Virgin River

Carry On

Before the book starts i would like to state that i have never written anything before and that the words in Bold are flashbacks.

Mel is starting a new job in a new town called Virgin River in a hope for a fresh start.

As mel drove down a long twisty road through a heavily wooded forest she saw a light from the corner of her eye, a truck, coming at least 10mph over the stated speed limit skims past mel leading her to drive into ditch. The impact causes mel to hit her head and opens a new, fresh wound on the corner of it. Then she feels it coming, the past coming back to haunt her, knowing she can't stop it she just sits there and is forced to relive her past. "Oh well that looks like a nasty bump, how do you feel?" Said a familiar voice who mel feels is there but not close enough, too far away, out of reach. "Not great." Replied Mel. "I'm not surprised, word to the wise, that particular patient always requires restraints." "Right," sighed Mel "There wasn't a chart." "It's your first day huh?" Probably guessing from her stupid mistake by not grabbing the chart. "Yeah," "Well in that case always grab the chart, okay?" "Yeah" "Don't want to walk into a situation totally blind or else you'll wind up..." "Knocked on my ass?" Announced Mel hoping to make a funny joke out if this situation. "Yeah." Sniggered the familiar voice. "Mm." "Have a good day." It was then when Mel was suddenly snapped back to reality when an unfamiliar voice spoke up, "you need to get out of the car." "What?" Mel replied clearly not hearing what he said the first time. "You need to get out of the car ma'am, your vehicle is stuck in the ditch." "What?" Mel asked once again clearly disorientated after that blast from the past. Then she understood what what he said clear as day and gets out the car to see what he is talking about. "Oh, it's unbelievable." A shooken up Mel replied. "Well your lucky you didn't smash this ridiculous little car into a tree." The man said who is quite clearly not a fan of what city life looks like. "Thank you for stopping i'll just call triple A." "Uh... look around. Your in a heavily wooded area. There's no cell reception here." "Damn it." An annoyed mel remarked. "I'll call bert once we get into town, if he's not too busy he'll get your car back to you this week." The man who looked to be late 60s early 70s said as he walked back to his truck. "Well are you coming or not?" He said waiting with his door open. It feels as though Mel has been sat in this car with this stranger for hours when in reality it's probably only been five minutes. "Um" Mel said not really knowing what to say. "Could you drop me at the McCrea cabin? It's in Virgin River i have the address here." Said Mel trying to give this man a peice of paper with the exact location of where to go. "Anyone who lives within 50 miles of here knows the McCrea cabin." He said as if it was common knowledge. "Oh, well from the photo it's beautiful." It must have been silent for a couple of minutes because it had got mighty uncomfortable again, so Mel chose to speak up, "Um, here." She commented  handing him a $10 bill not really knowing what else to do. "Folks around here, we don't pay eachother to be neighbourly it's just somethin' we do" He stated. "Right okay i'm sorry." Mel uttered as she retracted her arm and put the bill back in her purse. The next 10 minutes were spent in complete silence. "And here we are." The man said as they approached the cabin, "That's a beaut huh?" Mel clearly confused as why the supposedly nice cozy cabin looked like a complete rats nest, as if it was built many centuries ago and hasn't been touched since. She ran to the other side of the truck to meet the stranger and showed him the picture she was sent. "Oh! Someone pulled a fast one on you," he sniggered clearly finding this funny. "You should never book your vacation online " he continued. " "No i... i'm not here on vacation i'm here for a job. I'm the new nurse. I'm...i'm actually a nurse practitioner and midwife. I'm gonna be working with Dr Mullins. I heard he's handling the practice alone and it's getting too much for him." Mel confessed telling him the real reason she was here but by the look on his face he didn't look too impressed. "Oh is... is that what you heard huh?" Mel not knowing what to say just nodded. "Okay" he replied "I heard he's in his 70s and still working full time." She continued to say. "Oh, it's a wonder how he's still above ground. So, old Doc hired ya huh?" He questioned. "Well Hope McCrea did the actual hiring." "Aah." "I'm so sorry i don't know your name. I'm Melinda Monroe. People call me Mel." She stated. "I'm Vernon, people call me Doc Mullins. And for the record missy, i'm 72. A shocked Mel just stood there not knowing what else to say or do and the stranger who also ended up being her 'manager' sped off into the distance. Instead of just standing there Mel decided to see if the inside of the cabin was any better. As soon as she opened the door to the rickety old cabin a smell hit Mel's nose. "Oh, oh what is that?" "Hello?" Mel asked to see if one was there after hearing a noise. "Hello?" An unfamiliar voice called back. "Hi..." Mel said shocked that someone was in her rental house. "Melinda, I'm Hope McCrea. As the mayor of Virgin River, I'd like to officially welcome you to our little slice of heaven." "Hi, Hope. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I just... i'm a little confused. Um... this is what you sent me." Mel said showing Hope the picture she was sent. "The...This farmhouse-chic cabin... nestled in the woods of Northern California is designed to enjoy all the trappings of country life?" Mel stated confused. "Like... farmhouse-chic is not an accurate description of this property." She continued to argue. "I admit i... i haven't gotten round to taking a more current photo." Hope argued. "Okay, well, the job i accepted included housing for a year, and obviously i can't stay here, um..." "I'll have it cleaned. Hope said whilst cleaning the inside if the oven. "Was that...Did you just put a bird's... is that a birds nest from the oven?" Mel questioned hope.  "You did come a bit early." Hope said trying to come up with some sort of excuse. "No i didn't, i'm three days late." Mel reminded Hope. "Well no need to get all twisted up." "Well-." "I can wake the Fitches, Jo-Ellen and Nick rent out their extra rooms, of course the husband is a little handsy, he pretends it's an accident but it isn't." Hope continued on. "Um well you look like you can take care of yourself." Hope said as she walked to the fridge.
