CHAPTER 15

Nathan didn't have long to wait at all, entering the livery the next morning he stopped dead in his tracks, he actually froze.

"That's better isn't it, I told you if we went slowly, one day at a time you would regain your strength."

The voice was so clear this time, was it the same? He had tried to recall it so many times since that day, it sounded remarkably similar.

"Hello! "Hello! "

Hearing the voice had been a big enough shock, but when Bea stood up, he felt unsteady on his feet, he thought he would keel over. There in Hero's stall, the one next to Newtons, appeared the most incredible-looking woman he had ever seen. He felt his breath catch; he could not fathom if it were the shock of her being there and scaring him or just the way she looked. With such fair skin, beautiful hair, it was so many shades of grey he had never seen anything like it before, and those eyes, she could have been an angel.

Bea laughed, "I am so sorry constable did I frighten you? I was just talking to Hero here; I am afraid I tend to do that. I wanted to check his shoes before we head off out."

Bea turned and looked Nathan in the eye, was she staring, she dropped her gaze. If her pulse rate didn't slow down, she thought her heart would explode. That knot in her stomach, what was that? That knot, the one she had felt all those months ago was back in the pit of her stomach.

Nathan had regained his composure, but his heart was still beating like a drum. "Not very good reactions for a Mountie, "he laughed "I thought I was hearing things."

"I never worry about that I hear things all the time, she smiled, I am sorry though."

"We will laugh about it later."

"We more than likely will, I am Bea by the way, or to give you my Sunday name Morag Beatrice Gregory, if you ever call me Morag then I know I have done something wrong."

Nathan laughed. "Nathan Grant and I am pleased to meet you at last."

"At last? Oh dear, I'm not sure if I like the sound of that."

"I wouldn't worry, everyone without exception seems to have fallen under your spell."

Bea burst out laughing again, "are you implying I am a witch constable?"

"Please just call me Nathan, and I am sure you know I didn't "he was laughing too.

"Well Nathan you never know, I may just put a hex on you."

He couldn't help it, the thought was there, I think you already have.

Bea started to lead Hero from his stall as Nathan went into saddle Newton.

"You have a mighty fine boy there Nathan, I was talking to him earlier."

Bea lent over the stall and made to pat Newton before she could his face was in hers,

She nuzzled him as she did Hero. "You jealous big lad, don't be I have enough love to go around." She rubbed his ears, then tapped his nose, and made to leave. As she passed Nathan, she couldn't help it her eyes were drawn back to him, his stance, his stature, never had a man seemed so perfect to her.

"Bea, Gabe told me before he left you wanted to suggest something to me" that came out wrong he thought. Something about people checking in before they went off on their own."

"Well yes, and you know I was about to do that, head off and not tell a soul where I was going. I can't believe that, it would have been the first time in, let me think, nearly 20 years I reckon that I haven't done it."

"Trouble is, today I have no idea where I am going. I won't go far until I see how this old lad copes. Maybe an hour or so. I will just see where we end up."

"If you don't mind company, I am heading off on my rounds, you could tag along for a while, when you feel you have done enough you could turn back while I carry on. At least that way I will know where you are."

"Well, that is true, are you sure you don't mind?

"Not at all, it will be nice to have some company, you can tell me all about this scheme and how it works, what it actually does."

As she turned to Nathan, he noticed that wonderful smile that seemed to light up her whole face faded. "It saves life's Nathan, that includes mine, a simple chalkboard and 2-word message I left on it did save my life. Well, that and the love of the most amazing four-legged friend, without both I wouldn't be here today."

Nathan seemed to feel her pain, there was more to that story. "Then you definitely must tell me and see what we can set up."

Bea walked out of the livery and Nathan followed, he could see Bea looking around as if she had lost something.

"What have you lost?"

"I feel stupid now, Jed sorted me out a mounting step, but he must have moved it. I am afraid the muscle strength in my leg isn't the best now, and I can't get the leg lift to get up without It."

