Chapter 56. The Threatening Storm
On Tuesday morning, Julia walked into the infirmary and looked out the front window, to see Nathan leaning against the wooden pillar on the porch of the Mountie office. It was already hot, so he was wearing only his short-sleeved Henley, and of course, his top buttons were open. She felt her pulse pick up, just looking at him, and she wasn't even out the door of the infirmary yet. She didn't have a clue how she was going to sit next to him and act casual, and keep her eyes from wandering to his strong biceps and forearms. As she was trying to compose herself, Nathan looked over and saw her through the window, and she gave him a little wave.
As Julia came slowly across the road, he disappeared into the Mountie office and reappeared with her coffee cup. She shyly took it from him, and they sat together on the top step, drinking their coffee. "What I really need here are a few chairs." He told her.
"We could sit on the bench outside of the infirmary, if you think you'd be more comfortable there?" Julia offered.
Nathan didn't really like that bench. Too many bad memories. Whether with Elizabeth or more recently, on Friday night when he'd sat there with Bill, awaiting news about Julia. It was not his favorite spot in town.
"I like my porch." He told her, with his crooked smile. The lopsided grin that got her every time. She would sit anywhere he liked, when he looked at her like that.
"Me, too." She told him, with her cute smile. He was having a hard time keeping his eyes off of her this morning. She had a light blue shirt that accented everything in exactly the right way. Her eyes, her lips, her hair, her neck. He had to remind himself to look into his coffee cup from time to time.
"Busy day today, Constable?" Julia asked him.
"I have a call scheduled with my commander at HQ, and the guys are still working upstairs on my classroom. Other than that, it should be a slow day." Nathan told her. "And you?"
"I've only a check up with Henry this morning, and a few guys from the oil rig in the afternoon. There was another accident out there, and a few are not feeling so well. I'm sure it's just a coincidence, as the symptoms have nothing to do with the accident. But, better to be safe than sorry." She told him. He smiled coyly at her, at her mention of the guys from the oil rig.
"Young guys from the oil rig, huh?" He teased her.
Julia shook her head at him and said, "Faith will be there, too. And, they have real symptoms, Nathan."
Nathan laughed and then turned the laugh into a cough. He had a mock coughing fit and she just laughed at him. She pretended to slap him on the back, to help him come out of his coughing fit. "I have symptoms, too, Nurse. What can you do for me?"
"Very funny, Lawman." Julia told him. But, he was funny, and charming, and endearing, all she could do was smile at him.
Nathan liked her dimples when she smiled like that. "I don't think the infirmary had quite so many patients when Carson was in there." He told her, with his playful smile.
"But that's only because there was no oil rig back then, and the saw mill was much smaller." Julia told him, shaking her head at him.
"If you say so." He teased her. Julia reached over and pinched him on the side. "Oh, no you didn't." He said, as he reached over and tried to tickle her. Only, he forgot she was wearing a corset, like any respectable lady. When she sat there stoic and unflinching, he took to her thigh. He took hold just above her knee, and squeezed in just the right spot, through her dress. That got a yelp out of her as she started laughing uncontrollably, and he didn't stop. He had such a good grip on her and she couldn't get away. She was cackling now in fits, and pushing with all her might at his hand. She finally broke free and got up, abandoning her coffee cup on the top step.
There was nobody on the street so he chased after her, and she was fast. She doubled back and as she did, he slid past her in his boots. She hiked her skirts and bounded up the stairs and into the Mountie office, with no problem. He came right after her, but she had closed herself in one of the jail cells, though he easily managed to push his way inside. He looked ready to give her another dose.
"Nathan, no." She said in a fit of giggles. "You wouldn't dare! We are even now!" They stood looking at each other, breathing hard and laughing.
"Oh, no. We are not even." He said as he lunged for Julia. She screamed and he laughed even harder as he grabbed her around the waist from behind and spun her around in a big circle, legs flying in the air.
"Nathan!" she managed to get out in between giggles. He set her feet back on the floor and she spun away from him. She was breathing hard, chest rising and falling and her cheeks rosy. "Now we are even! Okay?" She breathed, "Agreed?"
