Chapter 6: Tale of Two Histories
"Bill…" Molly chirped from the other side of the table eagerly. "Bill!" Bill looked up both startled and irritated. "What?" he asked, his mind returning from wherever it had been. "What did you say Molly?" Molly eyed his with annoyance. "Really Bill?" she sighed. "You're having breakfast with me. At least pretend to be interested!" Bill straightened up and shook his head, disgruntled. "I'm sorry" he muttered. "It's this whole mining case that has me in knots." Molly's eyes widened. "Really?" She leaned in closer. "Tell me more!" Bill eyed her suspiciously, but rolled his eyes and gave in. "Look" he said, motioning his hand across the table. "The mine is old and dilapidated now, but there is still solid evidence in there that the conditions before the explosion weren't safe. Now, if Henry Gowen had been the overseer that he was supposed to be back in the day, the evidence would be staring me right in the face. Unfortunately, he cooked the books and left me with nothing. I'm beginning to wonder though if he or anyone else may have separate copies stashed away somewhere." Molly nodded, a little disappointed that Bill's thoughts were not more interesting. "Why don't you ask Henry?" she remarked. "Maybe he would know?" Bill shook his head. "Henry is never straight with me" he muttered. "I need to find somebody new. Someone who I have no history with. Someone who can share the truth without any sort of bias!" Molly sighed. "Well, good luck with that!" she murmured glumly before perking up. "Are you coming to the Yost's for dinner tomorrow night?" she asked. "I already told Florence that you would be there." Bill looked exasperated. "Molly!' he cried in annoyance. "I have… things I need to do!" He eyed her hopeful glance, then caved. "Fine" he resigned himself. "What time?" Molly smiled eagerly. "Don't you worry about that" she said mysteriously. 'I'll come and find you in your office."
Nathan found that his rounds were not so difficult or tedious anymore. There was always the hope of possibly seeing Dani at the end of each day. Some days, she would wait for him at the gate and would bring him food or water, or whatever he might need. Somedays, he would stop, and they would talk about anything and everything. He liked talking to Dani. She had an easy, peaceful way about her that made him feel comfortable. Her eyes were always so soft and kind. He was excited to see her waiting for him today. Her wavy brown hair and blue skirt blew lightly in the wind as she leaned playfully over the front gate. "How were rounds today?" she called, her tanned face lighted by a smile. Nathan slowed Newton to a halt and laughed. "Not much to report today" he said. "Although I did help rescue a pig. I guess that was pretty exciting." Dani laughed and grabbed a hold of Newton's reigns as Nathan dismounted. "Come and rest for a while" she invited him. "I made popovers for the first time today, and I'm not going to lie, but I'm pretty proud of them." Nathan smiled and followed her through the gate. "I can smell them from here" he sighed, taking in a deep breath. Dani disappeared into the little house and returned, proudly baring a tray of light, fluffy popovers. "Beginner's luck, I must say" she laughed modestly as she set them down beside Nathan, along with a pat of butter. Nathan smiled at the welcome sight. "These look wonderful" he said, his eyes sparkling. Dani sat down on the stoop near him. "Help yourself" she offered generously. "That's more than I can eat on my own."
The two of them made short work of the popovers between them. Their little meal was accompanied by light and lively conversation. Anyone within a hundred yards would have picked up on frequent peels of laughter as they two of them exchanged stories. Finally, as Nathan laid down the butter knife for the final time, Dani sat back against her elbows with a sigh and raised her eyes to the clouds above. "I love this place" she breathed contentedly. "It's always so beautiful. So quiet…" Nathan nodded, looking out over the fields and the shimmering water with the same sentiments. "Yes" he agreed. "It's a good place to settle down." He eyed her thoughtfully for a moment. "Dani…" he ventured, a little cautiously. "You don't mind my asking…How someone like you came to be living here, alone? Don't you have any family?" Dani's eyes became thoughtful, and she smiled distantly. "No Nathan, I don't mind" she said softly. "When I was very young, there was a smallpox epidemic in the town where my family lived." She pulled back her sleeve to show Nathan several small scars on her wrist. "We all caught it, and I was sick for long time. When I finally recovered, they told me that both of my parents were dead and had already been buried." Nathan's eyes widened with sympathy. She went on. "My brother, Carter and I didn't stay there long. We made our own way, and he looked after me and provided for me. When I was eighteen, he enlisted in the Royal Canadian Army as a signaler." She sighed heavily at the memory and shook her head, a little sadly. "There was a base up North. I wasn't allowed to go with him. Six months later, I got a letter telling me that he had been ambushed while delivering a message. I still don't know where he's buried exactly." Nathan leaned forward and eyed her compassionately. "Dani…" he breathed. "I'm so sorry. I can't imagine…" Dani shook her head and smiled peacefully. "No, it's alright" she murmured. "I lost my family, but I never had to watch them suffer. That made the pain easier to bear. After Carter passed, I made my own way for a while until I saved up enough money to buy this place. After going through the world with no place in it that I could call my own, I knew I wanted to build a life for myself here." She stared thoughtfully ahead before looking up quickly. "What about you?" she asked suddenly. "I've told you my history. Care to share yours Constable?" Nathan shook his head. "I doubt you'd want to hear it" he dodged, reddening. She gave him a sideways glance and jabbed him with her elbow playfully. "Well, that's not fair!" she joked. "I shared, now it's your turn."
