Chapter 105. An Unexpected Lesson
On Monday morning, Julia slept in. Faith had taken the overnight with Jimmy, and Julia was grateful for a later morning. She took a long, hot bath, and ate breakfast at home.
When Julia came into the infirmary, Faith had all the curtains and partitions pulled back, so the sunshine could stream in the windows. Jimmy was sitting up reading, and seemed in a good mood again.
"Good morning, Jimmy." Julia greeted as she walked up to the bed. "Feeling well?"
He clutched his side, where there were still numerous sutures. "A little sore. But I'm wondering if I could possibly sit outside at some point today?"
Julia thought that a splendid idea. Faith overheard him and came over. "Outside?" Faith looked at Julia, considering it.
Julia waltzed over to the wheelchair in the corner and wheeled it up next to the bed. "If we can get you in here," She pointed to the chair. "I'll see to it that you make it outside, Jimmy."
He looked about as pleased as a clam. He uncovered his legs and made his own effort, though Faith and Julia both moved to help him. They supported him on each side, got him up and gently into the chair. Julia and Faith looked at each other quite satisfied with Jimmy's progress. Julia wheeled him on out the door and parked him just next to the bench. Then she sat down next to him.
"It's a beautiful day isn't it?" Julia looked up at the clouds, perfectly fluffy in the blue sky.
Jimmy couldn't help but agree. "It really is." He took a long look around - the blue sky and the white clouds were amazing today. And for some reason, he noticed them in a way he never had before.
"Sometimes we just need to slow down and take time to look around us." She told him with a timid smile.
"Maybe that's it." Jimmy told her, suddenly shy.
"You forgot your book. Shall I go get it for you?" Julia asked. He didn't answer but glanced back at the door, and she didn't hesitate, but went to get it.
Julia picked up his book from the bedside table. It was a book exactly like the one Joseph had given Nathan for his birthday - a Charles Spurgeon devotional. Jimmy was reading this?
"That's one of my favorite authors." Julia mentioned as she handed him the book. "Though I have a lot of favorite authors." She said with a chuckle.
"Really? Like who?" He ventured with a curious smile.
"Some you probably wouldn't care for. You know, authors of women's books." She smirked crooked. "Jane Austen, Emily Brontë, Emily Dickinson." She paused. "But you also might like Emerson, Tennyson, Keats, Shakespeare."
"I never much liked Shakespeare. It's too hard to understand what he really means." He chuckled.
She raised her pointer finger. "Very true. But some things he writes are funny." She surmised. "I also love Oswald Chambers. I have a great booklet of one of his teachings, if you're interested."
"I guess. I mean…maybe." He told her. "Your friends Joseph and Minnie have been challenging my way of thinking."
Julia was glad of that. "Well I'm glad to hear it." She told him. "Challenge means an opportunity to grow." Julia paused and looked at Jimmy. " And sometimes, when we take our eyes off of our circumstances, and look at the bigger picture, we stumble across the truth."
"I'm not sure I can…believe in God, Miss Matthews." He told her flat, though he still held the book open, willing to read more about Him.
"Just because you don't believe, doesn't mean he doesn't exist." She told him.
He'd heard that line before. He looked at her sideways. "Funny. Joseph said the same thing."
"Well, don't take my word for it." She smiled, confident. "Keep reading, and ask God to reveal the truth. Only He can do that, in a way that you'll understand." She encouraged him. And she left him there, to enjoy the outdoors and his book.
Towards the end of the morning, Allie was working the telephone exchange when the chime on the door sounded. Allie sat back and glanced toward the door, just in time to hear little footprints rush in her direction.
"Awlie!" Little Jack cried out, running over to see her. He'd seen so many people this morning, and here was one more - and one of his favorites among his mother's students.
Allie giggled. "Little Jack!" She looked him up and down. "You are not so little anymore." She told him. "You've grown!"
He stood taller. "I'm big."
"You certainly are." She told him as she patted his head.
Allie straightened and greeted her teacher standing just behind Little Jack. "Good morning, Mrs. Thornton." She smiled, happy. "It's good to see you. Did you have a good trip?"
Elizabeth smiled. "Yes, we did. Thank you, Allie." She looked around. "Though, it sure is good to be home." She paused. "There seem to have been some changes while I was gone."
Allie assumed she was referring to the saloon's conversion. "Yes. But good changes, Mrs. Thornton. I think you'll like them." She thought of something. "Did you see the swing Mr. Canfield built for us?"
