Re: Say the Words - ch.30 -- The Dr. Quinn Medicine Woman Fan Exchange

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Date Posted: 07:08:41 03/26/03 Wed
Author: dqfan
Subject: Re: Say the Words - ch.30
In reply to: dqfan 's message, "Re: Say the Words - ch.29" on 07:03:40 03/26/03 Wed

CHAPTER THIRTY

Alexander stepped out of the cab and made his way toward the front walk. The first time Alexander had been to Peter's home, he'd been so concerned by Peter's mental and physical anguish that he hadn't really bothered to take a good look around.

Curious, he wandered over to the large silver trailer, parked haphazardly on the front lawn and wondered why on earth Peter would possess such a thing.

With his back towards the house, Alexander whistled in dismay as he ran his hand over the scrap metal, which rather pathetically comprised the trailer's flimsy outward shell.

"May I help you?" the woman's voice demanded, not taking kindly to intruders.

Quickly, Alexander spun around, turning to face to his accuser.

"Oh, Commander Becker," Charity exclaimed with surprise. "I certainly didn't expect to see you here�"

Alexander smiled shyly at Charity, who stood behind the screen door of Peter's house observing him with a modicum of suspicion.

"I'm sorry to bother you, Mrs. Mitchell," Alexander approached her. "I was looking for Peter�"

"Peter has gone to work," Charity heaved a sigh of relief. "Not that I think the poor lamb will get a stitch of work done," she elaborated. "He should be home in a few hours�"

"I�have some news�about Sophie�" Alexander explained awkwardly, hoping Charity would invite him in.

"Well, why didn't you say so?" Charity's voice softened as she allowed Alexander's sincerity to alleviate, at least temporarily, her doubts about him. "Won't you come in?"

"I'd like that�" Alexander smiled eagerly. Although his primary goal was to speak with Peter, Alexander saw no reason why he couldn't enjoy the chance to spend some time with the charming Mrs. Mitchell as well.

^^^^^^^

"So, she's been at Rusty's all this time?!" Charity could hardly believe Alexander's news as she poured them both a cup of coffee.

"You know, she did run away to the local five and dime once when she was seven," Alexander chuckled. "And I thought that was close�"

Charity laughed at the picture Alexander painted, re-evaluating her opinion of him as she did so. He had an ego, certainly, but then what man didn't? His brusque, military demeanor reeked of lofty power and authority; and yet, when he spoke of Sophie, he spoke with the soft and tender heart of a parent.

In addition to that, Alexander's devastating combination of charm and good looks warranted him the distinct honor of being one of the most ruggedly handsome men Charity had ever met.

"You have any children of your own, Mrs. Mitchell?" Alexander asked curiously.

"Charity�please call me Charity�" she offered willingly.

"Alex�" Suavely, he returned the offer.

"No, my late husband, Sam, and I weren't able to have children," Charity explained forthrightly. "Peter is my best friend, Rachel's, son�my godson�all I have in the world."

Profoundly touched by the depth of Charity's emotions when she spoke of Peter, Alexander admitted the same, with an equal expression of devotion. "Sophie's all I have, too. I never remarried after my wife left�"

Charity nodded sympathetically. "It does get lonely�"

Suddenly realizing that Alexander's life might be a touch more interesting than her own, Charity chuckled amusedly, "But then I'm not traveling the world jumping out of airplanes�"

Alexander laughed heartily. "Oh, Charity, it's not as glamorous as it sounds, I promise you."

"Tell me about yourself," Alexander encouraged, taking a sip of his coffee. "Do you live here with Peter?"

"Good Lord, no!" she exclaimed with a laugh hearty enough to match Alexander's. "We'd kill each other!"

"I live in Colorado Springs as generations of my family - and Peter's - did before me," Charity explained. "I run the ranch Sam and I started together and in my spare time I preside over the local historical society�My family owned the saloon�"

That last bit of information attracted Alexander to Charity all the more. She had an openness - an honesty - that Alexander found extremely refreshing, especially after marriage to Maureen and countless years of fawning women, whom Alexander was too polite to refer to as overaged groupies.

"I only arrived about a month ago," Charity revealed as Alexander listened intently. "I sensed from Sophie's correspondence that things weren't quite right with her and Peter. She offered me her trailer and�"

"Her trailer?" A wide grin crossed Alexander's face.

"Why yes," Charity replied, "Sophie was living there before she and Peter decided to get married."

"Should've known�that's my girl," Alexander laughed. "Leave it to Sophie to drive some oversized metal box across a perfectly good stretch of lawn just to preserve her independence�"

"Well, if you see her again, please tell her that she's more than welcome to move back," Charity offered graciously. "I can certainly stay with Peter until she decides�"

Charity's voice faded as she and Alexander both contemplated the incredible enormity of the decision presently facing Sophie.

"I don't think she'll be asking for my advice any time soon," Alexander remarked sadly.

"Then, perhaps, someone else should help her with her decision�" Charity's eyes twinkled with mischief.

Leaning closer, Alexander's eyes met Charity with a likewise sparkle, "What exactly did you have in mind?"

