Hard Time (Part Nine)

Elisabeth ran fighting tears all the way to the creek that cut through the north pasture on her father's farm. High in one of the trees was the old tree house that she, her brothers, and their friends used to hang out in. She climed up the ladder and into the house. She let the tears fall now. Why couldn't her father understand? He had seen her in the hospital. He knew what Scott had done, he knew that Scott was the one that had done it. Why couldn't he see that Scott had changed?1

She heard someone climbing up the tree. The person that came into view was her brother, Chris. He was Elisabeth's height and had the same black hair with dark brown eyes. "Hey, Beth. Can I talk to you?"2

"I know what you are going to say, so don't even bother, ok?"3

"Elisabeth Marie, you don't know what I am going to say. Dad told us all about what happened today..."4

"Great, he thinks its ok to just spread my buisiness around. What's next? Is it going to show up in the Cullen Herald?" Elisabeth spat out with disgust.5

"No. Dad thought we deserved to know why you weren't eating with us. Sure he probably should have let you explain it to us, and I am giving you the chance to tell me your side of the story."6

"I love him, Chris. Nothing is going to change that."7

"How do you know?" 8

"I tried to NOT love him for the longest time. I tried to come up with every reason that I shouldn't be with him. I even asked God to make this love go away. But God kept telling me "Don't fight this." And I can't. I just can't fight it. I'd do anything for Scott, and I already know that he would do anything for me."9

Chris sat and took her words in for a moment. "You're sure this is what God wants?"10

"With all my heart." she breathed.11

"Well then there isn't anything I can say other than he must have changed a lot since being in prison, and that this is really what is supposed to be. It sounds to me like you feel for him what you felt for Callum, and what I feel for Chantel, Damien and Kaycee."12

Elisabeth gave Chris a big hug. "Oh Chris! Thank you so much for listening to me. Scott really is a great man."13

"I want to meet him." Chris said simply. "I'll go tomorrow. In the meantime, if we don't get back to Dad's, we are going to miss all the pumpkin pie!"14

"Race you!" Elisabeth said as she started down the ladder.15

"Hey! NO FAIR!" Chris laughed as he scrambled down behind her. Both raced back towards the house.16

************17

When Chris and Elisabeth got back, the family was all well into the meal. They both took their places, Chris next to his wife Chantel, and Elisabeth next to her and Chris' older brother Vance. Vance's wife Maribeth smiled at Elisabeth and nodded a hello. The whole family could see the cold stares that were passing between Elisabeth and Randall Sr., but no one said anything. 18

Maribeth broke the silence. "So, Elisabeth. How do you like your job?"19

"I love every minute of it..." Elisabeth went on to relate about how it had been the past few months and talked about a few of her favorite prisoners, including a little bit about Scott.20

"Sounds exciting," commented Randy Jr.'s wife Felicity. "But I could never do it. I'm content with staying at home with my kids."21

"Tell us more about Scott." insisted Maribeth.22

"Well, Scott is amaz...." 23

"I think it's time for desert. What does everyone else think?" broke in Randall Sr. He immediately went in the kitchen for the pies with Felicity on his heels to help.24

"I know that he isn't happy about this, but that was just plain rude." Maribeth stated.25

"Well I agree with him." said Randy.26

"No one asked for your opinion, Randy." Chris shot at him. 27

"You want to say that again, little brother?" Randy emphasized the word little with a sneer.28

"Guys, quit it!" Chantel ordered as Randall Sr. and Felicity entered the room with the pies.29

"You'll have to tell me later, Beth." Maribeth smiled.30

"Me too." said Chantel. "We can have a girls night tomorrow."31

"Count me in." called Felicity from down the table.32

Elisabeth sighed. At least her sister's in law and Chris seemed to be open minded. Vance didn't say anything for the rest of dinner, and Randy would agree with everything Dad said no matter what. Elisabeth was glad when she could finally go home and take a long hot shower.33

****************34

"Dad knows." Elisabeth said to Keenyah first thing the next day while checking the cells.35

"You called him?"36

"No actually. I was saying goodbye to Scott and my Dad was there. I didn't even know he was coming. It was really awkward. Scott and I were in a moment..."37

"And what was your father's reaction?" Keenyah asked.38

"He was NOT happy. I went to his house for dinner, and he proceeded to take me into another room to chew me out about the whole thing. He even suggested I get therapy because he thinks I have some hero worship complex! Then he proceeds to tell my whole family about it when I went out to get air."39

"And how is the rest of the family taking this?" Keenyah asked again, checking under a bed for contraband.40

"Well Chris is at least willing to meet Scott. Randy feels exactly the same as Dad, and Vance won't say much. My sisters in law seem to want to learn about how I came to love Scott. In fact, we are all meeting tonight at my apartment. You should come!" 41

