CHAPTER 35
Colin had insisted Bea stay with him on Tuesday and as day broke on Wednesday they headed off. He wanted to be off the road and into the mountains as soon as possible. He would go up with Bea, make sure the cabin was fine then return down. He was taking his role as her guardian for now very seriously.
He had been talking to one of the men who worked as a logger for Lee, and in a manner of fact way, so as not to raise any suspicion, had asked about the trails and cabins, he had a fair idea how to find them.
They had found the second cabin by late morning and Bea thought it was perfect. The cabin had been left in a really good state, not everyone did that but whoever had last used this one had done a good job. There were little places like this scattered around the hills back home. Often places of refuge should the weather suddenly change, the unwritten rule was you left them as you expected to find them.
There was everything Bea could need, she could not have chosen a better spot. The cabin was nestled by giant pines, out the front was a small grassy meadow at the bottom of which ran a stream. There was even a lean-to shed for Hero, yes this would be perfect.
Colin unloaded everything, told her that he would be back a week on Saturday if she hadn't come down. If she decided to do that then to take extra care and not rush. She promised and as he went to leave she hugged him, not like she would Nathan but like a brother and sister would, in Colin she did feel as if she had found the big brother she never had. She knew their friendship would last a lifetime.
Down in Hope Valley, Nathan went about his daily routine as always but Bea was never far from his mind. Allie and his Mum had given him a distraction which he needed really. He knew she was safe, that was the most important thing.
He had called in the library but could find nothing at all relating to folklore as Colin had suggested, he honestly didn't know what to make of that whole conversation.
Today was Friday, his last day at work for 10 days. He had plans to take Allie riding and fishing, things he had hoped they could share with Bea. It was a shame that they would not get to meet, he knew both Mum and Allie would have loved her. He had promised though that they would arrange something later in the year should she still be here. Even the thought of "should she" made him feel sick.
He was just sorting out the last of his paperwork to leave for Bill, who was going to keep watch while he was off, when Ned came into the jailhouse.
"Nathan can I have a word, it's about Bea, well no it is about the telegrams she would send and receive 2 or 3 times a week, to England."
"Yes to her Uncle, is there a problem?" before the words left his mouth he realised, of course, she hasn't been here to send any."
Exactly, Nathan, we have been getting 1 or 2 a week but we have had 4 in the last two days. I think her Uncle must be worried, while I can't divulge what they actually say he is very worried."
"I am not sure what I can do, Ned, I wouldn't even know where to send one if I knew what to say."
"That isn't a problem Nathan, the address I mean, I know it off by heart now. Bea has been very diligent in sending them every couple of days. Would her Uncle know who you were?"
" I feel sure he would, I even wrote to him myself," Nathan had an overwhelming feeling of letting her Uncle down too, he had promised in that letter to look after her, to protect her, and he didn't even know where she was, yes he had failed there too.
"Well the last thing I want is him thousands of miles away worried, Bea is his world, I think if I send him a telegram saying she has gone away for a week or two then that will be OK until I hear any news. If I write it now Ned will you send it?"
"As soon as I get back over there."
Nathan wrote " Mr. Ferguson no need to worry. Bea is away for a few weeks exploring. Will inform you once she is back. Regards Nathan Grant."
"Will that do Ned do you think?"
"It should stop him worrying at least, I will give Bea all her post and telegrams when she comes back, Nathan she is coming back isn't she?"
"Ned I hope so, I truly hope so."
On Saturday he had taken Allie fishing, he had tried to find the spot where Bea had caught the best fish ever but he had no luck, he didn't have her "Poachers Head" as she called it, the thought made him smile. Allie laughed at the tales he told her, the things Bea had said and done. Such a fun happy day that had been, was that all he was going to have now, memories.
"Uncle Nathan, you really like her don't you, much more than you ever did Mrs. Thornton?"
"What makes you say that?"
"Just the way you talk about, the way even thinking of her makes you smile but then look sad, you are missing her I can tell."
" I am Allie, she is very special as I hope you will find out, but I have to face the fact that when she returns to England, or if she does, then I will miss her even more."
"Could we not go with her, move to England, I think I would like that. Does she live near London? that would be exciting."
