CHAPTER 53
Nathan had taken the folder from Uncle Charles to bed and had a quick look at it. He had thought of every possibility, the love this man had for Bea could be seen in the contents of this folder. There was a list of contact names that covered Canada and the USA, shipping lines, and train companies. He had stated that every one of them had been contacted and knew who Bea was so if she did need help of any kind they were aware. Hotel details, again managers names all listed. Banks and finance companies she may need. Doctors and hospitals again across Canada and the USA. Copies of her travel documents and details of her passport, a copy of her birth certificate, contact numbers in the UK, and then the separate envelope marked Health Records. They weren't sealed, he looked inside and saw the first page was a letter. He removed it ….
To Whom it may concern,
I hope that if ever you are presented with these documents you are aware you have a very special young lady in your care.
As you will see from the enclosed notes, diagrams, etc she is lucky to be alive. She has strength like no other, she is a fighter, never give up on this lady. Three times she has fought back from near death, three times she has proved us wrong.
The infection and resulting fever in 1918 we fear may have left ongoing issues, if you find yourself as her physician then bear that in mind. All details and treatments etc are enclosed.
Please contact me via telegram if this lady needs medical treatment.
Yours faithfully
Dr. C Wilson
Chief Trauma Consultant, RVI Newcastle upon Tyne England
Nathan read it again, what a letter for a doctor to write, he obviously felt like everyone else about her, but 3 times she had fought back, Bea had only mentioned 2. Seeing that actually written and by her doctor really brought home how lucky he was. What inner strength she must have to fight back three times.
When he went to replace the letter he saw that the top sheet of the notes looked like a diagram, he pulled it out and wished he never had, he felt nauseous just looking at it. It was a very detailed drawing of her leg as Dr. Wilson had first seen it. Nathan quickly replaced it, seeing the scare had been bad enough, having seen that, the love he felt for her doubled. His Princess, no one would ever compare.
Scanning the list of contacts again his eye was drawn to Mr. Edgar Cummins, Editor in Chief of Industry Today. That, if he remembered correctly, was the magazine that had solved the mystery of what Bea had seen, the one with the article about Hope Valley. He would make a note of that one, it could be worth a try.
Placing everything else back in the folder he knew that it must be kept safe, just in case it was ever needed, hopefully, it would never be so.
Nathan had left her a message saying " Bea careful, call in if you have time."
Having rubbed it away wrote, "Heading for the lake, see you later."
When she got back Newton was in his stall, having sat down by the lake she had lost herself in thought and totally lost track of time. Still nothing spoiling she had no plans until the Town Council meeting tonight.
Having sorted Hero, she must see about getting him some new shoes, she headed towards the jail. As she passed the barber's "haircut" she remembered. Fiona did have a client in but Bea just popped her head in the door. "Fiona tomorrow is a ladies' day isn't it?"
"Yes Bea, are you wanting to come in?"
"Please Fiona, would you take a few inches off this for me?"
"I will, drop by in the morning any time."
"Thank you, I will. Are you at the meeting tonight?"
"Mike and I are going, yes."
"I will see you then, bye for now."
That was that sorted, her hair really did need a chop. She must remember to save a lock of it though, she had an idea for a gift for Nathan and that would be perfect.
Nathan wasn't in the office so she headed over to Bill's. Sure enough, he was there, she knocked and walked in.
Bill got up straight away and came to give her a hug, "Congratulations are in order I hear"
"Thank you Bill, I am a very lucky lady."
Nathan just smiled at her, he took her hand. "Bea Bill needs to check but he thinks everything will be straightforward enough. The law states as long as you are British, have a current passport, which you do, and can provide proof of birth then a marriage licence can be issued immediately. When I had a look at Uncle Charlie's folder last night he had enclosed a copy of your birth certificate so we will be fine."
"Good old Uncle Charles, I knew he would think of everything. So once we have that we can just get married?"
He squeezed her hand, "All we need to do is sort a day and time with Bill and he can marry us."
"And can I just say what an honour that will be, mind if you are planning on doing it quietly as Nathan here told me there will be a lot of upset people in Hope Valley."
"Upset, why Bill? I thought they would be happy for us both."
"They will Bea, but you two, well come on look at you, it would be the wedding of all weddings, they all would want to witness it."
The telephone rang, "Yes Florence, put them through. Yes William, thank you for getting back so quickly. The young lady does have both documents, so I just record seeing them and note any reference numbers etc. That is great, thanks for your help, yes see you then, bye."
