CHAPTER 61

Bea was just brushing her hair when he knocked at the door.

"It's open sweetie."

He loved seeing her with her hair down, it really was her crowning glory.

"Let me, I love to brush this mane" he grinned

"Mane is it, maybe I should get it all cut off then, go for one of these really modern boyish styles."

"Don't you even think about that, I nearly had heart failure when you said you were having 3 inches cut off."

She was laughing, "I wouldn't, honestly, it is part of who I am, or so Ethel always says, at least I can tie it up or braid it to make it look shorter."

Handing him the brush she could see he was thinking about something. "What is it, what's wrong?"

He stood behind her, she was sitting at the dressing table, "Nothing is wrong just, I wondered if you would do something for me on Tuesday but I am not sure if I have the right to ask."

She turned around and wrapped her arms around his waist, "Nathan you know you can ask me anything, of course you have a right to ask."

"Well I have no idea about what you will be wearing, and I do want that to be a surprise but would you please wear your hair down for me. I know I make fun of it but I love it so much, that night at the bonfire, you did look like a princess from a fairy tale."

She wiggled her finger in a come here motion and he bent down to kiss her, "I know you do and that is why I bought the nice combs yesterday, it will be down, just for you."

"Now are you going to brush it or stare at it" she laughed.

He braided it for her as he had that day at the cabin, he was good at that.

After breakfast they gathered their bags and purchases, Mr. Thompson was going to keep them in his office while they finished their shopping. He slipped Nathan's surprise into one of the bags, one he knew had come from the lingerie shop.

By lunchtime they had everything on the list, plus a few extras. They had bought one of the latest cameras, Nathan was looking forward to using that after the wedding, ties they had found in one of the gentlemen's outfitters, luckily they did have four the same. "Bea, why do we need four?"

"I just have a feeling, I ordered extra buttonholes and a corsage. We may not need them but if we don't I will keep it as a gift for Uncle Charles."

A pair of leather black brogues in the window had caught Nathan's eye, he went to try some on, while he did she was looking at the tie pin and cufflinks sets. She would get four to go with the ties, the young salesman thought it was funny that she was trying to buy them without Nathan seeing, he was giving her a running commentary on what he was doing. She has chosen 4 silver engraved sets all slightly different and paid for them quickly before Nathan came back.

Ties and shoes bought, they headed back to the hotel. They passed a stationery shop so Bea ran in there to buy half a dozen large hardback writing books to use for the check-in scheme.

As they passed the Gunsmiths Bea stopped. "Nathan I would like to get a gun, well I actually will need one and a pistol. I will ask Stan to package mine up and send them over but I am not sure how long that will take. Is this the nearest place to get one?"

"I guess it would be, but why don't you write to Stan and get them on the way, if we need one before they arrive we will buy you one. It can take so long to find the right one, yours may arrive first."

"I will do that, I must write another list of things I would like them to send anyway. That is a job for after Tuesday though."

"Right we done then Miss Gregory, all shopped out?"

" I think we are, we have so many bags, full of good things though, not forgetting secret stuff."

He just laughed at her, "I really hope this secret stuff is worth the wait."

"Oh it will be I promise" and she winked at him.

The pair of them walked into the foyer of the hotel laughing, Mr. Thompson laughed at them laughing, "I have to say you two are like a breath of fresh air. You will come and see us again soon, I will even give you the honeymoon suite when you do."

"Mr. Thompson I have no doubt we will be back soon, and thank you, not just for that offer but for looking after Bea for me, it is really appreciated."

"Anytime Constable Grant, anytime."

Bidding him farewell and laden down with shopping they headed for the stage.

It was almost half seven when they arrived back in Hope Valley, Bea removed her ring and gave it back to him, "After Tuesday you won't ever have to remove it Princess, and it will have the other two to keep it company."

It was good to be back in their quiet little town, a visit to the big cities was always nice but coming home was even better.