"That is easily solved, here let me" before Bea knew it, he cupped his hands and gave her a leg up. There was the blooming knot again.

As they rode out of town together Lee and Rosemary were just getting out of the car to start their workday,

"Oh, my Lee, look at that, what a sight to see, what a pair they would make."

"Rosie, are you crying?"

"I think I am, that truly would be a match made in heaven."

"Now, now don't get carried away, when I was speaking to Nathan just yesterday, he hadn't even met Bea."

"Well, he has now."

"Don't you be match-making Rosie, bear in mind that Nathan is still getting over Elizabeth. The last thing we need is for him to get involved that way with Bea when she will be leaving, heading back to England in a couple of months."

"Lee Coulter, you have just ruined my day."

Nathan took the road that led up past the row houses he pointed out his own. Then they were out on the open trails. Bea loved being out in the countryside like this, she would enjoy exploring this place. At some point heading to the mountains was a must, they reminded her a little of all the Munroe's in Scotland, she had climbed a few of those on Lunar, yes that would be a great day out.

"Beautiful, isn't it?"

It reminds me a bit of home, well my second home, Scotland. I worked there for almost 7 years, my idea of heaven. You would love it, Nathan, well I am guessing you would."

"Is that where your accent comes from? It is very unusual, I have heard English people before, your accent is different."

Bea was laughing again "Mine is a mixture of Northern English, often known as Geordie and yes Scottish, so I guess I would sound a bit different."

"It is unique."

"I will take that as a compliment. Many think it is a bit rough."

"That is how it was meant,"

Bea was trying not to stare, the eyes, the incredible smile, slightly lopsided it was, she couldn't help herself.

Trying to distract herself she outlined what the checkout system was and how it had worked up in Scotland, the time and lives it had saved. Like Gabe, he thought it was such a simple idea but the benefits of it could be so worthwhile. He had been involved in many searches when they had no clue where to start looking, he told her. Yes, he would implement something like it here, if both he and Gabe gave it a trial then they could mention it to HQ.

"Would you give me a hand with it Bea, just so I have the idea, right?"

"Yes, of course, it won't take much organising, but I'm happy to help."

They had been out about an hour, Bea didn't really want to head back. She had only known him an hour or so but felt she could talk to him all day, it was so comfortable as if they had known each other for years.

"Nathan, I think I will turn here, get this old lad back, don't want to push him too hard. Thank you so much for letting me tag along, it has been so nice. Maybe we could do it again?"

"Any time Bea, you have made my day a lot lighter. Be careful on the way back. I may catch you later today."

"I will and I hope so."

She turned Hero and headed back. Nathan watched her ride away, she was an excellent horsewoman he could see that. She was such a joy to be around he wanted to hear more of her stories. He just wanted to listen to that amazing voice, it seemed to sooth him, that was the only way he could describe it. He suddenly felt that rush of blood again. He didn't take his eyes off her until she disappeared. I have never met such a beautiful woman, he thought, then a quote he had read somewhere sprang to mind, how did it go "Outer beauty is a gift, inner beauty is an accomplishment." Bea had both, non the wonder everyone in Hope Valley had taken this stranger into their hearts including himself.

The thought shocked him. For the first time in days, he was reminded of the reason he left Hope Valley, the pain and heartache, the way it had torn him apart. He could not go through that again, once was enough. No, this was different; Elizabeth had never had this effect on me, he thought.

He completed his rounds, nothing untoward today, and headed back. The lightness he had felt up until the point Bea had turned back had darkened now.

Hero was back in his stall; so, she had got back OK. He unsaddled Newton and gave him some fresh hay and oats, checked the water bucket, "We made a special friend there today I think, what did she call you? "Big lad".

As he turned to leave, he noticed a chalkboard propped up against the wall

"Back safe and sound Nathan."

There was that missed heart beat again, this isn't going to be easy he thought.