CHAPTER 54

The saloon was filling up, it looked as if there would be a great turnout for the meeting. Bea was already downstairs waiting for Nathan, she was talking to Bill and Molly when she felt a tap on her shoulder.

"Hello Sis."

"Colin what a surprise" she flung her arms around him and hugs followed. "What are you doing here?"

"I hope it is OK but Nathan mentioned the meeting and I thought I would give you some moral support, also I was interested to see if there is any news about the factories and settlers. I am OK attending aren't I?"

It was Bill who answered "Yes of course Colin, actually we want to ask your help with something if we may, but that will be explained in the meeting. Can I get you a drink?"

"A beer would be good, thanks Bill."

If Bea hugging Colin had drawn attention when Nathan came in and a bear hug followed even more eyebrows were raised.

"This is a welcome surprise, I did wonder if you come."

"Moral support for this one" he laughed.

"Colin if you had seen her in action this afternoon you would know she is more than capable."

Bea playful slapped him, he just kissed her forehead.

"You aren't heading back after are you? Stay with me. Allies room is spare."

"Well if you don't mind that would be better, I will need to sort Mack out, will it be alright to put him in the livery to do think?"

"He can double up with Hero, they do kind of like each other. I will leave a message on the board for Jed, that will make him smile getting his own message. We can take him over when we finish here."

Lee called the meeting to order and first on the agenda was a thank you for everyone involved in the midsummer festival. It had been a huge success and special thanks went to Bea for suggesting it in the first place. They were going to look at holding another event soon so any suggestions would be welcome.

Next, they needed to address the state of affairs up around the factories and new settlements. Bill took the lead here and explained the news they had today and how, he didn't name Lucas and the others. He said the main concern now was the new settlers and the supposed promise of work. Here he addressed Colin.." Mr. Farley we wondered here if we may call on you to help. Bea has said that she will talk to the newcomers, that maybe they will open up to her rather than myself or Nathan, would you be willing to help her, with you being a newcomer yourself we thought they might talk to the two of you?"

" Yes, I will help in any way I can. At the moment there are still only 8 families, I am hoping there will be no more, at least for now."

"Well that is the other thing, we thought we could ask who within the families would be looking for work and if they had any trade, or what type of work they had done in the past. If there aren't many we may be able to find them work here somewhere. Lee can take on 3 maybe 4. Everyone else please have a think, could you offer anyone employment, if you let either myself, Nathan or Lee know we may be able to help that way."

"We will keep everyone updated if we hear any more."

Lee spoke again, " The next item if everyone is happy with that, is the proposed pipeline. I am pleased to let you know Mike and Fiona that as long as your plans are adhered to and the surveys you are going to have done are all fine then we have no objections, in fact, we feel it would be a great asset. Please go ahead and order the surveys, the sooner they are done the sooner work can start."

It was Bea who spoke next "There would be a perfect solution, you would need workers to help lay the pipeline and we have those ready and willing, things may work out for all. Would you be willing to take these men on Mike and Fiona?"

Fiona spoke on behalf of them both "We would indeed, they need work and could start straight away, we will pay well so Bea you are correct that could be the perfect solution. Mike or I will get in touch with the surveyors tomorrow and get the ball rolling."

"This is going rather well tonight, much better than we expected," said Lee.

"We also had news that Kevin will not be returning to the forge will not be opening any time soon. That is something we will need to address as we really are missing all the services he provided."

Bea and Nathan both shot Colin a glance, he was the man for that but it would put pay to any plans for him to help in the livery if what she had seen was correct. They would need to talk about that.

"Now the next item is the introduction of the check-in scheme that Bea and Nathan are looking at setting up. I will turn this one over to them to explain and then we can have a vote, see what everyone thinks."

Nathan stood and looking at Bea started to speak " Ladies and gentlemen this really isn't my plan it is and always will be Bea's but as your law officer, I would be the one responsible for coordinating the plan if ever it is called into action. I will let her explain in a minute but I have to say it is one so simple in itself, so easy to implement but it could save lives. I will let Bea explain."

