CHAPTER 48

After another lovely dinner, they sat to talk. The men had a beer and Bea coffee, she and Nathan sat on the bed while Colin pulled up one of the chairs.

Bea was surprised when Nathan started the conversation, this was the Mountie talking now.

"Colin, Bea, and I would like to ask you something we think you of all people will understand" he looked at Bea and she just smiled, he may not know it but this was her guardian doing what they did.

"Why did you choose to come to Hope Valley? I know you have said the promise of work but was there any other reason, now bear in mind here what you know about Bea and the folklore, etc. Was there any other reason, something that may sound strange to anyone other than Bea and I?"

Colin knew he had to be truthful here, " I will be honest, yes, don't ask me what but I felt as if I was pulled here as if something was telling me I had to come."

Nathan and Bea just smiled, "Colin you are not alone there, something pulled Bea across an ocean and a whole country to come here, she had no idea why but made that journey on her own. Myself, well I heard her voice long before she arrived and that saved me, that is what kept me in Hope Valley."

"OK now this one is even stranger, do you have any feelings for Bea?"

Bea jumped in here, "Colin please be honest, do you feel anything for me."

"Oh now that's a bit personal, why would that matter? I told you the other day Nathan, everyone can see the love you have for each other."

"Colin I am not talking from here," Bea held her hand to her heart, then moving her hand to that spot at the bottom of her ribs she said, " from here Colin, what do you feel here."

This woman truly is an old one he thought. "Then again I will be honest, even though I have only known you for two weeks or so I feel I have found the sister I always wanted, yes a little sister.

"Tell him Princess or shall I" he could see the tears in her eyes "Colin my friend that is the answer we both hoped for, Bea here told me she loved you, but like the big brother she never had but always wanted."

Colin could see her tears, he was close to them, getting up he looked at Nathan, who just smiled and nodded, he wrapped his arms around her "Really Bea, really?"

"Colin from that day I ran, I hoped you felt the same. Thank you."

"What you thanking me for sis, now you have Nathan and me to keep you in line"

Nathan laughed, "there are days it will take both of us."

"That actually leads to the next bit Colin, you know the tales and stories, how her life is different, how things would affect her, I am learning and will learn more, you above anyone here may understand. What if anything do you know about her needing "Guardians"?

"I can't say that is a term I have seen or read about, I do know that normally the "Old Souls" would have the protection of their whole community but there would be two or three, always men, who were charged with keeping them safe. Could it be that?"

"From what Bea has told me, tell me if I am wrong Princess, all her life she has had 2 men watching over her, they always called themselves her guardians, her grandfather, and father, then father and uncle and then 2 of her uncles. Not a blood relative, a long-time family friend, her Uncle Charles, he is the only person now, Bea is the last of the Gregory line. Here is the thing Colin, Bea isn't going back to England, he squeezed her hand. It gave him so much joy just to say that she will be staying here with me. I will of course protect her in every way I can but there should be someone else, we both feel that.

We have been brought together by something more powerful than we will ever understand, something that we won't question, something we will be eternally grateful for, coming from me that must mean something. We also believe that the same power chose to send you to us both, to help me understand and be Bea's second guardian. Hence the connection you feel."

Bea had sat listening to Nathan, she was so proud of him. Explaining to him about her life, who she truly was had been hard, even harder for someone like him to understand and not question, here he was now asking Colin for help, to share her care " Colin I understand if you say no, it is a lot to ask."

"I will say this to you both once, I have never been so honoured, I do believe you are right, that this is why I felt the need to come here. I promise to help you both until I am no longer able to. So my answer is yes, would it be anything else."

He hugged Bea again then he and Nathan shook hands, but that turned into a bear hug and slaps on the back.

"Over to you, Bea" Nathan laughed.

"Well I have had what Nathan here calls a "Bea Moment", I have a feeling that Jed is going to retire and sell the livery business. I am going to look into setting up a practice here, under strict instructions not to take on too much, and thought we could purchase it from him. We would add a surgery at the back and reserve a couple of the back stalls for care, the rest would run as it always has. Nathan won't have the time, at the moment anyway, and I hoped you might consider taking the livery side on for me. It is all dependent on me being right, but I am rarely wrong. What do you think?"

Colin just sat shaking his head, "Welcome to my world" laughed Nathan, Bea playfully slapped him.

"When I set out to come up here early this morning I was a worried man, I hoped I would find you together, that was all I asked for. I am going to be leaving here with more than I ever dreamt possible. A sister, a man I know who will be a friend for life, a kindred spirit, a god-given task, which I will honour proudly, and a new job. I am going to love Hope Valley"