CHAPTER 21
Bea had been out longer than she anticipated, she had lost herself in thought. Hero had just trotted along; he knew where he was even if Bea didn't.
Jed was busy in one of the other stalls when she entered the livery,
"Did you have a good ride Miss Bea, you have been out a while today, a certain someone was a bit concerned."
"Was he indeed?" she beamed "and yes I did, this big lad knew where he was going even if I didn't."
"You have got him looking really fit again Miss Bea, worked some magic there."
"Just time and love Jed, that is all he needed. Faith has promised to make an extra effort when I go, I hope she does, he is a good lad, aren't you?" she said, nuzzling his neck.
Jed just laughed.
Having seen he was sorted for the night she wondered what time it actually was. Guessing she figured about 4 pm. "Home safe and sound," she wrote.
Looking over to the church she wondered if Joseph would still be there, the door was still open. I will go and have a look.
The thought of actually entering this building, this beacon, filled her with such warmth, she hoped for some answers too.
"Hello, anyone about? "
"Miss Bea, yes come in you don't need to knock here you know."
As she entered, she felt the tears come. This place had called to her for so long now, to actually enter it was a feeling she couldn't describe.
"Bea are you OK, come sit."
"Sorry Joseph, these are happy tears, honestly they are."
"You sure, people don't normally cry when they come in here, well maybe funerals."
"Oh, I am sure, I wish I could explain why."
"Try me? Tell you what Minnie made me a jug of lemonade earlier, would you like a glass then you can give me a go, I am a good listener, get the feeling you are too, am I right?"
"I would love a glass, thank you and yes I am so I am told."
Joseph went out into what Bea thought of as the vestry, that is what they were called at home. He came back with two glasses.
"Here you go, enjoy. Shall we go and sit outside in the sun, make the most of this lovely day."
They sat for a while before Bea spoke.
"Joseph, may I be totally honest with you, will you hear me out as I know my story could sound strange to many, I have a feeling you will understand though."
"Tell me Bea, let me listen."
Like everyone else in Hope Valley he knew there was something very special about this young woman, but he felt she was carrying a burden of some kind.
"I don't really know where to begin Joseph. Well, I will try to keep it as brief as I can. Can I ask you first, do you think there are things that happen in life, things that no matter how hard you try or question just can't be answered?"
"Most things do have an answer if you look hard enough or in the right place, but yes there are some that search, as you may you will never find an answer for."
"Joseph, I am one of those things. I know people call me unique, special, different and all sorts of other things. They have all my life. Back home everyone knows this is the way I am, everyone accepts me, treasures me so I am told. You see Joseph all my life I have seen things, heard things, sensed things that others don't. I was about 9 years old when I realised that not everyone had this gift. Well, I say gift, sometimes it can feel like a burden, not often but it can."
There it was Joseph thought, "What kind of things Bea?"
"That is a hard one, I often know what people are thinking before they actually say it, I sense things that are coming, I know solutions to people's problems, I feel their pain and joy, I can read people. I also have the most amazing connections to all animals, hence my job. I am trying to think of an example to give you but living as I do it is my normal. Please understand that I am not complaining, as many have told me, I am blessed I know that.
I know an example, a quick one. While I was working in Scotland a few years ago, I was asked to look at a dog belonging to one of the local hotel owners. Being the height of the tourist season, I knew how busy he would be so agreed to a house call. When I went into the foyer of the hotel a small group of people were getting ready to leave. I knew there and then they would not all return. I made a point of speaking to them, asked if they had done the check-in, that is the same thing I am helping Nathan set up here, I guess this story also explains why it works, or in this case, didn't. They told me they had, they were planning to walk up Buachaille Etive Mòr, Ben Etive as many call it. While it isn't one of the hardest climbs it isn't easy. I told them to be extra careful, watch for changes in the weather, I could do no more.
Later that night there was a knock at my door, the local mountain rescue team, of which myself and my wolfhound were members, had been called out. The group had not returned. We headed straight to the Ben, we searched all night and found nothing. After a break of a couple of hours we headed out again, the group had been seen heading up the Glen. There are two Monroes, mountains, at the head of the glen, could they have gone to the wrong one, or changed their minds. We headed for Buachaille Etive Beag, the other one. Skye, my dog, quickly picked up their scent. We found all of them, two had sadly passed away, the other two did survive. From what they told us and later found out, one of the gentlemen had suffered a heart attack, the others had decided to stay with him, being dressed for summer and not a night on a rain-soaked mountain hypothermia had quickly set in.
