CHAPTER 49

As dawn broke over the mountain they all awoke. Nathan was up first, whilst he didn't want to leave he knew they had to and he wanted Bea down and safe before the weather turned, there was a feel in the air. Colin was only a few minutes behind him. Having set the coffee on the go the pair headed off down to the stream. Just as they reached the edge of the meadow they heard Bea call,

"Nathan hang on a minute" she came half skipping half running, "I just wanted to" she kissed him "one last time before you shave this off". He laughed, " I can grow it again, you know."

"Yes but I just needed to store the memory."

"Well in that case," he picked her up, swung her around, and kissed her again.

"Oh that's a good one, and Nathan I love you."

"I love you to princess", he was laughing. Colin just stood smiling.

"If they could bottle whatever it is that you two have, someone would make a fortune."

"You could be right Colin although it is priceless really, we are both lucky men."

"She is a treasure isn't she?"

"Oh yes, we really need to watch her at the moment, I think she is feeling a lot more pain in that leg than she is letting on. Once we get back down there it won't be as easy."

"Nathan we will keep her safe, I know between us we will, we will learn as we go but we will get to know her ways."

"You are right Colin we will, and knowing her as I do, although there is lots still to discover, it will take both of us" he was laughing.

Bea had coffee and some of the berries she had left, then headed off to the stream herself. No dip today she would soak in the tub tonight, that was a good thought.

When she came back they were busy packing things up.

"Right, let's get these boys sorted, they won't want to leave either, just your things I think princess, I will come back for your saddlebags when you have them packed."

Everything was washed and stacked away, Colin had had a look at the stove, he said he thought it was fixable and had taken rough measurements of the bits he could replace. He had cleaned it out and left dry kindling so it could be easily lit next time.

He could see Bea looking around, she looked so sad. "It's OK Sis you will get back up here, Nathan feels as strongly as you do, well even I do now if I am truthful. This will always be a special place to all 3 of us."

"I like being called Sis," she grinned. He went over and put an arm around her shoulder,

"I could not have dreamt of a better one. Are you all sorted?"

"Yes I think so, and everywhere is left as it should be."

"Right Princess we're all ready, have you got everything?"

"Just check Nathan to make sure I haven't left anything."

One last check, saddled bags loaded, she looked back. He wrapped an arm around her waist "We will be back I promise Bea, before the winter comes we will be back."

With a leg up they were all mounted and hit the trail. What a trio they made, two fine, handsome men and their fair lady, it truly was like a fairytale.

The rain held off and they made good going. They hit the road around 2 pm.

Colin was going back to his cabin while Nathan and Bea would head into town. As the three were making plans it was Colin who saw him first, flying high overhead as if following the road was Path Finder, all three watched him go, today he too had left the mountain.

"Fly free and remember us," said Bea. "He will be back next year God willing."

Hugs and handshakes plans were made for visits and the three became two.

"Come on Princess let's get you back, you will be a welcome sight to everyone. Remember though if it gets too much then you tell me."

"I will, I can't wait until I can find a place of my own then at least I can close my door."

"You know my home is yours Bea, it is there if you need to escape."

"Can I just escape there now?" she was smiling

"I would love nothing more, but for now we must do the right thing. I have an idea though so don't worry."

As they drew close to the edge of town Bea stopped and looked back.

"Bea it will be OK, I promise, what we experienced up there is just the start, it won't stop."

"I know, it is just a lot of the best memories to store at once. She reached over and held his hand, thank you."

He squeezed her hand, leaned over, and kissed her.

"Ready Princess?"

"As I ever will be, let's go."