Elizabeth's Journal Entry:
"It is said there is a time for everything, and right now in Hope Valley it's a time of uncertainty for many of us. I hope to open a library in town, Henry Gowen hopes to strike oil, and some of my friends are hoping for something they've yet to put into words. Life isn't always easy or fair, but the time for answers will eventually come to us all. As for the new young woman in town, everyone considers her altogether a mystery. She gave little to no information about herself when Rosemary and I visited her in the infirmary. Rosemary is confident and has a good feeling about her, but I can't help but wonder if her story and mine are destined to clash in a very big way. I can't explain it, but I am not going to dwell too much on the unknown and focus on loving my son, loving my students, and loving the potential
possibilities of a new chapter. I miss you Jack."
Elizabeth is grateful for the new announcement board in Yost's mercantile. The tiny slip of paper with bold script saying "Space Needed For Library," will pin perfectly in the center. Her best friend, Rosemary, had mentioned that people would like a library, but don't want to pay for one, and Elizabeth could not stop the disappointment in her heart by hearing it.
"Congratulations." Elizabeth pivots towards the sound behind her.
"Excuse me?" She asks.
"On the library." Mr. Lucas Bouchard points to the advertisement, and her face drops.
"Not yet."
"Oh."
"I just figured if I found a space then the town council would have a more concrete estimate of the cost." Elizabeth cannot help but notice a glimmer in the man's coffee-colored eyes. She wonders half the time if he might fancy her, but she is not ready for anything to involve beyond the role of friend or acquaintance. The school teacher does not deny his being attractive though.
"Perhaps there is an element of positive thinking going on there as well."
Elizabeth nods once, "Perhaps." The saloon owner is very observant, and she is certain he can read how close he was to the mark. She had never been good at hiding her thoughts from those sorts of people. Jack was one of them. A gnawing ache settles over her shoulders. Elizabeth is weary from all the responsibility of life, but she could ask for nothing else.
"As a gambler, I live and die on that," Lucas continues.
"And as a teacher I hope my students never have to." Elizabeth squints her eyes ever slightly before she walks past him.
"Well, good luck," Lucas buries his fingers deep into his pockets and his manner is sincere. Elizabeth has only to realize how much integrity he is capable of. "Every town needs a library," he finishes.
Elizabeth shows her teeth, "I couldn't agree more. Good day to you, Mr. Bouchard."
"Please, it's Lucas."
Little does the school teacher know, Lucas Bouchard smiles as she turns out the door, and travels into the street. A sensation of peace washes over him, and the fond memory of this woman, this mystery, would be engraved in his mind the rest of eternity.
*
As many times as I have heard this conversation between Rosemary and Carson before, it is still painful to listen to it. On the other side of the privacy screen, I can make out the edges of two figures, but snap my eyes closed when Faith moves about the room. She doesn't need to know I like to eavesdrop.
"Everything checks out. Your heart, lungs, and pulse," I can just imagine the pencil in Carson's hand as he allows the patient to look at the information on his clipboard, "You are in perfect health."
"Are you sure?" Everyone can sense the disappointment in her voice.
"Usually people think this is good news, Rosemary."
"It's just..." she hesitates, "Something's not quite right."
"How are you sleeping?" Carson asks. "I know living next door to a newborn can be noisy."
Rosemary shakes her head. "No. Jack is nothing but a joy," a soulless laugh escapes her lips, "It's Lee's snoring that's keeping me awake."
"Have you talked to Lee about your feeling that something's not right?" The silence is heavy as I know she has not spoken to her husband.
"No." She finally answers with a gulp. I appreciate Carson's tactfulness in these situations. He suites the role of doctor in every way.
"Well then, what I recommend is a healthy dose of communication." He says.
"Communication won't change what's wrong."
"No, but it might lessen the pain." Three more moments of silence ensue before he continues. "That's my recommendation as your physician and your friend."
The footsteps I account leaving the infirmary are the most excitement I have had for two days. My eyelashes are all crusted together and they greet the late morning. I try to lift my body from the mattress, but I am still a little weary. I expect I won't feel completely myself for a few weeks yet.
"Nyrah, are you alright?" Faith offers a chipper, yet concerned greeting my way, and rushes to my side as I refuse to sit back on my bed.
"I'm fine." I say.
"You need to rest."
"I'm bored." I lift an eyebrow at her and she looks down, bashful all of a sudden.
"I'm sorry, it's just that Dr. Shepard and I have been quite busy." Faith's palm rests against my arm and her other soothes my back.
"Trust me, I don't mind." The floorboards are cold today and my toes pop from lack of use. "I'm just giving you a hard time. Would it be too much to walk back and forth in here for a while? I desperately need to do something active."
"Yes, but only for a few minutes. Do you need any help?"
