CHAPTER 56

On Wednesday the three met for breakfast. Bea was going to see Fiona and get her haircut then take Hero for a walk, later she would meet Nathan and they would go and finalise everything with Bill.

Colin was going to call and see Lee, find out more about the forge and what exactly taking it over when the town-owned it would mean. He would then head back to the cabin with strict instructions he had to be back in town on Monday. Hopefully, he would catch Bea before he left.

Nathan, having been reassured by Colin that all was well up at the settlements, was just going to do a shortened round this morning. He wanted to write a report about the meeting last night, the check-in plan, and also the information they now knew about the factories. At some point he and Bea would need to sit down and sort out what needed to be done about the scheme, but as she herself said it wouldn't take much organising.

Tonight he and Bea would have dinner at home, which he looked forward to, having her to himself was so hard here in town, that would change next week. He had lain in bed last night thinking about how much his life had changed this last year. How life could change in the blink of an eye, not just for the bad but for the good too. He certainly had that first morning in the livery. From the moment she stood up in Hero's stall and he had seen her his whole life changed, he had gone from a broken man, doubting love, to a man whose heart was so full of it he thought at times it would burst. She made him feel complete, she reawakened a side of him he thought was long gone, she was his everything. He felt like a child waiting for Christmas, Tuesday could not come quick enough.

Bea was under strict instructions not to have a major haircut, she had laughed at him, he had started calling her hair "crowning glory" just as Stan did, she loved hearing him say it. Dad had passed long before it was as grey as it was now, she wondered what he would say now. There wasn't a day that went by that he or Uncle Harry didn't creep into her thoughts, she missed them both so much. How they both would have loved to see her so happy, to have found Nathan, to have given her away, handed her care over to him.

That made her think about Tuesday, while she didn't want the grand affair and was just as excited over Bill marrying them in his office there were a couple of traditions she would still like to uphold. They must talk about that.

Fiona was so excited about the town council granting the go-ahead for the pipeline if all was well. Mike had called the surveyors early that morning and they were going to come and start the survey on Monday, he had also been in contact with the company who would supply the pipes, etc if the go ahead was given and all was well there. The fact that hopefully there would have a willing workforce up at the settlements meant that if all went to plan work could start more or less straight away. Bea told her that when Colin and she met with the settlers she would mention that, maybe things would turn out well for everyone.

With about 3 inches cut off her hair felt much better, she picked up some locks from the floor, which made Fiona laugh, she had commented on how many different colours there actually were. Just as Bea was about to leave Colin stuck his head around the door,

"Hoped I would catch you sis, Hi Fiona, you about done?"

" I was just leaving, Fiona was telling me that all is in place to go ahead. If the survey is all good, we may be able to offer the men work."

"That will be welcomed I am sure and I just know they will be good workers, it takes a special breed of person to move and start a new life as they all hope to do. Fingers crossed for you and Mike."

"Thanks Colin, I will let Bea know if we hear anything."

"OK come on bro, you will be wanting to head back, thank you Fiona, and keep me updated."

"Do you want to grab a coffee Bea and I will let you know what is what?"

"Sounds like a plan."

They headed for the cafe, it was another beautiful day so they sat outside. "Bea I think you and Nathan were right, it would be a perfect opportunity for me. I would pay rent on the forge itself but have complete control of how it is run, the business would be mine. Lee is very keen for me to take it over, I think I could do well here sis."

"That's fantastic so what is the but"

He laughed "Do you ever get stuff wrong? There is a but, a big but. When I came here I sold all my tools, I didn't think I would need them and to be honest I needed every nickel I could get my hands on. Having looked around the place everything I could need, well apart from a couple of little things, is there. They however belong to Kevin, Lee thinks he would sell them to me, but depending on the price I may need to take a loan out. I am not one for borrowing money. Anyway, Lee is going to have a word with Kevin, see what he comes back with. If I can afford it then I will be in business. I said I would call in on Monday, I nearly said when I came for the wedding" he was laughing again.

