CHAPTER 59
Nathan's morning had gone to plan, the only worrying bit was when the defence lawyer had asked how he had known about McKenzie Pass and why had he chosen to go there. He said that after studying the map and raids he just had a hunch about the place. He couldn't really say my soon-to-be wife had a moment and saw it.
As he walked across to the stables he was laughing to himself, he heard her laughter it was so infectious, poor Vic sounded like he was going to have a heart attack. What story was she telling, he wondered if it was one he had heard.
"Well I see you found each other, you OK there Vic?"
"Hi princess, did you have a good morning?"
"Nathan I can not believe the morning I have had, someone is watching over us that is for sure. I need a hug, a big one."
He wrapped his arms around her, "You sure you're alright?"
"Just a happy hug to match my happy tears, I had a few of those today. I will tell you all about it later, now can I go and see all these beautiful lads and lasses. This is an amazing place."
"We do have the best of everything, and the place runs like clockwork really."
"Did Newton come through here?"
"He did indeed and from the moment your man here came looking for a new mount I knew they were a pair."
"He is a gentle giant, such a softy."
"Told you Vic" Nathan laughed "Bea honestly he was no gentle giant when I first met him. But he took a liking to me, and me to him, we have been a team ever since. Mind he does have a soft spot for you, he wouldn't let just anyone ride him."
"What, you have ridden that old devil?" said Vic.
"He isn't a devil, he is just picky."
The pair of them were laughing at her again.
"How many can you hold here Vic?"
"We have room for 48 but haven't had that many in a while, at the moment we are housing 17. Most are out for the day but we have a couple up the yon end."
Now if Merlin had heard and remembered Nathan's voice or was just being nosey, they would never know, all of a sudden he stuck his head over the stall and Bea let out an
"Ohhhhhhhhhhh"
"Well hello handsome, oh look at you, what a stunning boy you are."
She did her usual look them in the eye thing and he was like putty in her hands. Nuzzling her just as Hero and Newton did.
Vic shot Nathan a glance, he just nodded.
"Am I OK to go in with him, am I allowed?"
"Well be careful Bea he can be a handful this young man."
They need not of worried, she was looking him all over, he was a big lad but stunning. Wrapping an arm around his neck and scratching his ears, "You are just a teddy bear aren't you, misunderstood that is all. And, you have the best name ever."
"I wish he behaved like that with everyone, he is proving to be a tough nut this one. I think the young ones are terrified of him and he knows it so plays them."
"Still no luck there Vic?"
"No, none at all." He winked at Nathan. Looked like this big boy would be heading to Hope Valley he would have to try and catch Vic on his own, Merlin must be a surprise when he arrived."
Having kissed his nose, that was a Bea thing, she moved on up the row of stalls "Vic, you know you have poorly lad here?"
"I do Bea, he hasn't eaten in almost 4 days now and is feeling very sorry for himself. I am going to have to call the vet in I think, I can't get to the bottom of it."
"Why call one, you have one right here, can I have a quick look at him?"
"I am sorry lass, it is just so hard to think of you as a vet, not like any we have to be sure, go ahead."
She gave him a good look over, then took her jacket off. "Would one of you give me a hand please just hold him still while I look in his mouth?"
"Here Bea let me."
"See if you can keep him still, if it is what I think it is he isn't going to like me looking in his mouth."
"With a struggle, she managed to open his mouth, and had a quick look."
"Thanks sweetie. Vic your boy here has a toothache, I bet he used to eat all and everything, am I right?"
"You are indeed Bea, toothache I don't believe it."
"He has a broken and rotten tooth, he will be in agony if he tries to eat. If you could get me some pliers, if that is what you call them here, some alcohol and clean rags of some kind I can sort him here and now, will only take a couple of minutes."
"What here and now?"
"Yes if you get me those I will show you, poor lad, I will have you sorted sunshine, nasty blooming tooth."
"Well, the smithy will have pliers I can borrow some, what kind of alcohol?"
"Whisky, brandy, it doesn't really matter and I don't think he will have a preference" she laughed.
"Nathan there is a bottle of whisky in the office there in the filing cabinet, I will pop and borrow some pliers, now rags."
"Anything will do Vic, a pillowcase, dish towel, anything like that as long as it is clean, do you have a laundry, they might have some old ones."
"Good call Bea, right back in a few minutes."
Nathan returned with the whisky, "Is this all you need, no special tools?"
"It may sound a bit brutal but no honestly this is all I need. There is a knack for pulling teeth. Before Vic comes back, come here because I need a kiss."
He never needed to be asked for a kiss really, that was no chore. "Have I told you today that I love you princess, I really do."
"And I love you, Constable."
They heard Vic coming back, he was mumbling to himself, "Toothache, bloody toothache."
"Here we go Bea, are these of any use?"
"Perfect, now we need to rip that cloth into say half a dozen pieces and let me wash one of the cups to pour some whisky in."
She looked at the pliers, he had brought 3 different pairs, the flat-headed ones should work. Having poured some whisky into the cup she placed them in for a few minutes. Then she dipped one of the rags in there too.