He had to laugh at how youngsters saw things so simply. "What would I do in England? They don't have Mounties there you know and no Bea is from Northern England I can show you where in the Atlas if you like. Her home is actually nearer to Edinburgh the capital city of Scotland than it is to London. Edinburgh is where Bea did all her training and exams, then she lived and worked right up in the north of Scotland. I must admit from the way she described it that is one area I would love to see."
As soon as they got home and had packed their fishing gear away Allie brought the atlas out. He showed her exactly what Bea had shown him only a couple of weeks before. He remembered sitting beside her here at the table just as he and Allie were now, listening to that voice and hanging on to her every word, she had that effect on everyone, you could listen to her for hours.
After dinner that night, Allie had taken her book and gone to bed, he sat out on the back step again reliving memories.
"Penny for them son," his Mum said, "or can I guess."
He just turned and smiled. His conversation with Colin crossed his mind. "Mum, have you ever heard the term "Old Soul" used for a person?"
He could tell by the expression she had. "You have I can tell by your face, what does it mean Mum, or what exactly is it?"
"I have heard it, son, yes but not for many a year. You know your great grandparents came over here from Ireland, well as a child I remember them telling all the stories of home and the people. Folklore and Religion were a huge part of their lives. They told tales of "Old Souls' '.
"What sort of tales?"
"I can't remember exactly, it was a long time ago, but it was something to do with dying, that the body dies but the soul passes over to another place, some however are reborn they don't pass over. These are special souls, they are chosen ones. Often they will live many lifetimes, each one becoming wiser and more and more treasured. These people are said to be truly remarkable, they spread joy, they are wise, they see things we don't, they also can carry a great burden as they feel others' pain and suffering. I am sure there was more but I really can't remember. Why do you ask?"
"Because one of the new settlers asked me the other day if I knew how special Bea was, I said of course she was, everyone thought so, did I know why though? He told me to go and find out what Old Souls were because she was one and maybe then I would understand her more."
"Nathan truly, she is an Old Soul, oh son if she is then you are blessed. Does what I know fit her, would she be all of these things?"
"Yes and more. I had never heard the term before. I wish I could just find out more, I need to know. Something she said to me very early on was that some questions just don't have answers, that no matter how hard you search there are no explanations, they just are and have to be accepted that way, or words like that, I think now she may have been referring to herself."
"That is very true son. In these modern times a lot regard these old tales as rubbish, just that a tale, but they often hold a lot of truths, never dismiss them. You have a pastor here now don't you, ask him what he knows, see what he says. Does he know Bea ?"
"He does and he helped us when we needed guidance."
"Then ask Nathan and if he thinks this is what she could be then you do everything in your power to find her and bring her home. Do you remember not so long ago I told you that if you are brave enough to say goodbye then you are often rewarded with a wonderful hello?"
"I do, you think she is my hello?"
"Well as I say son if she is then you really are a very lucky man."
As they were leaving the church the following day and thanking Joseph Nathan asked him if he had a minute or two to spare. Once everyone had left the pair of them went back in and sat.
"What is it Nathan, is it Bea, have you heard from her, she is sadly missed but I don't need to tell you that."
Nathan smiled, "Joseph I think you more than anyone can understand how much I do miss her, I feel like part of me is missing and I am to blame. I let her down because I believed someone else's lies, I said something to her that I now believe hurt her much more than I could imagine, and she ran. I know she is safe because Colin saw her, he knows where she was heading but will honour his word and not tell me. Joseph, what I wanted to ask you is have you ever come across or heard the words "Old Soul" in regard to a person?"
Joseph smiled, " I have, can I ask why you ask me?"
"Colin told me that to truly understand Bea, to know who she really is then I need to learn what that was."
"He is right Nathan and he obviously knows what it means, Bea I think is what could be termed an "Old Soul" though that is a term steeped in folklore. To me I see her as a gift from God, she is a blessing to everyone she meets. There are very few like her Nathan, but I am sure you know that."
"To me, she is just Bea Joseph, am I wrong thinking that way?"
"Nathan you are not, to be just Bea, will mean more to her than you can ever imagine. Tell her that and you will see, I promise you that."
"I only hope and pray as I have here today and every day since she left that she comes back so I can."
"Nathan, if the power of prayer works then she will be back, everyone in this church prayed for the same thing today, trust in him Nathan he will bring her home or show you where she is so you can bring her back."