He stepped back and put his full weight against the door of the jail cell. He crossed his arms over his chest, which only accentuated his biceps. She realized she was completely trapped. He was blocking her only exit. And...he shook his head no.
"Nathan!" Julia said, trying to look serious. She put her hand up to her chest, which only accented it's rise and fall. He wasn't saying anything, but she could see he was calculating his next move. His Henley was taut across his muscles as his own chest rose and fell. He stayed right there- leaned back against the cell door, biceps seemed to throb with energy. She couldn't take her eyes off of him. Her voice came out sounding all husky as she asked him one more time, "How about a truce, my love?"
When she called him my love, it was too much. His restraint melted. He left his post, and slowly but surely, walked toward her. He felt an urgency, like the day they had kissed in the rain. He had to kiss her. Now. She saw that look in his eyes, and she met him. His hands came gently on her face, and he bent quickly to claim her lips. Her arms came strong around his waist, and she held on for good reason. When his wits finally returned, he pulled back, kept her face in his hands, and looked at her. Her lips were rosy and her cheeks were rosy. And, she was out of breath, same as he. Her eyes were stormy with emotion, and he kissed the top of her nose. He knew he would never get tired of kissing her. Each time was more wonderful than the time before. And, there was so denying the fire between them.
Nathan whispered, "I'll give you your truce, on one condition."
She kept her gaze fixed on him, as she asked low, "What's that?"
"Have lunch with me today, in the café." He told her, his gaze still locked with hers.
"Agreed." She whispered back. And, he kissed her one last time, soft and quick. Then he took her hand, their fingers intertwined, and led her out from the jail cell, and back out onto the front porch. Their two lonely cups of coffee were cold now, one laid on it's side, knocked over in their little chase.
He didn't let go of her hand but walked her all the way to the infirmary door. "Twelve noon?" He asked her, holding her hand in both of his.
"Twelve noon." She answered back, and he opened the door of the infirmary for her. Before he let go of her hand, he kissed it tenderly, across the back of the knuckles. Then he slowly, reluctantly let her have it back.
"Have a good morning, Jules." He told her, with a handsome grin.
She answered with a raspy voice and a little laugh, "It would be hard not to." He liked that and gave her one more crooked smile before he backed up and headed back across to his office, picking up the coffee cups on the way.
When Julia got back to her desk, she plopped into a chair, picked up a patient card and fanned herself. Faith, who had been standing at the medicine cabinet, turned around, saw her, and let out a sharp giggle.
"Oh my. The chemistry is that strong, huh?" Faith asked her.
"So strong. He's so…hot." Julia said with an honest smile. "If it gets any stronger, I think we shouldn't be allowed in the same room together without an adult." Julia joked.
Faith giggled, "I thought you were an adult?"
"I'm supposed to be. But, all my good sense goes straight out the window as soon as he gets within six feet of me." Julia said with a giggle.
"Sounds like fun." Faith teased her.
"Faith!" Julia said with another giggle. "I thought I could count on you to talk some sense into me. I thought you were the sensible one. But, you are starting to sound like Fiona!"
"Well, I'm living vicariously through you, Julia. Remember? My love life is zilch, nada, nothing." Faith told her with a giggle of her own.
Julia got serious for a moment, and said, "And, I'm sorry for that, Faith. You are an amazing woman. And one day, the right guy is going to realize it. And, you will laugh when you remember these days of nada."
"I hope you're right." Faith chuckled.
"Well, if it can happen for me…" Julia told her, as an encouragement.
Just then, Henry Gowen entered the infirmary, for his check up. Julia stood and greeted him, and the led him around the curtain. Faith entered and did her examination. Henry's blood pressure was much better, and he was still consuming the flax seeds. They seemed to be working fine, so Faith told him to continue. Julia told him that Ned can always order more, through the mercantile.
As he was leaving, Henry looked over at Julia and offered his apologies. "Julia, I wanted to apologize to you, on behalf of Gowen Petroleum. I feel real bad about what happened to you, in the accident out at the bunkhouse. I hope you won't hold it against any of us, for what happened out there."
"Henry, thank you for your apology. But, it was just that, an accident. And, I don't hold it against anyone, certainly not you." Julia told him.
