Chapter 11 - When the Heart Stirs

Faith Carter was just getting ready to close up her office for the day, with the warm glow of the dying sun filtering through the curtains, when the bell above the door tinkled.

Molly was at the reception desk, a tiny affair situated just beside the entrance. She put on a smile and greeted the person in her usual professional manner.

"Hello! How may I help you?"

Faith was behind the examination curtain, so she couldn't see who had entered, but the voice that spoke was not familiar. This was not completely uncommon in Hope Valley these days, with all the hustle and bustle of people passing through or looking to relocate to the town's beautiful countryside. However the woman's voice caused Faith to raise an eyebrow. Unlike most people, who clung to the accent and cadence of the area, this voice was filled with sophistication and proper underpinning.

"Hello there. I'm sorry to come by so late - I don't have an appointment, but I was hoping that the doctor could see me."

Molly, ever the professional, was gracious, though a bit stern as she no doubt glanced at the round clock on the wall.

"That's quite alright," she said. "Though it is late, we still have ten minutes before we officially lock the doors. I'm sure Faith would be more than happy to see you. She's right around that corner, actually."

Faith brushed her hands against her white apron, composed herself, and stepped out from behind the curtain with a smile.

"The convenience of working in a small space!" she said. "Of course I'd be happy to see you, Miss…?"

She paused, taking in the full image of the mysterious woman that had arrived by carriage the day before. The woman, though not as put together as when she first stepped off the carriage, remained a striking picture. Her coffee-colored hair was illuminated in the sunlight, and whisps of it escaped her bun. The dress she wore was light blue and made of a delicate fabric, tailored perfectly. The hems were dusty from a long day out and about. Her cheeks were tinged a dark pink, and as Faith looked closer she realized that the color wasn't from makeup but rather from being flushed.

"Bancroft," said the woman, smiling lightly. "Ellie Bancroft. I'm Fiona Miller's friend, from Union City. I'm investing in the oil pipeline."

"Of course," said Faith. "I saw you arrive the other day. I'm Faith Carter, and this is my receptionist and assistant, Molly. Please, come in and have a seat."

Ellie nodded and settled on the edge of the examination bed. As she lowered herself down, Ellie winced.

"Oh, goodness!" said Faith, her brow furrowing. "Tell me what's wrong."

"It's my ankle," Ellie explained. "I actually feel kind of silly. I thought I'd go around the area and take in some of the sights. Little did I know that I'd end up twisting my ankle."

Molly nodded, listening from her spot at the desk. "Those hills can be quite deceptive," she said.

Faith got down in front of Ellie and reached out gently to her injured ankle.

"Let me take a look, if I may."

"Please."

The fancy shoe was unlaced and slid off, with a little difficulty, due to the amount of swelling. Ellie gave a sharp intake of breath.

"This will be a little uncomfortable," explained Faith. "A twisted ankle seems like just an annoyance, but it can actually be pretty serious if you aren't careful. I've seen plenty of children from the school come in after injuries on their recess, and some end up limping along for days because they don't take it easy."

"That's the school that Miss Thornton teaches at?" asked Ellie, distracted from the pain for a moment.

Faith brushed her hair out of her eyes and nodded.

"Yes, that's right. You met Elizabeth?"

Ellie nodded. "By chance. She was out with her son and Lucas Bouchard when we crossed paths. Her son is so adorable."

"Little Jack really lights up the town," Faith agreed. "He's a ball of energy! I'm sure I'll be seeing him in this office in no time."

"With the way he runs?" Molly interjected with a chuckle. "I have no doubt about that."

"Such a sweet family," said Ellie. "Elizabeth seems like a very lucky woman."

Faith paused at that, suddenly recalling all the events of the past year with Elizabeth caught between Lucas and Nathan. It was just behind them, and yet it felt like forever ago. She nodded, getting to her feet.

"I suppose she is lucky. Now, as I expected, you have a lot of swelling. I'm going to recommend bandaging and some ice, when you can. This may be asking a lot, but if you can stay off of your ankle as much as possible, that will be best."

Ellie winced. "I can try. To be honest, I'm much busier than I've let on. I am looking to invest in Hope Valley beyond the pipeline."

Molly raised an eyebrow, leaning closer.

"Oh?" she said, always collecting the latest gossip.

"Yes," Ellie went on. "Although I love Union City, it's very fast-paced. Walking around this town, taking in the sights and seeing how everyone interacts…" She looked off, taking in a deep breath. "It's quite honestly refreshing. Your community is so welcoming."

"So, you're looking to relocate here?" Faith returned with her supplies, ready to bandage up the swollen ankle.

Ellie mused. "Not exactly relocate, but I would love to have a place here. Something a bit more permanent. A getaway."

"That doesn't sound like such a bad idea," Molly agreed. "I imagine it must be difficult doing business when you're as far away as Union City."