Nathan smiled ruefully. "My dad, he… He was a gambler. He pawned almost everything we had, and even stole to pay off his depts. He went to prison a few times. My mom tried to be strong, but… Dad's habit; it really weighed on her. She would tell me everything that was troubling her. It was her only way of coping, I guess. The hardest part was that I couldn't help her, even though I tried. My older sister Colleen left home as soon as she was old enough. We kept in close contact until she met and married her husband." Nathan shook his head regretfully. "I never liked Dillon" he admitted. "He drank and gambled like my father. He and Colleen moved up North and for a while I didn't hear anything from either of them until my sister reached out and told me that she was sick." He swallowed grimly as the memory flashed through his mind. "My mom and I were there when she died" he murmured. "Dillon was beside himself. He and I never got along, but he couldn't bear to lose Colleen. But as soon as he knew she was gone, he just… left. He wasn't there to comfort his four-year-old daughter. He wasn't even there to sign the death certificate." Dani looked up gently into Nathan's troubled face. "Then who did?" she asked sadly. Nathan set his jaw tightly at the memory. "I did" he murmured. "I was so disappointed in him. He should never have left his own child. That was the first time that Allie felt like my own. I held her so tight that night. I didn't want her to feel abandoned or alone." Dani shook her head slowly. "The world can be a cruel place, with cruel people in it" she said quietly. "It can really shake your faith in humanity when so many of those closest to you let you down." Nathan nodded. "Yes…" he agreed. "It can be hard to trust other people sometimes. Dani…" He asked suddenly. "How were you able to put your past behind you? I can tell you're at peace with it, and I'd like to be too, if I can." Dani looked up at the sky as its color began to change from blue to pink and smiled. "You know Nathan" she observed thoughtfully. "I've always found healing in nature. We're surrounded by so much beauty. It can clear the head and help us to see that there is a higher plan." She eyed him merrily. "Next time you stop, I'll take you down by the lake. It's my favorite place to walk and think." Nathan smiled brightly. "That'd be nice" he said gratefully. "Thank you." Dani gave him a sweet smile before turning back toward the road. "Whatever happened to your niece, Allie?" she asked, a little cautiously. Nathan's eyes followed hers upward as he smiled to himself at the thought of his little girl. "She's going on fourteen now" he said proudly. "I officially adopted her this past fall." Dani looked at him in surprise and excitement. "Really?" she said, deeply impressed. "Do you think she would enjoy a walk by the lake as well?" Nathan was surprised by the offer, but also delighted. "Yes… Absolutely" he stumbled excited. "I know she would." Dani straightened up cheerfully. "Then you have to promise to bring her with you" she ordered, "the next time you plan to stop. I would love to meet her."
Nathan couldn't help smiling to himself as he rode through town that night towards the livery. The day always felt brighter and more cheerful whenever he got the chance to speak with Dani. Her invitation was also on his mind. He knew Allie would be share his excitement as soon as he told her about it. It didn't take long for him to unsaddle Newton and brush him down after the long day. "We had a pretty good day, didn't we buddy?" he said cheerful as he ran the bristled brush through Newton's black mane. Newton's only response was a snort as he calmly continued to chew his cud. Nathan put the brush down and patted the horse's neck. "I'd say you're getting pretty fond of Dani's place too, aren't you?" Suddenly, the crack of a gunshot sounded loudly from the direction of the square, startling Nathan. He rushed from the livery to see what had happened. The townsfolk were gathering quickly on the sides of the street to see what had happened. Lee and Rosemary emerged from Coulter Enterprises and looked worriedly in the same direction. Lee saw Nathan heading in the direction of the sound and hurried down the stairs to join him. "What's going on Nathan?" he asked breathlessly, trying to keep up with the tall Mountie's strides. "I don't know" Nathan muttered angrily, his jaw clenched. "But I'm about to find out." The gun shot, of course, had come from the darkened saloon building. The door, however, was still locked when Lee tried it. "Step aside Lee" Nathan ordered as he prepared to break down the door himself. Lee watched tensely but was relieved when the door was opened by Wyman Walden, whose face peeped out through one of the cracks. "Good evening Constable" he said, trying to appear calm. Nathan didn't wait for an explanation, but pushed his way into the darkened saloon, closely followed by Lee. At the back of the dark exterior, which was now completely cleared of tables and chairs, he spied the dark forms of Julius Spurlock and his goons. "Spurlock!" he raised his voice angrily. "What's going on here?!" Spurlock's low laugh sounded from the other side of the room. "I might ask the same thing" he fired back. "What right do you have to break into private property?" "He means the gunshot Spurlock!" Lee shout feistily. Spurlock