Elizabeth's face lit up, and was most appreciative. "I have, and it was a great idea. The children will be thrilled." She looked suddenly shy. "And I hear you will soon have some changes of your own?"
Allie smiled, proud. "Yes. The wedding's in less than three weeks!" She reported, with obvious excitement. Was that a shadow that flashed across Elizabeth's face?
Allie had more to tell. "And did you hear about the house we are building? Up on the land my Dad bought from Bill Avery?"
Bill's land? Nathan had bought Bill's land after all?
Elizabeth knew all about that land. Nathan'd had his eye on it for a while. And like it was yesterday, she still remembered the day he'd told her all about it. It was the day he confessed his love. As he'd come back from scouting it out, he'd run into her by the pond. As he spoke, he'd been full of excitement and hope, and Elizabeth had known that the plans he had for that land had included her and Little Jack. It had been all but obvious. But Elizabeth had been terrified of her own feelings, and paralyzed by fear, and so - she ended up a coward. After he confessed his love, she ran - or more specifically - she rode, straight in the opposite direction. Without even so much as an answer.
Now, it seemed that all Nathan's dreams were coming true, though with someone brave enough to love him back. Someone just right for him, who would never be callous with his heart, or run away in fear.
"A house?" Elizabeth inquired. She managed to spit out. "That's…great."
Allie nodded, unable to contain her excitement, so very much like Nathan. "They are building it already. A big house. And Dad is going to make me a canopy bed."
Little Jack laughed. "A big bed?"
"Yes Jack," Allie bent down and told him. "a big girl bed."
When Allie straightened, Elizabeth studied her. The girl seemed happy. And there was something else…was it peace? Acceptance? Confidence? Elizabeth mustered a genuine smile, out of her happiness for Allie, who was getting everything she ever wanted.
And that smile was the first real smile Elizabeth had mustered, in a very long time.
"I'm happy for you, Allie." And Elizabeth truly was.
Allie recognized Elizabeth's newfound authenticity. It was the first time she'd seen anything honest from Elizabeth in a long time. She also wanted to tell her teacher that Julia was going to adopt her. But maybe that information was best left for another day.
"Thank you, Mrs. Thornton." Allie smiled back. Maybe a change of subject was in order. "I'm excited for school to start back."
Elizabeth chuckled. "Oh, really? Is that so?" She gave her a coy smile, not sure she fully believed that statement. "What about Math homework? Are you excited for that?"
Allie chuckled deep, and raised a finger. "Okay, maybe not that part." She admitted.
Little Jack came further around the exchange desk, interested in the wires sticking out. That gave Allie an idea. "Mrs. Thornton, if you'd like, Little Jack can stay with me while you do your shopping." Allie offered, glancing around the mercantile.
"Really?" Elizabeth replied, grateful. "Oh Allie, that would be great." Shopping would be so much easier without Little Jack circling her legs and asking for candy every three minutes.
Allie nodded, sat down, and pulled Jack up onto her lap. When she began to explain things, and Jack seemed happy and occupied, Elizabeth smiled and turned her attention to her shopping. Once, when Elizabeth glanced back, Jack was busy pointing at different wires and asking questions, like the curious little boy that he was.
At lunch, Joseph brought a tray to the infirmary. Jimmy was still sitting outside, and seemed happy there. So Joseph sat on the bench next to him, and they ate, plates on their laps, discussing the latest. Joseph was happy to see Jimmy reading his copy of Spurgeon's book, and even more content that it had stirred some honest questions.
Julia ate her lunch inside, giving the two men space to talk. Though intermittently, she did hear a lot of hearty laughter coming from the front porch. Joseph's deep bass-tone chuckle was hard to miss. When she was done eating, while the men were still outside, Julia went to the bookshelf in her apartment and pulled out a tattered old booklet.
She left it on the table next to Jimmy's bed - one of Oswald Chambers transcribed teachings, something her father had given her.
When Jimmy and Joseph were done, Jimmy was ready for some rest. And so, Joseph wheeled him inside and helped Julia put him back into bed.
When Jimmy was comfortable, Julia followed Joseph outside, to chat.
"Jimmy seems to be doing better." Julia smiled, she knew Joseph and Minnie were a big part of the reason why. "Don't you think? According to your interactions?"
"He sure is. He's sharing more and more." Joseph smiled. "And, apparently he's really opening up to my Minnie."
