CHAPTER 63
Negotiating the stairs was a test, one step at a time, she just needed to remember."
"You be careful on these, maybe on Tuesday I should meet you here instead of the office?"
"Nice try," she laughed. "Henry will help me I am sure."
"Was worth a try, can't blame me for that."
Clara heard them laughing and came out from the back."
"Is everything alright, we were all worried when you weren't at church?"
"I will be fine Clara, I had a bit of an attack that was all, but apart from being a bit stiff all is well now."
"Clara, a bit of an attack is an understatement, keep an eye on her will you, she needs to rest but isn't very good at it."
"Bea, you should have called for help, we would have heard you, please do if you need us, and be careful. You aren't doing much today I hope."
"We are doing what the doctor ordered, a walk then resting, aren't we ?"
Bea just smiled and nodded. Clara laughed, "The Constable has spoken Bea, do as you are told."
As they walked down the main street Bea stopped and looked back at the saloon.
"You know that there is absolutely no way I am going to get from there to there on Tuesday" she pointed at the office " without everyone guessing what is going on. Maybe I should have gone plain. Even my bouquet will give it away."
"Well if they guess that is fine, it isn't that we don't want people to know, I want to tell everyone, we just don't want all the fuss, we just want to be married. Do you want to do it differently, we could wait ?"
"Oh no we can't, I don't want to change a thing. This is our day, and we have all we want, well apart from a photographer."
"Well, we have the camera so we will manage to get some, if that is the only thing missing I think we have done well."
"We have, we need no more, we will have our day and that is all that matters."
It was another warm day so having closed the front door he opened the back one.
"Right you haven't eaten so let me make you a sandwich, you sit and rest. Actually, do you want to sit in the garden? It is lovely out there."
Having sat at one chair he brought a cushion, placed it on another and lifted her legs. Sandwich and coffee brought he was just going to get his when there was a knock at the front door.
"Come on through, we are out the back, I just made some lunch, do you want a coffee or anything?"
It was Rosemary and Lee, they had been worried when neither of them had been in church. Nathan came out with coffee for them both and explained what had happened.
"You need to take things easy Bea, what triggered that do you think?"
"Just all the walking I did I guess, we did have fun shopping for stuff. I will just need to rest for a couple of days and I will be fine again."
"I actually wanted to catch you both to let you know I spoke to Kevin and have bought his tools, a very reasonable price too, so Colin will be in business."
"That is great news, we are getting kind of desperate for a smithy, he will be busy for weeks at least. If you let us know what we owe you Lee, Bea, or I will sort it with you tomorrow. Thanks for helping with that."
"No need for thanks, he will be an asset I am sure. Hopefully finding work for the other settlers will be easy too if all goes well with this pipeline survey."
"It will be interesting to talk to them and see if we have more hidden talents, Colin was going to try and arrange something there so hopefully he will have news of that. Do you think the town needs anyone else? I mean need rather than would like to have?"
"Well I think going forward a motor mechanic might do well, we are seeing more and more motor vehicles."
"I think a shop selling furniture and household items would do well, I have said that for a while."
"I agree there Rosemary it would be handy, that could be a great little business for someone. What about a vet ?" she laughed.
"Bea, you hang fire there, until we know you are OK you are on rest."
"Are you thinking of setting up here then? That would be another huge asset. Mind I agree with Nathan not until you are fit."
"I would love to, it can't be done overnight anyway, premises would be the big thing, then getting all the equipment I would need. Nathan and I have been talking about it and I am going to get all my stuff sent over from the UK, so I have no idea how long that would take. We are just planning, but that is my aim."
"That will be a story for the paper. As will Colin opening the forge and the pipeline if it goes ahead. I thought I might struggle to find news but am having to select the best stories at the moment. I would like a nice human interest story for a change, don't get me wrong the items I am doing are exciting but a nice warm heart-lifting story would be a change."
Bea and Nathan just looked at each other, how they didn't laugh neither knew.
"What are you both doing for dinner tonight? Lee and I are going to the saloon. Why don't you join us?"
"Now that would be a great idea, saves us making something Bea, you OK with that."
"I am, then an early night for me, I need my beauty sleep."
"Well we will call for you around 7 pm, it shouldn't be that busy tonight. Come on Lee, you can sort that cabinet out, you have been going to do it for days. You rest Bea, do as you are told."
Bea laughed, "Yes Mum, see you later and thank you."
When Nathan came back out into the garden she knew what he was going to say, "I think so too, they have been really good friends to us both, mind I am not sure how much of a secret it will stay."
"Bea, how do you do that?" He was laughing. " I was thinking that though and as you said people are going to guess, I think it would be nice to ask them to come, to be there."
"See I knew we needed that extra buttonhole and corsage" she smiled. "I wonder if Lee is any good with a camera, that would be perfect. Shall we go ask them now or wait until tonight?"
"Let's wait, I have a feeling we may be front-page news come the weekend princess."
"We will need extra copies," she laughed, " One for Mum and Allie, and a couple for the UK."
"Right are you staying there or are you going to lay on the bed while I sort some space, tell you what you could do Bea, do you want to have a look at my guitar, it will need a tune I think."
"Now that I can do."
It felt so good to have a guitar back in her hands and it was a beautiful one. She couldn't wait to hear him play but for now, she was going to give it a try. Having been in its case for a while it actually wasn't that bad, but a twiddle here and there and it sounded really good.
Nathan was actually in Allie's room when she started to play and sing.
"When the trumpet of the Lord shall sound and time shall be no more
And the morning breaks eternal bright and fair
When the saved diverse shall gather over on the other shore
And the roll is called up yonder, I'll be there
When the roll is called up yonder
When the roll is called up yonder
When the roll is called up yonder
When the roll is called up yonder, I'll be there"
He had heard her sing, but not like this, this must be the chapel voice she talked about but to hear her play too, everyday he was surprised by her, and oh yes she could play.
He found himself joining in
When the roll is called up yonder
When the roll is called up yonder
When the roll is called up yonder
When the roll is called up yonder, I'll be there"
As he came back into the bedroom they both had eyes full of happy tears.
He took the guitar and knelt in front of her, he went to speak but as he did she cupped his face, "This much" she said and kissed him.
"No Bea," he slipped his hand around the back of her neck and gently pulled her in then kissed her back "this much."
He got back up, she held on to his hand, " I know sweetie, it is so tough, but we have done so well, two more sleeps that is all."
"Bea honestly having spent those couple of nights together at the cabin this is like torture, I know it was my idea, but don't agree with me next time."
"There won't be a next time, I promise."
Having cleared half of the drawer space he opened the wardrobe door.
"Nathan is Allies' wardrobe empty, if it is why don't I just use that for now, would save you moving your things only to move them back when we get another one, would she mind, I won't touch any of her things?"
"That would work well for now and she won't mind at all. So you have space now, that is another thing ticked off the list. Almost there princess, almost there."