"And, you sensed this, Bea?"
"Well, not the whys and wherefores but that they all wouldn't come back. That is just one example, not all are as bad as that, there are happy ones too. But as I say this is my normal. I gave up questioning why I am this way years ago."
"Does this all-sound barmy Joseph?"
"Far from it Bea, please carry on. I feel there is more."
"There is, and this is why I am so confused, at a loss. Almost a year ago I had a very nasty accident, what actually happened that day I can't relive, it is far too painful but what happened as I recovered, I can tell and would like to know what you think, have you heard anything like it before. I was recovering really well but then I became fevered, it lasted that long that I was given 24 hours to live."
"Oh Bea, you survived though, you are here."
"I did, and am, but it is how I came to be here. I wouldn't tell anyone else this, although I have promised to tell Nathan the whole story at some point. As I lay there Joseph, totally unaware of what was going on I had what I can only call a vision, a dream. I knew I was fading away, I knew I had a choice to make, I had so little fight left in my, as I turned to walk one way something made me look back, I could see a shape in the mist, I turned to walk towards it, for just an instant it became clear, I turned back but again was pulled the other way, at that point, I heard, well know felt a voice from in here," she held her hand to the bottom of her ribs, " deep down in here, say Hope. I thought that was what I was meant to do, take that path and hope. So, in this dream or whatever it was, I did. The next thing I knew nurses and doctors were running around, my fever had broken and here I am to tell the tale."
Joseph was at a loss for words at first, many would have dismissed this story as madness but he knew every word of it was true.
"Now here is the thing Joseph, the image of the shape I saw stayed with me, I kept seeing it and hearing the word Hope. I was drawing the shape when my uncle happened to see it, he was sure he had seen something like it before. Later that night he came to me with a magazine he had recently bought whilst on a trip to America, he had no idea why he had kept it, but there was the shape, the building I had seen. The article was about here Joseph, about Hope Valley, the building was this church. I have the magazine with me.
From that moment on I knew I had to come here, for what I didn't know, something here in Hope Valley was calling me. So here I am."
"That is just incredible Bea, and have you been able to answer that question.
"I think I have Joseph and that is the awful bit. Well, no, the reason, the answer is the most wonderful thing ever, but I am struggling now because it is also so cruel. The voice I heard, calling me to Hope I now know was Nathan's, I would recognise it anywhere. He truly is the most amazing human being I have ever met. Within just hours of meeting him I felt as if I had known him my whole life, he feels the same way. Joseph, there is some mystical connection between us. I cannot imagine my life without him in it now, but I am heading back home in a few weeks. Why would I be given this only to have it taken away?"
"I have heard similar stories Bea, but have never met anyone who has ever experienced one before. Have you prayed and asked for an answer, asked what path you take now, he may show you?"
"I have but as of yet no answer and with each day that passes the pain just grows. That is one of the reasons I wanted to come into the church, to ask again, maybe in here, the place I actually saw I may be given the answer."
"Would you like me to pray with you, maybe together we could get you an answer?"
"Please Joseph."
"Come on in, let's have a try, don't worry one way or another we will find your answer."
Joseph took hold of Bea's hands and they prayed together in silence, each asking their own questions, each asking for help."
"Bea can I just say what you have truly is a God given gift, don't ever doubt that. I even told Minnie last night that there was something godly about you, that was the only word I could think of, now I know I was correct. I am privileged to have met you. Please know I am here, and everything you have told me today will never be repeated. You must come to service tomorrow, it will be an honour for this little church and me to have you in our congregation."
"I will, at home I never miss chapel on Sunday, well unless I am needed elsewhere and Joseph thank you for listening and understanding."
They stopped at the top of the church steps, he took her hands again, "Go and enjoy each day Bea, the solution will show itself."
As they looked across the meadow there he was, coming to look for her, to settle his mind, make sure she was OK."
Bea just looked at Joseph.
"Well, I don't know what you prayed for Bea, I know what I did and if I am not mistaken the answer to your question is coming to find you. He is the way, Bea; he is your way."
Bea was crying again, "I think you are right, no I know you are right."
She ran down the steps and straight into his arms, "Hold me Nathan please and don't ever let go."