"Well, that's kind of ya. But, I'm still sorry that you got hurt. And, I appreciate all that you did to get Jeremiah out. You and Faith both put yourselves at risk to see him taken care of, and we are grateful. You are an excellent nurse. And Faith, you're an excellent doctor, and we're lucky to have ya both." Henry told them.
"Well, thank you for saying so, Henry. We were just doing our jobs out there." Faith told him. Julia nodded in agreement.
"Well, all the same, thank you. And, thank you for everything you've done for me in here." Henry told them.
"You're welcome, Henry." Julia answered back.
He nodded in his own way, placed his hat on his head, and headed toward the door. When he got to the knob he said, "Have a nice day, ladies."
"Good bye, Henry." They both chimed as he stepped out the door and was gone.
At twelve noon, Julia walked out the door of the infirmary and as she did, she was met on the front steps by Nathan. He had left his serge in his office, and with good reason, it was a hot day.
He took her hand, and they walked to the café together. When they entered, it wasn't too busy yet, so they took a table in the corner. Clara came over and told them the special today, which was shepherd's pie. They ordered, and while they were waiting, Fiona and Faith came in, too.
Fiona walked right over to their table and greeted them, "Hello, you two." The way she said it, brought a little chuckle out of Nathan. Julia looked at him and as much as she tried, she couldn't help the smile that spread across her face.
"Would you like to join us, ladies?" Nathan offered them.
Fiona looked at Faith, and they both said, "Sure." Nathan stood and pulled another table over and Fiona and Faith brought chairs closer. Clara came and took their order.
Fiona asked Nathan, "What's all the construction going on behind the Mountie office?"
Nathan answered, "We're making a classroom up there. Mountie's will be coming here for training sessions."
Fiona's curiosity was stoked. She asked, "Mounties from where?"
"All over. Alberta, B.C., all the way to Manitoba." Nathan replied, taking a sip from his water glass.
"Wait a minute, Mounties from all those provinces are coming here, to Hope Valley, for training?" Fiona asked, looking very contentedly at Faith.
"Yes." Nathan answered her, amused by her sudden interest.
"How long will they stay in Hope Valley?" Fiona asked.
"Well, that part I'm still working out with my superiors. But, could be anywhere from two to six weeks, depending on their previous training." Nathan told her.
"Interesting." Fiona quipped, as Mike walked up behind her, though she didn't know he was there.
"What's interesting?" Mike asked them. Fiona's eyes went huge, she looked like a deer in the headlights.
Faith laughed out loud, and Julia covered her giggle just in time. "Nothing. Nothing's interesting, Mike." Fiona replied, relieved that Mike couldn't see her face from behind her.
"Want to join us, Mike?" Nathan asked.
"I'd love to." And, Mike brought over a chair and sat down to the left of Nathan. Clara came and got his order, too.
And, while Clara was still there, Fiona had a proposition to make. "Everyone, I was thinking that we are WAY overdue for another social club. We started so strong, but then when Nathan got hurt, and well, life got busy. We never held the second one. I would like to propose a social club meeting this Saturday night, in honor of Julia's birthday on Sunday!"
"That would be so fun!" Faith answered. "I'm in!"
"Me, too!" Mike said.
"And, I'm sure Jesse would be up for it, so count us in, too." Clara said.
Nathan agreed, and Julia did too.
"I'll talk to Lucas and see if I can get permission to use a few tables in the Saloon. Why don't we meet there at 8 p.m. on Saturday night?" Fiona suggested.
"Sounds good to me." Mike said, and everyone else agreed.
Clara brought their plates and they all ate together and chatted. They were such a fun, jovial group and many passed by to say hello or just stopped for a minute to chat. And, at coffee time, Clara came and sat down for a few minutes with them, on her break. When they were all done, Faith and Julia headed back to the infirmary. Mike and Fiona back out to the oil rig, and Nathan back to his office.