^^^^^^^^

"Thanks for comin' out to the house, Frank," Peter apologized. "I must've forgotten that report on my way out this morning�"

Peter opened his front door with Frank following closely behind, assuring Peter repeatedly that this little side-trip was no problem at all. The sight that greeted the two men, however, stopped them both in their tracks�

Charity and Alexander were huddled over pen and paper at the kitchen table, with a cinnamon cake and freshly brewed pot of coffee lavished about. Their easy laughter filled the room until�

"Peter!" Charity commented with surprise. "And Frank�Do come in, Alex and I were just discussing�"

Peter didn't hear Charity's next few words nor did he hear Charity introduce Frank to Alexander. He just stood there, absorbing the perplexing scene before him. Not only had Sophie's father reappeared in his living room, he seemed to be making himself at home, enjoying a late-day snack with dear Aunt Charity, who was now, inexplicably, calling him "Alex�"

Peter may have been puzzled but he certainly wasn't as stunned as poor Frank, who stood there slightly open-mouthed, mystified to discover that Sophie's father appeared to be just as interested in Charity as he did.

Slowly, Peter regained his composure as Charity's words began to sink in�

"Sophie was staying at Rusty's," she said. "Sophie and Alex had talked." This was all definitely news to Peter.

Charity and Alex were working on a plan�

That last bit of information filled Peter with a certain amount of dread. His own plan was shaky at best. Did he really need family and friends assisting him, no matter how well-intentioned their efforts might be?

"I'm�not sure about this�" Peter hedged nervously, hoping Frank would help him discourage the pair.

"What's not to be sure of?" Charity huffed. "It'll only be a small party, which I'll just happen to throw at Rusty's�"

"Something Sophie won't be able refuse," Alexander added helpfully.

"Now all I need is a reason to throw a party?" Charity rubbed her hands together gleefully. "Any suggestions?"

Up until now, Frank had been exceedingly quiet as he let everything he'd heard sink in. For better or worse, Charity and Alex had begun "Operation Sophie" and, though Peter would have preferred otherwise, Frank quickly reached the conclusion that he'd better not be left behind.

With an attractive mix of bashfulness and eagerness, Frank mumbled from the corner of the room, "Well�uh�next Saturday�is my�uh�birthday."

"Oh, that is perfect! Absolutely perfect!" Charity gushed, leaving Alexander's side to give Frank an appreciative hug and kiss in gratitude.

"Great idea, Frank!" Alexander enthused. "Isn't it, Peter?"

"Oh yeah�great Frank�really great�" Peter muttered sarcastically, though no one really noticed.

Shaking his head in disbelief, Peter turned his back on the three meddlers as they plotted their strategy, with Charity seated regally in the middle and her two suitors avidly encouraging her from either side.

Deeming his presence woefully insignificant, Peter wandered uselessly into the bedroom. Climbing atop the bedcovers, Peter sank back wearily against the pillows. He could definitely feel a headache coming on�

^^^^^^^^^^

Peter awoke with a start. The room was dark as he grappled unsuccessfully to reach the light switch. Slowly, his eyes adjusted to the darkness and the red glare of his alarm clock. The hour of 2am came visibly into focus.

"Terrific," Peter muttered, orienting himself as he tried to account for the missing time. "Fell asleep in your clothes, slept through dinner�you're a mess, Scarbrow."

Still dazed, Peter changed quickly into his pajama bottoms, then headed toward the kitchen to satisfy his growling stomach.

Peering stealthily around each corner, Peter was relieved to find that his well-meaning operatives had disbanded their command post for the night.

"Good, they're gone�" Peter sighed gratefully upon seeing that Frank and Alexander had both departed.

The door to the guest bedroom was securely shut and Peter correctly assumed that Charity must be fast asleep as well.

Relishing the incredible, hushed, peacefulness that blanketed the house, Peter stood in front of the open refrigerator and began to hungrily polish off all that remained of Charity's cinnamon cake. He hadn't eaten a bite since Sophie walked out on him and now that he knew she was still in Agnes, Peter was famished.

Contentedly he munched, enjoying the simple fact that the kitchen was finally, absolutely, and undeniably his. But, as the moon shone brightly through the window over the sink, its rays grazing Peter's bare back as it illuminated the kitchen, Peter realized he wasn't really alone. Everywhere he looked, he saw Sophie�offering him a spoonful of Gianni's shrimp marinara, struggling to master the art of fondue, reminding him not to drink out of the carton�

Guiltily, Peter gulped the last drop of milk from the carton and tossed it in the wastebasket. The kitchen held too many memories, he decided, padding back toward his bedroom. But, as he closed the door behind him, Peter was overcome by the utter futility of trying to escape Sophie anywhere in the house - especially the bedroom.

She'd left in such a hurry, most of her belongings were still there - right where she'd left them. The old goat herder was still smiling, as gloriously as always�Her game of Twister still sat on the top shelf of the closet�and her goddesses of wisdom still stood sentry atop the bedroom dresser.

Peter sat on the footboard of the bed, staring directly across at Sophie's "girls." He could almost swear they were staring back, registering their profound disappointment in him.

Derisively, he ridiculed their collective enlightenment. "You were a big help�"

As Peter headed dejectedly into bed, something made him turn back. Taking a closer look at the statues, Peter stopped for a moment to admire their delicate beauty. Maybe his eyes were playing tricks on him, but, even in the dim moonlight, Peter could have sworn he saw a touch of sympathy in their eyes, a softening of their expressions, as if they'd decided to take pity on his plight. Suddenly, Peter was struck with a very intriguing idea.

Maybe "the girls" could still help him after all�

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Replies:

Re: Say the Words - ch.31 & 32 -- dqfan, 07:15:58 03/26/03 Wed
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