Frank Pittman stood up and stretched, looking at the clock on the kitchen wall.

"Shit."

He looked at Bill.

"Do you realize it is after 2 in the morning? I'm done. I'm going back to the motel. We can carry on in the morning."

Bill got up and walked Frank to the door.

"What's say we meet at ten for breakfast, at the Pub."

Frank nodded.

"See you then."

Bill had no sooner closed the door, then Nanny Dove appeared in her rocking chair.

"No call from Matty again tonight?"

Bill jumped slightly.

"Fuck. You scared the shit out of me."

"Den youse best change yer diaper den," the old lady laughed.

Bill walked to the small bar against the wall and poured a scotch.

"Bit late fer dat, isn't it Willam?"

Bill sat on the couch and lit a cigarette.

"Not a word."

"Weren't gonna say anyting, me son. It bes yer 'ouse."

Bill laughed, but he was a little concerned.

"Matty hasn't called for a couple days now. I have tried to reach her, but it goes straight to voicemail."

Bill let out a long sigh.

"That can't be good."

"Well, Willam, she 'as been trancin' all over da country."

"Don't remind me. I should have went with her."

"Well she 'as young Tanya Rideout wit 'er doesn't she? Dat shud 'elp keep 'er out of trouble."

Bill forced a smile, but he didn't feel any better inside.

"It is what it is Nanny."

"Now, Willam, don't youse be lettin' yer 'ead get filled wit all kinds of bullshit. Matty bes a nice girl and she tinks da world of youse, fer some reason."

"Its not just that, Nanny. Its this whole thing. The last two weeks have been just a nightmare. I never realized there were so many hoops to jump through and so much bullshit to put up with."

As he spoke, the fax machine on the desk came on.

"What the fuck?"

Bill stood up and walked to the desk, just as a document came through. Bill picked up the document and read it.

"I'll be damned."

"Someting good?"

Bill turned to Nanny Dove.

"Very good, hopefully."

A second document came through. Bill took both papers and walked back to the couch.

"Well, me son, youse gonna keep an old lady in suspense fer ever?"

"Its from London, England. I sent a request a couple weeks ago, asking if it were possible to trace a document from the time of King George lll, specifically concerning Issac Matthew Dove.

And I'll be fucked if they didn't find it."

Bill took a drink of scotch and read the document aloud.

"To all, so that it may be made official.

The holder of this document, Issac Matthew Dove, or his relatives or representatives, upon landing in the New Found Land, shall, by my authority, claim any such lands, where homestead is set up, as his own, for a time determined by the crown.

Such time shall be as long as Issac Matthew Dove, or his direct descendants, occupy such homestead. 

The area of this homestead shall be measured as 10,000 paces from the sea and 10,000 paces in all directions from a central point of the homestead.

Rights to all, above ground and below ground, shall remain to Issac Matthew Dove and his direct descendants, as long as they live on homestead.

Under the rules of England and under the protection of the realm, shall this document be enforced, from now until such time as Issac Matthew Dove or his direct descendants remain on homestead.

This I proclaim by the authority granted me as King of England.

Dated this day of our Lord, 1st April, 1798.

Signed by his Majesty, King George lll."

Bill looked at Nanny Dove.

"Paces?"

Nanny Dove nodded.

"Dat be 'ow dey measured distance den. A pace bes 'bout tree feet."

"So all the land for about six miles from the ocean and six miles in every direction from about three miles in, belongs to Tuckamore Bay."

Nanny Dove laughed.

"Don't youse means dat it belongs to youse."

"As long as a descendant of Issac Dove lives here."

"Well, Willam, dere bes a few of dey 'ere in da Bay, includin' youse."

"What do you mean me? I am not a descendant."

Nanny Dove stopped knitting and turned to Bill.

"Really. Didn't Silas Williams marry dat young Elizabeth Dove?"

Bill nodded.

"That's right, so that would mean that Silas and Elizabeth's children would be direct descendants."

"And dat also means dat youse didn't 'ave to pay all dat money fer da Bay, considerin' dat youse 'as as much rite to it as any of da Doves."

"Well, that is really irrelevant. This document is so important. I don't know if it will hold up in court right now."

"Course it will," Nanny Dove snapped.

"It bes from the King of England."

"Yea but ancestry would have to be proven."

Nanny Dove laughed.

"Dat bes no problem, Willam. Linda Tucker 'as da Bible."

"What Bible?"

