CHAPTER 41

They managed to get the boy's inside just as the heavens opened. Bea stood watching from the doorway.

"I love a good storm, the air is always so fresh and clean once it stops. I remember as a very young girl being afraid one night when we were having a bad thunderstorm. Grandad came to see if I was alright, he told me never to worry, it was just God's way of clearing all the bad things away. Since then I like to think that is exactly what it is."

"You really have been surrounded by men all you life haven't you?"

"I have very few memories of my Grandmothers, I was only 8 when Mum passed, I had Aunty Peggy for a couple of years, she was Uncle Harry's wife but she passed at a young age too. I have Ethel, she and Stan have been with the family for years, she always says she was outnumbered, it really has been me and the men. Uncle Harry told me that as I started to hit my teenage years he had suggested to Dad that he send me to a ladies college, that I needed to spend time with girls of my age, learn the things ladies need to know. Dad apparently had told him that if I was to accomplish the dream I had even then of becoming a vet, then I would be entering a man's world, that to compete as an equal the more I knew about men the better, to be able to match them. At the time Uncle Harry hadn't agreed but he admitted that Dad had been right. This is why I can hunt, shoot, fish, chop wood, and ride as good as any man. "

"Well, I have to admit from what I have seen Princess they all taught you well. Did you never do the things "ladies" do?" he was laughing.

"Pffttt " she said, " I can sew, knit, embroider, I love to sketch, read, I can cook and clean, and oh... your guitar, you never said you could play."

"In all honesty, it hasn't been out of the case for well over 4 years I reckon. I was going to have a look at it when I saw you had found it, then things happened. I will when we go back down though, I used to love to play. Don't tell me you play too."

"I do, " she grinned, "One of my guitars is, I hope, on route from England."

She burst out laughing and started to blush, "Come on what is so funny?"

"Just a random thought, but not one a lady should have."

"Are you going to tell me? Bea, you are blushing " he thought that in itself was funny.

"I thought, what sweet music we will make together, just for a second"

He picked up the cushion and playfully threw it at her, " Disgraceful "

"Mind I have to agree".

"See, "she said, throwing the cushion back, "you are just as bad as me."

"I concede that, the difference is I would never have dared say it."

Her laughter stopped, " Nathan please never ever be afraid to say anything, good or bad, happy or sad, to appreciate the good we live through the bad."

"That goes both ways you know, even if I don't always understand you must tell me."

"I will now I promise."

"Good, I know that there is so much we have to discover about each other but the big things I believe we dealt with last night. If we can handle those then the little ones will be easy.

I know what I haven't told you about, the rustlers, thanks to you it was so easy."

He told her the whole story apart from the bit about Merlin, that he was hoping within the next few weeks would be a surprise, now she was staying a horse of her own was a must. What Hero would make of it he didn't know, there again knowing Bea as he was becoming to he knew she would make it work.

The rain lasted about an hour, the wind had died down as quickly as it had started.

"Should we let the boys again? "they will love this clean air."

"Come on then, tonight will be a beautiful night I think, with the sky so clear the stars should be like a light show. We must make a point of having a watch."

The boys were fine and greeted the pair of them as if they had been gone days. Nathan had noticed that Newton, who could be skittish at times, was much calmer when Bea was around, when it came to animals, well even humans he thought, she does seem to make everyone feel better. Not that she did anything it was just her presence, maybe now he was beginning to understand just a little what it was like to be an "Old Soul".

As they walked back to the cabin she looked at him, he was tired, he felt drained to her.

She pulled on his hand and stopped him, " Are you OK Nathan? You feel tired."

"I feel tired," he laughed.

Smiling back at him she said "Bea moment and I am right am I not?"

"Bea moment, I love those, and yes you are, I actually feel worn out as if I could sleep for days. The last week or so I haven't really slept much at all. Last night I can say was the best night's sleep I have had in weeks."

"I'm sorry, that is my fault, go and sleep now, there is nothing stopping you. Even a few hours will make a difference, take it from someone who knows. Sleep is the best medicine they say. The first 2 days I was up here that is all I did really. Go on, have a few hours, we will still be here when you wake."

"I can't remember the last time I slept through the day, I will be fine."

"Constable Grant, "Old Soul" who knows stuff says go sleep."

Pulling her in close he kissed her brow, " Noted "Old Soul" a couple of hours it is."

He lay on the bed and was fast asleep within minutes. Bea checked on him a couple of times, just to see him laid there brought her so much joy, if the love she felt for this beautiful, yes beautiful man, was a reward of some kind for all she had to carry in life then it was well worth it.

He awoke slowly feeling so relaxed. How long had he slept? He sat on the edge of the bed, put his boots on, and ran his hands through his hair. He was thirsty, so thirsty for some reason. There was coffee, he could smell it but he wanted something cold. Taking a glass he went outside. As he headed down to the stream he could hear her talking, the sight that greeted him was yet another memory to be stored, sitting on the stump by the steam she was talking to a huge bird, the eagle he thought. It sat on the opposite side of the stream and really looked as if was listening to every word she said.

She really has the hearing of a poacher he thought as without turning she said: " Did you sleep well darling, it's OK he isn't going anywhere yet."

"I did and who have we here? She moved over and he sat beside her, kissing her cheek and taking her hand. Is he a sea eagle Bea? I am sure Allie and I saw him the other day, and then yesterday when I started to head up here."

"He is indeed, well more specifically a Bald Eagle, I found him down here totally exhausted the day I arrived. He is only a youngster, I have a feeling he misjudged the air current and crash-landed. They ride the currents as I am sure you know. They often have accidents when they are young and learning, and try to pull up too late. Do you see them around here often?"

"No we don't, that is what surprised me when we did see him, I wasn't even sure that is what he was. Now I can see him as close up as I can, he is magnificent, isn't he? Why is he just sitting there looking at you like he is, not that I don't understand why anyone would." He kissed her again.

"He is waiting for me to catch him a fish, however, he will have to catch his own today. I fed him the two days I penned him so he could rest, he has decided he likes being waited on hand and foot. But" she said looking at him " you young man need to get back to catching your own."

"Will he be ok ?"

"Yes he will be fine, he will take to the skies again once we go, it would be amazing if next year he is back with a mate. We will need to watch out for him. I have a feeling he may be the first, that he too has found his place. What shall we call him?"

Nathan was laughing yet again "Call him, you want to give him a name?"

"He has to have a name, all the Golden Eagles at home are named by the locals, they are a blessing and if he is the first he must have a name. Any ideas?"

"When you say a name do you mean like Lee or Bill ?" he was struggling to keep a straight face."

She nudged him, "No not like that, a special name, the last young Golden Eagle I saved was named Pride of the Moor. That kind of name."

They both sat thinking and then Nathan had it " You know I decided to come up here the way I did as he was flying overhead this way, how about Path Finder?"

She turned and kissed him, "That is perfect, we name you Path Finder young man, now go and find your path, we look forward to welcoming you back next year, this mountain is yours now."

Nathan had a lump in his throat, how could such simple words carry so much meaning, this really was a memory to store.