Twirling a pencil between his fingers much the way he does a nickle, Lucas jots down the number of potatoes, as well as the amount of jars of sourkraut on the shelves. Gustave, in his deflated chef's hat, hums a French tune while raiding the stock of celery.
"William m'a dit qu'il y avait une femme ici pour vous voir." The chef announces.
"Merci, I'll be there in just a moment." Finallizing the count for carrots, Lucas pries himself away from the task and readjusts his tie. The Saloon is not overly busy, and he hopes that the woman wanting to see him is not another complaining customer. The last one sent a tantrum that The Queen Of Hearts ran out of steak, threatening to take their business elsewhere. It's just as well. Even in a contented town like Hope Valley, there are bound to be people who are impossible to please.
Lucas scans over the clusters of people. There is one stranger near the bar, adorned in black uniform; she wears a thick belt meant for carrying weapons, but the belt is empty. A shimmering crest of the scarab beetle glows between her shoulderblades. Chopped hair as golden as the whitest part of the sun, she surveys the corners and windows of the room, as if memorizing every exit. Lucas cannot read her; she brandishes a neutral expression and immaculate makeup.
"I recognize you," she states pointing her cold, jade eyes in Lucas's direction.
"I'm sorry, but if you are here to create threats, I'm afraid they won't be well received." He points his eyes, indicating her lethal posture.
She smirks, "I see why Nyrah has a crush on you. I'm not here to harm or make threats to anyone." Another swish of liquor vanishes from the bottom of the glass. "The name's Sol, and I'm here to see Miss Sutton. Figured you were the first person to inquire as to her whereabouts."
Lucas scratches his beard, realizing that Sol is the name of Nyrah's best friend. She had mentioned the fact casually, but when he had interest in Nyrah, it had been important to recall the tiny details. The question to ask is why Sol felt the need to say that Nyrah has a crush on him, and assume that he is the first person to talk to. "Give me one personal fact about her, and I might help you." He needs to be certain this woman is speaking the truth.
Sol crosses her arms. "I can give you a list." The woman tugs and adjusts her leather gloves further over her hands. "But let's cut corners and just say that her brother's name was Peter. There are not many people she divulges that to, but I happen to know you are one of them."
"What promotes you to believe that she-" the Saloon owner is cut off.
"Lucas?" A feminine voice chimes into the conversation, and Sol's ears are perked. She doesn't recall these people, a young raven-haired girl beside the gingered lady. Nyrah loved When Calls the Heart, but always said she could never live in Hope Valley. Sol is surprised to see that Jude told the truth; he was the avenue and means to steal the two best friends to another world, but their desires filled the rest. Auburn tresses flow in one snake of a braid over the lady's shoulder, a dark mole above the left side of her mouth.
"Ann?" Lucas notices her.
"Gold puppies! It has been far too long!" Bouchard allows "Ann" to embrace him in a vice. Sol snorts at the greeting while chocolate puppy eyes blink up at her. Tan complexion, and scrutinizing stare, the young girl puffs out her chest.
"What are you doing here?" Lucas scratches the back of his neck. Sol crosses her eyes and sticks out her tongue at the glaring child while the two adults reminisce.
"Well, Kendra and I needed a fresh start." The mood turns solumn. "Curtis left the two of us a substantial inheritance in his will."
"Ann, I'm so sorry for your loss." Lucas swallows. Curtis Black had been a memorable business partner in the past, before Lucas broke ties for personal reasons. The partnership quickly became competition, both of them eager to implement their clashing ideas for expansion.
Lucas turns to Sol briefly, wondering why the woman is so different than Nyrah described, before attempting to settle the knot on his chest.
The auburn, and her daughter are expressionless as flies. "Heart attacks happen." Sol notes the sudden shift in moods and expression, because as soon as the auburn lost a smile, she gained it back again in a flash.
"We are searching for a place to stay until I can get us settled."
"Allow me to make a phone call," Lucas answers.
"Lucas called," I tell Nathan for no reason. Maybe I want to get a reaction from him. He seems reluctant, but the flicker in his eyes speaks for him.
"What did he want?" He asks, hair now combed and fresh as a male nurse helped give him a sponge bath earlier as to not "submerge his injuries" or whatever.
"A past business associate and friend passed away, and his widow and daughter are in town looking for a temporary place to stay. He didn't want them to rest at the saloon and called in a favor. It would only be for about a week until they settle housing." I stab my finger again with a sewing needle, but the religious practice the past few days has come in handy as I practice precision with embroidery. This is to get practice for larger projects. I suck in a sharp breath. Nathan is lost in his thoughts, before gently pulling down my hand from puncturing the fabric again.
"Nyrah, we need to talk." He gages my reaction, and I stare at him softly.
"Where I come from, a 'we need to talk' is never good."
Nate chuckles, shifting himself to sitting up position. I wince every time he does it, but the twinge in his thigh and abdomen force him to be careful. "That depends on how you take what I'm about to tell you."
I can hear my heartbeat, and it is hopeful and terrified at the same time. He probably just wants to talk about the journal, so this reaction is senseless. Nate swallows. "I, um...while you were on the phone, I may have caught a glimpse of the little notebook open on your chair." My entire body is red with embarrassment, cheeks hot to the touch with sudden anger. "It was an accident!" He defends before I can react.
"You just cannot help yourself can you?" I grunt, removing my hand from his in an instant.
"Will you go on a picnic with me? You know...after everything here?"
"What?"
"Considering you love me so much, I might as well confess that it's mutual, or did I read it wrong?"
I scoff in disbelief. He just...I thought..."What about Elizabeth?" I manage to choke out like a hairball. My lungs tremble, unable to contain the stress and excitement boiling inside my chest.
"I was kind of hoping it would just be the two of us."
"No, I mean...I thought you had interest in her."
Nate draws in a wakeless breath. "I did have interest in her, but then I met you." Is this really Nate I'm talking to? In this moment, he doesn't seem unsure of himself. He is confident, bold, and...dare I say, affectionate? "I thought Fiona clued you in already."
"We really need to discuss everything you have read in that journal. You know everything about me now, and know nothing about you." Arms crossed, I listen to the sound of Gerald chuckling at our conversation, but I ignore it.
"Not until you answer my question." I am dizzy with euphoria, and heat rushes through the arteries in my heart.
I answer the call to my dream and say, "I would love to go on a picnic with you."
I can't believe I am back! It has been so long! I need to apologize to you all. For the shortness of the chapter as well as taking so long to update. My Depression has been so bad, so I have not had any motivation to keep writing. I wanted to, but if you are aware of what Depression is like. then you get what I mean.
I guess the big question now is why Lucas called her and didn't mention Sol...hehe...guess you will have to find out.
I don't know about you, but I am pumped for the next season of WCTH. I am particularly excited to meet Nathan's love interest. Something about writing a fanfic BEFORE a new love interest came along is that it becomes increasingly harder to see Nathan with anyone other than Nyrah. I am sure that I will love the new girl. It is just a feeling I never thought I would experience.
Love all of you so much. You give me the confidence to keep writing, so thank you.