"Issac Dove's. It 'as been passed down from generation to generation and every member of Issac Matthews family is listed in there. Da oldest living person in da Dove family 'as always 'ad it. It bes da most important piece of 'history in da Bay. 

Linda keep it in one of dem steel boxes dat can't be burned."

Bill sat back on the couch.

"Well at least something is going my way today."

"What's be wrong, Willam? Is it dis whole Matty ting?"

"Partly. Well mostly. But its even more than that. Frank's contract with the government was suddenly cancelled. They said he was involved in a conflict of interest with the Bay."

"But ain't youse 'ired he as your consult?"

Bill nodded.

"Yea Frank works for me now, but the deeper and deeper we dig into all of this, the more and more money its gonna cost."

"And youse doesn't wants to spend dat much?"

"Its not even that. I am beginning to wonder if I even have enough money to do all that has to be done. We are talking millions and millions of dollars and it is all money that will be spent without really getting back anything on the investment."

"So youse be afraid dat youse will end up broke?"

Bill finished his drink and walked back to the bar. He explained as he poured another drink.

"I know I sound selfish, but this is my money and its not that I mind spending money to save the Bay. After all, it is real my home too, but what if it all goes and it is still not enough."

Nanny Dove nodded.

"Kinda like spendin' all yer money to open a business and den losin' it all before youse gits anyting back."

Bill turned slowly and stared at Nanny Dove.

"That's exactly it," Bill gasped.

"I just wish I could kiss you right now, Nanny Dove. You are a genius."

"'ow is dat?"

Bill walked back to the couch and sat.

"It is exactly like you just said. It is like opening a new business."

"But da Bay don't bes a store or shop or anyting. It bes a place w'ere peoples live."

Bill nodded.

"Indeed. But it can also be a business."

Bill finished his drink.

"Thank you Nanny Dove. I need to get some sleep. Big day ahead of me tomorrow."

"Youse welcome Willam, me son. Sleep tight."

The next morning, over breakfast, Bill showed Frank Pittman the documents that he had been faxed from London.

He had also been faxed a copy of the document with an updated Royal Seal and a memo that an official copy had been sent to him by courier.

"This is an amazing piece of paper," Frank smiled.

"I don't know how much weight it will pull if all this goes to court for some reason, but I am sure it could put things on hold for a long time."

Bill told Frank about the Bible that Linda Tucker had and about his plan to make Tuckamore Bay a business.

Frank sipped his coffee and stared at Bill.

"What if I were still working for the government, Bill?"

Bill sat back, shocked by the question.

"Are you?"

Frank shook his head.

"No. But what if I were?"

"What are you getting at Frank?"

"All I am saying, Bill, is that maybe you should be a little more careful about who you talk to."

"You think there might be someone here in the Bay that would be against us?"

Frank shrugged.

"All I am saying Bill, is that you are dealing with a lot of money on your part and for some reason, the government found it necessary to cancel my contract after almost twenty years."

"You don't think that the government is up to something, do you?"

"I don't know, but for then to send me here as early as they did, is not the usual. The environmental impact study is usually conducted after the relocation is done. Once everyone has left and the cleanup has to be done."

Bill stared at Frank.

"Can I trust you?"

"Write up a contract. Put in a non disclosure stipulation. Make it for life if you want."

Bill shook his head.

"No. We have an agreement in place. I trust you, but now you are making me wonder."

"All I am saying is something just doesn't feel right about all of this."

Frank took a deep breath.

"And I hope I am wrong about this, Bill. I really do, but this sudden silence on Matty's part is a little disconcerting."

"Matty would never."

"Hopefully not and I don't want to plant any negative thoughts, but where money is involved, people tend to change."

Bill sat back in silence. He wanted to tell Frank off and assure him that Matty would never do anything against him. He wanted to reassure himself that Matty was all that he thought she was, but the fact he had not heard from her for two days was bothering him.

And the fact that there last couple conversations were strained and strange, wasn't helping the situation any.

"Bill, truly I am sorry. You know Matty better than anyone."

Bill sighed.

"Truth is Frank, there are times when I don't know Matty at all. I honestly don't believe she would do anything to hurt me, but ..."

Bill stood up.

"Why don't you go back home for a couple days, Frank. Follow up on some of the stuff we talked about and I'll get hold of you on the weekend."

"You okay?"

"I am. Just want to check into a couple things myself."

Bill paid for breakfast and left the Pub.

As he walked back to the lighthouse, he saw some dark clouds on the horizon.

He wondered if it were a foreshadow of things to come.