About 2 p.m., Robert delivered a letter for Nathan. It was from Archie. Nathan found it odd to get a reply that quick, he had only mailed his letter on Wednesday of last week. But he just shrugged, opened the letter, and read. However, by the end, Nathan was somewhat distraught. The letter wasn't a reply to Nathan's letter at all, but a response to Allie. Apparently, Archie had received several letters from Allie mentioning Nathan's injuries, and he wanted to come and help. Archie planned to arrive this Thursday in Hope Valley! Nathan knew his mother was going to be very upset about this, and this might affect her plans to stay until next week. His mother would not want to cross paths with Archie, Nathan knew this for certain.
Nathan rose and hurried to the mercantile to send Archie a telegram. He quickly wrote out the text, which basically told Archie not to come yet, but to please delay his coming by a week. Everyone would be glad if he could come next Friday the 28th, but please, not this week. He explained that his mother, Rebecca was here. Nathan asked Archie to send him a reply immediately, to confirm reception of the telegram as well as confirmation that he agreed to delay. He asked Florence to type quickly and put a rush on the telegram. He also asked her discretion with Allie, who was right behind Nathan, sitting at the switchboard, on the telephone.
He only hoped the telegram would arrive in time, and be delivered in time, to stop Archie before he got on the train to Hope Valley.
As soon as that was done, Nathan decided to go home and break the news to his mother, just in case.
When Nathan approached the house, all the windows were open. The day was steamy, and he couldn't blame her. He entered and took off his serge and hung it by the front door. When he found his mother, she was taking down laundry in the back yard.
"Mother, I need to speak with you about something. And, you aren't going to like it." Nathan told her. She stopped what she was doing and turned to look at him.
"Son, whatever it is, you can tell me." Rebecca told Nathan.
"I don't know if that's true." He paused and looked back up at her, "What if it has to do with Archie?"
Rebecca's face got all anxious and she said, "That subject is off limits, and you know it."
Nathan's face got pained and he said, "It's not that, Mom. I got a letter from him today. He wants to come…"
"Well, let him come, after I'm gone." She told Nathan, that was a simple fix.
"Thursday." Nathan said. She stopped in her tracks and turned and looked at Nathan.
"Thursday?" Rebecca spit it out in disbelief, "This Thursday? As in two days?"
"Yes." Nathan tried to explain, "Allie keeps in touch with him, and apparently she mentioned something in her last few letters about me being hurt. He wants to come and help."
"But, you are fine now." Rebecca said, "That man always was a day late and a dollar short."
"Mom, he's trying. He claims he had to put in for time off and wait for it to be approved." Nathan told her.
"Well, I'll just leave tomorrow, then." Rebecca said, incredulous that this could be happening.
"Mom, you can't leave tomorrow! That would break Allie's heart." Nathan told her.
"What? Grams! Are you kidding? You can't leave tomorrow!" Allie broke in, she was in a fit. They hadn't realized she had come home. And, she had overheard everything.
Nathan gently interrupted, trying to calm everyone down. "I already sent a telegram, and put a rush on delivery, asking Archie to delay his coming. Hopefully it gets there before he boards the train in Union City."
"Well, there's no way I'm staying to find out if he shows up." Rebecca said, her blood pressure up at the thought of seeing Archie. She folded the last piece of laundry and headed inside.
"Mom, be reasonable. Give Archie time to respond." Nathan spoke calmly but firmly, following her inside.
"Grams, please!" Allie came in too, pleading with her. "I'm sorry, it's all my fault. I asked him to come and see us, but that was before I knew you were coming! I swear it!"
"Allie, I'm sorry, but there is too much bad blood between your grandfather and I. I cannot see him. He will want to rehash things, and I will not." Rebecca insisted adamantly. "I will just go pack right now."
"Grams! Please!" Allie was frantic now, "You can't leave! I'll tell Archie no, I'll send him a telegram myself. You can't go yet!"
Nathan said in a calm voice, "Allie, calm down. Let your Grams and I talk about this. Just calm down. Let's discuss this rationally."
"I won't calm down! It's all my fault!" Allie said, crying and upset. "Maybe I should just go to Union City in person and tell him not to come!"
"Allie, don't be silly." Nathan said, "He should get the telegram in time."
"I'm sorry, Grams!" Allie said, as she ran upstairs crying. Nathan thought she would just lock herself in her room. But instead, she came down the stairs and ran out the door. Nathan ran out after her, but he had been so shocked by her exit, she had gotten a sizable head start. Nathan didn't think she'd go very far, so he gave up the pursuit, in order to talk some sense into his own mother.
