CHAPTER 13
Lucas was up early. He had coffee made although he didn't drink it, he thought MaKayla probably did. He was sorry there was no food in the house to make breakfast for her. He would do the next best thing and treat her to breakfast at the café. MaKayla came into the kitchen a few minutes later looking beautiful. She was casually dressed; her long hair in a braid that cascaded down the bodice of her dress. Her hazel eyes were gleaming with happiness
"Good morning, I made coffee for you but I'm afraid there is nothing here to make for breakfast." He said embarrassed. "But I can take you to the café, if you like. Minnie makes the best scones." He told her with a grin.
MaKayla sat down at the table as he poured her a cup of coffee. "That sounds wonderful. I'm hungry. How did you sleep last night?" She asked him. She was so exhausted last night she is not sure she would have heard anything no matter how loud. She hoped he had gotten some sleep.
He took a sip of his tea, "Alright." He said succinctly. "You said you were going to see Faith and visit the mercantile today. Is that still your plan?" She nodded. "Do you think I could interest you in an afternoon horseback ride? I guess I should ask first if you know how to ride or like to ride?"
She smiled at him, "Yes, I love to ride. Have you been riding since you've been back here?" She asked going into doctor mode.
"No," he answered, but he knew she was really asking about his leg. "My leg is actually feeling much better. I have been diligent with the exercises and I've been going to the hot springs we have here in Hope Valley. I really think that has made a big difference." He told her cheerfully.
"Hot Springs. You will have to show me." She told him. "Can we get going to the café? I'm starving." She said while rubbing her stomach with an eager smile.
When they got to town, Lucas again parked in the back of the saloon. He asked her to go on to the café and he would meet her over there. She chuckled as she knew he was doing this to insure no one saw them arrive in town together.
They had a wonderful breakfast at the café. Minnie had come over to talk with them. MaKayla thought she was a lovely woman and would enjoy getting to know her better. After breakfast MaKayla headed to the infirmary and Lucas had a meeting scheduled with the Hope Valley town council to discuss the merger of the towns.
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MaKayla entered the infirmary. It was small yet seemed to be well appointed. As she entered a pretty young blonde woman came out of a back room with a little girl.
"Hello, I'm Dr. Carter. May I help you?" She asked.
MaKayla smiled, "Dr. Carter, it is so nice to meet you. I'm MaKayla Donovan." She extended her hand to Faith.
"Dr. Donovan, I'm so happy you arrived. Have you seen Lucas?" She asked.
"Yes, I arrived yesterday." MaKayla bent down to the little girl, "I bet you're Lilly."
Faith smiled, "Yes, how did you know?" As the little girl flashed MaKayla a big grin.
"Lucas told me what a wonderful thing you were doing for Lilly and her grandmother. It really is very kind of you." She told her with admiration.
Faith smiled again, "I think it is a good thing for both of us. Let me get her set up with some paper and crayons so we can talk." She told her.
MaKayla walked around the infirmary while Faith tended to her charge. "I volunteer in a small clinic outside of Capital City once a month, but we don't have nearly the set up you have here. This is very impressive." She told her.
"The infirmary was actually set up by Dr. Carson Shepherd. But then he moved on to John Hopkins and I inherited the clinic. He was a surgeon so we have a lot more equipment than you might normally find in a general practitioner's clinic. Unfortunately, though I'm not a surgeon. So have you had a chance to really talk with Lucas?" She inquired as she walked over to sit next to MaKayla.
"We had dinner together last night and breakfast this morning. He seemed fine although I noticed he did not eat a lot at either meal." MaKayla eyed her colleague, "Faith, can I be honest with you?" She asked with some nervousness.
Faith gave her a curious look but nodded. "I'm actually staying at Lucas's house. He would be mortified if he knew that I told you. He has such a thing for propriety. As I explained to him, since the nightmares are one of the biggest concerns, I need to be there at night with him. He has a very nice extra bedroom." She smiled hoping Faith understood there was no compromising behavior going on.
