CHAPTER 17

Nathan had bedded Newton down for the night, as he left, he couldn't help but look at the chalkboard, "Home safe and sound Nathan", how could 5 simple words like that pull on his heartstrings so much.

He looked around for something to clean the board with. Having found a rag, he rubbed the message away, picked up the chalk, and wrote "Morag Beatrice Gregory don't you forget."

He knew it would make her smile.

After checking the jail, he locked up and headed home. It must have been almost 9pm, but it was still so light and warm. He couldn't wait to get out of his uniform. This serge was not good on days like this.

He stripped, bathed, and just threw his PJ bottoms on, far too warm for anything else.

Molly had kindly dropped him off a jug of lemonade, the ladies of Hope Valley looked after him well. Having poured a glass he opened the back door that led into the little garden and sat on the step.

Looking down at his bare feet he burst out laughing as he recalled the sight of her dipping her toes in the pond. That was the kind of thing Allie would do, she was only 14, Bea must be twice that age. What was it about her, he couldn't even begin to figure it out? You know I don't think I even want to attempt to, she is the most captivating woman I have ever known, and I can't wait to discover more.

He re-ran every moment of their meetings today; he recalled the smiles and felt her pain again. With every memory his heart seemed to skip a beat, the knot in his stomach tightened. How could someone he had known for just over 12 hours have this effect on him, especially when he was trying to be so guarded about such things. "Where did that dinner invitation come from?" he had shocked himself asking. It had taken him months to ask Elizabeth out and they never actually had a date of any kind. Looking back now he knew she had fobbed him off all the time. At that moment he made a decision he didn't want to waste another minute thinking of her and all that happened. That was then, this is now. In just 12 hours I feel as if I know Bea better than I ever knew her.

Then the words his Mum had said to him just a few months ago popped back up in his mind, "If you can be brave enough to say goodbye then you are often rewarded with a new Hello."

How true that was, "Hello Miss Gregory."

Bed he thought, I will have a busy day tomorrow if I want to get finished early. He couldn't believe that at the age of 35 he was so excited and nervous, yes nervous, about this date.

When was the last time he had actually been on one, 5 years at least he reckoned?

He lay on the bed thinking of all the things he would like to ask her, all the things he would love to know about her life then boom! Suddenly he felt sick, physically sick. "How much time did they have, when was she heading back?" His whole mood flipped. Surely life wouldn't be so cruel. From somewhere deep down came "No, I won't let it." Whatever happens, I made a true friend at least today, I will spend as much time as I can with her. Whatever will be, will be, I will cherish every day we have.

He turned to sleep, "Good night God Bless Bea."

Over at the saloon Bea's thoughts were so similar. Never had she met anyone who had the effect Nathan was having on her, over the years she had met many people, and no, not once had she felt like this. Yesterday they hadn't even met, tonight as she lay here, she couldn't imagine her life going forward without him in it somehow. Never had she felt she knew someone so well and yet knew so little about him. She knew that hidden away, deep beneath the surface, something was longing to come out. A side of him he let no one see. Was she the one to set it free?

As she recalled their conversations of the day, she realised the number of times they had both said "we" not "you" or "I". The word had just sprung from her tongue, his too she suspected. As for the date, well she felt like a stupid schoolgirl. Dates weren't her thing really but the thought of this one filled her with such excitement.

In her prayers she counted her blessings as always, tonight though a special one was added, God Bless Nathan and the joy he has brought me today, and hopefully every day.

She turned on her side then the thought hit her too, "What would happen when it was time to go?" "Seize the day" she heard her Uncle Harry saying, "you get one chance at this life Bea, no one is guaranteed a tomorrow, live it now, it's now or never."

If anyone knew this Bea did. What will be will be, she thought.

In that half-awake, half-asleep state suddenly something made her sit bolt upright in bed. A totally new sensation overtook her, deep down she felt as if something within her had been unlocked, set free. A wave of calm spread throughout her whole body, she felt warm, safe. Her eyes filled with tears, why? They were happy tears that much she knew. In that instant she knew, she knew what had pulled her here to Hope Valley, it wasn't what, it was who. The voice that had whispered to her that day on the brink of death was Constable Nathan Grant, it was he who had whispered "Hope". It was he who pulled her back.

"Something's just can't be answered" she heard Dad say again.

As she lay down again, at total peace she whispered "Good night God Bless Nathan".