CHAPTER 76
As they rode back into town they were both lost in thought.
"So princess, what are you thinking?"
"Honestly Nathan my thoughts are all over the place. It's at times like this I wish I could see my life as clearly as I can others. I do feel that this is just another piece of our jigsaw falling into place. We will never find another place like that, anything else would be second best now."
"I have to agree there but do we really need anywhere that big?"
"No we don't need a big house, I love our little house. We are fortunate enough to be able to own somewhere like that if we wanted to, it would be an investment really. The land would be of great help once I get the practice up and running. I suppose I am used to rattling around in a big house, Bramble is even bigger."
"Bigger than that ?"
"Wait until you see it Nathan, you will love it as much, it has a soul, it just welcomes you in and wraps its walls around you. I think Mrs. Jamieson's does that too."
"It does have a welcoming feel to it. The fact that Mrs. Jamieson has turned down four offers because she didn't feel they were the right people makes me think it is waiting for us. I think a for and against list is needed. We will do that later shall we?"
"You really are getting as bad as me with lists"
He just laughed at her, he was though.
They settled the boys down for the night and headed home. Spending days together like today was such a joy to them both, even better now they could head home together.
Neither of them were that hungry, Mrs. Jamieson had sent them home with all sorts of treats so they settled for some steak pie with salad and new potatoes from the veg garden.
Bea went to soak in the bath while Nathan cleared away. She had been feeling her leg, too long in the saddle she thought, so the soak helped. It was such a delight to just slip into one of her other new nightdresses and robe, a stunning peacock green this one was.
When she came down Nathan was sitting in their favourite spot on the back step.
"Will you work your mane magic please sweetie?"
"My mane magic, come sit then."
She passed him the brush and sat on the lower step.
"I was just thinking of those bathrooms today, that one next to the big bedroom is like something from a hotel, well they both are, that bath though, we could both fit in there."
"Oh is that going on the for side of the list then?"
He shook his head, "I guess it does. Mind the giant bed goes on the against side."
"Why, it is the most beautiful bed I have ever seen?"
"Because I will lose you in."
They both laughed. "No sweetie I would find you."
"The younger Mr. Jamieson must have been a master craftsman, the woodwork and furniture are some of the most impressive I have ever seen, that staircase Bea it is a work of art."
"The whole hallway is, I was just thinking about it all decorated for Christmas with the biggest tree ever in there, it would be like something you see on Christmas cards."
"There you go princess, mane all done, now come in you are shivering. Why don't we have a glass of our whisky, see I remembered that time."
She stood up and kissed him "You did, and why not, that bottle must be about empty, does that leave 3 in that crate?"
"Yes, we will keep them for special treats if we have to wait 8 years for the next delivery."
"I think Alan will have sent some to Bramble too, so maybe not that long, I must write to him, tell him we received them intact and I want to ask him about the painting he used for the label. I would love to have that here or maybe he could get us one painted too."
Nathan poured the drinks and was looking at the bottle, "It would be perfect to hang over the fireplace in that office Bea. I found the perfect places for your drawings too, my path-finder one in the bedroom and our livery one in the hall."
He sat at the other end of the sofa and swung her legs up on his lap. "What is it you say Bea...Slainte Mhath?"
"That's it Slainte Mhath."
"I was just thinking that with Mrs. J saying it would be a huge weight off her shoulders if we bought all the furniture and household items, the machinery, tack, and tools we could move straight in, we wouldn't need to buy anything. Well, maybe the odd little thing but nothing major. I have a feeling she will take very little apart from personal items."
"You really want to buy it princess don't you?"
"The more I have thought about it the more I do, I just have this feeling that if we don't then we will regret it all our lives. So much has just fallen into place these last few months, this honestly feels like one of the final pieces. Do you not feel the same?"
"I do, it would be more than I ever dreamed of but I have a couple of worries. With me still working we would struggle to keep on top of everything, we could hire help as Mrs. J does but even the house, if you start working it's a big place for us to manage on our own Bea.. The other big worry I have is you being there on your own princess when it is so far out of town. I know if we had to hire someone to help then that wouldn't be the case but I would need to know it is someone we really trust."
"I guess it would depend on what we decide to do with the land, we could move the boys there, the stables would be handy for rehabilitation. I could take in waifs and strays, like the fawn, that would all tie in with the practice. Then I don't know there are so many possibilities."
"Well we don't have to make the decision right here and now, maybe we should speak to Jed about the livery, then we would know if that was yes."
"That would be a good idea, maybe we could pop into tomorrow and see him."
"Well that is all we are doing tomorrow, I know your leg has been playing up today, I can tell now."
She just smiled at him, he swung her legs down and moved up the sofa and she nestled in his shoulder. "Nathan we are so lucky, I had to pinch myself today watching you and Mrs. J, I still can't believe all that has happened this last couple of months, that something so precious came about because of something so horrific."
"Bea call it luck, call it fate, whatever it was that brought you here has not let us down so far, maybe we should just carry on trusting it, let it show us the way."
"Then that is what we will do, see where it takes us next. Maybe it has more surprises in store."
"We have had a few of those princess, but you know my favourites, the first was you in the doorway of Bill's office on Tuesday, mind that first day in the livery is close behind that one, the 3rd is these secret ones you keep springing on me, this colour really suits you."
"Here is me thinking you hadn't noticed" she laughed
"Oh, I noticed, just trying to be the gentleman and say nothing, failed on that one."
As they lay in bed her head resting on his chest she had a moment, he could tell those now as well, if he happened to see her at the time.
"OK'' "Bea moment " what did you see?"
She blushed and buried her head even deeper, "Come on tell, why are you blushing?"
"Well, no I can't say, but we have to buy Mrs. J's I know that now."
"What did you see that makes that a definite and made you blush at the same time? No secrets remember."
There was that slightly lop-sided smile she loved.
She was blushing even more, " I saw that wonderful fireplace in the big bedroom with the sheepskin rug in front of it, a huge fire was lit and it was lighting up the whole room."
"Well I can imagine that would be a sight to see, but why would that make you blush?"
"Nathan!" she laughed
"What, a roaring fire and sheepskin rugs are nothing... ohhhhh Morag Beatrice Grant, can we sign the papers tomorrow?"