CHAPTER 77
By the time they walked into the livery on Friday morning they were 99% certain that they would offer Mrs. Jamieson the full asking price on the property. Now they needed to speak to Jed about the livery.
Having checked the boys were all fine, they went looking for him, he was busy stacking bails.
"Morning you two, how is married life?"
Nathan laughed, "We are adjusting nicely Jed, we are busy making plans at the moment, actually we wondered if we could speak to you about something, a plan in the making."
"Me? Yes, let me just stack these last few and we can sit for a minute."
Bea had never really taken much notice of the stalls at the back of the livery but as they walked out today she happened to notice one of them was occupied.
"Jed, who does the horse in the back stall belong to?"
"Bea that poor thing is a worry. He is just forgotten about these days."
"Can I go and have a look at him?"
"Yes, of course, mind be careful he has his good days and bad ones now." Bea headed back inside.
"Whose horse is it Jed?"
"It's Jack Thornton's horse, Sergeant. Totally neglected of late."
"I thought Elizabeth must have parted with him, with not seeing him."
"I brought him out the back Nathan, seeing all the others coming and going seemed to upset him. I tried to catch Mrs. Thornton to ask about him when she was back a couple of weeks ago but never got the chance."
They walked back in to find Bea in the stall with him. "Am I right in thinking he is a Mountie horse?"
"Yes Bea, this is Sergeant, he was Jack Thornton's horse, given to Elizabeth when he died."
"Poor lad, as far I can see from a quick once over he has nothing really physically wrong with him, is he off his food Jed?"
"Hardly eats anything these days Bea."
"When was the last time he was given a good ride out ?"
"Oh that is a few months ago now, I take him out for a walk when I have time but don't really have the right to ride him."
"This poor lad has about given up, it infuriates me to see cases like this. He has gone from being a hard-working, trusted friend to an everyday family horse to a forgotten burden. Neglect that is all it is. Do the Mounties have any kind of welfare policy for their horses Nathan?"
"Well we do have a duty of care to them, yes but I am not sure in cases like this where he was given to next of kin. I could make inquiries, Bill might know. I bet he isn't aware he is still here."
"Thank you, I will not sit back and watch a beautiful once treasured and trusted 4 legged friend like this give up on life. It would be like sticking Newton in a corner and forgetting about him, no way. I will start walking him Jed, see if I breathe some life back in him."
"What about Elizabeth, would we not need her permission princess?"
"She isn't here to give it and as a vet I have a duty of care to all animals, just as a doctor does to humans, so that is what I will do. If I don't he won't be here when she comes back. I will take him out with Hero, he may give him a bit of a lift, hopefully, he hasn't given up altogether."
"I still find it hard to think of you as a vet Bea, Mary was saying the same thing after the wedding."
Nathan put his arm around her "She isn't your typical one Jed that is for sure but you should see her in action, very impressive is my wife, I am so proud of her."
"The way this lot in here react to her I can well believe it. Now, what did you want to talk to me about?"
"Actually Jed it is about Bea and her plan to set up a veterinarian practice here in Hope Valley. How serious are you about selling this place? I know you said if the right person came along you would seriously think about it."
"I meant that, why do you ask again?"
"Would you sell to Bea and me? Let us explain our plan."
The pair did just that and Jed was drawn in with their idea. He had no doubts at all, if he was to sell then these two would be his perfect choice, he would be leaving his life's work in safe hands.
"Well that has caught me by surprise I have to say, I will need to talk to Mary about it, but I will say that selling to you wouldn't be a problem. If we think it is the right move for us then yes I would gladly leave everything in your hands. Let me have the weekend will you and I will give you an answer on Monday."
"Jed don't rush, we understand it is a huge decision. We are making a few of those ourselves at the moment and know how hard it can be."
"Wait until I tell Mary, it is something she has been telling me to do for ages, no I will have an answer for you both on Monday."
"Thank you Jed, we appreciate that. Now Mrs. Grant, let's get these things you wanted for tomorrow and the cleaning party."
"The what?" Jed laughed
"We are going to attack upstairs in the forge tomorrow, get it ship shape for Colin to move into. Hopefully, he will be open on Monday."
"Well I for one will be using his services, I am sure he will do well and such a nice person too. He will be another welcome addition to the Hope Valley family, just like you were Bea."
"Bless you Jed, that means a lot." She kissed his cheek, he was so like Stan, he just blushed, mind Stan always did that too.
As they left hand in hand Jed watched them, yes he thought the livery would be safe in their hands would be like passing it on to a son or daughter.
Having bought all kinds of cleaning items, new bed linen, and towels they called at the forge to drop everything off then headed to the mercantile. Passing the fruit and vegetable stall they picked up everything Bea needed for the Sunday dinner and also fruit for dessert. The butchers next for a joint of meat, they had timed it just right today as Mr. Race, the local butcher, was just about to start cutting a side of beef and he cut them a big piece of silver-side. That was always Ethel's preferred cut, or top-side, Bea knew she would be fine with that. Bacon, sausages, and fresh eggs straight from the farm plus dripping also found their way into the basket.
"Have we got everything we need now princess?"
"We just need a couple of things from the mercantile, I will get flour, gravy browning, and sugar, then we need soap and polish for Colin. I think that is it. If we have forgotten anything we will be here tomorrow."
"Just the people," Ned said as they walked in, "you both have mail. A telegram has just arrived for you both too."
"Both of us, that is strange."
