CHAPTER 82

Over the next couple of days the newlywed's life seemed to find its own rhythm. For two very independent thirty-something people everything just fell into place. They were like two parts of a puzzle that just fit together.

Nathan had spoken to Mrs. Jamieson and she was delighted they had decided to go ahead and buy, she knew her home for all these years, lovingly built and treasured would be in good hands. Nathan and Bea would once again fill it with the love and joy it was built for. The worry of having to sell all the contents was removed when Nathan had told her he and Bea would buy everything she did not want to take with her. "After all "he had said "it seems rather silly for you to sell it when we will need to buy the same.

"It will be mainly personal items I take so there will be lots, things you may not even want."

"Don't worry, we will sort that, knowing Bea she won't want to part with much. Even the little things are part of this house's history and she is determined not to alter that, as am I."

They were both so excited about the move, it would be their lifelong home they both knew that. Nathan had dreamt of living somewhere like it since seeing it not long after he moved to Hope Valley but dreams were all they were he had thought. Bea had hoped they would find somewhere like the cabin and this was it just bigger. Both of their dreams were filled.

The sale of the livery was going ahead too. They had spoken to the bank who did indeed have their own solicitor for customers such as Bea and Nathan, they were now handling the sale of both properties on their behalf. The bank and solicitor were both under strict instructions to handle the sales with extra care and without any quibbles. Both were expected to be completed within four to five weeks.

The meeting with the new settlers on Thursday was a huge success. In total there had been eight new claims but with Colin now in town that left seven. All of them were present at the meeting. Nathan, Colin, Lee, Rosemary, Fiona, Joseph, and Bea all attended. Lee had thanked them all for coming and briefly explained how the town would like to help them all.

He at present could take on two new workers at the lumber yard. Fiona had spoken to the surveyors that morning and they had found no problems, their report would be submitted next week. Once officially accepted by the town council the work would commence. It would be hard work but they were willing to take on any of the men or older boys who would be interested.

Bea explained that the other thing the town council was very interested in finding out was if any more of the settlers had a trade they had left behind, as Colin had. A Mr. Shaw, who was a widower with 2 older boys was a gunsmith, and a younger couple, the Abbots were by trade a saddler and leather smith, all three would be great additions to the town's tradespeople. Asked how they would feel about setting up here in Hope Valley all three were very keen, "Leave that one with us for now" said Lee "we will see if we can come up with a way of helping you to do that."

In total there were seven men and three older boys looking for work. Two ladies also would like to find employment if possible. One had worked in the restaurant trade the other had worked in various retail positions. A promise was made to make enquiries for them, Joseph had a feeling that more help was needed at the cafe and would make enquiries there.

The only worrying thing to come out of the meeting was that between the families they had five school-age children. Normally they would be registered and their education levels assessed before the new school year started. With no sign of Elizabeth that would not be possible at the moment. Lee and the town council would need to talk about that one. Places would be found for them all and hopefully, it would be sorted before school started.

All the men and boys had found work, two would start at the lumber yard on Monday and the others were all ready to start on the pipeline as soon as the go-ahead was given. Promises were made to look into work for the ladies.

Before the meeting closed Bea asked if any of the men had experience with motor vehicles, the town felt that the demand for a mechanic would soon start to grow. "Could I ask then if any of you young men would be interested in training to become a mechanic, I have an idea if any of you would?" It was one of the young Shaw men who, prompted by his father not to be shy, said he would.

"Well let me see what I can do there, I will let you know if that is OK?"

"Yes Mrs. Grant, I really would like a trade behind me and as you say the need for mechanics is going to grow, thank you."

Everyone agreed that the meeting had been a huge success, the settlers had elected Mr. Shaw as their spokesman and he thanked everyone, "Maybe our dream turned nightmare has turned back again, we can't thank you all enough. We won't let you down."

The town council was due to meet again next week and they would discuss the findings of the meeting.

After the meeting Bea and Rosemary went for coffee, then she headed home to start dinner. Colin was coming tonight, he had been so busy and wanted a catch-up.