"Aww, girl, I wouldn't wanna intrude in your family business." 42

"You aren't intruding. I'm in inviting you." Elisabeth smiled.43

"Oh alright then!" Keenyah laughed. "I'll be there."44

"Now I just have to tell Scott. I'm pretty sure he knows that Dad isn't happy about it....but still...it's going to be hard. Dad doesn't even want to really meet Scott."45

"Damn girl! That sucks! I hope you and your Dad can.....Oh crap Silvas! Looks like our favorite bad girl is trying to put a shank together again. Third time this week I have found one of these, either hers or Davis'."46

"They have been fighting a lot lately," Elisabeth sighed. "And I thought that I was really getting through to Silvas...but it looks like she is going to have to go to seclusion for awhile." Elisabeth went to file the report. She hated having to punish a prisoner like this, but sometimes it was the only thing that could be done.47

************48

The afternoon brought about more peace and quiet. Many of the men weren't feeling well, and most of them slept away the afternoon. Elisabeth was making rounds, checking to make sure that nothing was awry.49

"What's with the ring?" Diablo asked.50

Elisabeth noticed that it was visible and immediately dropped it under her shirt. "It was given to me by my fiancee."51

"When you gettin married then?" Diablo seemed to be in better spirits today.52

"I'm not. Callum was....he was killed on duty the day we were supposed to be married. He had stopped a guy for driving under the influence of drugs, meth I do believe. The guy shot him." Elisabeth's eyes misted recounting the day.53

Diablo nodded. "Like my Yelena. Damn boy took my Yelena, and I took him from his girl."54

"Do you think his girl deserves that?" asked Elisabeth.55

"What do you mean?"56

"Do you think that his girl deserved to be without her man just because he killed your girl? I mean, she would have been without him anyway because he would have gone to jail, but that's not the point. You did to her what he did to you, and she didn't deserve that."57

"Hey woman, life for life! And she deserved it, she a Crip!"58

"I didn't kill Brandon Chanson for killing Callum, Diablo. I forgave him. Look at what killing that person did for you, Diablo. You're in prison. You are looking at a death setence. Is it worth it? Come on, it's time for supper."59

"I'm not hungry." Diablo said angrily, but there was confusion in his eyes. Elisabeth smiled and walked down the hall, releasing soldiers for suppertime. Suppertime was good. She sat with her group of regulars.60

"Yo, Lyons! I got some good news!" Fly was excited. "Ima see the p board tomorrow. Ima get to go home to my boo if they think I'm ready."61

"That's great Fly!" Elisabeth smiled. It was always good to see an inmate getting ready to go home. She hoped Fly would take her advice and try to make a better life for himself. Though Elisabeth loved her time with the guys she used to work with, she really wanted to talk to Scott. He was sitting a few tables down joking with his table. "Man he looks good today," she thought. His hair was getting shaggy again, and he had just a bit of stubble growing on his face.62

She wasn't really looking forward to the fact that she would have to tell Scott that her Dad hated him, but she was looking forward just to being in his arms again. Scott looked up and noticed Elisabeth looking at him. He smiled sensually and mouthed "Hey Sexy" to her. She nearly spit out the water she was drinking laughing. 63

After supper and the Daywatch 2 had ended, Elisabeth went to Scott's cell.64

"I can't talk long, but I thought we should talk about yesterday."65

"Yeah," Scott said. "I take it that Dad is none too excited about this, huh?"66

"You hit the nail right on the head again Scott. Yeah, he even thinks that this is some hero worship phase. He doesn't understand that I really, truly love you. He even wanted me to see a therapist!"67

Scott laughed at the last remark, but Elisabeth wasn't laughing. "I'm sorry Liz. But therapy? Who even thinks that?"68

Elisabeth realized that it was kind of funny and chuckled. "I guess my Dad does." she said as Scott rubbed the back of her hand with his thumb as he held her hand. 69

"He needs to at least come here and give me a chance to explain myself," Scott said.70

"He seems pretty set with his decision. And when Dad is set in a decision, it's going to take a miracle for him to change his mind." Elisabeth sighed.71

"Damn." Scott said, and for a reason that Elisabeth did not know. This complicated his plans to ask Elisabeth to marry him. Scott really wanted her father's blessing. "You have to get him to change his mind."72

"I'm praying he will. My brother Chris says he wants to meet you. If he likes you, maybe Dad will come around. But you should pray that Dad changes his mind, because only an act of God will do it." Elisabeth laughed weakly.73

Scott smiled and kissed Elisabeth for a long time. During that kiss he breathed a prayer. He had to impress Chris. He had to change her father's mind. He had to marry Elisabeth.74