She hit him playfully, " I have to admit as hard as we try I do think we are going to be lucky if we keep it a secret. As long as we get to do it our way though I am not that bothered, I just want to be Mrs. Grant as soon as I can."

"And I for one can't wait to see it, what a team you two are, really Bea. Often when two people love each other so much you can see it, with you two it is like you can feel it, touch it, everyone says it. That is why the whole of this town would love to share your day, I guess they will though when you tell them after. Right sis I am going to make a move. Walk to the livery with me."

As they went in there on the board was the message " Monday Colin... don't forget your passport Bea."

He gave her a hug, "Oh another plus of the forge Bea, there are a couple of rooms above so I could move into town, it just gets better."

She had to admit that having him so close would be wonderful, she must speak to Lee.

"There goes our new smithy she thought as he rode off."

Hero and her had a lovely stroll around the pond, he would be one of the first customers at the forge, he needed new shoes and until he had them she was going to be careful.

When she walked into the jailhouse later that afternoon Nathan was on the telephone.

"That shouldn't be a problem, just Friday morning you reckon. Actually, it works well as I have some business to see to as well. Yes, I will report on Friday, see you then."

He got up and came round the desk and sat on the edge, he pulled her in wrapping his arms around her waist. " I love the hair, maybe I should get mine cut before Tuesday, yes I need to do that."

She ran her fingers through it pushing it back the way he always wore it, "Well don't go mad because as much as you love mine I love yours."

"That's me told then. Did you see Colin before he left?"

" I did Nathan, I need to ask you something about that."

Having told him exactly what Colin had told her she went on " Nathan if I have a word with Lee could we buy the tools for him, I will get Lee to come up with some story so he doesn't know it was us, what do you think?"

He let go of her waist and cupped her face. "You have the biggest heart, if you feel it is the right thing to do then yes, it is your money princess."

"Nathan it isn't it is ours, I love to help others when I can and if we can't help Colin then it seems hard".

"I love you, princess, never ever change."

"I love you too and I don't think I could."

He kissed her so gently, then kissed her brow, "you sort it with Lee, you are right and it will be great to have him here in town. I have something to ask you too, that was HO on the telephone, the rustlers we caught are up in court on Friday, as the officer in charge and arresting officer they want me to give evidence on Friday morning. I will have to head over there on Thursday, do you want to come with me? We would have Friday afternoon and Saturday morning to ourselves. The stage back leaves late afternoon."

"That would be wonderful, I need a few things, secret wedding things, and we could call in the jewellers and get you a ring."

"Secret wedding things is it, ummm well then you better had come. We need to book you a hotel room, I can bunk up at HO."

"Oh no Nathan I will call Mr. Thompson at The Grand and see if they have 2 rooms free. Can I use the telephone?"

"Yes, of course, no time like the present."

Five minutes later, after re-assuring Mr. Thompson she was more than fine, two rooms had been booked.

"So what time on Tuesday do you think would be best Bea? We will need to give Bill a time."

" I thought about that too, we don't want to be rushing around and I would like to pick some nice wildflowers in the morning, I thought maybe two o'clock. I wanted to ask you about that tonight."

"Well I would have said as soon as he opened the office " he laughed" but no that sounds about right."

They had Bea's papers and Bill made all the notes he needed to issue the licence. He would do that in the morning and thought 2 pm was perfect. When asked about witnesses it was in fact two as they had thought.

"I know you are wanting to keep this quiet and I understand why but have a think about that one, will you. Even if we just fill the office with witnesses, Tuesday is going to be such a happy day and everyone would like to share it with you I just know."

"We will think about it, but as we said this is our day Bill, we don't want a big fuss, we just want to be married, I just want my Mrs. Grant, that's all."

"I do so love the sound of that and I can't wait either, but we will think Bill and thank you for doing this for us."

"Thank you for asking me, this will be one I am truly honoured to do. Let me know if you need help with anything, I will see you before Tuesday anyway."

As they were leaving Bea looked around the office, yes she thought this will be perfect.