Faith laughed, "your secret is safe with me. Whatever you do, don't let Florence find out, otherwise the whole town will know." She told her.
"Who is Florence?" MaKayla asked.
"Florence Yost, she runs the mercantile with her husband Ned. She means well but she loves to talk and she is the operator on the switchboard most of the time." Faith told her with a smile.
"Thank you for telling me," MaKayla said, "I will watch my p's and q's around Mrs. Yost. She said laughingly.
How was he last night, any nightmares?" Faith asked curiously.
"He said no, but honestly I was so exhausted last night, I'm really not sure I would have noticed." She said somewhat embarrassed.
"The other thing I wanted to ask you was if maybe I could help you out here at the clinic. When Lucas told me about Lilly, I thought perhaps you would want to spend some extra time with her. I would be more than happy to give you that time. As Lucas pointed out, I can't watch him 24 hours a day." She laughed.
"Oh, MaKayla that would be wonderful. Thank you so much, I would be pleased to take you up on your offer. Let me give you the grand tour and show you where everything is." Faith said happily.
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The Hope Valley Town Council met in Judge Avery's office. Once everyone was assembled, Lucas walked to the front of the room.
"I appreciate everyone agreeing to meet with me this morning. The reason for the meeting is to go over the plan my administration has come up with to solve the dispute about land access to the resort area with Benson Hills. The proposal is to merge the two towns." He said waiting on a reaction from the council.
"You want to merge the towns?" Bill said incredulously. "Maise is never going to go for it." He said confidentially.
"She has no choice; her town council has already approved the merger. So now I'm here asking for Hope Valleys agreement as well. But all of you have to agree to it. It must be unanimous to merge the two towns or kill the resort here in Hope Valley. It can be built in the hills of Jameson or Buxton." Lucas told them
Florence spoke up, "Jameson and Buxton don't have the charm that we do. It has to be here." She said firmly.
Lucas continued, "there is however one potential downside. Merging the towns means our school will fall under the jurisdiction of the Valley School District. We'll lose our independence." He said looking directly at Elizabeth as he was well acquainted with her feelings regarding the school board.
Everyone turned to look at Elizabeth. "We've had our issues with the school board before but we've always overcome them. This could mean more benefits." Elizabeth said somewhat unsure.
"A larger school district could mean better opportunities for our kids. Better resources." Lee said trying to see the upside of doing this.
"You really believe in this?" Elizabeth asked looking directly at Lucas.
He returned her gaze. "I do. Economically it will mean a better future for the whole valley and for everyone in it." He said as he gazed into her deep blue eyes, no longer sure what he saw there.
She lowered her gaze for just a moment, took a deep breath and then looked back at Lucas, "Then I say yes." Elizabeth told him. But then the moment was gone as she turned to look behind her at Nathan. Lucas lowered his head slightly, another dagger to his heart.
He cleared his throat and looked at the others. "Thank you everyone. You will see what a good thing this will be for Hope Valley and Benson Hills. Lucas left the meeting with a political victory but once again sadness overtook him. He wanted more than anything to be free of the pain that it seemed Elizabeth wielded over him.
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At noon the clinic had a visitor, "Good afternoon, Constable. How may I help you?" MaKayla asked.
"Oh, hello. Hmm, where's Faith, I mean Dr. Carter?" Nathan said blushing.
"She just stepped out for a minute; she'll be right back. I'm Dr. MaKayla Donovan. Can I help you?" She inquired.
"Donovan, as in Lucas's doctor from Capital City?" He asked.
"Yes, I arrived in town yesterday." She said smiling at him. So, she thought, this was the Mountie that had apparently captured Elizabeth's fancy, so much so she was willing to break Lucas's heart. "I'm helping Faith out at the clinic here and there so I'd be happy to assist you with whatever you need." She told him pleasantly.
Just then Faith and Lilly came out of the back room. "Nathan, hello." She said smiling, surprised to see him. "You've met Dr. Donovan. She is visiting from Capital City and has agreed to help me out at the clinic so I can have some more free time to spend with Lilly. Isn't that very generous of her?" Faith said cheerfully.