When he came back inside huffing, his mother was upstairs in the room she shared with Allie. He knocked on the door, "Mom, please talk to me."
Rebecca opened the door, crying. Nathan spoke calmly, "Mom, you can't leave now. Please. Give me 24 hours, Archie should write me back within 24 hours. If we haven't heard from him by tomorrow afternoon, you can leave first thing Thursday morning. Before he gets here." He looked her in the eye and said, "Mom, please. For Allie."
"You know I love you, and Allie. Even if what you told me is true, and he's finally cleaned up his act, I am not ready to see him. I can't risk it again, son. I just can't." Rebecca told him, pulling her suitcase out from under the bed. "I'm finally in a good place, and I would like to stay there."
"Mom, be reasonable. Please. Don't break Allie's heart, and mine. Give me 24 hours. Mom, look at me." Rebecca looked up at him, and Nathan held her gaze, his eyes pleading. "Please. Give me 24 hours, it's all I ask."
"Ok, son. 24 hours." Rebecca told him, in tears. "But, I'm still packing, just in case."
Nathan nodded sadly, but it was enough, for now. He prayed Archie would get the telegram in time. "I'm going to find Allie, Mom. Hope I can talk some sense into her, too."
Nathan walked out the front door, towards the Weiss' house. Allie was either at Emily's or Opal's. When he discovered she wasn't at either house, he started to worry. He hurried into town and went to Bill's office. He hadn't seen her. Nathan checked the mercantile and the café, and no one had seen her either. His worry grew.
Nathan checked the church and then headed to the Coulter's. On the way, he remembered the last thing she said. Maybe I should just go to Union City in person and tell him not to come! Nathan remembered she had gone up to her room and taken something, before she left. He hoped it wasn't the stash of money she kept hidden under her mattress. When Nathan got to Lee's and she wasn't there, he started to panic.
"Nathan, calm down, we'll find Allie. Let me drive you around, it will go faster. Let's also alert others in town so everyone can help us search." Lee suggested. Nathan nodded, and they were off towards town.
On the way, Nathan stopped back by the house to tell his mother what was going on. She felt horrible, and was immediately in tears again. But he told her to stay put, in case Allie came home. He needed someone there to stand watch.
When Lee drove up in front of the Mountie office, he tooted his horn a few times, so people would gather. The oil rig guys had just left the infirmary, diagnosed with a stomach bug. Faith and Julia walked out onto the porch of the infirmary, wondering what the commotion was about. Both were concerned when they saw Lee and Nathan. Julia recognized the look on Nathan's face. He was terribly worried about something.
When a small crowd was gathered, Lee started talking, "Hello everyone. Thanks for gathering. We need your help. Allie is missing, and we'd really like to find her as quickly as possible. We need everyone's help searching. And, if she's found please either ring a bell or shoot a gun in the air, so we can gather back. And, gather back here." Lee looked at Nathan. "Any ideas, Nathan?"
"She's upset and probably doesn't want to be found. Please anyone…" Nathan voice cracked. He took a deep breath and then continued, "Anyone that can help, I'm very appreciative."
Everyone looked at each other and nodded. Bill stepped forward to give some bad news, "Let's be alert and careful. I just got word, there's a storm rolling in. A bad one that looks to be dangerous." Julia looked toward the mountain, the dark clouds were already rolling in, and they looked ominous and menacing. Bill continued, "So, let's find Allie quick, everyone." Bill looked at his watch, "It's 4:00 p.m., we've got 4 hours of daylight, maybe less with the storm."
When everyone dispersed and started searching, Julia walked straight to Nathan. "Nathan, are you okay? What happened?"
Nathan looked at her, the worry already starting to weigh on him. "It's a long story, but there was dispute at home, between my mother and Allie…and I. Involving Archie. Allie got upset, and she ran off. We really need to find her, Jules. I need to know she's okay." Nathan told her.
Concern filled Julia, she took his hand and held his gaze. "We'll find her, Nathan. Everyone in Hope Valley is looking for her. We'll find her."