"No, I think I'm good. Thanks." With that, I escape her grasp and begin to pace about the room at a sloths speed. With nothing else to occupy my thoughts, I read the eye-chart in the corner. The bold lines are clear and clean, easy for me to see. My arms hold me up as I grab onto the backrest of the desk chair, the biceps I have are limp noodles. A memory swallows the air in my lungs. Home. I miss home for some reason. I never have before. By this time of day, I would be pressing the nose to the grindstone at my job. I didn't have many dreams or desires left in my life when I started the position; it seemed that becoming a barista was all I was capable of. Don't get me wrong, I still consider brewing coffee to be a noble profession, but it isn't what I wanted. The struggle is to actually know what I do want. Those people who have everything figured out in life? I'm not one of them.
"I'll be right back, I need to speak to someone outside." Faith rushes out the door and leaves me alone in this tiny world. I almost miss bleeding to death over rotting in this wooden crate. I can't go for a jog, I can't order Thai noodles, and I can't even kill time on Facebook. This is a new low that shall go down in history. Maybe it will end up in one of those books in the library Lucas is going to gift Elizabeth. My stomach coils with discomfort at the thought, and my knees lock. I think I will rest more. The second my backside touches the mattress, a man in a red surge follows Faith Carter inside. While attempting to snuggle back into the covers, a yawn escapes my lips.
"Constable?" I wish he would smile more. What he is giving me now is only half of what a smile should be. Nathan removes his hat, and holds it with both hands in from of him. Also, the buttons on his surge are gleaming nicely today.
"I'm sorry to bother you, but I came here to see how your stitches are healing." When he says this, I recall the fresh bandage the nurse changed this morning.
"They will come out in two days." A lock of my short hair dangles too close to my eyes, so I curl it behind my ear, but the air begins to change to disarray in Faith's direction. "I wasn't asleep when you and Carson discussed it earlier." I explain to her.
She chortles, "Oh, I see."
"Is that the only reason you have come here Nathan, or do you still seek answers as to how I knew your name?" I appreciate directness, and I have a feeling he desires answers. What if he does a background check on me? He either won't find anyone named Nyrah Sutton, or he might, with my luck, find a deceased girl with the same name and age and think I stole her identity. I really need to stop overthinking things. Actually, it has crossed my mind that maybe I don't think through situations enough. My mind is a conundrum I don't even understand half the time.
"Well, I admit, I am curious about that. The people in town also find you to be quite mysterious." His head tilts to the left.
"Well, then I would say I have been successful in my deepest wish to be a puzzle no one can solve, or to be a puzzle slow to solve. I am fine with either." There is an itch on my leg I am dying to scratch, but I ignore the agony and remain engaged in the conversation. Hands in my lap, I gaze deep into Nathan's aqua eyes. They remind me of cracked marbles that reflect light at all angles. I know I should not say it, but I feel I have already lost my head. "How is..." I swallow the words. I was going to ask him how Allie is doing, but I realize he could see that as a direct threat to her safety. I AM a stranger after all.
"What?" He questions with surprise.
"Nevermind, it isn't important." My voice quakes, and a tense hush then rains down upon the room. Nathan breaks the barrier with a head-shake.
"I should finish my round; I only came here to see how you are doing after what happened. When you are fully recovered I have a few questions to ask you." I nod, signaling he was free to go, and watch as he forgets where the doorhandle is as he backs towards the door. Leave it to Constable Grant to make the shortest sick bed visit in the course of humanity. He is sweet in his own way. I have always liked Nathan in the tv show, but I confess, I appreciated Lucas more at the time. Now that I am here with real people, I think I am too judgmental of the mounty. There is yet much I could educate myself with about him. Faith doesn't look at me when I smirk.
"Did you ask him to come in here?"
"Do you mind that I did?"
"No," I keep my sight towards the exit, "After all, you DID promise to keep my mind entertained." Thunder gallops into the valley, and my heart quickens like a chariot. Rain is my favorite weather, and now I am inside, never to enjoy it. I can imagine the conniving swirl of the clouds coiled in discussion as to whether they are going make the skies even more treacherous. Perhaps one of these days I will be able to walk out in the storm of crystal without fear of needing to be sensible for the sake of others. I plan on it.
"How about some checkers?" Faith announces, and I roll my eyes with exasperation.
Sorry if this one is more of what is already in the show, but I love these scenes for multiple reasons, and it helps me connect more with the desires of the characters in the show. I have never written a When Calls the Heart Fanfic before, so...New Chapter hopefully coming up soon! I also apologize for the short length of this chapter; I worked hard on it whenever I had time.. it has been a busy few weeks. Nyrah is a little bored, and I felt so bad for her. She is certainly one of a kind when it comes to what she is thinking. Thank you all so much for the comments on the first chapter. I was super excited about this idea, but I admit I was uncertain how to apply it. I have a general goal of what I would like to see happen, but if you have any ideas I would love to hear your comments. I take full liberty on whether I use them or not, but it would be super helpful in eliminating some writers block. I am specifically looking for cute little scenes you can think of between Lucas and Nyrah, as well as Nathan and Nyrah. And maybe one interesting scene with Nyrah, Lucas, Elizabeth, and Nathan together. I already have a scene planned for when Nyrah meets Allie. And I want her to also get close to little Jack. Thanks for the support all of you.