CHAPTER 73
Bea had her pancakes, blueberry ones, she really had developed a liking for those. Nathan had gone for eggs, he didn't think he was hungry until Minnie sat them down in front of him.
"We wanted to say thank you again Minnie for our beautiful wedding cake, you must have worked round the clock to do it."
"Well it was a combined effort, it is surprising what you can do when you want to. It was such a wonderful day, so full of love and happiness, Joseph will be upset he missed it."
"We will see him in church on Sunday, we did want a word with him about maybe blessing our marriage if he would?"
"Nathan, he would be honoured to do that I am sure, I wondered if you could do something for me, well Angela really?"
"Of course we will if we can, please just ask?"
"Well, one of the main talking points of the day was your dress Bea and those beautiful flowers. I tried to describe them to her but they were both so unusual it was hard, she doesn't often get upset about being blind but last night she did. When I asked her why she eventually gave in and told me it was because she couldn't see how beautiful they were like everyone else had. Please say no if it is an inconvenience but would you let her actually touch and feel the dress, maybe hold your bouquet?"
"Minnie, that is no inconvenience, of course she can. We have a few bits and pieces to do here in town but will be home the rest of the day, just call in."
"Thank you both so much, it wasn't easy to describe that dress, I did my best but didn't do it justice. I finish my shift at 3 pm. We will call round after that if that is alright, oh and there was cake left I bring that round for you."
"Thank you Minnie, and we will see you later."
"And that Mrs Grant," he said " is just one of the reasons I love you. Right, let's see these boys, they will think we have been neglecting them."
"Oh, Nathan it completely slipped my mind with everything that was going on. When I called in to see if there was a free stall for Mack Jed mentioned he was thinking about retiring. He said he is finding it hard to run at full capacity, and he might sell if the right person comes along."
"That is interesting, did you say anything?"
"No, as I say I meant to speak to you, maybe we could mention it, see how serious he is."
"Let me mention it to see what he says, it is something we would really need to think and talk about though princess."
"I know darling, we will."
They both looked at the chalkboard as they walked, Nathan grinned, rubbed out the "MBG don't even think about it" message and wrote, "We did it."
They were both laughing when Jed appeared and came to see. Bea gave him a cuddle and thanked him and Mary again for yesterday. "You two made Mary so happy, it has been a long time since I have seen her laugh and smile as much. Letting her help you Bea, was such a lovely thing to do. We had the best day so I want to thank you both. How are you today Bea, she will ask me?"
"I am fine Jed, too long on my feet I think that was all it was, and this one here is keeping a close eye on me these next few days."
"Nathan, let's keep her right."
"Oh I intend to Jed, I have just noticed we have no Hero, has Faith taken him out?"
"No Colin came round early this morning to check on all three of them. He had fired up the forge so took him for new shoes. It will be handy having a smithy back in town, he should do really well."
"Bea and I hope he does, it will be good to have him around more, we are going to head over there now, have a look at the place."
" He says he needs sisterly help upstairs so I have no idea what that will entail, you have rooms above here too don't you."
"Yes there are, we did rent them out years ago but I never felt at ease leaving someone up there with all the horses down here. Mary has kept it nice mind."
"I don't mean to pry Jed, but Bea mentioned what you said the other day about finding it harder to run things, if you ever need a hand just ask."
"I manage the way things are. It just seems a shame that I can't run at full capacity, I am getting older you know. Mary keeps on at me to sell up and retire, if the right person came along I might do that. The trouble is I am not sure that person even exists, it means a lot to me does this place. You never know though."
"Well just say if you do need help with anything, promise,"
"I will Bea, oh and that whisky of yours, it is a beauty."
Having checked on Newton, he was more than happy, they headed across to smithy.
"That was interesting Bea, you are that person you know, he would sell to you."
"Us sweetie, not just me."
"I will get used to that I promise, now let's see what our best man is up to, he sounds busy."
Colin was in his element. He had been up since first light. He had checked the actual forge over then fired it up. He was surprised to find all the tools were dotted about very similar to the way he would have done it himself. There really wasn't anything to do down here, he may come across the odd thing he needed but nothing stood out. What was a huge bonus was a drawer full of receipts which meant he could contact local suppliers.
Having brought Hero over he donned a leather apron and rolled his sleeves up, it felt so good to feel the heat again, to smell the smell, yes he had missed this.
"Well hello smithy, it has been a while since that sound has rung out along these streets. I take it everything is in working order?"
"Yes Nathan, Kevin left everything in great shape. I could open tomorrow really. It feels good to be back at it, and who better for my first customer. I had a look at Newton's shoes when I was over, he will be fine for a while."
"Yes he threw a shoe not so long since, luckily the travelling farrier came the day after. Having you here will be much better. Do you need a hand with anything?"
"Not down here, could you give me a hand to move the bed and that upstairs?"
"Yes, no rush."
"Is sis OK I thought you were both coming into town this morning?"
"She is on her way, ladies wanting to talk about dresses stopped her," he smiled, " was everyone alright last night when we left ?"