Nathan was worried about one thing in particular. "I'm afraid she may have headed to Union City, to see Archie."
"How would she get to Union City, Nathan?" Julia asked him.
"On the stagecoach. Did anyone see the stagecoach that left at 3:30?" Nathan asked.
"I'll go check, Nathan." Julia told him.
Julia ran over to the stagecoach platform. There was a young man sitting there, who looked as though he had just arrived. Perhaps he noticed who got on after him. "Excuse me, young man. Did you happen to see a young girl board the last stagecoach?" She asked him.
"A lady and a girl got on as I got off." The young man told her.
"Could you describe the girl, please? Did you notice anything special about her?" Julia asked him.
"She had brown hair. That's about all I remember." He told Julia.
Julia ran back to Nathan and shared that information. Lee looked at Nathan and offered to drive him to the local train depot, just to be sure. It wasn't far and maybe they would even catch the stage on the way.
"Nathan, are you certain she would try to go all the way to Union City, without you?" Julia asked him. That didn't seem like Allie.
"Jules, she was pretty upset." Nathan looked his pocket watch and realized the train would leave in less than an hour. "I'd like to think she wouldn't, but I'd rather be sure before that train leaves."
Julia placed her hand on his forearm as she spoke. "Ok, Nathan. I'll keep searching here. Try to stay calm. We're going to find her."
"Jules, stay in the infirmary. I'll call you as soon as I get to the train station, one way or the other." Nathan told her.
"Ok, Nathan." Julia said and she watched as the car pulled out and headed towards the train depot. When Julia got back to the infirmary, she had a thought. A very good idea of where Allie might be. But, Faith was headed out to search.
"Faith, is there any way you could stay here? Nathan wants someone by the phone. But, I have an idea. I would like to go check the livery." Julia told her.
"That's a good idea, Jules. Maybe she just went to see her horse." Faith agreed.
"Let's hope. I'll be back as soon as possible." Julia told her, and she rushed out towards the livery.
Julia ran all the way to the livery, praying that she would find Allie. However, when she got there, Julia discovered that Allie was not inside, and neither was her horse. Julia looked at the empty stall next to Newton, shocked. The name plate was there clear as day, Ginger. Julia would have otherwise been happy to know that Allie had named her horse Ginger. But, she couldn't think about that right now. She just had to find Allie.
"Jed! Jed!" Julia ran through the middle, looking right and left, scanning the stalls. She finally found Jed. "Jed, did you happen to see Allie in here? I see that her horse Ginger is gone, did you see them?"
Jed answered, "Yes, Allie was here. She seemed upset, looked to me like she'd been crying. She quickly saddled Ginger and left with her. On her way out, I asked her if her old man was okay with her going out, and she told me she just needed to go somewhere and think."
Julia nodded, processing this information. There was only one thing to do. "Jed, I need to get a saddle on Newton. Can you help me?"
Jed looked at her, following on her heels as she ran back to Newton's stall. "I can, Ma'am. But, that storms moving in, and it's supposed to be a bad one. Which way are you headed?"
"Towards Brookfield. Not all the way, just to an overlook on the way there. That's North, right?" Julia told him, as they worked together on the blanket and saddle.
"Yea. You'll be headed right into that storm, Ma'am. It's coming from the North. So, I wouldn't advise it." Jed said, worried now.
"Jed, Allie's up there. Alone. If the storm is coming, I need to get to her before it does." Julia told him. "Newton's well trained, he can get me there." Julia was sure of it. If any horse could help her find Allie, it was Newton.
Julia looked at him, serious. "Jed, as soon as I'm off, I need to you to head into town and find either Bill or Nathan. Tell them what you've just told me, and where I've gone. Tell them I went to Allie's overlook. You got that, Allie's overlook. They'll find us. I know they will." With that, she led Newton outside the livery, and took one more look back toward town. She didn't see Lee's car or any sign of Nathan. She looked up at the sky and saw the dark clouds rolling in, and lighting started to light the sky in between. She was worried, and there was only one thing to do. Find Allie.
She pulled herself up into the saddle, and got adjusted. She leaned down and spoke softly to Newton, giving him a few quick pets on the side of his neck as she spoke. And, with a little nudge, they raced off.