From Friendship to Love

Chapter 5

After Bill (whom Rosemary had called) had come and brought her medical bag, Faith checked Elizabeth's vitals and her bruises as well as the bump on the back of her head when it hit the wall. Elizabeth said it really didn't hurt and there seemed to be no vision or cognitive issues presenting. Though, the woman was clearly in shock, she was shaking. "I'm going to go and put the kettle on for some tea, would that be alright? Chamomile, maybe?" Elizabeth nodded and whispered some thanks.

As Faith got the kettle on, Nathan walked in. "How is she?"

"She's bruised and has a big bump on the back of her head, but not concussed. She is, however, in shock. She's going to need someone that she trusts to stay with her. Is there any way that Lee can go sit with Jack and send Rosemary over?"

He nodded. "I'll go and and take care of that. Bill's here now, so there's no reason why Lee can't leave. Then I'm going to need to question her and see if she wants to press charges. And, you may want to go out and check on Lucas. He may or may not have met with someone else's knuckles."

She raised an eyebrow and he shook his head, holding his hands up so she could inspect his knuckles. She smiled and glanced towards the parlor. Once she saw that Elizabeth wasn't looking she reached up and cupped his cheek for just a moment. Their eyes locked and he returned the gesture before they heard a sniffle and the water boiled. With a nod from Faith, Nathan went outside to talk to Lee and she set about making a cup of tea.

She brought the tea to Elizabeth just as Rosemary walked in the door. At the sight of her friend, Elizabeth dissolved into tears again and Rosemary sat down and pulled her into her arms. Rosemary's eyes met Faith's and Faith nodded towards the door. Rosemary slightly nodded her head.

As much as she really did not want to deal with Lucas Bouchard at the moment, it was her job to see to the medical needs of the entire community. Even people whom she did not care for personally. She grabbed her medical bag and headed outside where she heard Lucas whining. Rolling her eyes, she took a deep breath and steeled herself - all while thinking she'd like to deck the man herself.

"It's about time, Doctor Carter." Lucas sneered as Faith approached, emphasizing the word doctor with derision. Faith just stared at him, with an eyebrow cocked - saying nothing.

Bill gave Lucas's collar a yank. "Take it down a notch, Bouchard. Dr Carter had to see to the victim first. Your victim. You wouldn't need to see her if you'd just kept yourself in check." Lucas gave Bill a dirty look and shrugged free of his hold.

"Bill, could you get a lantern so I can get a better look? Oh, and a wet cloth?" Faith asked

Before Bill could respond, Nathan piped up "I'm about to go in to speak with Elizabeth. I'll get the lantern and cloth before I do. Bill needs to stay here with you at all times." Faith nodded her thanks and Nathan was back in minutes, while he was gone she opened her bag and readied herself.

She started to feel around Lucas's face and he jerked back. "Ouch! You're hurting me! On purpose. This whole town is against me. I don't even know why I'm still here."

Faith looked at Bill, who just rolled his eyes and said "Shut up. Let's just get this over with. And, you're not endearing yourself to anyone right now with all your caterwauling. The entire row of houses has heard you and it's only their decency that's keeping them from coming out and gawking."

After Faith treated Lucas, who was just bruised, and Nathan spoke with Elizabeth, who refused to press charges - instead asking Lucas to leave Hope Valley for good this time - the Doctor and the Mountie left Elizabeth in the Coulters capable hands and went down to check in with Allie before Nathan walked Faith into town.

When they walked in the door, they found Allie at the kitchen table with a red eyes and nose, several soggy handkerchiefs on the table. Immediately the two rushed towards her, Nathan pulling her up and into his arms, running his hand over her hair. Faith took to rubbing her back.

Allie hiccuped a few times, then "Dad, what happened? I heard all kinds of shouting, so - well - I'm sorry, but I stepped outside and saw Mr Coulter...maybe I shouldn't say so you don't have to arrest him. But Mr Bouchard, he...he deserved it. He was saying awful things." She pulled back and looked down, wiping her nose with the handkerchief she held. She looked back up at Nathan. "Did he hurt Mrs Thornton? Is she okay? He didn't hurt Jack, did he?"

