CHAPTER 68
Colin was intrigued by the crate, Nathan had spotted the stamp immediately, very faded they were sure it said " Moragbea Distillery". They had just looked at each other and burst out laughing, this lady of theirs was always surprising them.
He struggled to knock on her door and balance it on his knee. "Open the door sis, this thing is heavy."
"Just put on that chair Colin will you, I will need to get it open. I wonder if Jesse has a claw hammer or something I can borrow?"
"Where do you think you are going, sit down, give me a minute and I will go and see what I can find. What on earth is in there and does that say Moragbea Distillery?"
She grinned "It does, and yes I own a distillery, a very good one. What is in here will be a surprise for me as well as all of you. I can't believe it arrived today, I had totally forgotten about it. Is Nathan back, did you manage to catch him?"
"I did and I will get him there tomorrow, best man's duties and all that, and I am also Hope Valley's new smithy, I have the keys and will sign the papers on Wednesday."
"Oh Colin, I am so happy for you."
"I was just checking the place out when Nathan caught me. I may need sisterly advice when it comes to sorting the upstairs out, you will help me won't you?"
"You know I will, that is what sisters do, maybe we can have a look on Wednesday, you will be happy there Colin, I know."
"Well I have never been happier than I am right now, that is down to you and Nathan, I will never be able to repay you. "
"You already have repaid, and remember the three of us are a team, together we will be so strong. Now go and find something to open this, the excitement is killing me."
He seemed to be away for ages but returned with not only a claw hammer but a rather handsome Mountie.
"Well that is me done, when I go back to work I will be a married man," he picked her up, swung her around, and kissed her.
"You two are as bad as each other, now put her down and let's get the lid off this crate."
"Yes Moragbea Distillery, is that you princess? "
"It is, but will be us soon, there is a long story there, will save that one."
"There we go, the lid is off, let's get shot of this straw."
Once that had been removed there were 12 dark grey boxes, Bea filled up, Alan had always said he would use boxes the colour of her hair.
"You OK there sis, it's just 12 boxes?"
"The boxes are only part of it, look at the colour does it not remind you of anything?"
"I saw it straight away princess, so what is the story here then."
"The whisky in these bottles was laid to cask just after I was born. Dad, Uncle Harry, and Uncle Charles all liked a good whisky, a wee toot, and contacted the distillery to ask them to make this as an investment for me. A few casks were opened at 12 years and some when I was 21, these are the 32-year vintage. For them to arrive today is an unexpected gift. Alan, the manager told me he would use grey packaging this time, Nathan pull one out if the label is what he said he would use then I will cry."
"Bea that is you, on Lunar, and is that Skye?" she just nodded.
He cuddled her in "It is stunning, what a picture to hang that would make."
The label was taken from a painting Alan must have commissioned, she knew he had a photograph of her on Lunar with Skye taken on one of her visits. It showed the distillery sitting at the head of the glen and there on the hillside were Bea, Lunar, and Skye. Moragbea 32 year old Special Vintage Single Malt. The same label was on the actual bottle, a tall slim bottle, a brief history of the distillery and this vintage were on the reverse label.``
"Sis if the whisky is as good as the packaging I can't wait to taste it."
"We will open one tonight, that seems fitting. I received a letter from Alan today saying they had sent the crates, they haven't taken long to get here really. Apparently, pre-sales are that good very few bottles will appear on the open market and he says it is superb. Yes, tonight we will open one."
"I have left the other crate locked in the jail, we can move it tomorrow after I get my haircut. I will take your cases tonight if they are ready to go."
"Yes they can go, I have the little one left and a few clothes we can collect on Wednesday."
"Right well I will take these and go and get changed, hang the serge up for a few days. I won't be long."
Colin went to have wash and change, Bea would do the same but she picked up the bottle and looked at the label. The tears came again, her two constant companions, so loyal, so true, without these two she would not be here today. To be able to get Lunar over here would be a dream come true, and if ever she saw wolf or deerhound puppies for sale then yes she would ask Nathan about getting another to fill the gap Skye left. He could never ever be replaced but to have another might just fill the void he left.
Changed and feeling fresher Bea took 5 of the bottles out, one they would open tonight, the others she would give to the boys tonight, a thank you gift from her and Nathan. She also wanted to give one to Jed tomorrow.
"OK to come in Princess?"
"Yes, just about ready. How are you feeling darling? We are down to hours now."
"Honestly Bea I have never been so nervous about anything, I don't know why either. Excited too, I keep thinking it is a dream I am going to wake up from."
Placing her hands on his chest. Looking into those steel-blue eyes she said " We are living the same dream then and I don't ever want to wake up from it. I love you Nathan, I always will and tomorrow you will make my dreams come true."
