CHAPTER 86
Bea stood at the top of the stairs smiling, trying not to laugh. Nathan had been up a while and was standing making breakfast but he was singing and dancing just like she did, must be infectious she thought.
Wrapping her arms around his waist "Can I join in? What tune have we got this morning?"
"Feel free, you have more rhythm than me, you can keep me right" he was laughing too.
"Oh I don't know, you looked to be doing fine to me. Are we going to enter the talent contest?"
"Doing what?" he laughed.
"Oh I don't know, I am hoping my guitar and other stuff arrives soon, we could play something together. We shall have to have a think, we should enter into the spirit of things I guess."
"Ummm if you say so princess, now come let's eat before it goes cold."
Breakfast eaten and dishes washed they headed for church.
Colin was waiting for them and the threesome headed in together. Bea couldn't help but think of what the villagers back at Bramble would make of these two wonderful men that had changed her life so much. Chapel on a Sunday would be the day everyone would see each other. If she were to appear with Nathan and Colin what a stir that would cause. The thought made her smile, next year she would introduce Nathan and Allie to them all, they would love them. It would give the locals something to talk about for days.
Joseph as always gave a wonderful sermon, the theme being helping your fellow man. How apt Bea thought with the worry of what was going to unfold at the bridge still in her mind. She had tried to visualise more but to no avail. All they could do was be as best prepared as they could be. With that in mind Nathan wanted a word with Joseph about a key in case they did need to sound the alarm and ring the bell. Having briefly explained the plan to him Joseph himself volunteered and it was agreed that as of today, when the church was locked for the night, the key would be left in a box under the steps. He would make a more permanent safe box but for now this solution would work.
Walking home Nathan could sense she was starting to worry again.
" Princess we have done all we can, we are forewarned and really can do no more. Your "Bea moment" has given us the opportunity to at least have some sort of plan in place, for that we should be grateful."
"I know darling, I just wish I had seen more. Maybe I will, but if my instincts are right then I don't think we have much time. At times like these I wish I was wrong but I never have been in the past, we just wait."
"As awful as that sounds it is all we can do. Now come on, I will get changed and go and check on the boys, well Newton. Colin says he and Faith are heading out within the hour so Hero will be in no need of a walk. Why don't you come too? I was thinking instead of taking photographs of you in your dress today I could wait to do that until we have somewhere special for you to wear it again, We could just head out for a walk and I can take the camera with me, I would love to recreate that first day I saw you toe-dipping and take a photograph of that."
"That sounds like a plan, a walk would be lovely."
"Then come on Mrs. Grant, that is what we shall do."
"I am trying to remember what I was wearing that day, if we are going to recreate a memory we should try and get it right."
"You were wearing your black skirt and that lovely white blouse, you had your hair tied back with that black and white ribbon."
She smiled at him, " You remember it that well?"
"Oh I do princess, it is one of my stored memories, a very precious one too. I knew even then that you were someone very special, that I loved you. You were, are, like a breath of fresh air. If we are quick there is another memory I may be able to capture too."
"And what would that one be" she laughed.
"The boys both wanted to snuggle you like they did up at the cottage when I found you. Hopefully, I can get that one before Colin and Faith head out."
"That is one I would love too, my two big boys, yes that will be a great one. Right, let's get a move on, if we are lucky we will catch them before they go."
They were in time, Colin was just sorting Mack out when they arrived. "You do know he will want in on the act too" he laughed.
Nathan led Newton and Hero outside and could not have staged the whole thing better. As soon as Bea stood between them they both stuck their faces in hers. It was funny to see these two huge boys vying for Bea's affection. Nathan managed to capture a few shots, surely one of them would be perfect.
"Nathan, can you take one of me with all four of the boys? We can get Sergeant out, all four boys together would be a great photograph for us to keep."
That one took a bit more organising but with Newton and Mack on one side and Hero and Sergeant on the other they finally managed.
Faith arrived while all this was going on and just watched on in amazement at the way Bea handled these four horses all at once. She struggled with one. Still, she was looking forward to riding Hero out today, then again was that more to do with the fact Colin was coming too. Her thoughts quickly turned to Carson, was she betraying him in some way? She still had not heard back from him, that situation, what was going on, needed resolving. A visit to Boston was on the cards if he didn't telephone her over the next few days. Today she would just enjoy having Colin's company, of showing him some of the beautiful places there were around Hope Valley.
Faith and Colin headed off while Bea and Nathan took Newton and Sergeant and made their way over the meadow to the pond.
"The boys would really love having the run of the meadows when we move," she said, " but I guess only Newton can come really. We can't really take Sergeant or Mack and Hero should stay in town really. Well, I can have a word with Faith about Hero I suppose, I really do need a horse of my own now I am staying. Looking into the possibility of getting Lunar over here is a must."
"Princess, going by what you have told me about Lunar, even if it is possible, do you think he would be able to make a journey like that, I can't think it would be very pleasant for him?"
