CHAPTER 46

Having laid as long as they dare, the morning followed the routine they had fallen into.

As they were drying themselves after the plunge Nathan burst out laughing.

"What's funny, share please."

"Well I was thinking how you really have unlocked a side of me I thought was long gone, how up here, or with you I am the true me I guess, the townsfolk see me as the quiet man. I must admit I have never been much of a talker, more a listener, what would they think if they could see me now skinny dipping in a freezing cold stream with the most beautiful thing on this earth."

"That would be headlines in The Valley Voice " now she was roaring with laughter. "Eee Nathan they would be so shocked at the pair of us, but I don't think I care."

"Not sure I do either, they would only be jealous anyway, what we have anyone would skinnydip for ."

Laughing as only the pair of them could, they headed back up to the cabin.

Nathan reckoned that if Colin had set out early he should reach them by mid-afternoon at the latest. Luckily the ground had dried after the rain of the other day, wet ground made part of the track quite difficult.

Bea was just starting to strip the bed when he came in. "You hang that over the rail and I will strip the sheet and pillowcases. As he did he noticed there was a mark of some kind on the sheet.

"Bea! Are you ok, have you hurt yourself?"

She sensed the worry and could see it on his face. " I am fine darling, why?"

Then she noticed the way he was holding the sheet and the mark, she hadn't seen it. Taking it from him she threw it over the rail and wrapped her arms around his waist.

"I haven't hurt you have I? I am so sorry, oh God."

He actually started to shake, she could feel him and the tears were there about to fall.

"Nathan no, stop now, you have not hurt me, do you hear me."

He turned to try and walk away but she hung on and pulled him back.

"Nathan hear me now, I wanted what has happened between us just as much as you did, I told you that. That " she said pointing at the sheet " is just what happens sometimes especially when you reach my age, honestly darling it is just mother nature. It won't happen again, so please don't regret what we have shared these last few nights. I never will."

Now she was close to tears.

"Oh princess I will never ever regret it either. I just thought I had hurt you and that is the last thing I would ever want to do."

"Well that is OK then because you didn't, in fact, you did the complete opposite."

Sheet washed, they twisted it between them, it was almost dry already, it smelt so good as Bea had used her soap to remove the stain. Walking back up she could see he was thinking "tell me, where are you now?"

"I just wondered Bea how many relationships you have had, that was all."

"One," she said "Just one, Grant, he was a manager on one of the estates I covered in Scotland. A good kind man, I think everyone thought we would eventually get married, then his first love returned to the area and that was that. It wasn't long after that I moved back down to Bramble."

"Did you love him?"

"Well I think a bit like you and Elizabeth, I thought I did at the time, now I realise I didn't. Mind saying that what we have Nathan I believe very few experience, this is way beyond love as you ever imagine. We are very, very lucky."

"Well if I was the...no " he said laughing

"Out with it, no secrets"

"Well Bea we together, in that sense, is pretty astounding, how..."

"Now Nathan, I am a vet and know how things work and while this," she ran her hands up her body " may have been pure, the old soul that lives within has lived a few times and she must know stuff, even I was shocked."

He swung her round, the pair of them laughing "Well I can't wait to see what else she knows"

She slapped him in fun, and ran up the bank, he gave chase caught her, and as they kissed their visitor arrived.