Julia giggled low. "Yea, she'll have that affect on ya." Julia remembered the time Minnie had pulled her into her arms, in the Canfield's living room. That hug had opened Julia up, like a book.
Joseph chuckled too. He knew just what instance Julia was eluding to. "Yes, she does. She has a way with people."
Those words were very true. "And you do too, Joseph. You guys make a great team. And I think you are exactly what Jimmy needs right now."
Joseph had to give credit where credit was due. "God's got ahold of Jimmy. And He's working on Jimmy. And God always completes His work."
Julia smiled, "See what I mean…a great team." He looked confused. Julia leaned over with a coy smile. "Minnie told me the exact same thing."
Joseph titled his head. "Well, she is a wise woman."
Julia nodded. "She sure is. And you are a wise man for marrying her." And that got a huge, rolling bass chuckle from Joseph.
"I can't dispute that statement." And he gave Julia a huge nod of the head, in agreement.
Joseph bent and picked up the tray. "I better get these dishes back to the cafe." He told her. "One of us will be back at dinner."
Julia was grateful, for both of them. "Thank you, Joseph. For everything."
He held the tray in front of him and replied. "You're very welcome, Julia."
At 3:30 pm, Faith came back. Their patient was still quiet as a mouse behind the curtain, so Julia caught Faith up on the events of the day.
Then, as planned, Julia walked down to meet Allie and Nathan at Lee's car. They all three got in and Julia drove them to the train station.
When the train lurched to a stop, they waited rather impatiently as passengers disembarked. But finally, Archie became visible in the door of the passenger car, and Allie took off running. "Grandpa!" He looked up just in time to brace himself for impact.
After a good long hug, Archie kept his arm around Allie, and they walked over to where Nathan and Julia were waiting. He hugged his son and future daugther-in-law, too. Then, the foursome loaded things into Lee's car.
"What else, Dad?" Nathan asked.
"I got a big trunk, and Quinn." He replied.
Julia looked at Allie, puzzled. Who was Quinn? Allie could read the question on Julia's face, so she leaned over and whispered. "Grandpa's horse."
"Ah." Julia chuckled to herself and nodded.
Nathan and Archie walked together to the back of the train and retrieved his big trunk from a luggage car. They strapped it to the back of Lee's car.
Then they headed to one of the stock cars, and retrieved a beautiful bay horse, just slightly lighter in color than Newton.
"Dad, how do you want to ride, in the car or on Quinn?" Nathan asked, amused.
Archie drawled slow, "Son, I'll let you ride Quinn. My legs are cramping from the long sit on the train." He climbed in the front seat, and Julia and Allie joined him in the car. And, Nathan rode ole Quinn right behind them, all the way to Nathan's row house.
They got Archie settled back into Allie's room, for now. Lee had reserved a small apartment out by the mill for Archie, but he would move out there later.
Archie asked to rest right away, so they left him to it. Allie offered to cook dinner, and got to work. So Nathan and Julia drove the car back into town. Nathan actually had an appointment with Lee, though he kept it a secret, for now.
After they dropped the car in front of Lee's office, Nathan walked Julia back to the infirmary. On the way, as their intertwined hands swung between them, he finally asked a question he'd been waiting to ask.
"Jules, when can we talk? About the topics Joseph gave us to discuss…as homework?" Joseph had given them an assignment - to talk about children and finances - before their next premarital meeting.
"How about tomorrow?" Julia offered. "In the evening?"
"Okay." That gave him an idea. "How about dinner with Allie and Archie, and then we can have our discussion?"
Julia smiled up at him as they walked. "Perfect."
He looked at his pocket watch. Almost time for his meeting with Lee.
Nathan walked her to the door and looked down at her for just a moment. "See you tomorrow, then?" Why was it always so hard to leave her?
Julia didn't waste a moment, but took to her tip toes and gave him a tender kiss on the cheek. She was the one kissing him, but still, somehow, just being near him sent the butterflies into motion. She lingered there, close, as long as possible and then reluctantly stepped back on her heels. Nathan didn't seem to want to leave. He looked perplexed for just a split second, and finally, just stepped forward again.
He leaned down and took her hand. With his intense gaze still fixed, he brought her hand slowly to his lips and placed a featherlight kiss across her knuckles. Julia made an involuntary intake of breath, as he did.
