CHAPTER 23
Bea had woken quite early having slept well again. She had written a long letter to Uncle Charles telling him she may not be back as expected and why. Reassuring him she knew exactly what she was doing, in her mind she knew the questions he would be asking. Once he had met Nathan Bea knew he would be happy, he only ever wanted what was best for her. No one could have wished for a better guardian, that was the best word she could ever think of for him. With no true family left he was her connection with the past, he had been her rock. Now she had another, and Uncle Charles would not give her up easily, not until he knew for certain she had chosen well.
A letter had also been penned to Ethel and Stan. Along with the explanation of why she may not be back just yet she had included a list of things, a rather long list of things she would like sending over to Hope Valley. Reading the list back Bea laughed as she pictured the pair of them trying to package everything up. She asked after all the workers and Lunar of course, what would she do about him? That was going to be a puzzle.
Letters written and ready to post on Monday she had soaked in the bath then crawled into bed. Now and again she heard the men's laughter from downstairs and hoped Nathan was having a good night. He deserved it, he needed to start enjoying the little things again, hopefully, he would now.
Dressed and ready she ate breakfast in the saloon, Carla and Jesse were heading to church too so she walked with them. As they turned the corner there he was, would that thrill of seeing him ever stop.
Nathan saw them coming, would his heart skip a beat like this every morning when he saw her for the first time.
"Here you go Nathan, safely delivered."
"Jesse Flynn you behave"
Nathan and Bea were just laughing.
"Bea before we go in, can I ask you a question? It's more like one you would ask me really."
"A cheeky one then ?"
" Yes, I actually feel stupid asking but I really need an answer."
"Go on then"
" Are we now a couple? "
"That is my kind of question." Bea was laughing, why do you ask?"
"Because if we are then I can do this, he took hold of her hands and kissed her. If we aren't then I can't do that."
Bea was laughing so hard, "In that case, if I do this, she kissed him back, does that mean we are?"
"I think it does, so now I can do this and he kissed her again."
They turned hand in hand and walked into the church, knowing fine well everyone would be talking about them after but not caring in the slightest.
Joseph had given a wonderful sermon about never giving up, about hope, Bea did wonder where the inspiration for that came from. What did surprise her a little was no one really sang, there had been a couple of hymns but no one really seemed to sing. In the chapel back home everyone sang, loved to sing, it was always so uplifting. Mind having been caught out before she had purposely not sung, well as she would have back home. Maybe one day she would shock them and let her full voice out.
As they left they thanked Joseph, he took hold of Bea's hand, and looking at Nathan said
"You are a very lucky man Nathan, God has sent you a very special gift, cherish her", then turning to Bea said "Bea he sent you this man to love and protect you for life, but you of all people know that, "together you will be so strong, you have a very special god-given bond, enjoy it, celebrate it and share it because everyone can see what a blessing it is. Now go and enjoy the rest of your day, let the gossips gossip."
Nathan shook his hand, "Joseph I think I speak for us both when I say we know how lucky we are, and thank you for understanding, for helping Bea yesterday. With your help, we got the answer we needed."
Bea was a bit lost for words but managed a "Thank you" Joseph.
Walking away that morning any remaining doubts they had were wiped away. They were a couple and with God's help they always would be.
"What do you normally do after church then? Bea asked.
"Well Allie and I always went fishing for a couple of hours, it's something we started years ago. Since she has been away I haven't bothered really."
"Well, I would love to go fishing."
"You, you fish?"
"Don't sound so surprised" Bea grinned," I will have you know I was the Ladies casting Champion of 4 years running back home, the only reason I didn't win last year was because I couldn't compete,"
He was just shaking his head "I shouldn't be surprised really should I"
"Nope, I can tie amazing flies too, taught by one of the best poachers in Scotland I was."
"Poachers ?"
"Yes Hugh taught me lots of amazing things, just you wait and see."
"I look forward to it, I think."
She hit him playfully.
"Come on then let's go fishing, let's see what you are made of Morag Beatrice Gregory."
"Just you wait" she laughed.
Bea headed back to get changed, Nathan headed home to sort out fishing rods and all the gear they would need. He changed too and was sitting waiting on the step when she came back.
As he watched her walking up the road he wondered how much more there was to discover about this precious gift of his, yes that was what she was.. He looked forward to finding out.
When they reached the lake Nathan headed for his usual spot, it tended to be lucky for him. Bea looked around and taking Allies fishing rod started to head off around the lake. " Where are you going?"
"I Constable Grant have my poachers head on and am heading off to a good spot I can see."
"Right, poachers head is it?"
"Yup, tell you what how about a bet, most poachers like one of those. Whoever catches the first fish has dinner cooked for them by the other."
"So you can cook as well ?"
"You won't be laughing when I win, give me five minutes."
"Five minutes, this I have to see."
In jest she stuck her tongue out and him and made off to the spot she had picked.
He watched her as she went, still laughing, half expecting her to fall in the lake.
How wrong he was, when he actually did she her cast the first line he couldn't believe what he was watching. Even he would struggle to cast as far, she made it look so effortless and so easy, and why had she chosen that spot, it wasn't one he had ever fished. He thought he had a bite, it got away, when he looked up there she was reeling in what looked like a big trout, how on earth. He was even more surprised, although maybe he shouldn't have been when a few minutes later she had another.
Picking up his kreel he headed off to where she was. "I concede, now let me have a go, where am I aiming for poacher?"
"See over there where the colour of the water is slightly darker, you really need to look hard to see the difference, aim there."
"Where, oh yes I see now, I may need casting lessons next"
It took him 2 attempts but he finally managed and within a few minutes they now had 3 fish.
"One more for luck?"
"Nathan hang fire, oh right quick aim to the right of where you just were, quick, this could be the catch of the day."
