CHAPTER 27

Nathan lay awake most of the night tossing and turning, thoughts turning over and over.

He hadn't had a night like this in weeks. Was it because Elizabeth was back, how would he react when he saw her? Why should that worry him, he did have Bea now and what he felt for her was so much more than he ever felt for Elizabeth. If that had been love, he thought it was at the time, then what was this?

Round and round the thoughts went and before he knew it it was time to get up.

The day got no better. He had only been in the office ten minutes when the telephone rang, Florence transferred the call, it was from Head Quarters in Union City. Nathan thought it must be some news about the building work but it wasn't. Three years ago he had caught some cattle rustlers, well they had served their time and were out. Reports had been coming in from various outposts that cattle were going missing again. Head Office was convinced the gang had started up again. They wanted Nathan to head a small unit to try and catch them, having tracked and followed them before they felt he would be the best one for the job, he knew their hangouts and hiding places. He was ordered to HQ that day in the hope the unit would leave the day after. That didn't give him much time, the stage left at 3 pm.

He would need to pack some things, let Bea know, the sudden realization that he wouldn't see her for days made him feel sick. As much as this was part of the job he enjoyed the most given the choice he wouldn't have gone, but it was an order so go he must.

Then he would have to let Bill know and Lee in his capacity as mayor. He was just going to leave for a second time when the telephone rang again. He half expected it to be HQ again but it wasn't it was Allie.

He panicked at first automatically thinking something had happened, something was wrong. There wasn't, she was calling to let him know that she had been invited to a special summer school which she really would like to attend but to do that her and Gran would need to go back early. Would it be OK if they came earlier, they would arrive next Monday and leave the following Wednesday? Of course, he said yes, he couldn't wait to have her home, even for a little while, to show his Mum Hope Valley but most of all for them to meet Bea.

Bea had been surprised to see Newton was still in his stall. Normally Nathan was up and out long before her. She headed down to the jailhouse and caught him just as he was leaving.

"Oh Bea, I was just going to try and catch you, I have been ordered to Head Quarters. I have to go this afternoon. I am hoping to be back on Sunday. The thing is I have also just heard from Allie, her and Mum are coming on Monday now. If I shouldn't be back in time would you meet them off the stage for me and if I leave you a key give it to them."

"Slow down," she said " What time do you have to leave? "

"3 pm I have a couple of hours. I need to pack some things and catch Bill and Lee if I can."

"Well let's do that first then I can help you sort what you need to take."

As they headed to the house Nathan suddenly had the realization that he wouldn't be back for the dance.

"Will you save that last dance for me, for when I get back, I am so sorry I will miss it."

"There will be others and I will dance with you anytime you feel like it, we don't need a saloon and band to do that."

"Promise me you will go, even for the last hour, you have worked so hard organising things."

"I promise."

Opening the front door he said "Mum will not be happy with me, I had intended to give everywhere a good clean this week. I do try to keep everything clean and tidy but it's not up to Mum's standards I'm afraid."

"It is always clean and tidy, or has been when I have been here but I know what you mean. If you are leaving me the key then let me give it a good going over, well if you don't mind, it will keep me busy while you are away."

"I can't ask you to do that."

"Well you aren't asking, I am offering and what are we ?"

"A team, " he laughed.

"That is that sorted then. Now let's get you packed."

As Nathan lifted his bag down from the top of the wardrobe he remembered the little note falling out when he last put it up there "Love you Uncle Nathan." It would be good to have her home again even just for a few days.

Bea had followed him up the stairs and was standing watching him from the door.

"You can come in you know" he laughed

"What would the townsfolk think, Miss Bea in the Constables bedroom"

Laughing he pulled her in and kissed her, " Bea I know it's only going to be a few days but I am really going to miss you, you make my days so much brighter."

Kissing him back she said, "Monday can't come quick enough."

As she sat and watched him gather what he needed together an image suddenly popped up in her mind. Nothing new there for her.

"Nathan, daft Bea question coming here she laughed. You said that you had caught these rustlers before, that you knew all their hangouts and hiding places?"

"I did, yes, I had tracked them for quite a while before I actually caught them."

"Well, and I know this is one of my "Bea moments" as Ethel always calls them. Not sure if it will mean anything but do you know of a sort of corral, or something similar, that sits in a sort of mountain basin, I don't know how to describe it really. Mountains on all sides but this pasture in the middle, maybe a cut of some kind in the mountains? Don't look at me she laughed."

"You young lady have just described a place I do know of, why?"

"Just look there first and you may be home early."

He hadn't known her long, he knew there was a lot to learn about her but this "gift" she had he would never question. From the few stories she had told him he knew it was never to be questioned.

As the stage pulled away, she had a lump in her throat and tears in her eyes. At that moment she knew there was no way on this earth she could ever leave this place, not without him. He was only going for a few days and already she felt like part of her was missing.

Nathan was having the same thoughts, he remembered the last time he left Hope Valley he couldn't wait to get away, today he couldn't wait until he got back.