I just wanted to add a little thank you before this chapter.

I really have been overwhelmed by all the lovely reviews of my story. I wrote this never intending to share it, it was my therapy after the disaster that was the S8 finale. My daughter read it and told me it needed to be shared, so having posted a snippet that went down well I bit the bullet, and here it is. I have lots already written ready to post and as yet still no end in sight, although I do know the ending :)

Thank You, everyone, I hope you continue to enjoy it.

CHAPTER 26

As Nathan sat writing his daily report Bill came into the office, he was keen to hear if any more information had come to light about the building work. He noticed the metal frame on the desk and his inspectors eyes saw the blood straight away.

"Bill, would you know that was? I do now but didn't until earlier this afternoon."

Bill picked it up, turning it this way and that. "Can't say I do, it looks like a frame of some kind or is it some sort of trap?"

"You are right on both in a way. Remember two Christmases ago Lucas had the children build the sky lanterns and then let them all go, this is the frame of one those. Today while Bea was out riding she came across a young fawn trapped by this, it's foot had got caught in that bit in the middle, where the burner goes. Obviously the poor little thing had struggled to get itself free and the wire had just cut deeper and deeper. It's foot was about severed off."

"Where did she find it?"

"In the woods on the road out of town, she said she heard it calling in distress. I have to admit as I turned the bend and saw Hero and no Bea my heart sank. But, honestly what I witnessed today showed me yet another side to her. Today I saw Beatrice Gregory the veterinarian and she was bloody amazing. There was nothing she could do for it except end its suffering, she asked to borrow my pistol, I offered to do it but no, she knew exactly what she was doing. She then removed this, says she will use it to educate others about the dangers they can cause."

"Well I have to admit I would never have thought about anything like that happening."

"I guess we will in future, well I know I will, it was a sight I will never forget."

"Did you find anything new at the site?"

"Not a thing, nothing has been touched since I was there the other day. I spoke to a couple of the new settlers and they are not happy at all. Basically all telling the same story, they staked their claims as work had been promised in the area. They will all need to support themselves until they get on their feet. With the work stopping it doesn't look good. Yet none of them know anything about the type of factories, who was building them or why work has stopped."

"Don't like the feel of that all, the fact that none of them know suggests to me that it was kept quiet for a reason, someone hiding something."

"My thoughts exactly Bill, I am hoping HQ can find something but as yet nothing. The last thing we need is more of them turning up. Lee or Henry must have had no luck either as they would have let us know, I think we have a big problem brewing Bill."

"I agree, we will just have to keep digging and at the same time keep an eye on the new settlers. I will make a couple more phone calls tomorrow."

"Are you heading off when you lock up?"

"No, I am going to go check on Bea, have some dinner. If I don't she won't eat, I am getting to know her well" he laughed. Oh Bill, did you know Elizabeth was back in town?"

"I didn't, have you seen her?"

"No I haven't, yet, but at least I am prepared. Bea saw her this morning leaving the mercantile, Ned had told her she was back for this week at least."

"You OK with that, after all that happened?"

"I am Bill, I have Bea now."

Bill just laughed, Nathan did have her and everyone could see how she had "saved" their beloved Mountie.

"I might see you over there, heading that way myself" he said as left.

When Nathan entered the saloon he was happy to see that she was actually sitting talking and laughing with Bill. He walked behind her chair and kissed the top of her head, "What are you two laughing about?"

Bill could hardly speak, his sides hurt with laughing. "Fishing tales," he said.

Nathan just shook his head, "I am never going to live that down am I?"

"Nope" said Bill, Bea just smiled that smile at him.

"You two OK for a drink or can I get you anything?"

"Let me" said Bill, "Beer is it ?"

Nathan sat next to her and took her hand, " Are you OK now Bea?"

She squeezed his hand, and looking into those beautiful blue eyes she needed no words.

When Bill came back he asked about the lanterns, how had she known what it was.

Bea explained how they worked, not that either man really needed to know how, what neither had ever thought about was what happened when they fell to earth. She told them about the injuries she had seen them cause, the wildfire on the heather moor that had burnt for two days.

"Imagine if one of them had been blown off course, the slightest change in the wind will do that, if it had blown up into the pine forest here, got caught in a tree while the burner was still alight. You would have a forest fire in no time. "

"Well, we will make sure no one lets them off again, and I also want to spread the word of how dangerous they are. I have a big meeting in a few weeks, I will mention it then, I will take that one you have and tell them what you have witnessed. Hopefully it won't happen again."

"Well if you need me to retell my experiences with them Bill just ask."

"I may just do that, you have a way with words,"

Nathan invited Bill to eat with them, they were all just ordering when Lee and Rosemary came in. The table of three became five and then six when Henry came in, Bea invited him to join them too. The laughter coming from the corner was infectious, Bill had of course had to tell Henry the fishing tale, then Lee had asked had they heard about all Bea's hidden poachers talents. The images were just as funny hearing them for a second time.

"Just you all wait," Bea said " I have hidden talents that you may all be thankful for one day " she was laughing too.

Nathan was just pleased to see that she seemed to have come to terms with what had happened that afternoon. No doubt that was a memory stored.

When the others had left they decided to go for a little walk, Nathan needed to get her out of here, he couldn't hold her the way he wanted too with everyone watching.

They had only got as far as the corner of the mercantile when he pulled her into the alley.

He kissed her and she kissed him back, he held her so close, he had needed that from the moment she had mentioned Elizabeth. Was it reassurance he thought.

"Nathan I know what you are thinking, and I meant what I said, we have each other now, and I am here, I am going nowhere, don't ever doubt that, promise me."

How could this miracle read his mind the way she did, he needed to hear those words because the doubt had started to creep in.

Walking back out onto the main street Bea remembered she needed to tell him about the bonfire.

"I nearly forgot again, about the second thing I had to tell you. The plans for Saturday have changed a bit. I thought it much better to start the night with the bonfire, with everywhere being so dry it will need to be watched until the last ember has died. If we lit it later in the day some poor soul would have ended up staying up all night. If the evening starts with that then hopefully it will have died out before the dance ends. I volunteered to babysit it Nathan."

"Why would you do that? We will miss all the fun down at the saloon, I can't wait to dance with you, your dance card will be full" he grinned.

"Exactly for that reason, I can't dance with everyone Nathan, I will be lucky if I manage two or three and those are yours. Having to say no to people would be so hard."

Nathan looked puzzled, "Do you not like dancing, why would you have to say no?"

She just looked at him, he wouldn't think, she shouldn't expect him to.

"I love to dance unfortunately my leg doesn't, not yet anyway. I still have a long list of doctors does and don'ts, I do push them a bit I have to admit, but even I know a night of dancing is too much."

"If I babysit the bonfire then that is my excuse. I want you to still go though, I will join you later on, the last dance is yours."

"Bea if you think I am going to let you sit up there on your own then you are sadly mistaken. I totally understand now, and you are right, we and that is we, will watch the fire and head down to the saloon in time for the last dance or two, maybe, can I push my luck" he was laughing.

"I think two might be OK, if they are the slow ones" there was that wink.

He laughed, "Well that is a date then."

They turned back towards the saloon and as they kissed good night he nearly said it the words were there, they just wouldn't come.