The next day around noon:
I sat writing with the pen Michaela was letting me borrow while I was trying to write but like always, I seemed to be having writers block, just then there was a knock on the door I looked up with a smile only to have it fade away when I saw that it was Hank standing there with a picnic basket. "Hello, Hank do you need something?" I ask smiling politely.
"Well, I was wondering Ms. Maria if you would like to have lunch with me?" Hank asked raising the picnic basket while smiling.
"Well I am sorry to inform you but I am having lunch with Matthew today Hank in fact if you will excuse me, I need to go pick up our basket from Grace," I stated as I stood and went to move beyond him.
"Matthew ha he ain't the boy for you girly and you know it," Hank said grabbing my wrist tightly as I went to walk past.
"That's for me to decide Hank now let me go you are hurting me," I said trying to pull away but his grip tightened on my wrist. "Hank seriously let me go your hurting my wrist!" I shouted trying to pull away.
"You know what Maria I've finally figured you out you're a tease even though you play like your innocent you not I bet if I kissed you right now, you'd enjoy it wouldn't you!" He snapped leaning in toward my face I tried to pull away but his grip on my arm made it where I couldn't move, I felt his breath on my lips and my eyes started to water.
"Please Hank stop." I sobbed out and then suddenly he was gone and my eyes beheld the familiar face of Matthew, I fell to the ground and began to sob.
"Sully will you take Maria back into Dr. Mike while I take Hank to the jail to cool off for the rest of the day." Matthew snapped as he yanked Hank off the ground.
"Yeah Matthew goes but you should probably hurry back," Sully said helping me to stand, Matthew said something I didn't quite catch and then he was gone. "Michaela!" Sully shouted the moment we entered the clinic causing her to come running the stairs.
"Sully, what's wrong? Maria! What happened to you?" Dr. Mikes eyes widened when she saw me crying and holding my wrist.
"Hank came to ask me to lunch, and he got angry and grabbed my wrist when I told him I had plans to have lunch with Matthew and then he called me a tease as his grip got tighter and I told him he was hurting me and then he got really close like he was going to kiss me and, and oh Michaela I was so scared!" I sobbed holding my wrist.
"I know sweetheart I know," she said pulling me in for a hug and stroking my hair, after a few minutes she pulled away, "Alright now let me see your wrist." I showed her my wrist, I winced when she moved it around, "Well it's bruised pretty bad I'm going to have to wrap it and you won't be able to use it for at least a week."
I smiled and chuckled as she began to wrap it, "Guess it was a good thing it was not my writing hand huh."
"This ain't no laughing matter Maria he could have seriously hurt you," Sully said as he walked up to me putting his hand on my shoulder. I placed my hand on his and smiled.
"I know Sully but if I do not try and laugh then I will probably break down crying again, also I want to say I'm sorry to you, I should have listened to you when you told me not to get involved with Hank, I see now what you meant I glad you and Matthew showed up when you did."
"Well Hank's in a cell, for now, I'll have to release him tomorrow unless you want to press charges, Maria, then I can call for a judge," Matthew said as he walked back into the clinic.
"No, I do not wish to press charges. I just want to put this whole day behind me, to be honest," I say standing and walking over to him. "Honestly I was hoping we could still have lunch together it does not have to be a picnic." When he went to say something about Hank, I placed my hand on his arm, "Please Matthew you promised to have lunch with me today and that's all I want ok?"
"Ok, Maria let's go have lunch." Matthew walks me over to Graces silently but I am ok with that I sure he's dying to try and get to press charges.
"Well hello, ya'll! Marian honey whatever happened to your hand?" Graces ask as she greets us.
"I had a problem with Hank but no worries it is ok now," I say waving my good hand around like it's no big deal.
"Alright then so what will you two have today?" Graces ask eyeing me skeptically.
"I'll have the meatloaf and garlic mash potatoes Grace and you Maria," Matthew says smiling at me
"That sounds delicious I will have the same Ms. Grace," I say smiling.
"Alrighty, then and Maria honey you can call me Grace." I smile and nod.
We sat for few in uncomfortable silence until I can no longer stand it. "Would you mind telling me what is wrong Matthew?"
"It's just that I don't agree with your choice what if something happens again and the next time Hank hurts you worse than he already has Maria?"
"Then I will press charges but for now I think a day in jail will do him some good." I snap just then Grace brings us our plates.
"Enjoy ya'll," She says with a smile before heading off to another table.
"Look, Maria, I understand that I can't force you to press charges but what if next time he breaks your wrist?" Matthew asks before taking a bite.
"Listen here Matthew I understand you are looking out for me because I am someone Michaela considers family and because I am visiting your town Sheriff but that's all that I am doing visiting what good is getting a man locked up if he can no longer hurt me in a few weeks to a month anyway?" I say stabbing my meatloaf.
"Maria I am not looking out for you just cause it's my job or cause of Dr. Mike I like you in my own way I thought maybe we could be friends but if we can't that's fine too." He snapped slightly glaring. I sigh and reach over with my bad hand and place it on his.
"I would like to be friends with you while I am here as well." I say smiling "And I apologize for my rude behavior but I really see no reason to press charges against Hank."
Matthew sighs and tries to hold my hand but it causes me to wince, "Sorry about that and I understand but if he hurts you again, I won't be so lenient on him alright."
"Alright." We eat the rest of our meal in silence my hand resting in his. After lunch we take a walk around town talking, I tell him about my mother and what she meant to me he tells me about his and all she meant to him. By the end of the walk, I feel like I have known Matthew all my life.
"Sheriff! Matthew, you best get back to the jail Jake wants to see ya." An elder African American man yells as he comes running up to us.
"Alright Robert E. thank you for letting me know," Matthew said as he took off for the jail Robert E. and I followed close behind.
"Matthew, what is Hank doing in jail?" A tall man with slightly long brown hair standing on the porch to the jail snapped the moment he saw Matthew.
"He assaulted a lady so I put him in there to cool down Jake," Matthew said stepping up to face the man.
"What woman?" Jake asked in disbelief causing me to get mad.
"Me sir Mayor that's who all because I told him I was going to have lunch with the Sheriff today he called me a tease then he grabbed my wrist so hard he bruised it then he tried to kiss me without my permission if not for the Sheriff and Sully who knows what else he might have done." I snap holding my bandaged wrist up for everyone to see.
"Well, you can't hold him in there unless she presses charges Matthew so I want him out!" Jake snapped.
"Actually, you'll find I can Jake I can hold him for twenty-four hours if no charges are filed by then, then he's a free man.". Matthew snapped storming into the jail.
I sighed as everyone dispersed except for Jake "I am sorry Mayor it was not my intention to get anyone arrested but Matthew is right even though I have already told him I'm not pressing charges he has the right to hold him until tomorrow in case I change my mind."
"Look here miss you might not have wanted to start trouble but ya have and I won't deal with that in my town so watch your step or I'll boot you right back on that train understand." Was all he said well snapped before walking away. I looked down at the ground for a moment before turning and heading back to the clinic, I defiantly did not have a good first couple of days in Colloredo Springs.
Next chapter Hanks "Apology"