CHAPTER 30
Everyone in Hope Valley must have been praying for good weather, Bea awoke early and what a glorious day it was. She didn't waste any time getting ready, there was a lot to do today. The festivities would start early with the market that Florence and Molly had organised. There were a few sideshows for the children and food stalls, all with strict instructions that the main street must be clear by 5 pm at the latest. The bonfire would be lit at half 5 then towards 7 pm the procession would march down into the town and the dance and buffet. Well, that was the plan, nothing was fixed in stone and the beauty of something like this was it didn't really matter if something ran over.
Carla had ordered breakfast for the ladies and Rosemary, Faith, Fiona, Minnie, and Molly were already there when Bea came down. Excitement filled the air.
"Any hitches? Bea asked.
"No, well not yet, Lee and the men are taking the lumber up now for the fire. Jesse has chosen a newly cut trunk to turn into the maypole. I have yards and yards of ribbons."
"Well I guess that is our first job then," said Fiona. " Has anyone actually ever danced around a maypole, do we know how to do it?"
Everyone looked at Bea, "Well I take that as a no" she laughed, "don't worry I will have you all tied in knots in minutes."
Everyone was laughing, today was going to be a fun day Bea thought, only one thing missing, she had cried after her confrontation the other day with Elizabeth, life without him would be impossible now. What if ? she had to stop thinking like that, it would tear her apart. He would be home in a couple of days, all she needed was to be in his arms again, one of those hugs would sort her out. Over the last few days she had started to feel very weary, drained, she would feel better once he was home.
Breakfast was eaten and baskets of ribbons in hand the ladies headed up to the schoolhouse, Bea started them singing "All things bright and beautiful.." It was Minnie who commented first, "Where have you been hiding that voice"? Bea just laughed and carried on, this was almost her chapel singing voice, almost she thought. The men heard them coming before they saw them, the joy seemed to spread and several of them joined in. Song after song they sang as they worked. It was Joseph who noticed the stranger at first.
"Welcome friend," he said "Joseph Canfield, I am afraid you found us in rather high spirits this morning, we have a festival today."
"Colin Farley," the stranger said, "I was speaking to Constable Grant the other day, I am one of the newcomers up on the edge of the town. He told me about the festival and I wondered if I may join you if I can help with anything."
"You are welcome Colin, you any good with maypoles, "
"Well I can give it a go " he laughed and set about helping straight away.
It took all the men to hoist the maypole into place and secure it, it was a magnificent sight.
"OK, now it's up how do we do it?" Faith asked.
Bea just knew this was going to be hilarious. "Has no one done this before apart from me" she was already struggling to keep a straight face,
"I did as a child," said Colin, I think I remember.
"Thank goodness, come on Mr. Farley, let's tie this lot in knots." That infectious laughter of hers was now unleashed.
"Men come on you are the children, ladies we go, man, lady, man, lady. There are too many ribbons for everyone but tonight it will be perfect. Right, grasp the end of a ribbon, Jesse that includes you. OK ladies you step out so the ribbon is at full stretch. Now you are going to go clockwise, men or children, she could hardly talk for laughing, you just step out a little way and you are going anti-clockwise, by now there was no hope, this was going to be a total disaster, but fun.
"Is this how you remember it Mr. Farley/"
"Please just call me Colin and yes and now we go in and out in and out."
What yelled Bill, round and round and in and out."
"Bill be quiet and do as you are told," said Molly, "spoilsport".
"We could use music really, oh I know does anyone know in and out of the dusty bluebells?"
Rosemary and Lee, who had seen this side of Bea before, were crying with laughter.
"Come on, laughed Bea, " then she started waving her arms about, her sense of humour was wicked at times. So we go that way and that way and in and out and in and out. Ready"
"In and out of the dusty bluebells, in and out of the dusty bluebells"... she couldn't get any more words out, she was bent over with laughter as was everyone else, well if they weren't on the floor.
Eventually she spoke" Well what a terrible impression we must have made on Colin here, I mean when you find the mayor, our lady editor, doctor, judge, and all of us rolling around like mad people, not exactly average are we?"