"Tomorrow." She managed to get out. Then he opened the door and she reluctantly entered.
Nathan turned and drew in his own ragged breath. That woman did things to him, and he wasn't sure he would be able to think straight, for the rest of the day. But, he put his legs into motion and walked, slightly befuddled, down to Lee's car.
Lee was already there, waiting for him. They both got into the car, Lee in the driver seat and Nathan on the passenger side.
And Lee started to explain. "Nathan, driving is very easy, once you get the hang of it. And, I'm sure it won't take you long."
Nathan looked nervous, but was willing to learn. And so, he listened to every one of Lee's instructions as he explained everything about driving: the pedals, the choke, and the gear shift.
And finally, Lee demonstrated. He put the car into motion, driving slowly out of town. And Nathan watched his every move, observing the way he pulled one pedal back as he pressed the other.
And that's how Nathan had his first driving lesson.
By the time they drove back towards Hope Valley, Nathan had the hang of it. He was now in the driver seat and doing just fine. When he shifted gears, it was still a little choppy, but he hadn't killed the engine in a while now. Not since the first two or three times he'd tried shifting.
And by the time they entered the lane just before the row houses, he was breathing easy. They turned the corner, and Nathan lined up the car to park at Lee's row house, when he took his eyes off the road just long enough to notice who was walking next to the road - Elizabeth and Little Jack. And, they were nearly upon them. Lee had mentioned they were back, though Nathan hadn't run into them yet.
Elizabeth seemed as surprised as anyone, to see Nathan behind the wheel of a car. But she quickly averted her gaze as he parked right in front of Lee's house. Once the engine was off, and Lee was satisfied, they both exited the car.
With Lee, Nathan walked over to greet Elizabeth and Little Jack. "Welcome back." He told them both cordially. He crouched down in front of Little Jack, who extended his hand, like a little man.
Nathan couldn't help but smile at Jack's adorableness. "Hey, little buddy." Nathan's large hand engulfed Jack's tiny one, as they shook. "You grew so much since last time I saw you."
"Hi, Nay'an." He answered.
Elizabeth finally answered too. "Hello, Nathan."
Nathan straightened next to Lee. "Did you have a good trip?"
"For the most part." She answered. "My family couldn't get enough of this little guy." Elizabeth looked down at Little Jack and ruffled his hair.
"Oh, I know exactly what you mean." Nathan chuckled. "At the ranch, when Allie's around, nobody pays me any attention." Elizabeth softened and managed a smile.
Lee smiled, too. Elizabeth observed Nathan, who looked so happy, and so…comfortable in his own skin; in a way that she had never seen before. She thought it a great look on him. And in the back of her mind, she wondered how she had ever been so dense? He was ridiculously handsome when he was happy. Or had he always been this handsome and she'd just been too stubborn to notice? Or had she been in denial of her attraction to him? She wasn't sure, but regardless, it was good to see him happy...like this.
"Nathan." Elizabeth paused and tilted her head just slightly. "You know, um…" She swallowed. "It's really nice to see you so happy."
Nathan looked at his feet and thought of Julia. It was impossible to hide the huge smile that spread across his face, at the very thought of her. He glanced back up. "Thank you, Elizabeth." He paused and looked over at Lee, and then back at her again. Nathan seemed to be working out how to say something just right. He was a man who weighed his words, who used his better judgement every time he spoke, to discern what to say and just how to say it. "I hope one day that Julia and Allie and I, and you and Little Jack...can be friends." He told her, honest.
Elizabeth looked down at Little Jack and wondered how Nathan could still be so cordial, after how horrible she had been to him and to Allie. She finally managed to bring her eyes back up. "Little Jack and I…would really like that." She paused.
Nathan nodded. "Well, it's good to see you both."
Lee made a head motion back towards the car. "We better get back to our lesson." Nathan nodded at him, and Elizabeth seemed to understand. "See you later, you two." Lee told her and Little Jack, who put out his little hand to shake. Lee chuckled as he bent to oblige - and he shook Jack's tiny hand.
Elizabeth told them both. "Good bye then, gentlemen." And she took Jack's little hand and led him up the stairs and into the house.
Lee and Nathan sat together on the steps of Lee's house. They talked through the rest of the driving lesson. Nathan still had quite a few questions, and Lee patiently answered them. And then, somehow, they ventured onto the subject of marriage. Nathan freely asked questions, and Lee answered them. And they spent a little time talking about marriage, too.