"Oh well at least the fridge is stocked with gourmet foods and beverages." Mel argued sarcastically.
"I was going to take care of that earlier, but we... we had ribbon cutting ceremony
over at the firehouse. Got ourself a new hose. When did you eat last?" "Why?"
"Oh well hungry equals cranky and between us two gals you don't wear cranky well."
"Hm."
"Head to Jack's and by the time you get back i'll have the hot water running and fresh towels and a blanket."
"Who's Jack?" Mel asked as if Hope thought she would know who this mysterious man is.
"Jack's Bar. Only place to eat in town after five. You can walk. Out the door and to the left."
"Okay but we're not done talking about this."
"Of course we aren't."
"Bye."
After a short walk Mel saw a lit up building ahead and presumed that, that was Jack's. As Mel walked through through the two sets of double doors she noticed everyone stopped what they were doing and just stared at her, it's as if time had iust stopped, but she was the centre of attention. Mel walked over to the bar and was face to face to a young boy who looked like he still belonged in high school who almost dropped the plate of cups he was carrying when he saw her.
"Ricky." A deep yet another unfamiliar voice beckoned out.
"Yeah?" The young boy replied.
"More glasses please." The deep voice ordered. Then a face came round the corner and Mel was able to put a face to the voice. A man who looked like he was in his late 30s with dark brown hair and the bluest blue eyes you will ever see.
"Uh,sure boss." Ricky stuttered. Ah so that's the Jack Hope was on about, Mel though to herself.
"So, what we having? Whiskey? Soda? Wine?, you look like a wine person. You need a minute?" Jack listed.
"Uh, no. Uh, any chance of getting a cosmo?"
"Nope. Not unless you brought
your own Cointreau."
"I did not."
"Uh... So, mixed drinks are not..."
"Not our thing." Jack interrupted.
"But I have all the boys, Johnnie, Jack, and Jim. All the regular stuff and beer. Just no frills."
"All right, make it a Jim straight up."
"Okay. I commend you on your choice."
"Thank you."
"Mm-hm."
Jack handed Mel the shot if whiskey and couldn't help but stare and think of how beautiful she is. Mel shoots the shot without pulling a face, not even a flinch.
"Well, I didn't know city girls
could shoot whiskey."
"What makes you think I'm a city girl?" Mel wondered.
"Come on. Cosmo? Manicure? Cartier?"
"Wow. You should be a detective."
"No. My days of tracking bad guys are over." Yet again Jack just couldn't take his eyes off Mel and this time she catches him.
"What?"
"Sorry." He apologies. "It's just that we don't get a lot of visitors. Certainly not as beautiful as you."
"I'm sorry. Does that line really work?" Mel chuckled to her self at the thought of them words ever working on anyone.
"Oh, you'd be surprised."
"Well, you're lucky we're not in Los Angeles, because Angelinos can smell BS a mile away."
"Oh, really? That's one of the reasons
why I love living here so much. People aren't so jaded. "I'm Jack, Sheridan.
"Mel Monroe. So, is this your bar?" Mel asked.
Jack nodded,"Well it will be in about 60 more payments. So, miss Mel Monroe from LA, what brings you to our little hamlet?"
Mel clears her throat before she brings herself to answer his question knowing full well that 'work' wasn't the only reason she's here. "Um work."
"Yeah? Where u staying?"
"Uh, the McCrea cabin." Mel laughed knowing Jacks reaction isn't going to be positive.
"Oof, what'd you do to deserve that?" Jack asked clearly finding it funny but also feeling a bit sympathetic for her.
"Yeah, i should've come up and vetted the place first." Mel said as Jack filled up another whiskey shot only for it to be gone seconds later.
"Oh, come on. I think spontaneity's
an admirable quality."
"Oh, no. You... you can't credit me
with being spontaneous. No, it once took me six months to buy a crêpe pan." Mel argued.
"Six months?" Jack asked clearly in disbelief.
"Six months." Mel confirmed. Yeah, I usually check everything three times, and then I check it again. Used to drive my..." Mel paused for a second but never continued her sentence. Jack noticed she was uncomfortable so moved on and asked her a different question. 
"So, how long you here for?"