That started them all again, "Wait until I tell Nathan about this, he will be very disappointed in you all."
It was Lee who said, "Bea you would have roped him in to, and can you imagine."
"This is true Lee, poor Nathan is not here to defend himself."
Eventually, they calmed down a bit and headed back into town.
Coffee for the ladies and by now the younger girls were gathering, then they would head out to collect wildflowers to decorate the saloon and make head garlands with.
The men were sitting having something to eat as they had missed breakfast being up so early.
"What an amazing woman Bea is," said Bill.
"Bill, Nathan is a very lucky man, she is one of a kind, she radiates such warmth, fun, humanity, and lots of other words too, I have never met anyone like her in my life."
"Forgive me," Colin said, " Is Nathan Constable Grant, and is that his wife?"
"Well yes and no they are not married, Bea has only been here in Hope Valley a few weeks, but they are a couple."
" Gentlemen I think we, Hope Valley that is, are all blessed to have that lady in our midst. I truly believe she was heaven-sent to us all, this morning was an example, when have any of you known laughter like that here, and do you not feel better for it."
"Joseph I have to agree, this place will not be the same when she leaves."
That statement actually brought the mood down but not for long.
"Come on the lads let's get this place sorted, table and chairs to shift, and this bunting to hang. Our lives won't be worth living if it isn't done when they come back.
By 4 pm Bea was heading back to get changed. She had picked two lovely bunches of flowers and taken them to Nathan's, one for the main table and one for Allie's room. Locking up she had a look around, yes it would pass Ethel's approval so hopeful Nathan's Mums too.
With Nathan not being there she wasn't going to make that much of an effort really, but then she thought it was better to enter into the spirit of things so she decided on the lovely pale lilac dress she had bought in Newcastle, she doubted anyone here would have seen anything like it but it suited her tall slender figure so well and this colour was one that showed her hair off in all its glory. That she decided would be worn down tonight, having washed it and braided it last night it now hung in waves. Her garland was made from beautiful cornflowers and meadowsweet. Checking herself in the mirror she wished so much he was here, he would approve she knew he would.
As she started to walk down the stairs she felt her leg twitch, she must have stumbled slightly, Jesse was up the stairs in an instant.
"What happened there Bea, I had visions of you rolling down the whole lot".
"I think I must have caught my hem, I don't do ladylike Jesse, not really."
"Well forgive me for being forward Bea but I beg to differ, I know a certain someone who would be a very proud man if he was here. Now can I get you a drink?"
"Just a lemonade I think, for now at least."
The ladies were all admiring her dress, where was it from, was that the latest fashion in England? Her hair too was drawing the usual attention. Although Bea was used to it she must admit she couldn't wait for some peace and quiet once everyone had left the bonfire, volunteering to babysit it was a brilliant idea. She planned on sitting there until about half an hour before the dance was due to end, if she was lucky she would escape all the dancing.
The nearer the stage got to Hope Valley the more excited Nathan became, he couldn't wait to get back, well no to see her. Until 4 weeks ago when he had ridden back into the town not knowing where his future lay, he had no idea anyone could feel this way. Not an adult at least. His whole life and outlook on life had changed from that instant he saw her in the livery, his life would never be the same.
The journey back and the prospect of seeing her made him think long and hard. He had suddenly realised that with Allie and Mum leaving early on Wednesday he still would have 5 days off. He was going to ask her if she wanted to do the mountain trip he had promised her. If she agreed, which he knew she would, then he would tell her about what happened with Elizabeth, about hearing her voice, he needed to tell her that then there were no secrets. He needed that to be able to move on to take the next step.
He had asked the driver to drop him on the edge of town, he wanted to surprise her, getting off the stage on the main street would blow that plan. He took the back way and walked down the road to the house. As soon as he opened the door he smelt the flowers, the polish, the fresh smell of everything, she must have worked like a trojan. He went upstairs and up here was just the same, freshly laundered beds too. The flowers in Allie's room were a woman's touch. Then as he stripped to wash he noticed his guitar on top of the drawers, so she had found that, when was the last time he had actually played it, long before he came here. I shall have a look at that tomorrow, I need to start playing again.