Turning to Dr. Donovan, "Nathan Grant, a pleasure to meet you Dr. Donovan. That is very generous of you to offer to help Faith out. How long will you be staying in Hope Valley?" He asked her.
"I'm not sure yet. That depends on the governor." She told him.
"Is there something wrong with Lucas? Is he not recovering as expected? I mean I know he looks like hell right now…sorry I shouldn't have said that." Nathan lowered his gaze slightly embarrassed by his honesty.
MaKayla laughed, "Constable you wouldn't be wrong about that. But I promise you I'm going to do everything within my power to get him back to full health." She said assuredly.
Nathan nodded at MaKayla's statement then turned his attention back to Faith, "Hmm, Faith I wanted to see if you and Lilly would like to join me for lunch at the Café. It's such a nice day, we could eat out on the veranda." MaKayla looked from Faith to the Constable, something was peculiar here, she thought she saw a spark between the two of them.
"Faith, please go with the Constable and enjoy a relaxing lunch. I'm not meeting Lucas till 3:00 so I have plenty of time." She told her.
"Well, if you're sure, I think we will. Lilly, do you want to have lunch with Mountie Nathan?" She asked the little girl.
"Yes, and then can we have ice cream?" The little girl asked excitedly as the adults laughed at her enthusiasm
Faith gave her a motherly look. "Only if you eat all your lunch. Thank you MaKayla I appreciate it. We will be back shortly." The threesome left for lunch leaving MaKayla confused. She wondered if she should mention this lunch date of Faith's to Lucas.
About a half hour later, the clinic had another visitor, this time it was none other than Elizabeth Thornton. She came in with a little boy who was holding a cloth on his arm. "Dr. Donovan," Elizabeth said surprised, "I'm looking for Faith. Is she here?" She said hopefully.
"No, she had a lunch date. I'm holding down the clinic. Looks like we have a patient. What is your name?" She said compassionately to the crying child.
"Jason," the little boy said through his tears.
"He was running and tripped and somehow cut his arm. I couldn't get it to stop bleeding. I think it may need some stitches." She told the doctor.
MaKayla put the little boy up on the table and examined his arm. I think you are right; this could use a few." She said turning to Elizabeth before turning back to the boy. "This won't hurt, I promise. Are you going to be brave for me Jason?" The little boy nodded, as MaKayla gave him a reassuring smile.
As MaKayla worked on stitching up Jason's cut, Elizabeth made conversation. "How is Lucas doing? He seems to be walking better. I'm sure he won't need that cane much longer. He'll be back to his old self soon." Elizabeth said jauntily
MaKayla gave Elizabeth a side-eye glance. "There are injuries that the eyes cannot see, I would think you would be aware of that Elizabeth." She said to her curtly.
"What do you mean?" Elizabeth asked truly confused by the doctor's comment.
"I'm sure if you really stopped to think about everything that has happened to Lucas in the past 6 months and look beyond yourself, you might be able to figure it out. It isn't my place to tell you." She told the woman without a hint of warmth.
MaKayla turned her attention back to her patient. "There you go Jason, all better. Now that didn't hurt, did it?" She said tenderly to the little boy.
The little boy sniffled, "Thank you."
"Elizabeth, please tell the boys' parents to come back in 10 days to have Dr. Carter remove the stitches. Just then Nathan, Faith and Lilly came into the infirmary. They were laughing as they entered the room.
Everyone seemed to stop, surprised to see each other. "Nathan," Elizabeth said.
"Hello Elizabeth, I…I took Faith and Lilly to lunch since Dr. Donovan was here. Hmm, I really have to be going. Faith, thank you for a lovely lunch. Goodbye." Nathan told the women and left as quickly as possible.
MaKayla observed with interest the dynamic in the room. She had to laugh, for a small town they sure had a lot of drama. MaKayla moved on from her musings and told Faith everything about Jason's injury.