They had a great evening, the three of them just fit together so well. As she watched the pair of them doing the dishes she smiled. Two such handsome men. Nathan, tall, dark, and oh so handsome, Colin was a similar height but fair and slightly broader, handsome too and he had those wonderful Irish eyes. She wondered if he had ever had a lady in his life, the thought struck her again how all three of them were like lifelong friends but knew so little about each other. She had never even asked Nathan about past relationships, well she knew about Elizabeth of course but before that. There again it didn't really matter, she was just curious.

After Colin had left Bea did ask Nathan if Colin spoke to him ever about his past before he came to Hope Valley.

"Not really princess, there again I have never asked, he has never asked me either, why?"

"I just wondered, he is such a good man, you would have thought someone would have won his heart by now. Mind I have a feeling there."

He just smiled at her, " No match-making Mrs. Grant."

"Who me, I don't do such things, that is more Rosemary's field."

"That is true, she had us paired up you know that first morning when we rode out together."

"I never knew that," she laughed.

"Yes, Lee told me, so we weren't the only ones to know immediately princess."

"You know if someone had said to me you are going to travel over land and sea on your own, see and fall in love immediately with the most amazing man and be married within two months I would have laughed at them, and here we are darling."

"Well, after the year I had I would have laughed too if someone had said to me I would find instant love in the livery."

She wrapped her arms around his neck, "But isn't it wonderful?"

He just looked into those big blue eyes of hers "It is."

It was Friday night and they had finally made the list of photographs they would like. Nathan had decided he would like one of Bea, the one that nearly won, to stand on his desk, but also wanted one of her in the doorway. He had chosen the same one as Bea had, outside the office looking into each other's eyes, and the full length one of them as Bea had stood beside him in the office, to send to Mum and Allie. Bea insisted he also send one of himself all suited and booted that Lee had taken before they left for the office.

Bea had chosen one of her and Henry stood on the stairs to give to him, and one with Jed and Mary to give to them. To send home she had chosen the same three to send to both Uncle Charles and Ethel and Stan. The one of her in the window, the one outside the office, and the one of everyone around the desk as they signed the papers. Hugh she had decided would love the one outside the office where Nathan was standing behind her with his arms around her waist. If they were ever out hunting or tracking, stalking even he always used to say "I've got your back lass." She would make a joke of saying Nathan had that now, yes he would love that.

Colin had asked if he could have copies of one of all three of them, the one of Bea in the window and the same one outside the office. Bea had also ordered one of her standing on the stairs that showed her bouquet off to perfection to give to Mr. Henderson when they were next in Union City.

"Ned is going to be busy with these, I hope he really doesn't mind."

"I am sure he won't, he did say this is the bit he enjoyed the most. We can make the album up now, that will be a treasure. Oh and maybe over the weekend princess you would let me take some, we could ask him to do those at the same time."

"We could do that on Sunday afternoon, we have nothing planned have we?"

"No, just church in the morning, then check on the boys."

"Then I will climb in the dress again and you can snap away."

"Climb in ?" he laughed.

"Yes, getting everything in the right place so nothing falls out is an art."

He roared with laughter. " Now that would make an interesting photo if something escaped, although we couldn't ask Ned to develop that one."

Now the pair of them were in hysterics.

"I really am going to have to think about where we can go that is extra special so you can wear it again, it can't just hang in the wardrobe unseen again, you really did look like an angel."

"Oh, I am sure the opportunity will arise at some point. Until it does I will pack it away."

As they lay in bed that night Nathan could see Bea was miles away again, "Are you alright princess? A few times these last few days you have looked as if you are somewhere else?"

"I am sorry darling, it's this list I need to make of things I would like them to crate up and send me. Some things just jumped on the list, the only way I can think of others is by picturing myself in the different rooms back there. So many memories, I am about done though."

"Come here," he pulled her in so close, " when we go back next year I look forward to you reliving them for me, maybe sharing a few."

"I have so many, in all honesty, some I had forgotten until I started to do this list. It is very hard to remember the happy ones without the sad ones creeping in. The most important thing now is to concentrate on making new memories."

"Yes, and we already have, we will fill that house with them Bea, I know we will."

"We will darling, of that I have no doubt. It is nice to relive old ones sometimes though."

He grinned at her "I have a couple of those we could relive right now."

"Strange you should say that," she laughed.