Washed and changed he headed off, he actually felt like running, he was worse than a child at Christmas.
Henry had been keeping Bea company, he insisted when he saw she was going to be there on her own. "I did volunteer to do it, Henry, there is a method in my madness."
"Did a certain constable know you were going to do it?"
"He did and was none too happy, but he understands why and I can look after myself you know, don't let this image fool you."
"I can well believe you. Forgive me asking Bea but you have really fallen for our Mountie haven't you, I can see how much you have missed him these last few days."
" I have Henry so much that it actually hurts, anyone back home who knows me would tell you this doesn't happen to me. I have never been one for romance and the like, my work was my passion. When I set out to visit Hope Valley I knew there was something here I had to find. There is a long story there Henry and one day I will be able to retell it. What I never thought for one moment was that I would find the most incredible person I have known. Honestly Henry I can't imagine my life without him in it now.
Henry could see she was close to tears, he placed his arm around her shoulder, she leaned her head on his.
"Well if this old man's eyes are anything to go by I tell you he feels the same."
At this point, Henry got up, "I am going to head off now Bea, but I will leave you in this gentleman's care, he pointed across the meadow.
Her heart actually stopped, there striding across the field was the man in question. She hadn't seen him but Henry had. The tears were flowing now, she wanted to run but she seemed frozen to the spot.
Henry by now had reached Nathan. "Thank you Henry for watching over her for me, it means a lot."
"Nathan anytime, that lady of yours is such a joy, such a gift, you will be a fool if you let her get away."
When he turned back to look at the bonfire she had burst into a run and was in his arms in no time. He swung her around then placed a hand on each side of her neck pulled her in and kissed her, she pulled back slightly so she could see his face, those eyes smiled and said "Welcome home Constable" then she kissed him back.
They just held each other as if neither of them would ever let the other go again.
He spoke first, " You know I never would have thought it possible to miss someone as much as I have you these last few days Bea, I have honestly felt as if part of me was missing. I was physically hurting. When I saw you from over there I can't describe the pure relief" moving away from her slightly he looked at her from top to bottom " and Bea you look, I can't even find the words"
"Like a princess from a fairytale", she laughed "well that is what Opal called me."
"Opal had it right Bea, you truly do, God I am one lucky man."
He pulled her in close and kissed her again.
"If I am your princess then you are my knight in shining armour. I have missed you just as much, it hurts doesn't it?"
"Oh it does darling, hopefully, neither of us will be going anywhere without the other for a long time."
"Now shall we check this fire, I have been promised the last dance you know. Has everything gone to plan, everyone enjoyed themselves?"
"Oh yes, you will see when we get down there, and they are blaming me for the madness, I mean as if."
He laughed "As if princess".
Walking hand in hand into town she asked how the mission had gone.
"It went like a dream and that is thanks to you, I want to tell you all about it, but don't think I will have time once we get in there. I was hoping we could go to church again in the morning and then spend the whole day together, maybe take the boys out somewhere, what do you think?
"You have a date, I need to talk to you about something as well."
A look of worry crossed his face, "It's nothing bad I promise."
When they reached the top of the main street they could hear the music and laughter, he stopped.
"Before we go in there I need to do this one more time."
They kissed again, "That should last me half an hour."
Bea felt like she floated into the saloon, he was holding her hand so tightly, as if he would never let go. They were greeted with cheers, this was the perfect end to everyone's night. To see this wonderful couple together as they should be on what had been one of the best days Hope Valley had ever seen was the icing on the cake.
Bea stood talking to Rosemary as Mike thanked everyone and announced the last dance. Her eyes sort his and his hers, she placed her arms around his neck, he around her waist and it was as if they became one. The pure joy they felt everyone else could see and feel. These two were becoming the heartbeat of Hope Valley.
Nathan had not wanted to leave her, he never wanted to leave her and it was getting harder and harder every time. Still tonight he knew that he had been shown there is heaven on earth and he had found it, beside a bonfire here in Hope Valley.