Hard Time (Part Eight)

Elisabeth carefully did her hair into two braids to look even more Native American than she already did. It was Thanksgiving day and she was to work. She figured she would go around the blocks wearing braids and a feather in her hat, or behind her ear. It would probably bring a smile to the inmates faces. For some, being away from family during this time was difficult. Christmas would be even worse.1

The past few weeks had been rather uneventful, with the exception of dealing with Diablo Mireles. He was always trying to cause a fight. He had been sent into seclusion twice already. There was even talk of sending him to a different prison with a death row. No matter what she did, Elisabeth could not get through to Diablo. He was more cold than anyone she had ever met. Then she would talk with Scott. He was still visiting the chaplain almost daily, but just wouldn't open himself fully to everything that the chaplain had to say.2

Elisabeth checked herself one last time in the mirror. Satisified with her job, she headed off to the PCF. It was snowing lightly on the rolling landscape. Nothing but wide open space and sky on the vast Kansas plains. It was really quite beautiful out here, it was a shame more people didn't appreciate it. She finally arrived at the gate, wished a happy thanksgiving to Lenny, and made her way into the prison. 3

.............4

Over on Cell Block A, Elisabeth heard snickers in relation to her hair and feather behind her ear. Keenyah even had to laugh. "What is up with your getup today, girl?"5

"I thought it would be entertaning." Elisabeth said. Then she started to sing, "Half-Breed! That's all I ever heard. Half-Breed! How I learned to hate the word...." She continued to sing as she danced up and down the block until the Cher song was finished. The whole block was laughing, and applauded at the end of her performance. She bowed, "Thank you, I'll be here all week!"6

"Hahaha, girl you are really something else!" Keenyah laughed with her friend. "That's exactly what these girls needed today. Most years they usually just mope around wanting to be home, or anywhere but here. You made them forget that for a second."7

"I know it's rough for some of the people here, including the officers. I just try to make the day as fun as possible." Elisabeth shrugged. "It's the least I can do."8

"Well, none of us before had ever thought of doing anything like this. You've definitley raised the bar. Hey, you doing anything special after you get off J block?"9

"Actually, no. The family is all at my brother's in Chicago. But I do get to eat dinner with Scott today." Elisabeth smiled.10

"Does your family know about you and Scott?" Keenyah asked out of nowhere.11

"Uh, no I haven't to be honest. I haven't found a good time." Elisabeth floundered. The question had caught her off guard. She knew she was going to have to tell them sometime. She had no idea how they would react.12

"Well, you should do that. They need to know about Scott, and you can't hide it forever." Keenyah said. "Anyway, you should come to my house at seven sharp. We're having a party with all of the officers from the Daywatches."13

"That's great! I'll be there. But for now, we ought to get back to doing our jobs!" Elisabeth smiled and then let out a war whoop as she went down the hall.14

...............15

"So how was your day?" asked Scott as he swallowed a bite of stuffing at supper.16

"It was really good actually." Elisabeth said. "The women thought my get up was hillarious. And did you hear me singing Half Breed when I came in today? Even Diablo had to laugh!" 17

"Yeah I heard that. You wanna do it again so that I can see?" Scott teased as he reached across the table to mess with the feathers in her hair.18

"I think I'll pass. I've embarassed myself enough for one day." 19

"So are you doing anything with your family?" asked Scott.20

"Uh no, actually. Everyone is at my brother Randy's in Chicago. I don't mind. I'm here with you." Elisabeth smiled.21

Scott smiled and took her hand, but there was seriousness in his face. "Elisabeth, do they know about me?"22

"I haven't said anything yet, no."23

"Why not?"24

"I just haven't found the right time yet. I'm going to do it sometime soon..."25

Scott cut her off, "Do it today, Elisabeth. They need to know." What Scott wasn't saying was that he was planning to ask Elisabeth's father for permission to marry her. He wanted to ask Elisabeth at Christmas, and he, Sanger, and Benton were all working out a plan.26

"Ok,ok I'll tell them today after I get done with work." Elisabeth wondered why Scott was pushing this. It was time for supper to be done and everyone filed out of the mess hall. Elisabeth was allowed to walk Scott back to his cell.27

"Don't forget, call them today." Scott said as he took Elisabeth into his arms.28

"Mmmmm," she murmured into his shoulder as he kissed the top of her head. 29

"I love you so much. Don't ever forget that." Scott leaned down to kiss her again. All of the sudden the moment was broken.30

"Elisabeth! What in the world!?!" exclaimed a deep voice behind them. Elisabeth whirled around to see her father and one of her brothers standing there.31

"Uhm....uh Hey Dad, hey Randy. I....uh...I thought you were in Chicago?" Elisabeth stammered.32

Confusion still lingered in the pale blue eyes of Randall Lyons Sr. He stood 6'1" and was heavyset with dark brown hair streaked in grey. "We decided to surprise you by coming here...do you wanna tell me what's going on here?"33

Elisabeth breathed deeply and released. "Dad, Randy, This is Scott Kendrick. He and I have been seeing each other for awhile now. Actually since shortly after I got out of the hospital."34

Scott took a step towards Elisabeth's family and extended a hand, "Nice to finally meet you, sir."35

Both Randy Sr. and Jr. just stood staring at Scott. They knew what he was and what he had done. None of them shook Scott's hand. "Elisabeth, let's talk about this when we get home." said her father quietly. Elisabeth knew immediately that he was NOT happy at all.36

"Bye Scott."37

"See you tomorrow, love." 38

................39

"Why do you think you can still run my life? I'm 28 years old for cryin out loud!" Elisabeth practically yelled at her father.40

"Elisabeth! He's a MURDERER! He killed someone! How can you even....I can't even say. I can't even think!" Randall Lyons stammered in anger and frustration.41

"He has changed Dad! He was high when he shot that cop....now he is seeing the chaplain everyday. Dad, he saved my life! If it would not have been for Scott, I would not be here today!"42

"And what about Callum? What would he think?" Dad shot back.43

"Don't you DARE bring Callum into this, Dad!" Elisabeth hissed. "He is gone. I can't change that. But Callum would want me to be happy. He would want me to move on, and dad, if the situation were reversed I would want Callum to move on too." Tears were streaming down Elisabeth's face now. She sank to the couch and buried her face in her hands.44

"I'm sorry, Lis. I shouldn't have said that. But why didn't you tell me about this before? It might have been nice to have had some warning." He sat next to his daughter and patted her back with his hand.45

Through her tears Elisabeth replied, "I don't know. I just wanted to find the right time....Dad, I love him. I want you to understand that. Just talk to him ok? Get to know him before you judge him."46

"Elisabeth, I can't do that."47

"Why not?"48

"I still don't feel good about this. I just don't think this is the best thing for you. Maybe you feel like you owe this to him BECAUSE he saved your...."49

"NO NO NO NO! This isn't some hero worship thing, Dad. I started having feelings for Scott from the moment I saw him! Please understand me..."50

"Elisabeth," he said taking her hand, "I think that you want to believe that, but it's just not true. Hun, maybe you should see someone about this."51

Elisabeth jerked her hand away. "See a shrink? You think I'm crazy? That I am losing my mind just because I happen to love an inmate?"52

"The stress of prison life gets to officers too, Elisabeth."53

"You know me Dad! You know me! How could you even say.....ugh! You are wrong. I am NOT crazy." Elisabeth got up to leave the room.54

"Where are you going?"55

"I need some air. Tell the others to start without me." And with that, Elisabeth left her father's house and into the field next to it running as fast as she could.