CHAPTER 47
Colin had gone into Hope Valley yesterday as he had promised Bea he would. Whilst there was no sign of her no one had seen Nathan either since Wednesday. While everyone lived in hope he had found her and would bring her back there was the fear he had not and would return alone.
He had left early as he himself was worried. Bea would have been up on the mountain for 10 days alone, he prayed she was safe. When he came through the trees and saw the two of them he actually did say "Hallelujah". What a sight they were, there was that connection he and everyone else had witnessed at the dance. If ever two people were made for each other it was these two.
Nathan and Bea greeted him like an old friend. Bea giving him a hug and Nathan shaking his hand, "Thank you, for caring for her and for coming back for her."
"I can't lie, I have been tempted to come back early, I hoped when you hadn't been seen that you had found her, did you come on Wednesday?"
" Yes I did and what a relief it was to see her."
"You managed alright on your own?"
Nathan laughed, "When I arrived she was playing at being a poacher again, snares set, rabbit cooking, and up to her knees in the stream tickling trout. One very resourceful lady we have here."
"Colin, can you tickle a trout?"
He was laughing, "Can't say I have ever tried but I am willing to try anything once."
"You may regret saying that, my princess here has plans. Let's get this lad sorted and then we can talk. "
"Now I can see all is well, I can head back down, I should make it before it gets too dark."
"Colin you will do no such thing, you will stay tonight, and then we can all head down tomorrow, Nathan and I would like to talk to you if that is Ok?"
"Then stay I shall, I did bring a few bits of food as I thought you might be running low, there is fresh bread, cheese, some pie from the cafe oh, and a couple of bottles of beer and soda."
"Well you grab your saddlebags and I will see to this lad, I will tie him with these two, they have quite taken to the quiet life."
"So Bea everything worked out well?"
"Oh Colin everything is perfect, Nathan and I are Team Grant now, or that is what he calls us, mind I quite like it."
They were still laughing as Nathan came in,
"Team Grant I hear we are now"
Nathan wrapped his arms around her waist " We are and always will be. Now did you say you had beer?"
Nathan and Colin took their beer and went to sit outside, Bea took a soda and was joining them, she felt the sheet, it was dry. "Nathan hold that a minute and I will make this bed back up."
"Come sit, leave it for now and I will give you a hand later," he patted the step beside him.
"Is there any news from down there then Colin, any developments? "
"No nothing, it gets stranger by the day, we have had one more family arrive. I am hoping word has spread that the work just isn't here as promised. In a way I am one of the lucky ones, I think I can pick up the odd job here and there but many of the others have no trade as such to fall back on."
Nathan looked at Bea, should they say something yet.
It was Bea who spoke. "Colin, after dinner we do want to talk to you about a couple of things, but let's eat first. Now, this bed won't make itself."
"Oh Colin, just the man, we have been having a look around and there are a couple of little jobs that need doing here. We'll be coming back, that is a promise we have made to ourselves, when we do I will bring some tools and repair everything, the only thing I am not sure of is that old stove. Can you have a look, will we need to replace it or do you think you could maybe fix it?"
Bea had done the wrong thing, she had felt no pain or twinges in her leg for days, when she went to tuck the sheet in she bent from the waist stretching her hamstring, she let out such a squeal. Nathan was around the bed in seconds, Colin jumped up. They both could see the colour had drained from her face. Nathan caught her, "You forgot didn't you?"
Nodding the colour started to return.
"Come on, sit a minute."
"I just stretched the blooming thing, I totally forgot about it with having no pain lately."
"Princess, you really do need to be careful, you have been doing so well. The last thing we need is all that pain starting again."
"I am going to have to try and remind myself, even when I have pain-free days, but I am fine now, honestly."
"Forgive me, tell me to mind my own business but what happened there?"
"It's just an old injury, Colin, that's all."
"Bea if we are going to talk to Colin later then he needs to know the truth too. It is an old injury Colin, the likes of which would chill you to the bone. Princess here was, for the want of another word, impaled on a deer trap, she nearly died twice, once from the actual injury which split her leg wide open from the knee up overs, then from a fever. The muscle damage is taking its time to heal, she tries to let on that she is pain-free but some days you can see, like that."
"Impaled? Trapped? When did that happen? "
"Almost a year ago now, it really is getting better, slowly."
"Colin lesson one, she fibs."
"Well it is fine now and I will remember not to bend like that again. Now let me get dinner sorted and we can really talk."
Colin did wonder what they would want to talk to him about, he hadn't known either of them that long at all, having said though he felt as if he had known them for years. She had nearly died twice, he needed to listen and find out more.