truly forgiven yourself. Don't dilly dally. You have to make an effort and if it falls flat just carry on. You're a strong woman and you know I'm always here for you."
"Waaaaaaa!" There was a shrieking cry from Jack. He had poked his eye with one of his toys and was whaling loudly.
"I've got to go Julie. Jack just poked himself in his eye with a toy."
"So I can hear", replied Julie. Click. Elizabeth had already quickly hung up.
Elizabeth scooped Jack up in her arms. Seeing his eye was quite red, she swiftly rushed him to the infirmary. From next door, Rosemary had heard Jack's shrieking and had bailed out of her house and was right behind Elizabeth. Fiona and Clara saw there was something amiss and they too were right behind Elizabeth, Jack, and Rosemary.
As they entered the infirmary, Abilene Jane had been just starting to leave.
"Oh my", Abilene exclaimed. "What is going on with that little one?"
"He poked himself in the eye with a toy and I just want Faith to take a look at him."
All four ladies huddled together intently watching as Faith checked out Little Jack while Elizabeth soothed him with soft words.
Faith confirmed that Jack was just fine and there was no damage to his eye. The ladies let out relieved sighs. Elizabeth grabbed him up and tightly held him as if he was going to run away and then she started to cry. Jack looked up at her with puzzled look. She tried not to cry but all the worry and stress of late came pouring out in a river of tears. Rosemary reached for Jack and he gladly went to her while turning around to sadly look at his crying mother.
Concerned, Rosemary said, "Elizabeth, Jack is ok. What else is it? Why are you crying my friend?"
"Oh it's everything. I can't even explain."
Abilene stepped closer to Elizabeth and put a hand on her shoulder to comfort her. "It is plain to see that you are hurting emotionally…even to me who does not know you very well."
"Life can be quite confusing," Faith said, thinking back to her unexpected attraction and feelings towards Pete Spurlock. "I had some confusion about my feelings a bit earlier too Elizabeth."
"Much of this is about Nathan isn't it?", Fiona asked Elizabeth.
"Yes it is. I'm a mess.", admitted Elizabeth then looking at Faith, she said, "What did you mean Faith when you said you had some confusion about your feelings? Was this about Carson?"
"In a way it was about Carson even though we both agreed to go our own ways. I had feelings for another man that I did not expect. It was Pete Spurlock. I felt guilty and embarrassed. "
"What? Spurlock!" Rosemary exclaimed.
"He is not a bad guy.", Faith defended. "You heard the real story Rosemary. He helped Nathan and they caught the bank robbers. But yes I had feelings for him although I may never see him again. OK now Elizabeth. You need to spill the beans too. What is going on in your head and heart?"
After the ladies quickly recouped their expressions post Faith's confession, they all turned toward Elizabeth for her answer. Little Jack was turning from one side to the other to see all the women. He had quit crying some time ago and now was intently watching the exchange of conversations.
Seeing the looks on all the women's faces with their brows raised and waiting for her reply, Elizabeth, suddenly without warning, started laughing. The women were taken aback and all looked at each other trying to figure out Elizabeth's unusual outburst. Was she having a meltdown, they wondered.
"OK?", Clara questioned, obviously puzzled.
"What is this…an intervention?", Elizabeth asked while still laughing.
They all started laughing too.
"Well by golly it sure seems that way," laughed Faith.
Fiona piped in saying, "OK…I'm just going to say it. Faith…it is ok for you to have feelings for another man. You and Carson let each other go in your hearts a long time ago. Love and being in love are two different things. Elizabeth…come what may, you need to tell Nathan how you feel and soon."
"Shall we vote on it?", joked Rosemary, the mayor's wife. "Let's make it official", she kidded.
They all raised their hands and Elizabeth helped little Jack raise his too.
"It's unanimous.", proclaimed Fiona.
"Here! Here!", they all proclaimed, grateful to see their friends smiling.
The weights then felt lifted. Thank goodness for caring friends.