"Yes everyone understood, they were worried about her as a few had seen her limping, oh there are a good few gifts for you both I put them with the rest of Bea's things in her room."
"We are heading there soon, then will get her moved in fully. Speak of the lady in question."
"What have I done now" she laughed
They both laughed, " Morning brother dearest, you must have been up and about early?"
"I was, and my first customer is all done, shiny new shoes?"
"Thank you, and we will pay you, so don't say no. Now let me see this upstairs."
The rooms were actually bigger than Bea had imagined, and a good clean would work wonders, they were dusty more than anything. The curtains could be washed and rehung, maybe new bedding was a good idea, and turning the mattress but other than that it wasn't as bad as she thought. Nathan gave Colin a hand to reposition the bed moving it away from the window, Bea stripped it then they turned the mattress.
"Open that window Colin, and take the curtains down, let some fresh air in. I will sort you some bedding out and get these washed and we can rehang them."
"When are you thinking of moving in and opening?" asked Nathan.
"I think as everything is OK downstairs I will head up to the cabin tomorrow, sort my bit's and pieces out there, then come back down on Friday. I will have Saturday and Sunday to get this place in order and then will open on Monday."
"We have nothing planned for Saturday, have we Bea?"
"No, so we can come and help. Good old soap and water will make a difference. We will have you sorted by Monday. Can you think of anything you are really going to need?"
"Not at the moment, no doubt I will discover bits and pieces once I am in but at the minute I think I will have everything I need."
"Well cleaning party on Saturday it is. We will bring everything we need. Will we see you before you go in the morning?"
"Why don't we meet for breakfast, if the weather is good again I would like to take you somewhere Bea, if you are fine to ride."
"Oh, are we going to see the mysterious Mrs. Jamieson?"
He just tapped the side of his nose, "You will just have to wait and see, I thought you liked surprises."
"I love surprises and tomorrow isn't too long to wait, mind I will bug you all day now you do know that?"
Nathan just nodded " I know, still won't tell you though."
"Right if we are sorted, mercantile it is then the saloon and back home to unpack."
"Give me half an hour and I will give you a hand, with those crates and all the gifts you won't manage on your own. Shall I bring these curtains sis ?"
"Yes I will wash those for you, we will have you ship-shape by Monday."
"Right husband with a secret, let's make a move."
They thanked Ned and Florence for helping with the celebrations and apologised for leaving so early. They, like Colin, said everyone had understood and asked how she felt today. After reassuring them everything was fine they made their purchases and headed to the saloon.
"Should we call in on Lee and Rosemary, just to say thank you again Nathan?"
"We could pop our heads in, they will be worried about you probably but I do want to get the rest of your things moved, so just a quick hello."
They had been worried and were glad to see the newlyweds.
"We have some good news, Ned asked us about the photographs, he is going to develop them for us, well I am going to help him on Saturday, so come Sunday we should have them ready for you. I just hope we got some worth printing."
"I am sure you did Lee, it will be like reliving the day, we were just saying how quickly it passed. I really hope those you took Rosemary in my room turned out, they will be beautiful"
"Fingers crossed, I am a bit worried none will turn out. We will have to pretend if that is the case and get you both all dressed up again."
"As long as I don't have to wait for hours again I could cope" Nathan laughed. "We really can't thank you both enough, for everything. Now we will let you get on and we will go and collect the last of Bea's things. We will organise something for Sunday, make it another special day."
"I could cook a big British-style Sunday dinner for us all, roast beef, Yorkshire pudding, and all the trimmings."
"That", said Lee " is a date, let us know a time. We will see you at church in the morning anyway."
"You will, now come on Mrs. Grant let's go and get you moved in fully."
They both had a shock when they saw the pile of gifts that Colin had put on the bed. People had been so kind. "We will have to remember who sent what and I will make everyone a Thank You card."
"Maybe another of your lists would be a good idea that way we won't forget."
"Are you making fun of me Constable?"
"Now would I do that Mrs. Grant? I do like calling you that."
There was a knock and the door opened, it was Colin. " I think we may need two trips to move that lot."
"If we take some of this Bea, do you want to pack up the last of your bits and we can take those when we come back?"
"Yes, I will do that and sort out the bill with Clara. I will pay for your room Colin, a gift from us both, and don't say no."
"That's you told" laughed Nathan, " Right let's get this lot moved."
They headed off laden down, Bea collected the few things she had left, then went to settle everything with Clara.
"It will be strange not having you around the place Bea, well I know you will be in and out but you are not living here. That room will always be Bea's room," she laughed.
"Well, I have to say that I could not have wished for anywhere better to have parked myself for two months. Thank you for everything."
She heard the boy's coming back, they were laughing at something. As she watched them she thought how lucky she was, they had developed such a friendship, yes she was one very fortunate lady.
Closing the door of the room for the last time felt like the end of a chapter. It had been home for two months, two of the best in her life. Now though a new chapter was beginning, one she had never seen herself living, one she would share with her husband.