"It was the biggest fish he had caught in ages, and right here in the Hope Valley lake."
"That was incredible, how did you know that was there?"
"Poachers eyes" she giggled. " You have a lot of cleaning and cooking to do."
"I can't believe that in less than 30 minutes we have caught dinner, and the best fish I have seen come out of this lake at that. Wait until Allie is back, she will love fishing with you."
"You need to spend time with her Nathan, you don't need me tagging along, stealing her Uncle, I know how young girls think. She and your Mum are coming to see you, I have you all the rest of the time, or will have I hope."
"No Bea, I really do want you to meet them, truly they will be fine, Allie can't wait, a lady vet wow was her response when I told her about you."
"Well let's see how it goes, your time together is so limited at the moment, you must make the most of it. Family comes first and making memories is a must, that's all I have now and everyone is priceless. I can't wait to meet them both though."
"Actually as we have dinner caught so quickly do you mind if we head back. I really need to try and tidy the garden, my life won't be worth living if I don't. You don't happen to be a gardening wizard as well do you?"
"Well, now you mention it, What ?" she laughed, " I just know stuff, lots of stuff."
"Coffee first then attack ?"
"Sounds like a plan, I'll sort the coffee shall I while you put the fishing stuff away?"
When he came back she was stood on the back doorsteps, he wrapped his arms around her waist, "Penny for them"
"Just storing memories" she turned and placed her palms flat on his chest, "afraid these are for not sale, you share them with me already and they are priceless."
"As are you." The kiss held so much meaning, they both felt it, they both knew but neither dare speak it.
She broke away first, right garden, let's see. She looked around, "Actually Nathan this isn't too bad, have you any secateurs, not sure if you call them that here, rose clippers?"
"These OK?" he said
"Perfect, I will attack these roses and honeysuckle."
"Well I will do the borders, get all the weeds out, then can cut the grass, that won't take long."
"Teamwork again, we are good, you know."
"We are and getting better by the day."
As they worked away Nathan asked
"So this poacher, Hugh, did you say his name was, what else did he teach you?"
"Well he did swear me to secrecy" she laughed
"He did, did he ?"
"Trade secrets and all that but if you ever need a rabbit skinned or a grouse plucked I am you girl."
He roared with laughter, "I will remember that."
"Oh and if you ever get lost in a peat bog, don't worry I can get you out."
The laughter was infectious, Rosemary and Lee had their door open and could hear them, they were laughing at them laughing.
"Rosemary, those two are just so good together, listen to them, I have never known Nathan laugh like that in all the years we have known him." Rosemary was laughing so hard she couldn't say anything.
"Oh come on I am going to be a nosy neighbour, let's go join the fun."
"Nathan was still laughing as he answered the door, "Lee, Rosemary, come in, we haven't disturbed you have we?"
"No, just we were sitting laughing at you both laughing and had to come to see what was so funny, hope you don't mind."
"No of course not come on through, we were supposed to be tidying the garden, well we have nearly finished that,"
"Bea look your poacher's tales have disturbed the neighbours "
"Eee no you haven't, Lee and I were just so caught up in your laughter and thought we would come and see what was so funny."
"Poachers tales?" said Lee
"My reaction too Lee, I think my lovely lady here has a shady past."
"Pfft, he is only jealous because I used my poachers' secrets and caught fish the likes of which he has never seen."
"That is true if I am honest. It's the other things though."
"What that I can skin a rabbit or pluck a grouse, or stalk a stag for miles, crawling through the moors."
They were all laughing now
"What" laughed Bea, "you be careful Constable or when you are stuck in the peat bog I will let you stew there a while."
"Rosemary you should be on my side here, women's rights and all that "
Rosemary struggled through the laughter" Bea it is the image you are painting, look at you so beautiful, a real lady, trying to picture you crawling through bogs and across moors, skinning rabbits..." she couldn't go on
"Well yes but then you haven't seen me in a pigsty up my ankles in muck trying to deliver piglets."
The tears were rolling down their faces.
Nathan wrapped his arms around her and kissed her on the brow, "Darling non the wonder your Dad called you one of a kind" he laughed and ducked before she could playfully slap him.
"Just you wait, I will get you for that, and see this arm you don't even want to know where this has been".
The laughter eventually subsided, well for a while. Lee gave Nathan a hand to clear all the grass away and Rosemary helped Bea pull the last of the weeds from the flower tubs.
"Have you and Lee eaten yet Rosemary? "
"No I have salad and other stuff but we honestly were debating about heading into the saloon. Well we have fish, freshly caught" she laughed "would you like to share, Nathan is cooking."
"Is he?"
"Yes I won the bet, didn't I"
"You did, tell you what, how about we put this other skill to the test, cleaning them, see who wins that one, loser cooks?"
"Deal, oh I forgot to mention I can butcher too."
They were all at it again now.
The fish were set on the little garden table and they both had a knife, Lee and Rosemary would be the judges if it was tight.
It wasn't.. Bea had both of her's gutted cleaned and descaled in a few minutes.
"How on earth?"
"Poacher Bea wins again, " she laughed.
"I guess I better light the stove".
Lee and Rosemary went home to bring the salad and bits they had, Nathan was washing the insides of the fish out again, Bea was standing watching him. He could sense her, "are you gloating there by any chance?"
She walked over to the sink and turned him around and looking straight into those eyes, she said " Nathan I know I am not your average lady, I know I am and always have been different, you would tell me if I let you down in any way if I disappointed you?"
"Morag Beatrice Gregory, yes I am using your Sunday name, hear me when I say I would not change one thing, you will never let me down or disappoint me, don't you ever, ever change."
Hearing Lee and Rosemary coming back he kissed her quickly and whispered "Promise?"
"Promise" she replied.