I Am Not Yours

Salvageable

January 1913

Over a month had passed since Henry and Abigail's infamous morning in his study and neither could manage to keep their minds off of the other. Every time they happened to be in the same vicinity of each other, they shared quick glances, sometimes making eye contact and forcing their eyes away. Anytime someone mentioned Henry around Abigail, she would recoil, either keeping her mouth quiet or going on and on as she questioned his choices as the mayor. Whenever Henry heard Abigail's name or walked by the cafe, he would feel a tightening in his chest and felt it was suddenly difficult to swallow. He'd rub his chest or comfort his throat with his hand before trying his best to think of something else.

"Hello, Lee." Abigail smiled as she saw her new friend walk into the cafe with his cane one morning after his accident at the saw mill. "How are you feeling?"

"Oh, much better. Thank you, Abigail." Lee smiled at her, finding a table to sit at. "That Faith Tolliver is a great nurse."

"I've heard." Abigail smiled. "I hope she decides to stick around. It'd be nice to have someone in the medical field much closer to us than Union City.

"Indeed it would be." Lee agreed.

"Can I get you anything? Coffee? Our breakfast special?" Abigail offered him.

"Both sound lovely. Thank you."

"Coming right up." She gently touched his shoulder before heading back to the kitchen to get him a mug for coffee and began to cook him his breakfast of two eggs, a flapjack, and a biscuit. She returned to the dining room, pouring Lee his coffee. "Have they looked further into the accidents that keep happening at the mill?" She asked him curiously.

"We are looking into it." Lee nodded. "But I am pretty certain I know who it is."

"Oh?"

"Who else in town wants my business to fail?" He asked rhetorically.

"Henry Gowen." Abigail shook her head with disapproval, having the same thought as Lee had. "Oh, that man."

"Once we have more evidence or get a confession out of him, I should be able to start a lawsuit against him and recover all the money I've lost since the mill began to go belly up recently. And I'll be able to finally give my men the bonuses that they deserve."

"Hm..." Abigail looked up and off into the distance with a thought. "I am sure I could get somewhat of a confession out of him."

"Oh, that would be a miracle. I don't much believe in miracles myself, but if anyone could make that happen, it would be an absolute miracle that I shan't deny. Though that man is such a hot head, I'm sure we'll have to find all the evidence ourselves."

Abigail took another second to think before heading back into the kitchen to continue with the breakfast.

Later that afternoon, the Cafe was empty just after lunch and Abigail turned the sign hanging on the entrance door to say the cafe was Closed and she untied her apron before taking it off over her head and setting it down on the table in the kitchen. She smoothed down her dress and grabbed her winter shawl before leaving the back door of the cafe, heading toward the woods leading to Henry Gowen's.

Mrs. Stanton spent the entire walk toward his place contemplating turning around to head back into town, knowing that this was most likely the worst idea she'd ever had. But something refused to allow her feet to turn around.

When she approached his front door, she took a deep breath and stood up straight with confidence before using the large knocker on the door to announce her presence. Soon after, the door opened, and standing in front of Abigail was Dottie Ramsay, the ex-mayor's wife and Henry's new secretary.