"Thank you everyone. As Nathan said this is such a simple thing to organise and monitor but could save lives, it did in fact save mine just under a year ago."

You could hear a pin drop in the room, Nathan looked around, as did Colin, and everyone was so focused on her, listening to her every word, this knew Colin was the storyteller, this was the old one.

"I will start at the beginning... Bea told everyone about being late home that day and the chalkboard being placed in the stables. How from that day forward she had to leave a message if she ever went out alone. How when she had moved to The Highlands tourists would often head off and get lost, how the rescue teams would have no clue where to start searching. How she had suggested that check-in/out points were set up in all the local villages, all tourists had to do was leave a message stating where they intended to go. If the worst should happen then at least the rescue teams stood a better chance of finding people. How her rescue team had saved lives, she told the story she had told Joseph, that drew a few gasps. The success of the scheme had been picked up all over the Highlands and other parts of Scotland and was now saving lives on a weekly basis.

She went on to outline the actual details, how easy it was, how she would gladly monitor any check-ins, all they needed was a couple of places to actually agree to have either books or chalkboards. Nathan was going to have one at the jailhouse, there was one already in the livery which she used all the time. Maybe if one could be placed here in the saloon, one in the stage office, one in the mercantile, all everyone else would need to do was to inform any visitors of the scheme and encourage them to use it.

Both Nathan and Colin were watching her and the pride and love they felt for her neither could describe. Before she sat down though she wanted to tell her story, this would show how simple but what a difference it could make.

"As I said this whole idea stemmed from my old uncle hanging a chalkboard in the stables at home. That was almost 20 years ago, last year a simple 2-word message I wrote on there..." her voice started to break, Nathan who was beside her slipped his arm around her waist, "you don't have to tell this again Bea" ..." I do Nathan, if my story can save one more life then I must tell it". Nathan knew what was coming and shot Colin a glance, he was on his feet and beside her on the other side to Nathan. He took her hand.

"No one was around that morning last year when I went out for a short ride. I wanted to see the last of the beautiful wild roses that grow in the woods near my UK home. I wrote on the board "Bluebell Wood" and off I went accompanied as always by Skye. That day is very hard for me to recollect, very painful, I will spare you all the details except to say I actually ended up caught in a deer trap and could not move..." Nathan could feel her start to shake inside, Colin felt her hand turn cold.

There were gasps, everyone was listening so intently," My life was slipping away, Skye ran back to the stables, created a right fuss, the men all came, saw him covered in blood but with no injuries, they knew that wasn't a good sign as he went nowhere without me, none of them had seen me leave and so yes they checked the board. They knew where I was, got to me quickly, and because of that doctors were able to save my life. My recovery was long and still is, hence the limp I am sure some of you have seen now and again, or my odd trip. But, a board and a piece of chalk saved my life. That is how simple this project is, so please have a think, could we do this here, maybe save someone else's life,"

Nathan pulled her close and kissed her brow, "You did so good princess, I am so proud of you."

Colin had never heard the full story and he felt sick, what a sister he had here, he squeezed her hand and whispered: "love you sis."

Everyone in the saloon just sat in silence, shocked. Then it was actually Ned that spoke first, "Ladies and gentlemen, I think I speak for everyone in this room when I say that we have all known what a special lady we have in Bea, what a joy she is to everyone here in Hope Valley, hearing her story, her honesty just now makes me realise also how lucky we are that she is here at all. So I would like to say that Florence and I are behind this 100%, we will help in any way we can, just let us know what we need to do Bea and Nathan."

Everyone followed suit, every single person. "Well then you have a go-ahead from us all, let's get this up and running, and Bea you young lady are remarkable." That was greeted with a round of applause.

"If we have no other business then I call this meeting to a close and will someone get that lady a drink."

Bea was herself again, hopefully, she would never have to tell that story again, but she had learned one thing herself tonight, she gained strength from her boys. When Nathan had held her and Colin took her hand she felt their strength within, she actually felt if, yes her "guardians" had done their job tonight and she must tell them. She knew she was safe in their care and always would be.