Hard Time (Part Fifteen)

Elisabeth regained her composure enough to make it through the drive to her father's red farmhouse- the very house Elisabeth grew up in. Almost as soon as she was out of the car, her father's three huskies were on her, jumping and licking in the frosty February air. Elisabeth smiled slightly. "All right! Down boys and girls!" she said as she pushed past them and headed for the barn. As she opened the door, she was met by the fragrance of hay and the acrid smell of dog urine. 1

She found the dog food and poured it into the three seperate bowls. She then turned to the water trough that was frozen over. Elisabeth sighed slightly, and went to the corner where her father had left the pick axe, and began to chop at the ice. When the trough was clear, she filled it with water. The dogs didn't seem to care much. They were at the food bowls eating like they hadn't been fed in months. Good thing her father would be home tomorrow. Elisabeth decided she would stay for awhile, and sat down on a bench near one of the stalls watching the dogs eat. A sob arose in her throat as a tear coursed down her cheek.2

"Elisabeth, is that you?" It was her father, back early.3

"I didn't even hear you drive up," Elisabeth said as she dried the tear from her face. Her father moved to sit beside her.4

"Danny Lundgren called me. He told me everything...Beth I'm so sorry."5

Elisabeth was silent for awhile. "She's...she's my best friend. Callum was my fiancee. And I already know that Scott is going to die eventually too. I thought that Keenyah would at least be around for awhile...it seems like everyone close to me dies." As she spoke, tears silently flowed down her face.6

"Elisabeth, you'll always have your family to back you up. You haven't lost everyone close to you," Randall said quietly.7

"Chris and I are close, Dad. Chris backs me up. You won't even get behind me on Scott and you say that you back me up?" Elisabeth questioned her father with a slight hint of anger.8

"That was cold, Elisabeth. You know I have my reasons for that. And the fact that Scott will die eventually is one of the reasons I can't get behind you on that. I don't like seeing you get hurt, Elisabeth."9

"He makes me happy though, Dad," Elisabeth stated. "Happier than I have been in a long time. Quite possibly even more happy than Callum made me."10

"I don't want to argue. Have you been able to see Keenyah at all since she's been in the hospital?"11

"I just saw her about half an hour ago. I don't think she's going to make it though the night, Dad. That's probably the last time I will see her al- alive." Elisabeth struggled to finish.12

Her father put his arm around her shoulders and gave her a squeeze. "Do you want to go back to the hospital and stay with her? I could call Warden Daniels and tell him you won't be in tomorrow."13

"No, No I couldn't do that. I couldn't watch her die. I can't watch another person die...I can't take that again. Not so soon after Callum..." This time Elisabeth broke out into sobs.14

Randall embraced his daughter with both arms this time. "Shh, It's okay. I understand. I understand," He whispered against her head. "Maybe we should pray for Keenyah and her family right now."15

Elisabeth only nodded as both bowed their heads.16

.............17

Elisabeth awoke to the sound of her phone ringing. She looked at the clock. 3:45 a.m.? This call could only mean one thing.18

"Hello?"19

"Elisabeth, this is Emalee." Emalee's voice sounded like she was choking back tears.20

"She's...she's gone isn't she?" Elisabeth managed to say, trying to controll her own emotion.21

"Yes, yes. She woke up just before she went. She said," a sob escaped Emalee's throat. "She said to tell you that she'll see you again."22

Elisabeth smiled through her tears. "She would say that. She would."23

"I know it's a bit early to ask you this, but I want you to speak at her funeral. We've already decided on Friday. We'll let you know more later on today. I need to go pick up Keenyah's sister from the airport."24

"I'll speak at her funeral, Emalee. You and the family are in my prayers."25

"As are you, Elisabeth. Bye."26

After Elisabeth closed the phone, she fell back onto her pillows in sobs. Memories of the past nine months at the PCF came flooding back to her mind. The first time she'd ever met Keenyah on A block. All the secrets they had shared. It was going to be incredibly hard to go to work today. Elisabeth knew she wasn't going to be able to go back to sleep after that call, and leaned over to turn on the radio. The beginning chords of Robbie Seay Band's "Shine Your Light" came through the speakers and filled the room with sound. Elisabeth had heard the song before, but never listened to the words as intently as she was this time around. Her sobs quieted, and tears only fell silently as the song played on.27

The song gave her hope. She was going to make it through the trials that lay ahead. Though it was cliche, she knew that Keenyah was in a better place. Her thoughts turned to her wedding, and the tears began falling again. She was going to have to choose a new maid of honor. She decided that she would ask Maribeth, Chris' wife. Maribeth and Elisabeth had become pretty close since the Thanksgiving fiasco. 28

"Brrriiiiinnnngggg! Brinnnnnggggg!" Elisabeth's phone brought her back to consciousness. She had been able to fall asleep after all. 29

"Hello?" 30

"Good Morning Officer Lyons." It was Warden Daniels. "Lyons I," he paused for a moment. "I know Officer Smithson passed this morning. I just wanted to let you know that you don't have to come to work this morning."31

"I'm going to come in. Keenyah would've wanted me to."32

The warden waited a moment before speaking. "Alright. But I'm not going to have you working on A block today. I think you should just stick with the guys and only work one shift. We'll see you when the afternoon shift comes on. Good bye." 33

"Bye." Elisabeth sighed. She was a little agitated she wouldn't be working this morning. It would at least give her something to be occupied with. "I'll just call Maribeth in a few hours," she said aloud to herself before falling back on to the pillow with an elongated sigh.