"The telephone makes it a bit easier, but yes, there are a lot of things you miss being so removed from an investment. You begin to feel that people are simply names on a page, and numbers on a tally sheet become your life. I prefer to put faces to the names and create connections. And to be quite honest, it has been wonderful to see Fiona again. And I was quite impressed with Mister Hickam."

"Mike is definitely a character," Molly agreed with a good natured glance.

Ellie's tone became unexpectedly lowered, as if she were sharing a secret. Her eyes lit up in spite of her injury as Faith wrapped the white bandages around her foot and ankle.

"I'm not normally one to pry, but are he and Fiona…?"

"An item?" Faith laughed. "I don't believe so! Then again, we've all seen how they are. I wouldn't be surprised if they were."

"What would surprise me more," said Molly, "is if they were able to keep something like that a secret, especially in Hope Valley!"

The three of them shared a laugh, which felt good after such a long day. It also made the work more enjoyable, lifting their spirits.

Ellie leaned back a bit, smiling.

"I've only been here two days and already I can see that this town seems to have a lot of couples. It's heartwarming to see. Gives one hope."

With the wrapping all finished, Faith fastened the bandages with a silver clasp, looking up at Ellie.

"You mean an accomplished woman like you isn't already tied down?" she asked with the hint of a smile. "You can put your shoe back on. The bandage should help."

Ellie shook her head and began sliding the shoe back onto her foot.

"No man has met my standards yet," she said. "Though I'm always on the lookout. What about you ladies? Do any men have your hearts yet?"

Faith felt her heart leap into her throat at the question. It was so sudden and brought back a flood of emotion that, until this moment, had been stamped down. Images of Carson flashed through her mind. It was almost overwhelming.

Thankfully Molly took the lead on this question.

"Not for me," she said with a wistful expression. "I haven't had a man in my life since my husband passed away suddenly years ago. It was the mine explosion."

"Oh, I'm so sorry," Ellie replied, leaning forward. "I had no idea. I shouldn't have asked."

"No, it's alright," Molly continued. "I've made my peace with it. You never know what life is going to place in your path. All we can really do is decide how we move forward. I won't say it wasn't hard. There were many sleepless nights where I lay awake crying, but life continues where it can. You learn to trust that there's something good waiting for you just around the corner."

"You really believe that?" Ellie asked with a hopeful look.

Molly glanced out the window to the side of the entryway and caught a fleeting look at Sheriff Bill Avery walking along the boardwalk. His eyes shifted for a split second and caught sight of Molly through the glass and he nodded before disappearing from sight.

Molly breathed in deeply, her shoulders rising. She appeared radiant.

"I do believe it," she said. "Absolutely."

"There we are," said Faith, finished with helping Ellie re-lace her shoe and rising back to her feet. "You're all set. I'm giving you an ice pack. You can fill it with ice chunks from Yost's Mercantile. With any luck the swelling will go down in a day or two and you'll be back to normal."

"Back to running around the gorgeous fields of Hope Valley with my eyes looking at the ground, you mean!" Ellie chuckled.

"Like I said," Molly reiterated. "If you don't watch your steps, those hills will do you in."

"Thank-you so much for fitting me in," said Ellie as she got back on her feet. "I feel better already."

"It's my pleasure."

Ellie was heading to the door when she turned, a mischievous look on her face.

"I'm sorry," she said, "but I have to ask - from one established woman to another - are you the same as me? Has no man risen to the challenge, Doctor Carter?"

Faith blushed.

"It's not that they haven't risen to the challenge," she said faintly. "It's just…we weren't on the same page. No matter what we did, it seemed like nothing ever lined up. Carson was sweet…but he's away on business now. I wish him well."

"Perhaps he'll come around," said Ellie with a glint in her eye. "Or perhaps another suitor will materialize out of thin air."

She reached for the doorknob when suddenly the door swung open, just barely missing her. Ellie stepped back, bumping into Molly's desk. None other than Nathan Grant came marching into the infirmary, dressed from head to toe in his spotless Mountie uniform. The red glowed in the early evening light.

"Faith, I was hoping to catch you before you -" he started, then before the sentence was completed, he noticed Ellie standing mere inches from him, leaning back to avoid the head-on collision. Nathan immediately stepped away, his head tilting down in humility. "Sorry, Miss. I didn't mean to barge in on you like that. Please forgive me."

"That's alright," said Ellie. "I'm no more injured than I was when I walked in. You must be Nathan Grant, the Constable."

Nathan's handsome smile broke out at the statement.

"What gave that away?" he joked, his eyes remaining down at the floor.

"Your reputation precedes you," Ellie teased, being more forward than Faith had ever seen someone be with Nathan upon first meeting. She wasn't sure what to think. Part of her wanted to rescue Nathan, and the other half enjoyed seeing the way that the tall, handsome Mountie reverted to a schoolboy in a split second. "I've heard tell that you're a man that loves to charge into danger."

"I have been known to do that," Nathan admitted. "On occasion. Am I right to assume that you're the famous Ellie Bancroft?"

"I am indeed. Dare I ask what gave that away?"

