(Chapter Six)
A Long Day
It was a warm and cheerful morning when Jesse flew into the infirmary.
"Jesse, what seems to be the trouble?" Carson greeted him.
"There's been an accident at the mill," he hurriedly panted.
"I'll grab my bag," Carson said as he hurried toward his black bag.
"Would you like me to come along?" Faith offered.
"If you wouldn't mind," Carson acknowledged her attempt to help.
"Of course." She smiled, picked up her light shawl, and they set off.
After the long day of labor was over, they walked back to the infirmary. They walked in silence for a while until Carson broke it.
"So, I was thinking," he began.
Faith waited for him to continue.
"It's been a long and busy day, and I was . . . well, I was wondering if . . . well . . . if you would maybe – Faith," he stopped walking and she was surprised.
"Yes?" she replied in a soft voice.
"Would you go on a picnic with me?"
"Oh – of course!" she responded a bit too fast. She hoped he did not notice.
"Good," he said as he let out a heavy sigh.
"Something been bothering you?" Faith asked in concern.
"Ah, it's nothing."
"Are you sure?" She asked again.
He let out another sigh, and then began to speak.
"It's just I – I was – worried you would say no," he stumbled.
"Me?" she was shocked. He nodded. "I would never say no," she said and then wished she hadn't.
"Fewf, that's a relief," he said and they both chuckled softly.
"So, when were you planning to go on this picnic?" Faith asked him at length.
"When would you like to go?" Carson countered.
"Anytime you'd like to go."
"How's Thursday?" he asked.
"Sounds great," she replied.
"Perfect!"
"Thursday – what time?" Faith wondered out loud.
"How about we leave work early – maybe 3?"
"Leave?" she sounded shocked, wondering where they would go.
He chuckled softly. "Yes, leave."
"Where are we going?"
"Maybe to the pond, or just the middle of nowhere. We could go to the forest, or maybe on a boat where no one could find us." By the time he had finished his speech, he was quite excited.
"Oh, I see," she said, a bit hesitant as to where the middle of nowhere would be.
"Are you okay with that?" he asked, concern showing in his eyes.
"Oh yes!" she replied almost before he had finished speaking. She did not want Carson to change his mind about taking her out.
"Well it appears I'm not the only one who is excited," he said as calmly as he possibly could without driving Faith completely mad.
"I'm sorry," she said, her voice shaky.
"Don't be. I'm excited beyond what words can explain."
"Oh, Carson!" she almost squealed.
"Faith," he paused, grasping for the right words. "I'm really glad you said yes."
Faith let out her breath in relief. She thought something might have been troubling him more than he told her. "So am I . . . so am I."
They smiled at each other and continued walking.
When they reached the infirmary, Carson asked in his gentlemanly manor, "Would you mind if I walked you home?"
"No, of course not," Faith responded as she remembered how Ray Wyatt had once shown an interest, yet had made ungentlemanly advances toward her. Faith recalled how Carson, at the time a stranger, rescued her by telling Wyatt that he would be walking Faith home and not himself. She almost felt as though this was that long ago promised walk. No, she would not mind at all.