grumbled in annoyance. "So, every time we fire a shot, you're going to show up, is that it?" he asked sarcastically. Nathan's eyes narrowed. "And what if one day, you finally hit somebody with that thing?" he asked. "Should I just wait until then to reprimand you? This is a town, full of people. Someone's going to get hurt!" Spurlock straightened up to his full height and took a few steps closer. "Leave now, or I'll use it on you!" he snapped. Lee took a step forward angrily. "Are you threatening a Mountie?" he asked incredulously. "Because I wouldn't try that if I were you!" Spurlock cocked his head to one side with a sneer. "At the end of the day, who are the authorities going to stand with?" he asked. "The Pinkerton who's just doing his job, or the man who's intruding on private property? I'll take my chances, but I don't know if you should." Lee was about to remind him angrily of how he had nearly injured Rosemary when Nathan caught him by the arm. "Come on Lee" he whispered. "We need to do what he says." Reluctantly the two of them walked out the door which Walden was holding open, and which he shut as soon as they would out in the street again. "What was that all about?" Lee fumed. "It they keep firing shots like that…" Nathan shook his head, frustrated. "I don't know" he muttered. "But something is going on behind those closed doors. I need to find out what." Just then Rosemary rushed over the Lee and threw her arms around him. "Lee!" she cried. "I was so worried when you went inside! What happened? Was someone shot?" Lee hugged his wife but looked slightly embarrassed in front of Nathan as she showered him with hugs and kisses. "We're fine Rosie" he reassured her. "No one was hurt." He eyed Nathan apologetically, who smiled and proceeded to scan the crowd to make sure everyone was alright.
By the darkened infirmary, he spied Faith, her face pale in the dwindling light of the day. Frightened, she motioned him forward. "Excuse me" he said, patting Lee on the shoulder distractedly as he walked towards Faith. Her face was completely drained of color as he approached. "Faith" he said, slightly concerned. "Is everything alright?" She glanced around anxiously before answering in a low voice. "Was anyone hurt?" Nathan looked around, confused. "No…" he observed. "Everyone's fine. Is something wrong?" Faith's eyes were big as she looked up at him, her hands trembling. "Nathan, I don't know if I can do this" she breathed fearfully. "When I heard that gunshot…" Nathan shook his head. "Don't worry Faith" he murmured soothingly. "No body was injured." Faith shook her head frantically. "You don't understand" she said, her voice trembling. "What if they had been? Nathan, I've never had to handle a serious medical emergency on my own. Carson was always here to guide me. Now? Nathan, I'm afraid to try it on my own!" Nathan nodded, finally understanding her fear. "Listen Faith" he said seriously. "At some point, you are going to be forced to face that fear. But the truth is, you've already faced it on your own before. Bill told me about that big mudslide a few years back. He said there were a lot of injuries. But you handled all of them yourself. Carson wasn't here then." Faith shrugged doubtfully. "That was before I was a doctor" she murmured. Nathan shook his head. "What difference does a fancy title before your name make?" he asked. "The town couldn't be in better hands Faith. I believe that." Faith nodded doubtfully but managed a smile. "Thank you, Nathan" she whispered gratefully. "You always seem to know what to say." As Nathan walked away back in the direction of the livery, Faith followed him with her eyes. Every day, the Mountie continued to surprise her. There was something reassuring about him that made her glad she could count on his friendship. Whatever the future of her medical career could hold, she remembered what he had told her several months back. "I'll be right here. I'm not going anywhere." Thank goodness he wasn't.
The Mountie office was dark when Nathan finally made his way in to write an incident report and lock up for the evening. He was surprised to find Bill and Ned pouring over a sheet of paper together at his desk. "Am I interrupting something?" he asked, standing awkwardly in the doorway. When neither answered, he shrugged and let himself in, shutting the door behind him. "Okay then…" It was the rattling of the keys that made Ned aware of Nathan's presence. "Oh hi Nathan!" he piped up cheerily. "Everything in good order tonight?" Nathan frowned, still confused and grabbed the clipboard from the wall. "Well, not exactly, but…" he eyed the two of them, bewildered. "I might asked you the same thing." Ned smiled eagerly. "Bill and I are going over a list of the mining company employees who used to work here before the mine explosion" he explained. Bill gave him a withering look to keep quiet, but Ned continued without the least bit of notice. "Florence and I are having a dinner party tomorrow night" he said excitedly. "We were hoping you and Allie could join us!" Nathan was a little surprised. No one had ever invited he and Allie to anything like that before. When he hesitated to answer, Bill jabbed Ned with his elbow sarcastically. "You see?" he said. "He doesn't want to go either." Nathan couldn't help be smile. "Sure Ned" he said, resolvedly. "We'd love to. Thank you."