Nathan looked at Faith briefly and after a moment she said "Why don't you two go sit down and I'll make us some tea...". Nathan mouthed the words 'thank you' as he took Allie over to the sofa.

As Faith made more tea - more than she'd ever made in one day before - she heard Nathan speaking to Allie in gentle, soothing terms. Being frankly honest without being too graphic or harsh. Allie needed to know that these things can happen. Even people we know and like or love can get ugly sometimes - but it doesn't happen very often.

She picked up the tray of tea and some cookies she'd found and as she turned, her heart stumbled over a few beats at the sight before her. She stopped and just watched Nathan holding his daughter in his arms. Really, not for the first time, she marveled at the fact that some smart woman hadn't snatched him up a long time ago. It was just her luck or maybe even divine intervention that she had an opportunity to do so now - one she wasn't about to waste.

After they'd had a chance to talk to Allie and calm her down, she planned to head up to bed and assured them she'd be fine and that Nathan should walk Faith home. As Nathan tucked Allie in, Faith took their dishes into the kitchen and set about tidying up. A few minutes later, she heard Nathan's footsteps on the stairs. She quickly dried her hands and as he rounded the corner into the kitchen, she turned around, bumping into him.

Not that she minded this in the least. Her heart leapt as she looked up into those crystal blue eyes. Wow, did the Lord know what He was doing when he fashioned them! As they'd collided, Nathan had wrapped his arms around her, which kept her from falling.

They gazed into each other's eyes for a few moments, then Faith smiled "Well, thank you, Constable."

Nathan returned with his trademark crooked smile and responded in kind "At your service, Doctor." Then he looked at her mouth and leaned in to lightly touch his lips to hers. The moment lingered and Faith wrapped her arms around his neck and deepened the kiss, a sigh escaping her lips.

Before things could get out of hand, Nathan pulled back just a bit, resting his forehead on hers. "Ummm, I should probably get you back home, the temptation here is just too much."

"You're right." She pulled her head back to better look at him and said "Though I could get used to this." With a cock of her brow, she moved to pick up her coat.

Out of the corner of her eye, she saw him grin and wondered exactly what he was thinking when he suddenly rushed over to grab her coat and hold it out for her to put on. She was hoping that he would soon share those thoughts with her, because he looked so very pleased.

On the way to town, they kept the conversation as light as possible and soon approached the infirmary. Main Street seemed fairly quiet with very few people out and about. Faith led the way up to her apartment door and unlocked it, then turned to Nathan.

"Thank you for dinner and please thank Allie as well. I really had a great time with the two of you."

Nathan pulled her closer to him and sighed "We had a great time with you as well. I hadn't really planned for our evening to end the way it did, though."

Faith pulled back a little so she could look into his eyes. "Nathan, it's what we do. In our lines of work, we're going to be called to deal with things like what happened tonight. At any time, any place. Personally, I think that it helps that we both understand that. And, in a town of this size, it's more than likely going to be someone we know."

"You're right, of course. I didn't even think about it until we were in the thick of things tonight that it was a blessing to not be worrying about what you were going to think about me having to do my job in the middle of a date. Now, I need to let you get some rest and I also need to get home to Allie. Goodnight, Faith."

He brushed a stray curl from her face and leaned forward to capture her lips in a light, soft kiss sending shivers down her spine. As much as she wanted to pull him closer, he was right - they both needed rest.

She pulled back and briefly touched his cheek. "Goodnight, Nathan. Be safe on your way home." With that, she opened her door and forced herself to go inside and close it. When she had, she leaned against it and took a deep breath, then closed her eyes and remembered that feather light kiss - no less powerful in its gentleness.

As she moved through her bedtime routine, she took the time to thank the Lord again for His amazing timing and for the man and his lovely, bright daughter whom He had brought into her life. She slept well and dreamt of a pair of crystal blue eyes, a crooked smile worn by the kindest man with a long, lean frame.