Ned smiled as he handed it to Nathan as it was addressed to "Mr. and Mrs. N Grant."
He went to hand it to Bea but she just smiled, "I bet I know what it says, Uncle Charles will have guessed after my last telegram. You open it darling."
She was right "I presume Congratulations are in order. I wish you all my love, health, and happiness. Look forward to seeing you both soon I hope. Your loving Uncle. "
"Seeing us both soon? I know you have said that he would arrive unexpectedly Bea but would he do that here?"
"Well if he were to find himself over here or America on business I wouldn't put it past him. You will love him Nathan, honestly, I know you two will hit it off straight away. I shall have to watch his letters for hints, he likes to do that."
Having paid for their groceries they were on the way out when Bea remembered "Oh Ned thank you for developing our photographs for us, we are so excited to see them, we were just saying it will be like reliving the day."
"Bea I am as excited to do them. The developing and printing side is what I like doing best, it is like magic. I only hope Rosemary and Lee took some good shots for you."
"Well they took enough, Lee had us posing in all sorts of places."
"Rosemary was the same, mind if they turned out she will have taken some good ones."
"Ned if there are a couple we would like copies of, to send home, would you be able to print more for us?"
"Yes of course Bea, once you have seen them just let me know if you want more, I can sort that out no problem."
"Thank you Ned, and the best one of us together is going in the wonderful frame you and Florence bought us."
"That was actually Florence's idea, I am so glad you liked it."
"All done Mrs. Grant, can we head home now?"
"All done, but we have everything we need for Sunday and that is a big bonus. We should ask Colin to join us, I bet it is ages since he had a proper British Sunday dinner. Remind me to ask him tomorrow, my mind is all over the place these last few days."
"Well, I will if I remember" he laughed.
Having stored everything away, the chiller cupboard was full, they ate lunch, and then while Bea read and wrote letters home Nathan started to make the picture frames. He loved to do things like this, loved working with wood, he found it so cathartic.
The letters she had received had been written before her news about the wedding would have reached England. She wondered if Uncle Charles had telephoned Bramble to let them know when he received her telegram. Ethel would have needed a sit-down, she smiled thinking of her, of all the people back there. By the time Nathan, Allie, and she travelled over next June or July it would have been a whole year since she left. Once they had their future sorted here they would need to think about what was to happen with Bramble and everyone who lived and worked there. That was going to be a hard decision, one she just couldn't even face at the moment.
Having finished the letters she made a start on the "Thank You" cards for everyone. Nathan was in the garden and she could hear him singing to himself, he was always telling her she had a good voice but he could sing, he really could. She must get him to play the guitar for her, hopefully her packages would arrive soon, Ethel mentioned again in her letter that they had been sent, more like crates she said, then they could play together.
He could see she was lost in thought as he came in to get a drink. "Would you like a glass Bea?"
"Sorry sweetie, yes please, I would have got it for you. I was miles away."
He brought the glass over and put it on the table then wrapped his arms around her shoulders,
"I could see that, head full of thoughts still?"
"Yes, just too many of them at the moment. Once we know what Jed and Mary decide, that might make things better. How are the frames coming along?"
"Just need to pin the corners then fit the backs. I will need to get the glass cut to size once we see if they look alright. I think going for a mount around the drawings was definitely the best decision, we will need to sort those."
"I can do that, I am sure Ned has some strong white card that will work. I will have a look tomorrow."
"I tell you what I did wonder, princess, you know we said about starting a memory box, how about using the crate the whisky came in? I could give it a light sand then varnish it, fit some sort of hinges on the lids, and a nice lock. We could line it if need be, the crate itself is a wonderful memory."
Lifting his hand she kissed his wedding ring " That is the most wonderful idea, what could mean more. "
He kissed her head " See Mrs. Grant we are a great team, I will make a start on that and get some hinges and a catch tomorrow. Oh, and Bea have you decided what to do with your bouquet? It is still looking good but won't for much longer."
"I think maybe we should take it over to the church, leave it there in memory of the miners who died, if it hadn't been for them I wouldn't be here. I will write a little card and attach it, then maybe we can lay it there in the morning."
"Bea you are the most caring and thoughtful person I think I will ever know, that truly is the perfect thing for us to do, could I write the card?"
"Yes, that would be even better sweetie, I will cut one to size and find some of the tartan ribbon to attach it with. Even if it only lasts a few days longer I will feel we have done the right thing."
Cards all written and one cut and ribbon attached for Nathan to write she tidied everything away. The cards they would take to church on Sunday and give out, the letters she would post once she had photographs to send with them. Those could be crossed off the "After Tuesday" list as could the memory box.
When she went out into the garden to check if the curtains from Colin's and the other bits she had washed were dry Nathan was just varnishing the crate. Sanding it had cleaned it so well and now the varnish was bringing it back to life, it looked like new. "Nathan that really is perfect, you have done a wonderful job and the frames too, hidden talents."
"Hopefully once we settled and sorted I will have more time to get back to doing the things I used to love so much. You really have awakened a side of me that I thought I had lost Bea and it feels so good to have it back. I would kiss you right now but you would end up covered in varnish."
The washing was dry so she stood and ironed everything then put it away. Pot of coffee she thought, then dinner.
After eating and clearing away they sat for a while, both could hardly keep their eyes open.
"Early night princess? I think the last few days have finally caught up with us both."
"I think they have darling but the best ones of my life."
They fell asleep within minutes of their heads touching the pillows, both offering up prayers for the love of the other.