"There we go, if you bring in your passport Bea and birth certificate then the licence can be issued."
"Not more happy tears ?" Nathan laughed
"Well I can't help it, I am full of happy at the moment."
He put his arm around her and pulled her in. "We can do that tomorrow, then sort out a day."
"Have you much on this next few days Bill?"
"To be truthful I want to give you my undivided attention so it would be better for me if you could at least wait until next week, can you manage that" he was laughing. "If you are wanting a couple of days off, and you do, I say so, then I can cover for you."
"I hadn't thought about that but yes you are right, a couple of days would be great. Bea how about Tuesday next week ?"
"That sounds like a plan, why Tuesday though?"
" Call me a romantic but that is my birthday, marrying you would be the best present ever."
Through more tears, she said, "Tuesday is perfect if you can Bill."
Even tough old Bill had a lump in his throat, "We can sort a time and that when you bring the papers in, Tuesday will be a great day."
"Any change up at the factories and new settlements today Nathan?"
"No thank goodness, we have 8 new claims now, I just hope there are no more. Oh Bea when I was looking at Uncle Charles things last night I did notice he had listed a Mr. Edgar Cummins, he is the editor of Industry Today, isn't that the magazine you saw the article about here in?"
"It was yes, he must have lots of contacts and in that line of work an eye for news. I wonder if he has heard anything, rumours or the like. I could telephone him and ask."
"Can't hurt trying, I have his number here I wrote it down."
"Here Bea use this telephone; it's more private than the one in the mercantile, any news would give us a clue."
Bea picked up the telephone and asked Florence to connect her to the New York number.
The call was answered within a couple of rings.
"Good afternoon Mr. Cummins office, how can I help you today?"
"Good afternoon, I would like to speak to Mr. Cummins if I may, could you inform him this is Miss Morag Gregory, goddaughter of Mr. Charles Ferguson.
"Yes Miss Gregory, please hold. I will transfer your call immediately."
Both Nathan and Bill were thinking this is another side to Bea. So assured, so confident and authoritative.
" Thank you for taking my call Mr. Cummins."
"I assure you I am fine and thank you for your concern."
" I did make it to Hope Valley that is where I am calling from today, I have Constable Grant and Judge Avery here with me now."
"No," she laughed, " I am not in trouble with the law."
"No, my reason for calling is to pick your brains if I may, ask if you have heard any news about Hope Valley of late. We have a bit of a situation brewing here at the moment and are drawing blanks everywhere."
"It is yes, did you know that work on the factories has stopped? We have heard that the company behind the plans has run out of funding, the construction company has downed tools due to unpaid bills. We have no idea however who was behind that company and all inquiries are drawing a blank. We don't even know what type of factories they had planned to open."
"Really, that is interesting. Any light you could shed on the situation would be most welcome. The main concern at the moment is we have new settlers arriving who have all staked land claims under the new laws but who have all chosen Hope Valley because of promised work in these factories. While some may find work, Mr. Coulter, yes the very same, he can maybe take two or three on but the others will struggle. The unrest is starting to concern everyone."
"That would be a great help, thank you Mr. Cummins. I will actually go across to Mr. Coulter's office now if you would like to return my call there, yes Coulter Lumber or Mr. Lee Coulter the operator will know."
"Thank you again and I shall speak to you again in an hour or so. Goodbye for now."
Nathan and Bill stood looking at her.
"What" laughed Bea " Oh my work voice, when you are a woman in a man's world you have to be firm. Told you Nathan Dad and Uncle Harry taught me well."
"Impressive princess I have to say."
"Do you want a job Bea, I will take you on any time" Bill was joking.
"I think we may have found a lead, or Mr. Cummins has, he was quite surprised that Lee had not heard whispers. He is going to contact a friend then call back in about an hour. He wondered if he could talk to Lee so will call us there. He said that since writing that article and then Uncle Charles contacting him about me travelling here he has kept an eye out for any news and the like. He had heard that what we have been calling factories were in fact going to be another lumber company and a paper mill."
"Now there is a surprise," said Bill, "the plot thickens. Let's head across to Lee's office and tell him what you have learned then wait for the call."
"Nathan, Bill are there any laws here about the cutting down of forests like those around here. I guess here they are seen as a crop the same as similar forests back home. We have laws that new saplings have to be planted after an area is felled. I wondered if you had anything similar?"
"Not written laws as yet Bea no, there is a code of sorts that young trees will be planted and felling will be selective. Why do you ask?"