The passion in the kiss they shared said it all, these two needed to be one.
When they went downstairs everyone except Bill was there. You could feel the excitement in the air, Bea sat down beside Henry, he laid his hand on hers " Are you OK Bea? I heard about the other night but haven't been able to catch you to ask."
"I am a bit stiff Henry but no more pain, I may need your help getting down those stairs tomorrow but other than that I am sure I will be fine."
"You lean on me if you need to Bea, I won't let you down."
She kissed his cheek, "and that is one of the reasons I asked you Henry."
Nathan went to order drinks for everyone, a bottle of champagne would have been nice he thought but that would raise a few eyebrows, still, later they would open Bea's whisky, which would be even better.
Bill joined them and meals were ordered. Laughter rang around the table at Nathan's reaction to things that could go wrong. Lee and Rosemary sounded as if they were in competition over the photographs, they should have a great album by the time the two of them had finished.
Plans for how the day would pan out were sorted, the boys were all going to meet in Lees, office around one, and then head over Bills about 1.45 pm. Henry and Bea would leave around 1.50 pm. Bill would issue the licence and do the little service but he wanted to add to it he said, Henry too asked if he could say a few words. Afterwards they would all head back here.
It was Rosemary who dared to bring up the fact of people seeing them and guessing what was going on, " If they want to actually come in the office and witness the ceremony is that OK? Not many will get in but it would be lovely to see the place full."
"We don't mind, do we Bea, if people want to share our day we thank them for that."
"Well as long as someone keeps an eye on how many, my office won't hold the whole town, we could leave the doors open I suppose, let's just play it by ear."
With everything sorted and meals finished Lee asked if anyone wanted a last drink.
"Oh wait Lee, Bea had something very special arrive from Scotland this morning."
"Colin, give me a hand will you?"
They headed upstairs and came down carrying 5 of the boxes between them. Bea had asked Clara if they could borrow 7 whisky glasses for a special toast.
Nathan reopened the box that was opened earlier. He couldn't help looking at the label again.
"Now there is a story to this that Colin and I only heard today, he handed a box to Bill, Henry, Lee, and Rosemary and Colin. If you look at the label you may recognise the lady on the horse. You may also see the name, that is a giveaway really. This whisky only arrived today, a total surprise, as you can see it is a special vintage, it was made especially for Bea 32 years ago when she was born and has just been bottled and released. We are told it is superb so tonight we would like to open this first bottle and share it with you. The bottles you have are a thank you gift from us for all your help and support over the last few weeks. Now let's have a taste."
"Forgive me, '' said Bea " but to get the real effect of this, hold it in your mouth for a few seconds then swallow, that's the distiller talking, she is a bit like the poacher and appears now and again."
Everyone had a glass, it was being smelt and swirled. " A toast then, to good friends "
"To Nathan and Bea," said Colin
" Slàinte Mhath" said Bea.
Oh, it was good, Alan was right when he had called it superb.
They all looked at each other and took another mouthful. "Well Miss Distiller, that has to be the best whisky I have ever tasted, and I have tasted a few. This bottle will be drunk very sparingly, and I have to say I am even going to keep the box.
"Right there with you Lee," said Bill, "this one's for high days and holidays."
Colin didn't say anything, he couldn't he was overcome with emotion, Rosemary was crying but that was more about the label than the whisky, Henry just took hold of Bea's hand " Thank you Bea, for believing in me, for letting me be part of your day and this, he raised the glass, is as pure and sweet as you are."
She lifted his hand and kissed it "Thank you Henry, you are the perfect person to represent the three men who did this for me" she lifted her glass, " they know I am safe in your care tomorrow."
Nathan was just watching her, God he loved this woman so much, he thought his heart would melt.
" Right, I think we need to let this lady get to bed, she needs her rest and has the biggest day of her life tomorrow. I will sort the flowers in the morning Bea and then I will be yours, come on Lee you need to check out Nathan's camera so you know what you are doing."
"You gentlemen all stay, I will go up though, thank you all for tonight, for everything and I will see you tomorrow."
"I will be back in a few minutes, we can have one more I think, I will need it to sleep."
Taking her hand he walked her up the stairs, this was the last night he would have to do this. As he closed the door he just looked at her, she was in his arms.
"We have made it Bea, last night we will have to do this, now I want to kiss Miss Morag Beatrice Gregory good night before she becomes Mrs. Morag Beatrice Grant. I will see you tomorrow princess, please don't be late, waiting until 2 pm is bad enough."
"I won't keep you waiting darling I promise."
One more kiss, he had to force himself to leave. Tomorrow, tomorrow and I won't ever have to leave her like this again.