"I have to be going now; I still need to get some food staples for Lucas's kitchen before I meet him at 3. I will stop by tomorrow, Faith, and we can work out a schedule so you can spend some more time with Lilly. Thanks for letting me help today. Goodbye ladies." MaKayla flashed one of her radiant smiles and left the clinic.
Elizabeth turned to Faith, "Dr. Donovan is planning on helping out in the clinic? Is she planning on staying here?" She asked, totally stymied since stepping into the clinic.
"I'm not sure how long she plans to stay, I assume as long as she feels Lucas needs her. I'm just grateful for her offer to help me as well." Faith said.
"Faith, when I asked her how Lucas was doing, she was very cryptic. Is he Ok? Elizabeth asked with concerned.
"It's not for me to say. I will tell you that Lucas is suffering in ways that you can't even imagine. I will leave you in charge of letting Jason's parents know when to bring him back in to get the stitches removed." She told her, letting her know that any discussion of Lucas was over.
Elizabeth thanked Faith and left the infirmary. She was so baffled. Nathan had a lunch date with Faith. Lucas's doctor from Capital City was here for some reason that no one would discuss with her. Last night she had thought that MaKayla was here because something was going on between the two of them, but now…but now she wasn't sure of anything. Suddenly, her entire world had become very muddled.
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MaKayla showed up at the stables right at 3. Lucas was already there and the horses were saddled.
"Hello," he greeted her with a dimpled grin. "All set to go?" He asked.
"Yes, I've been looking forward to this all day." What is my horse's name?" She asked.
"Sassy," he said, "just like you." He teased her.
They both mounted their horses and took off. MaKayla was a very good rider. They rode for a about a half an hour when Lucas stopped at a clearing. "I thought we could sit for a little while and talk." He told her.
They dismounted and made their way up a small hill. Lucas didn't bring his cane, so he held on to MaKayla's arm for support. Once they reached the top, MaKayla let out a huge gasp. The view was stunning.
Lucas laid down a blanket and they both sat. "Oh Lucas, this is such a beautiful view, so scenic, peaceful. I thought the view at your house was beautiful but this one. Seeing the snowcapped mountains over in the distance surrounded by that large lake is breathtaking. Did you come here often when you lived in Hope Valley?" She asked taking in the beauty around her.
"For a while I did. I actually own this land. I bought it thinking I would build a house here for Elizabeth and Jack. A place for us to become a family. But Elizabeth refused to move from the rowhouse and well, I haven't gotten around to selling it." He told her with chagrin.
She turned to stare at him in disbelief. "How could she not have fallen in love with this view, with this land." She said incredulously.
"She never saw it. Never wanted to see it. Just told me no, because she didn't want to leave living next door to her best friend, Rosemary. Didn't want to leave the memories of Jack Sr. that were in that rowhouse." He said as he turned to look at her. "Can I ask you a personal question?" He asked hesitantly.
"Sure, Lucas anything at all. I'm an open book to you." She smiled affectionally at him.
"If you don't want to answer, I'll understand." He said tentatively. "Have you been in love again since Trevor died?" The question came out in a velvety whisper.
She looked into his soft painfully sad eyes. "Why did you ask me that?" She was surprised by the question.
He sighed, "I guess I just wanted to know that it really is possible to move on from a love that you thought was forever." He said wistfully.
He then turned his gaze away from her and stared straight ahead. "I want to put my love for Elizabeth in the past where it belongs. But every now and then, I see a glimmer of the Elizabeth I loved. Take today, merging Benson Hills and Hope Valley means she will no longer have her school independent from the Valley School district. But she agreed to the merger anyway. Whatever the reason she agreed, and I'm grateful." He told her honestly.
"But most of the time, for reasons I don't understand, her attitude towards me has been cold and dismissive. Maybe it's her way to assuage the guilt she may feel about everything that happened; perhaps she sees me as the villain who needs to be punished. I just don't know." He stopped talking, and ran his hand through his hair in contemplation.
