For those who have chosen not to read the previous Chapters.

In the midst of his pain and heartbreak Nathan had headed out to the derelict cabin in the woods to try to think. Whilst sitting in a world of his own he thought he heard a female voice. No one was there.

This voice had said

"One step at a time, take your time, don't rush and all will be well".

Trying to formulate a plan he decided to take this advice, that is how he would get through.

He seemed to find great calm in just remembering the voice. He didn't recognise it; in fact, the accent was very unusual. Not only that, but he would know it again if he ever heard it.

Nathan and Allie spent two weeks with his Mum following Elizabeth's decision.

While he returned to Hope Valley with the intention of requesting a transfer, or

leaving the Mounties all together, he felt the need to get away to fully heal, Allie was staying with her grandma.

Bill, who had half guessed what Nathan's solution would be had come

up with another plan.

Gabe, (When Hope Calls) Brookfield's Mountie and Nathan's friend was disillusioned too with the quiet life there.

Bill had spoken to an old friend at Mountie Headquarters.

Although not done often he had agreed that a 6-month post swap could be organised.

Nathan, who had been to Brookfield in the past, would move there,

Gabe would come to Hope Valley.

Nathan decided this would be an ideal solution for now. Six months would

hopefully give him time to clear his head, really think about the future and make plans.

In November he headed for Brookfield.

CHAPTER 6

(Late August 1918 …. Royal Victoria Infirmary, Newcastle upon Tyne, England)

Morag Beatrice Gregory, Bea to all who knew and loved her, lay in a sideward of the hospital watched over by Mrs. Ethel Hardy her housekeeper, friend, and for years surrogate mother. She was being attended to day and night by a team of specialist doctors and nurses.

The doctors had called in a couple of times already that day and were due back later in the afternoon. While the horrendous wound in her leg seemed to be healing the doctors had been worried from day one about infection. After 21 days of the best care anyone could have wished for, the RVI was one of the leading hospitals in the UK after all, the worst had happened. Somewhere in this beautiful soul's body, an infection had indeed taken hold.

She just lay there now, while every possible thing was being done. Everyone prayed the fever would break soon, then she would have a fighting chance at least. She was only 32 and had been fit and healthy before the accident, that was a bonus. The men had found her quickly after Skye her beloved Wolfhound and constant companion came flying into the stable yard creating a right scene. Stan, Ethel's husband had been in the stables at the time and heard the commotion. Willy one of the young lads who helped in the gardens was trying to calm Skye, but he wasn't having any.

"What the hell's going on?" Stan said.

"Not sure Mr. Stan, he came tearing in like a bat out of hell. He is covered in blood, and yet I can't see any wound."

"Let me have a look, calm down lad, calm down let me see what's what."

Stan feared the worst. If the dog was injured Bea would be here with him and his collar was missing. He wasn't one to panic but if the blood wasn't Skye's, then whose was it?

"Willy who knows where Bea went this morning, go check that board in the stables, see what it says. Quick lad."

By now a couple of the other men who helped around the gardens and stables had appeared.

"OK, you lot something is amiss here. We are going to have to mount a search party, I think. If I am right, and I hope to God I am not, something awful has happened out there."

Willy came flying back, "Bluebell Wood, Mr. Stan. She wrote that on the board."

"Right come on that is where we are heading. Toby hitch up the cart just in case and follow us out there".

As they headed off Stan thought back to the time when Bea, aged about 12 he thought, had lost all track of time on one of her "outings" as they became known. Being an only child, she often took herself off, which had never really caused worry, she was wise for her years and always back in at a reasonable time. On this occasion though she was out longer than normal, and everyone was starting to worry by the time she finally came back.

From that day on her uncle had insisted she told someone where she intended to go if she headed out alone. He remembered her saying "but what if no one is about? Her uncle Harry had solved that by having a chalkboard hung in the stable, if no one was about Bea had to write on there where she was heading. Almost 20 years later and thank God she still did this.

It had not taken the men long to find her and Stan's worst nightmare was real. None of the men who saw her would ever forget it. Standing guard over her body was Lunar, her beautiful grey stallion, the horse who everyone had said was crazy, the horse who would let no one near him, until Bea worked her magic.

At that point, no one knew what had happened, but Stan saw the spear-like stick covered in blood, a poacher's deer trap. He also saw Bea's leg, split from her knee up and he had a fair idea.

By now Toby had arrived with the cart, he had the foresight to throw some blankets and bit and pieces in the cart. The men wrapped her in the blankets, Willy had been sent back straight away and told to get Ethel to contact the local doctor telling him it was an emergency and Miss Bea had been involved in an accident.

Dr. Allan had wasted no time in taking her to the RVI. The wound in her leg was more than he could deal with.

Here she had lain since. After a couple of days, although in pain, she had been awake but then, as the fever took hold she became less and less coherent, weaker by the day.

Ethel knew that the nursing staff were becoming more concerned. This young girl, Ethel always thought of her that way, was slowly slipping away. When she had pushed the doctors that morning, they had told her if the fever did not break within the next 24 – 48 hours then be prepared for the worst. If the power of prayer had anything to do with it then she would pull through. So many people held her in their thoughts. Bea may not have any family now but there were people up and down the country praying for her. She had touched many lives in one way or another, yes if prayer could help then that would pull her through.