"I saw Mike and Fiona giving you the tour. How are you liking Hope Valley so far?"

"I like it enough to invest in it," Ellie answered. "It's made a big impression on me. I feel very welcome."

Nathan nodded. "You'd be hard pressed to find anyone who is not welcomed to Hope Valley with a smile. Well, except for a few shady businessmen who shall not be named."

Molly shared Nathan's sentiment. "I agree. The less said about those terrible men, the better. Nathan, forgive me, but will you be needing me here? Or is Faith able to help you? I'm supposed to meet Florence over at the cafe."

Faith was suddenly the center of attention, and she blushed once again as Nathan nodded at her and said, "I'm sure Faith is well equipped to help me. It will only be a minute. If you ladies don't mind?"

Ellie, taking a chance while Nathan was looking away, gave Faith a wink. Molly gathered her shawl and made her way to the door, with Nathan moving aside to let the two women out.

"Thank-you again, Doctor Carter," said Ellie.

"You're welcome."

Then the two of them were gone. The door closed, and it was just Faith and Nathan standing in the silence of the infirmary.

Faith clasped her hands together, waiting for Nathan to speak. He always seemed to be going through the thoughts in his head. It left silence more often than not, but even though it could be awkward at times, Faith knew that when the Mountie spoke it wasn't just to fill the air.

Her patience was rewarded.

"I'm sorry," he said, looking away, "but I have kind of an awkward thing to ask."

"For a doctor, there's no such thing as an awkward thing. We hear it all," Faith replied. "How can I help you, Nathan?"

Nathan took a breath, his eyes squinting as he made eye contact with her. "It's odd, and I hope I'm not searching for something that doesn't exist, but… Well, you see, Allie is putting on sort of a dinner."

"A dinner?" Faith raised her eyebrows.

"Yes," Nathan continued. "Though it's not just a dinner. It's more like a date. With her and Robert."

"Robert? Isn't she a little young to be having dates?"

"Normally I'd agree with you," said Nathan, "but there's a catch. I am also going to be on the date with them. It's at our house."

"Ah," said Faith, beginning to catch on. "You're playing the chaperone."

"With a daughter as impulsive as Allie, I need to be. This dinner can go one of two ways. It could end in a kiss, or it could end with Robert being slapped across the face. I don't believe there's an in-between."

This got a laugh out of Faith.

"Allie certainly isn't one to mince words!" she said. "I'd hope that the date doesn't end in a fist fight. But, who knows with young love? You can never be too careful."

"No," Nathan agreed, looking off over her shoulder. "No, you can't be too careful. Which brings me to why I'm here. Allie's not the only one with nerves. I'm kind of embarrassed to say that the idea of messing up in front of Allie - being a bundle of anxiety - well. It terrifies me to say the least. I was hoping that there was something you could give me, you know, to calm me down."

"Something to relax you?"

"Yes," said Nathan. "If there even is such a thing. I can't disappoint Allie. I want to be firm, but also welcoming. She won't be a little girl forever, after all. Come to think of it, I'm not so sure she's a little girl any more. Amazing how you blink and the ones you love are completely different people."

Faith nodded as she turned to open her supply cabinet.

"You don't have to explain that to me," she said. "I feel like everyone is changing, whether we like it or not. That's not always a bad thing."

After a few moments of checking the labels on the many glass bottles which filled her cabinet, Faith selected the one that she was looking for and returned to Nathan.

"Here we are," she said. "I think I have just the thing. It's lemon balm."

"Lemon balm?"

"Mm-hmm. It helps to quiet the mind. At least that's what I've been told."

Nathan raised an eyebrow. "Do you think it will do the trick?"

"I'm sure it will. Stir a little bit into your tea, and I think you'll see a big difference."

She held out the bottle to him. When he reached out to take it, his fingers brushed hers, sending a jolt like lightning through her. The touch lasted only a moment, but the memory of how it made her feel lingered for hours afterwards. What had that been? She'd never felt something like this when interacting with Nathan.

The moment was over in an instant and Nathan tucked the bottle into his jacket pocket.

"Thank-you," he said. "I appreciate this more than you know."

He waited for her to respond, but she was still caught up in her own head. All she could do was blink a few times as the words found their way.

"...Of course! Any time."

Nathan tipped his hat at her.

"Don't let me keep you," he said. "Goodnight, Faith."

Then he was gone. Faith was alone at last.

She watched him as he walked down the dusty main street, further and further until he turned the corner. Once he was truly gone she closed the door and leaned against it.

"What in the world has come over me?" she muttered.

It was only Nathan, after all. They'd known each other for years. This interaction was nothing new. But, that feeling of his fingers brushing against hers…

She closed her eyes and shook her head.

"Maybe I'm working too hard," she said. Even as she said this, she turned and glanced out the window in the direction that Nathan had walked once more. A sigh escaped her lips. "I hope the lemon balm helps. Too bad I didn't keep any for myself!"

She'd have to place an order at the mercantile in the morning.