"I know, but I will make inquiries to see if it is possible and if so what it would actually entail. I just feel as if I have abandoned him in a way."
"Oh you haven't done that, let's see what we can find out then form a plan. As for a horse of your own, well that is something we need to look at too."
He had to smile to himself knowing in a few days and the arrival of Vic and Merlin that would be sorted. He couldn't wait to see her face, he knew the two of them would be a perfect pair.
"Right Miss Toe Dipper let's see if we can recreate that moment."
Bea just laughed as she took her boots off. The water was a lot colder than she remembered. "Was I sat like this, or like this?"
"You were sitting looking out over the pond, I remember it as clear as day. Yes, like that."
He took a couple of shots, " Perfect Princess. If these all turn out then we will need another album, one we can fill with memories and place in our box. When we go up to the cabin I must remember and take the camera, there are lots of memories up there."
"We will still go up again before the snow sets in won't we?"
"We will Bea, hopefully we can get up sometime towards the end of October. We should catch all the colours of fall before the weather turns. I know we will be busy with other things but we will definitely go Princess. We need to sort those few repairs out there and make sure everything is secure for over the winter."
" Next year darling, maybe we should make a point of checking the other cabins too. See what sort of condition they are in if they all have the bare essentials. In fact we could take a quick look at the first one on our way up when we go."
"That sounds like a great idea, you know I don't actually know who, if anyone is responsible for their upkeep. It is something we can have a look at though, and we can give that first cabin the once over. We really do need to be careful though Princess, with the new house and the livery I don't want you taking on too much, the sooner we sort help out the better. I think we should mention it to Jed and Mary, see if they would be willing to become our Ethel and Stan."
That made her smile, " They are very similar, I hope they say yes, I can't think of anyone better or who I would feel so safe with."
"Then let's have a word with them, at least that would be a step forward. I am sure Vic will jump at the chance of staying and running the livery, that will be another step forward. We will get there princess."
"We will, and our one step at a time plan still works the best."
"That it does, and we must stick to it, we won't go far wrong if we do. Right, let's wander these two back and then we can have a lazy afternoon. Have you got anything that needs doing?"
"No not really, I will check the list of photographs we would like Ned to do then I can give him that tomorrow. Once they are done we can get those posted. I will send the list of things I would like shipping too. The sooner they can get those on the way the sooner they will arrive, I really thought the stuff Ethel and Stan sent would have arrived by now, I hope it hasn't got lost along the way. The whisky arrived OK and it was sent later. I will mention that to Ned tomorrow too."
A quiet afternoon was just what they needed. Bea carefully packed her dress away and looked forward to being able to wear it again soon then sat and wrote to Alan. She thanked him for sending the two crates and said they had arrived in perfect condition, how excellent the whisky was. She told him everything that happened and said they would arrange a visit when she and Nathan were in the UK next year. Also she enquired about the painting used for the image on the label and would it be possible to have one painted for themselves.
Nathan, having found a perfect piece of wood, had made a start on the "Bramble Meadows" sign. He really did enjoy carving and etching in wood like this, once they were settled he would find more time for such things.
After dinner they sat talking about the move and what differences it would make to everyday life, only little ones but there would be changes. Living out of the town would mean earlier mornings and later nights for Nathan, they would also need to arrange to get a telephone installed so he could be contacted easily if needed. That was added to the list
"In fact, I will mention that to Ned or Florence tomorrow and set the plan in motion. Talking of telephones you really should call Allie and your Mum, let them know everything is going ahead and ask Allie to think about what she would like to do. Ask your Mum too."
"Yes I will call them tomorrow, I have been thinking about that. If Allie does want to come back then she will be a huge miss for Mum."
"We could ask your Mum if she would like to come here too, we have plenty of room, even if she only wanted to stay a couple of months at first."
"You wouldn't mind that Princess?"
"No of course I wouldn't, it would be wonderful to have the company and Bramble has enough space for us all not to be living on top of each other. Mention it to her darling, plant the seed, it won't be a decision to be taken lightly."
"I love you Mrs. Grant" he said leaning over and kissing her brow.
"Well that is just as well as I love you too Constable."
As they lay in bed Nathan could see Bea was deep in thought, " Nickel for them Princess" he said.
"Oh, I was just thinking about Colin and Faith, what sort of day they had. I really must try and speak to Faith this week, something just doesn't feel right about this whole situation. The last thing I want is Colin getting hurt. I don't want to interfere, just find out what is happening between her and Carson. I do get the impression she wants to talk, she has asked me a few strange questions this last week or so."
"Strange? What sort of questions?"
"Oh things about you and I, our feelings for each other, did I know straight away that you were special, did I question staying here, that sort of thing."
"Really, and what did you say to her about that?"
She turned in his arms and kissed him, " I told her I did know immediately and no I never questioned staying here, that you are my home now, where you go I go. We are team Grant."
He laughed at that and pulled her in even closer, " We are indeed Princess and a great team we are."