Nick continued to his room near the barn, just realizing that he never even checked the woodpile in the house. 'Now, how real is that story going to be to Jo?' thought Nick.
Tom was awaiting Nick's return. He wanted to know if anything interesting had occurred. Presently, Tom was playing his fiddle, but was interupted mid-song by the abrupt entry of Nick slamming the door.
"So, how did things go with ya and Mrs. Jo?," asked Tom.
"Well, nothing. I didn't even get to talk to her, Tom. Right when I walked in she had her arm in his and it looked to me like she wanted her arm there."
"So, did ya say anything to her?," asked Tom with interest.
"Nope, I just walked right out and came back here. I don't have not chance with her. She wants someone more educated and of better social status than me," Nick said with no hope in his voice.
"That's just ya speaking for her, my friend. Ya need to ask her yerself and talk with about how ya feel," Tom said as if he knew exactly how Nick's life should happen.
"I wish I could, but everytime that Jo and I are together we each look at each other, but them this awkward moment always follows and we each back into our own corners and change the subject," Nick countered to Tom's advice.
"Well, ya need to be a man, and take the risk,otherwise she will never know how ya feel. why don't ya try once more Nick Riley!", Tom said with enthusiasm.
"Once more, but I hope I get those words out that I have been avoiding for months now," Nick now said with a little more hope thanks to Tom.
Jo went upstairs after her dinner with Charles. The dinner had gone smoothly and they conversed on topics from the school to the story she had told once to Nick about Penny, her horse. During the dinner, Jo did notice how Charles would glance at her from across the table. These glances made her blush. As she walked up the stairs towards her room, she realized the she might have similiar feelings towards Charles as she had for Nick, or still does. 'Maybe I am beginning to get feelings for this new teacher,' thought Jo before she opened the door to her bedroom.Charles' good night was very romantic, and Nick has not come forward in this way.With Charles taking the intiative, it told me that I am ready to care about someone again. I will never forget about Fritz and I will never love anyone like I loved Fritz, but I have to lead the rest of my life now,' thought Jo, realizing for the first time that she was ready for a next small step in her life. 'I just don't want to take a large step, its like after a stroke, you have to learn how to walk again, even though you already knew in your mind that it is like,' thought Jo and with that last thought she went to bed.
The very next morning Jo was again on the front porch, but Nick noticed that there was something different about this particular morning. She never glanced at him as she did before, she was more engrossed in her book or looking at her watch. At this very moment, school was in session, and it was Charles' first day teaching the class. Finally, in midafternoon, the kids came bursting out the door, and the first day of class was over. Nan ran up to Mrs. Jo at the front porch and said, "Wow, that new teacher sure knows a lot about bugs and other stuff about science and things. He's pretty neat, Mrs. Jo!!!" That afternoon, Jo got all kinds of positive reviews from the kids, even from Dan.
Nick overheard all of these reviews and saw Jo's reaction to them. Her reaction worried him, because it was that smile that she always gave him, but he could never figure it out until now. The kids ran off after their reviews of the new teacher to begin their daily chores. Jo was left alone on the porch with her book, so Nick took this opportunity to approach Jo with his hidden agenda. Jo saw him approach and just froze up, this always happened to her when he came near her while they were alone and Jo did not know what this meant.
"Hey Jo," was all Nick said at first.
"Hey, Nick,'' Jo somehow blurted out under her tension. She hoped he did not notice how tense she was from her voice. But of course he did notice, and smiled.
"I was wondering if I could talk to you for a sec?",asked Nick.
"Sure, about what Nick?", Jo said, curious about what Nick wanted.
"Well,......golly......this is hard to put......um......I wanted to say that I think you look real nice today!", Nick said,that being the only thing that he could think of at the time.
"Thank you, is that all?,"Jo asked nervously, but somehow sensing that Nick was here to say more than just that.
"Well,.....actually......I wanted to ask if you would like to take a walk with me tonight?," Nick asked after finally thinking of something worthwhile to say.
This question was sudden for Jo, but she answered, "I would like that very much Nick, but Charles and I have to meet to talk about next weeks plans for the school curiculum."
"That's OK. The school has to come first," and with that Nick stomped off to his room.
In Nick's room, Tom was sitting there telling old sea stories to Emil. Emil was very attentive and did not forget any details. Nick just sat there and listened, sometimes laughing at the moments that Tom would bring up fromt their past.
Later, Emil left and this left Tom and Nick alone in the room. Tome noticed that his old friend was not himself.
"So, how did it go, did ya talk to her finally?," asked Tom.
"Yeah, I talked to her and got nothing but that feller Charles as an excuse. She likes him not. She was not herself today," Nick said discouraged.
"Well, maybe this lady ain't worth all the fuss Nick,"Tom said abruptly. "Why don't you come with me back to the Anne Mare, there would be a place for ya there Nick. Ya could come and forget this damsel and remeber the calming affects of the sea again," Tom said invitingly.
"Maybe, I will take you up on that offer there Tom,"Nick said without thinking the decision through. He had pretty much given up on Jo now.
"Clearly, Jo don't love ya Nick, otherwise she would have made up her mind,"Tom said in a concrete tone.
"What do you know about love anyways?," asked Nick questioningly.
"Enough not to let it drive me down like this, you nned to go back to the sea Nick, it is in your blood, "Tom said.
"When are you leaving?," Nick asked curiously. "We could leave tomorrow, "Tom said wondering if his friend would join him.
"Then tomorrow we go back to sea, my friend,"is all Nick said impulsively.
Nick and Tom slipped out in the night, unkown to anyone at Plumfield. They walked down the entry of Plumfield, and Nick looked back, wondering if he would ever be back, but then he put the thought back in his mind, turned his head and continued on with Tom.
With what has happened in the present with Jo, and the sea stories of the past, this was the driving force for Nick's impulsive decision to leave. So past, and present have combined to alter a certain future that is quite unknown to certain beloved characters.
How will this dilemma turn out????
You have to read Part 4 to know that!!!