"Right I will need you both to help here, if one of you can hold his head steady as you can, the other pushes him into me, I will need to turn him as my right arm is stronger than my left and I can't reach over his palette."
Taking the cloth she rubbed the tooth and gum with the whisky, he liked that. Giving it a few seconds to work she gave the boys the word, Vic held him via the neck and Nathan pushed him gently towards Bea. She went in again with the whisky-soaked cloth and as he had acquired a taste for that he opened his mouth without a problem, she was straight in with the pliers, a twist one way, then the other, and one mighty pull."
"Hey presto, there we have the culprit."
"What it's out, just like that?"
"There it is and I have to say, bearing in mind the size of it and that I am out of practice, that was easy."
"Well excuse my language Bea but that was bloody amazing, well I never, Nathan you do have a very special girl here. Look at the size of the damn thing, twist, twist, and pull and she had it out."
"Nathan, can you pass me another piece of that cloth please, thank you."
"Vic, if you can do this maybe again tonight then say in the morning, later tomorrow try feeding him some mash, a couple of days and he can go back to normal food. If he will let you have a look just to make sure it doesn't look swollen, it should be fine."
She rubbed the whisky-soaked cloth over the hole, he really did have a taste for that.
As she washed her hands and rubbed the cloth out Nathan stood and watched her. Vic broke his thoughts "Nathan lad you were right, that is one very special lady you have found yourself there, hang on to her."
"Vic I have and I will, in a few days' time she will be Mrs. Grant, we are blessed to have found each other. While she is over there, what's happening about his lordship down there?"
"Yours if you still want him, I have finally bitten the bullet and am retiring at the end of the month. If it's alright with you I thought I would accept your invitation and come have a look at this place you call home, I will bring him with me then, would that work?"
"That would work just fine, you are welcome anytime. How much do I need to pay for him?"
"Not a dime, he is part of my settlement and I would like to give him to you too as a wedding gift."
"Vic no let me pay for him."
"Tell you what we will sort something when I see you, I may need help anyway, is that a deal?"
"If you say so, telephone to let me know when you are coming, Bea Vic is going to come up to Hope Valley and pay us a visit next month, he is retiring and has always promised to come and visit."
"Vic it is a wonderful place, you will be most welcome, I look forward to showing you around," and you won't be leaving because here was the help they needed in the livery, the perfect solution she thought.
Having said goodbye to Merlin, she just had to, and then Vic they headed back out onto the main street. They stopped at a lovely little coffee house for some lunch and to figure out where they needed to go and what they needed to do.
"So you had a successful morning shopping princess?"
"I really did, I got everything on my list, even the things I hoped for but was dubious about finding. Even tartan ribbon and heather. When I went into the florist to buy the heather plants Mr. Henderson the florist got so excited about what I was planning on doing, he asked if he could make my bouquet for me, that and buttonholes for you men, he is going to bring them to Hope Valley for us on Tuesday morning.
"What about your secret stuff?"
"Oh I found the best secret stuff shop ever, so yes I got everything I wanted there and more if I am honest. The only things left really are your ring, a camera and hair combs. Are you sure there is nothing you need?"
"I don't think so, although I did wonder, will my grey suit be OK? It is new. I just wondered colour wise if you are coordinating things."
"Your grey one is perfect, maybe we could get you, Colin, and Henry matching ties, in the colour."
"The colour" he laughed, "You Morag Beatrice Gregory soon to be Grant, brighten my every moment."
She just smiled that smile, how he wished it was Tuesday.
The first stop was the Western Union Office, Bea had called here on her way to Hope Valley and of course the manager remembered her. Everything was sorted in a few minutes, Nathan was added to the accounts, Bea also transferred some money over to her personal account, she had a feeling that would be needed in the near future if the livery was to go ahead. "Did you want to see the latest figures on the holding accounts Miss Gregory while you are here? It will only take a minute or so to get them?"
"Well, I may as well while I am here just in case Uncle Charles asks me if I have looked lately."
He came back with a piece of paper and slid it over the desk to Bea, Nathan couldn't help seeing it, was he reading it right?
"That all looks fine, thank you, and for your help today. There may be a couple of large transactions going through my account over the coming weeks. I am hoping to start a practice here so one would be for premises the other equipment, just so you are aware."
"Well just let me know if you need help in any way, I am always here."
"We will, thank you as always for your help today."
"There we go, all sorted. I feel so happy that it is done."
"Bea I know we have talked about this a bit, and I know you called it a fortune but did those figures actually say hundreds of thousands ?"
"They did, it just sits there gathering interest as I told you, now and again as I did there today I pull that interest over into the personal accounts. Those are just the two I have access to here, we have more in the UK, Uncle Charles keeps a watch on those, well and these he keeps everyone on the toes."
"I don't know how much I thought a fortune was really, but seeing those figures actually written down was a bit of a shock."
She felt a panic start to rise, it must have shown in her face.
"It's fine Bea, you look so worried, I have told you before and I will say it again I don't care what you have or haven't got, believe me, it was just the shock of seeing all those zeros. Now come on, let's go and show everyone you are the lady of the ring."