"Um-a year." Mel said as she shot yet another shot of whiskey. "I'm working with Doc Mullins. I'm a nurse."
"Oh that should be an experience." Jack said as he sat down on the bar stool next to Mel.
"Yeah. I imagine it's gonna resemble the cabin."
"Uncomfortable." Jack said understandably.
"Exactly." Mel agreed.
"I think you might be right."
"So, you know Dr. Mullins?" Mel asked.
"Oh, everybody knows everybody around here. Small town."
"Right." Mel nodded.
"And it's Doc. He does not like formalities." Jack corrected Mel.
"Oh, well, he does NOT like me. I basically called him old. But in my defense, I didn't know it was him I was talking to when I said it."
"He is old." Jack agreed
"I know, right?"
"Thank you." Mel said as a tall man came over and gave her some food.
"Preacher, Mel. Mel, Preacher." Jack said as he introduced them both.
"Hi." Mel said to preacher whilst smiling but she didn't get anything in return except a small smile. Just *silence*.
"Yeah, he's a man of few words, but he's a good friend,and he's a great cook." Jack stated as he stood up to go serve another customer.
"Mm. Um...This is amazing. What is this?" Mel asked Jack as she indulged into the bowl in front of her.
"Squirrel."
"Mm." Mel said as she went to spit out the 'squirrel.
Jack laughed at Mel's reaction and reassured her, "That was too easy."
"That's not funny." Mel laughed.
"Your dining on squash and lentils. You know what? I actually have had squirrel, and if it's done right, it's pretty tasty."
"Okay, well, I'm gonna take your word on that. Oh, no, no, no. Mel said as she stopped Jack from putting anymore whiskey in her shot glass. "If I have any more, I won't be able to find the cabin. Which might not be a bad thing, so...it's fine. Mel stated as she allowed Jack to poor at least 4 more shots.
***********
It's my car. God bless you, Bert. Mel shouted as she walked towards the cabin door with Jack holding onto her arm so she didn't fall. "I can't sleep in that." She pointed towards the cabin.
"You certainly can't drive." Jack said stating the obvious.
"Oh, no, no, no. No. I mean, leaving town's just not even an option. Would you like to know why? I will tell you." Mel carried on without even giving Jack the time to reply because of her drunken mind. Because... I sold my house... and most of my belongings.
And then I quit my job. And I moved to this town that I've never heard of just so I could live in there."  Yet again pointing towards the cabin.
"Yep." Jack said as he helped Mel get her belongings out the back of her car.
"I hate when Joey's right."
"Husband?"
"Sister." Mel corrected.
"Yeah well if i had a spare room I'd offer but..."
"Oh, no, no, no. That's sweet, but it's... it's fine. I'll just, you know, it'll be one night. It'll be like camping. Right?"
"Yeah, sure." Jack agreed hoping it would make Mel feel better.
"Oh." Jack said when he saw the state of the inside of the cabin.
"Yeah."
"It's not that bad right?"
"Well...perspective is most often
the key to happiness."
"So, what you're saying is that acclimation is possible."
"Yeah." Jack agreed. Just try not to insult any more residents."
"Thank you, Jack. Thank you for the... the help, and the kind words, and food. But mostly, thank you for the whiskey. They both chuckled at her last statement.
"Any time, Mel." Jack said as he left her yet again alone in this rickety old cabin.
**********
Mel went to dry her hands after washing them but couldn't find the towels and found a t-shirt to dry them on. Then that same familiar feeling came rushing back, that feeling she had when she was sat alone in her car after getting ran off the road. The past.
"Hey, Mark, do you know which box
the towels are in?"
"No...but I found a set of sheets."
"Oh.Mm."
"What are you doing with this?"
"I'm drying my hands."
"Uh-uh. This is personally autographed
by Bob Seger and the entire Silver Bullet Band. Handed down to me by my father,
who was at Cobo Hall in Detroit on the night of the live recording
of their very first album. Now, one beautiful day
in the not-too-distant future, I'm gonna hand this on to our son,
Mark Junior.:
" Mm."
" And he to his son, Mark Junior Junior. And so on and so forth."
"Mm."
"What if we have a girl?"
"Hmm. What if we have a girl? Oh! Oh, Mark, stop!" Mel exclaimed as Mark  lifted her up off of her feet."
Mel was then once again basted back into reality and slipped on the shirt in her hand and fell sleep on the rickety sofa in the corner if the room with tears rolling down her face as she thought about her husband Mark.
**********
The next morning Mel went outside to go and check out how Virgin River really looks in the day, in the corner of her eye she saw a box with a few bits in and a note reading: "Hang in there,
Jack."
"Oh! Come on!" Mel exclaimed as she fell through the floor board as she went to go back indoors. "I hate this place. God. Ugh!"
**************
"It's too early for lectures." Jack said to Preacher as he walked through the kitchen doors.
"Hey, I didn't say a thing." Preacher said.
"Yeah, you didn't have to."
"So? The pretty lady make it home last night?"
"She had a ring on."
"Yeah, I wasn't sure you noticed."