CHAPTER 62

Bea had gone to bed early, she wasn't sure if it was all the walking but she felt exhausted. Being pain-free for a while now it was easy to forget she was still supposed to take things easy.

So happy with how their trip had gone, that they were yet another day closer, that they had the whole day tomorrow together she had fallen asleep within minutes of her head touching the pillow.

However, the walking must have taken its toll because a couple of hours later she woke in agony. Her hamstring had cramped, she tried to stand, that wasn't going to happen. All she could do was try and massage it herself, the pain was excruciating, she kept going hot and cold, "Don't pass out, don't pass out" she kept saying through the tears. Eventually, the muscle did start to relax, bit by bit. She wasn't sure how long the episode lasted, it felt like hours. Limping to the dresser she took the jug and poured herself a glass of water. She was shaking and felt so cold. It had been a long time since she had an episode like this one, her hope that they had stopped faded. Climbing back into bed she wanted to sleep but feared another attack, her body had given in eventually as she knew no more until there was a knock at the door.

Nathan too had slept well. He had gone to bed wishing the next two days away. They had such a successful couple of days, everything was going to plan. Spending time alone as they had was the icing on the cake. To be able to do that whenever they wanted by just closing the front door was something he was looking forward to. He kept laughing at the thought of "secret things", he couldn't wait to see those.

They had arranged to meet at church in the morning and then they were going to have a quiet day, maybe take the boys out for an hour and also just check they had everything they needed.

He himself was running a bit late so was surprised she wasn't waiting for him. Jesse and Clara were just coming along the path but no sign of Bea, normally she would walk in with them.

"Have you seen Bea this morning Clara? I thought she would walk over with you."

"We thought she must have left early Nathan, we haven't seen her at all this morning. She did say something about calling in at the livery when we were talking last night, maybe she went there and is running late."

He waited for a few more minutes and still no sign. He could hear the service had started.

This didn't feel good, he had faced many things in his life as a Mountie but the panic he started to feel just because she wasn't here when she said she would be was like nothing he had felt before.

On the walk from the church to the saloon, so many thoughts ran through his head, every one worse than the previous one. He ran up the saloon stairs and knocked on her door.

"Bea, princess are you in there, are you OK?"

"Bea!"

"Oh, Nathan I am sorry, just a minute."

She opened the door and started to cry, she must have looked like death as he knew straight away.

"Princess what on earth, here sit down, oh come here"

He wrapped his arms around her, eventually the tears stopped.

"I am sorry, I was late, I was still asleep until you knocked."

"Never mind that, what on earth have you been doing, you look so pale and tired, oh wait not your leg?"

She nodded, "I thought I was out of the woods with that but I woke in agony I couldn't even stand. I have never had an episode like that for a long time and was frightened I was going to pass out, Nathan I was so scared, I have never been on my own when I have had a bad one like that." The tears came again.

"Princess don't, I am here, how does it feel now, do you want me to get Faith?"

"No but could you get that little suitcase down for me sweetie, in the bottom is a brown box, there should be a bottle of pills in it, unopened."

"Bea, is this all medication of one kind or another?"

"Yes all for this but those are the ones I need, I normally have some in my purse but without needing them I forgot to replace the ones I had in there. These are a strong pain killer and muscle relaxant, or so Dr. Wilson says, they will help."

He brought her a glass of water and she took two. "I need to get washed and dressed I suppose."

"Just sit there for now, do you want me to get you a coffee or something? "

He was back in a few minutes with a pot of coffee, freshly made, and a couple of cups.

"I think from today until Tuesday I will need to be really careful, nothing is going to spoil our day, nothing, least of all this" she slapped her leg."

"Bea don't, if I have to carry you in we are getting married on Tuesday, I can not wait any longer. I want you home with me, to be there for you, if I could bear your pain I would."

"Sweetie if I have to crawl on my hands and knees I will be there, it can't come quick enough. Now let me see if I can at least have a wash and get dressed, then if I can manage we can walk home and have a lazy day."

"If you are sure you will be OK, while you do that I will go check on the boys, I can give them a quick walk around the pond. That will do them for today, be back in half an hour and if you don't feel well just wait for me."

She did feel a bit more human and was just making the bed when he came back in.

"Here let me, you aren't very good at doing nothing are you?" he was laughing.

"Not really, I do try though. I was thinking maybe tomorrow I could pack some stuff up, my bigger suitcases and then they can go over home. Then on Wednesday, we can collect the rest of my bits. I don't have much."

"I need to have a sort out at home and find you some space, maybe we will need another wardrobe but that should be it. I can do that this afternoon, have you got much coming over from Bramble?"

"Well not much really but I have a feeling Ethel will send extra things, I actually thought it might have arrived by now. I will need to do another list though, things it seems silly to buy again here when I have them back there. My guns for example and I would never get another pair like those, I have a lot of veterinary tools and equipment I will need, some of them are very expensive, it will have to be crated and shipped specially I think. One thing I would love to bring over but don't know if it is possible is Lunar."

"Your horse Bea? you would bring him all this way?"

"If it was possible I would, he is a very special boy, people had written him off but we proved them wrong and he did stand guard over me, nothing or nobody would have got near me that day, so if I can I will. His mane is like my hair, you will love him too."

"Well, we can make inquiries am sure one of the contacts Uncle Charles left you at the shipping lines would know."

"That is something else to add to the after Tuesday list."

"We have one of those now do we?" he laughed.

"We do now" she giggled " so if you have anything that needs adding just do it."

"Actually I do, we need to go and see Mrs. Jamieson, maybe we could do that on Thursday or Friday? It would be nice to pay her a proper visit, I call in often but am always having to get back for something or another. If your leg is OK shall we go on Thursday? "

"We will do that, you still not going to tell me why?"

"No, I have secret stuff too," he laughed.

"You up for a walk then Princess, sure that is what the doctors prescribes ?"

"It is and yes I am. Oh, you may as well take the camera and bits sweetie, then we need to sort out what we are going to do there. It's the brown bag beside the dresser."

"Should I take these books we got too? Actually, I will get those tomorrow and take them to the office, that makes more sense. Right, is that all that can come for now?"

"I think so, I will pack stuff tomorrow, it will keep me busy."