"It was just a thought that was all,"
Nathan shot her a glance and she nodded. Bea moment he thought.
Lee was surprised when all three of them bowled into the office, even more so when they told him why.
"So you have no idea why Mr. Cummins was surprised you had not heard a thing?"
"None at all Nathan, it will be interesting to find out why."
Nathan had been watching Bea and she was away again, she was seeing something he knew the signs now.
They had only been in the office for ten minutes when the telephone rang. Lee answered and passed the call to Bea.
"Mr. Cummins I think it best if you actually tell what you have learned to Mr. Coulter, then I know the facts have come directly from you.
Yes that would be helpful, Mr. Coulter can always be reached here or Constable Grant at the Mountie Office, he is indeed, Judge Avery has an office here in town and you would be able to contact him there.
Thank you again Mr. Cummins you have been a great help and if you do make that visit you will be given a warm welcome. I will pass you back to Mr Coulter, you too."
Bea handed the call back to Lee and by his expressions, Mr. Cummins had found something out.
Nathan and Bill both looked at Bea, " I think Hope Valley may have been saved from a much bigger problem than the one we have now" she said.
Lee hung the telephone up "Well that was very interesting. What Mr. Cummins has heard is that the buildings were indeed going to be a lumber and paper mill. That the construction company had submitted all the necessary plans and applied for permissions with the land office. Here is the thing he has spoken to the chairman at the company and they feel they have been hoodwinked, when the money wasn't forthcoming they chased the directors of the company as listed. Any guesses?
Bill and Nathan said it at the same time "Lucas Bouchard?"
"Got it in one. Lucas and Helen, who if I remember right was his mother, and the third was none other than our mysterious Mr. Walden. The question now is why and what went wrong. Mr. Cummins was surprised I hadn't heard anything with Lucas being local, he never ever showed any interest in lumber, well to me."
"I wonder if Henry had any idea?" Bill had his inspector's hat on now.
It was Nathan who addressed the current problem, " Well the whys and wherefores of that we can look into however that doesn't solve the current problem we have with the newcomers, I only hope more don't come. We need to look into where they are getting the information about coming here and the promise of work and get that stopped."
"Maybe we should ask those who are already here where they heard again, " said Bea. " I could maybe visit Colin and try talking to them, maybe they would tell me."
Nathan gave her a look, she just gave him an I know look. " Well, as long as Colin is there you could give it a try, but only then."
"I will be careful, I promise."
"If we can get to the bottom of that and stop it then we may be OK, I will have another word with Henry, if Lucas was involved and has gone bust then I bet the oil business is struggling too."
"Bill please don't blame Henry for any of this, I have a feeling he may be having problems because of it."
"I just want to see if he has known and what he knew, that is all Bea. You have a soft spot for Henry I can tell, I will be gentle."
"I suppose I do as I can see he is a man trying very hard to do the right thing and getting knocked back all the time. He is a good man deep down."
"Well let's just see what if anything else we can find out, I for one feel a bit better for knowing that our major problem is the new settlers and finding them work. Maybe that is something we can raise at the meeting tonight."
"Great idea Nathan, I could take maybe 3 on here. We need to see how many are actually looking for work and if any have a trade behind them, maybe you could ask them Bea, if you talk to them."
"I will, hopefully, we can help them."
"Right then I must get ready for this meeting tonight, are you both OK to talk about this plan of yours still."
"Yes Lee, Bea, and I are sorted for that, if everyone likes the idea we can have it up and running in no time. We will see you later."
As they crossed the street back to the jail Nathan took her hand, "Bea you had a moment didn't you, I can tell now, are you OK?"
"I am but I didn't like what I saw, and I am grateful he ran out of money. Is he a gambler Nathan?"
"You never met him did you, I forget that. I believe he was, although I have no proof of that."
"If I am right, greed was his downfall."
They were in the jailhouse now, Nathan sat on the desk and wrapped his arms around her waist, " what did you see Bea?
"The entire forest up there was wiped out, the mountain raped and left barren. The whole lumber industry here had gone because of his greed. So I am not sorry if he has gone bust."
"Are we going to have dinner after this meeting, the cafe maybe?"
"That Constable sounds like a plan, now I will let you get on and meet you in an hour, oh and by the way have I told you I love you today because I do,"
"I love you too Princess, now go on or I will never get done."
As she left she turned " Constable did you know I am getting married on Tuesday, just in case you want to be there?" she winked, blew him a kiss, and left.
He shook his head and blessed the day she crossed an ocean to be here.