CHAPTER 51

As Bea fell into bed she started to cry. This wasn't how she wanted every day to end. Before everything happened saying goodnight was hard, after the last few days and knowing the joy and comfort of falling asleep in his arms tonight she felt so alone. The bed felt empty, she really did feel as if part of her was missing.

Many times in her life she had wished for the ability to see where her life was going, she picked up on and saw much, she could sense if she was in danger, she always seemed to make the right decisions, as if someone was guiding her, but even though she had asked a few times, never could she see what the future held for her. Coming here to Hope Valley she had known she must do it, time and again she had asked why but until she saw Nathan that first morning she had no idea. Now the only answer she wanted to know was how? How would they move on from here, the thought that this would be the way they ended each night hurt so much. Nathan had said he had a plan, try as she might she couldn't see it.

Tossing and turning, hugging the pillow, nothing seemed to settle her. Getting up again and switching the lamp on she poured a glass of water and picked up her notebook. There was the list of things they needed to take back with them next time, turning the page there he was, she had sketched his face with the two days of beard growth, he was smiling back at her from the page. An overwhelming sense of calm ran through her body, "trust me" she heard him saying.

Climbing back into bed she placed the notebook under her pillow, open at that page, and saying "Good night" to him again she was asleep in minutes.

Nathan was struggling too. He did have a plan, step one had been completed tonight when he asked her again to stay. Even though they had talked about it before he felt the need to ask her again, it is so easy to say things in the heat of the moment, and for Bea it meant giving up so much, it was possible that after thinking about what she would be giving up she had changed her mind. He hoped and prayed that wasn't the case but he needed to give her the chance to have a change of heart. The relief when that wasn't the case was immense. Step one complete. Tomorrow Step 2, but how. The self-doubt crept in again, was it the right thing, should he just leave things as they were, settle for what they had. No, he had to face his fears and trust he was right.

Bea had said she was going to take Hero out early so Nathan too had gone to the livery early. He had hoped Jed was around and luckily he was.

"Jed, will you help me with a surprise this morning for Bea?"

"Oh Nathan a surprise yes, of course, anything for you two you know that."

"If I saddle Newton up will you take him out the back so that it looks like I have gone out on my rounds? I want Bea to think I have."

"Well yes, but you aren't going?"

"I am or will be but I want her to think I have already gone. I know the first thing she does when she comes in for Hero is look to see if Newton is still here, then she will read the chalkboard, am I right ?"

Jed laughed " You are, her face lights up when she reads it, mind Nathan yours does too."

"Well today I want to leave a special message, but I want to see her face and response when she reads it. I will hide in the stall."

"Special one eh, OK. Wait until I tell the wife this one." He was laughing again.

Newton was saddled and Jed did take him out the back of the livery and hid him. Nathan

wiped the board, his hand was shaking as he wrote the message..." Please let me have this right" he prayed.

He didn't have long to wait.

Bea had risen early and eaten breakfast she had her day planned. She had called at the jail-house to collect the key, it was where he said he would leave it in the drawer. Ride this morning, not a long one as the boys had done so well yesterday, then she would pick up her mail and buy groceries for dinner tonight, lunch with Rosemary then she would head to Nathan's. Roast chicken and all the trimmings she had decided like they had back home.

Walking into the livery as always she did look for Newton, his stall was empty, Nathan must have headed out early too, turning to the chalkboard ….. " Bea please will you marry me" ….She started shaking, she started crying, she held her face in her hands. She looked again as if not believing what she had read the first time. The tears had now become sobs. Walking over to the board she kissed her hand and placed it on the message, taking the cloth she went to erase the message but hesitated as if not wanting to rub it away. One last long look and then she rubbed it out. Picking up the chalk she replied and stood back...

"I hope that says Yes Princess" Nathan was leaning on the edge of the stall, he had been watching her. He opened the stall gate and before he knew it she was throwing herself in his arms..."Yes, Yes, Yes, Nathan,"

They kissed each other as never before. "I will do it all properly for you, get down on one knee" he went to kneel, "Nathan no this is just perfect, this is us, I love you so much, it is the most romantic thing ever. I know you said you had a plan but this never crossed my mind, honestly, ohhh I am so happy."

"I wanted to ask you before but to be honest I didn't want to think of the possibility you would say no, that is why I had to ask you about staying again last night. Bea, you have made me the happiest man in the world today with those three letters. I love you with all my heart and soul and I will be the best husband I can be I promise."

"I will try and be the wife you so deserve, oh Nathan I never knew it was possible to feel as happy as I do right now, thank you."

He kissed her again " Thank you Princess for just loving me the way you do, today is a happy day."

Jed who had watched all this unfold coughed.. " I didn't actually see the message but I take it wedding bells will be ringing soon. Can I be the first to congratulate you both, a match made in heaven is this one."

He shook Nathan's hand and Bea gave him a big cuddle. "Wait until I tell the wife this one tonight, I may need the smelling salts" he was laughing.

"Jed by all means tell your lady wife but for now can we keep it a secret. Bea and I will need to figure out how and when, once we do then we will tell anyone that wants to listen."

"In that case, I am honoured to have witnessed what I just have and can't wait to tell everyone, but your secret's safe with me, eeeee today is a good day." He turned and jumped kicking his heels together before he went back outside.

"I must head out Bea but tonight we talk, tonight we can plan, just me and you, unless.."

"Tonight we plan Nathan, I want to be Mrs. Grant as soon as possible."

"I love the sound of that, Mrs. Morag Beatrice Grant, how good does that sound?"

He kissed her again "Right I will get on my way, I should be home just after six, don't be doing too much mind, and have a think Bea about a wedding, whatever you want we will do."

"Whatever we want, not just me, so you think too."

As he went to walk out the back to get Newton he too jumped and clicked his heels, today was one of the best days of his life, this was a memory to store.