"I know I will always care about Elizabeth; our relationship may not have been real to her but it was very real to me. I thought she and I would be together till death us do part." He gave a sad laugh. "But I'm doing my best to take away her power to hurt me. She will live her life as she sees fit and with whom she sees fit and I will do the same." He said with a conviction he did not yet quite feel.
"I wish things had never come to this, but I know I loved her the best way I knew how. It seems I wasn't who she truly wanted. But I think I can accept that now and I'm ready to put my love for her in the past." He said as he turned once again to looked at MaKayla with eyes full of emotion. "I know it won't be easy for me but it's what I need to do and more importantly it's what I want to do." He told her with conviction.
"Lucas," MaKayla hesitated not sure if she really wanted to know the answer to this question. "If Elizabeth came to you and told you she made a mistake in ending your relationship, would you take her back if she asked?" She took in his gaze trying to see beyond the sadness that was on the surface.
He gave her a wan smile, "First she isn't going to ask. And second, even if she did, I don't think that would be the right move for either one of us. I'm not a consolation prize to be given out whenever she changes her mind. I've already played that game with her… twice. I won't do it a third time. I deserve to be loved for who I am and I shouldn't have to twist myself into a pretzel to please the woman I love. He paused for moment to collect his thoughts.
"I did accept I would have to share her with her first husband, especially with her having a child. But once she committed to me, my needs and wants should have been a consideration above trying to re-live the life she didn't get to live with him. I previously gave her every opportunity to take a different path and she choose me again and again until she didn't. I was collateral damage to her or at least that's how it feels. I just want to stop feeling sad about it. I want to open my heart to someone new."
"Lucas," she said tentatively, "when I was at the infirmary today, I met Constable Grant for the first time. He came to take Faith and Lilly to lunch. While they were at lunch, Elizabeth came into the clinic with one of her students, she was still there when Faith and Nathan returned. I don't know Nathan and Elizabeth well at all. I know that you believe Elizabeth ended your relationship to pursue one with the Constable." She paused to gazed at him trying to judge his reaction.
"In observing them for that short period of time today, I think that Constable Grant may have feelings for Faith. Perhaps he does for Elizabeth as well, I don't know. But if Constable Grant and Faith do begin a relationship, maybe Elizabeth will seek to rekindle what the two of you once shared. I know you just told me you wouldn't open your heart to her a third time…" She paused afraid to continue but knew she must.
"But that was before you knew that it could truly become a reality. I just think that you should be aware that Elizabeth's path to Constable Grant may not be all that assured." She stared at him, wondering in this moment if it was her heart that would now also be a casualty of Elizabeth's fickle ways.
Lucas did not answer for the longest time and MaKayla felt herself feeling berefted. He then turned to look at her. "The first months after we parted I would dream of her coming back to me. But when I needed her most, she wasn't there for me. I blamed myself, that I wasn't enough for her. I don't know what Elizabeth wants but I do know what I want. And I know that my heart is leading me another way."
Lucas moved closer to her, "and if I'm not mistaken, I think your heart is leading you a certain way too." He said as he gazed into her eyes. "If I'm wrong MaKayla please tell me now." He asked with pleading eyes.
She took her hands cupping his face and as she leaned into him, their lips brushing together, tentatively at first, then with a little more intensity. She could feel her heart rate increase, wondering if he could feel it too. His lips were soft and gentle, she wanted this man with an all-consuming passion but she knew he was not ready for that yet.
He could smell the floral scent of her shampoo, her lips brushed his, softly, with a gentleness that belied the heat he felt in her touch. He felt a warm glow in his chest as they tenderly increased the fire in the kiss before she pulled away.
They looked into each other's eyes, "Governor, now what does that tell you?" she asked coyly.
He smiled, "Our doubts are traitors, and makes us use the good we oft might win by fearing to attempt."
"You're quoting Shakespear," she laughed, this man of literature. "So, in other words, you're throwing your fears into the wind and are willing to try and bring love back into your life. Do I have that right Governor?"
He leaned in again for another taste of her sweetness. "You've got that right Doc."