The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
Oh, my lassie! Have you not seen it in his eyes? It’s you he wants
Tam stood, rubbing his nose, his face slightly pink. “It was a grand show, Mrs Duncan. “June and Sadie and me had a great time.” “June says she told you about Sadie being adopted? “I’m right glad, because Isa Robertson’s been spreading some lies about it.”
June had not told Isa about Sadie’s parentage, but Isa never let the lack of facts get in the way of a good story.
Tam stammered over Isa’s version of it – orphanage, Glasgow slums, who knew how she’d turn out?
“We’d love Sadie as our own wherever she came from,” he finished.
“But I can’t abide the thought of her being talked about.”
“This time I’m not going to let it go by!” Elizabeth expostulated.
“She upsets everybody, that woman. I’ll go and see her this evening.”
“She’s away for a few days. Visiting her brother, apparently,” Tam said.
“It’s a relief for June, but she’s in a right tizz anyway because we’ve had a letter from Rita, Sadie’s mother. She wants to come and see Sadie before . . .”
The byre door was pushed open. “Elizabeth?”
Questions
It was Lady Annabel. She was followed by a man who had to duck his head coming through the door.
“You met Mr Brock at the show, I believe. He’d like to see round the farm, if you’ve got time. You’re the best person to answer his questions.”
She turned to Tam. “Congratulations and thank you, Morrison,” she said, nodding her head towards the red rosette.
“I know the part you played in Bonnie Boy’s recovery. Can I have a word with you about the milk requirements for the house? I’ve brought a note from cook.”
Tam took off his cap.
“Of course, your ladyship. Come over to the dairy.” Elizabeth pushed a strand of hair behind her ears, noticing that her fingers were grimy. She wiped them on her dungarees.
Her face was probably grimy, too, and undoubtedly she didn’t smell too good, having just helped Tam muck out the byre.
There was nothing she could do about it. Why would she want to, anyway? And why would some big noise running a construction company in California want to see a little Scottish farm?
She couldn’t think of a single thing he might be interested in.
“Mr Brock.” She cleared her throat.
“I told you, it’s Bill,” he said, his eyes twinkling. “How are those little girls of yours?”
“Still talking about the swing boats, thank you. That was kind of you and Hugh.”
“It was a pleasure.” He looked around the byre and then back at her.
“I must say I was surprised when Hugh told me you ran the farm here.”
“Were you? Well, here I am.”
“I didn’t mean to be impolite. It’s just, the farmers of my acquaintance tend to be rather old and gnarled. And male.
“And you’re definitely not,” he said, in that fascinating drawly voice.
“Give it a few years.” Elizabeth looked away from his blue-grey gaze.
“Well, apart from the male bit.
“Now, we have arable and we have animals. What would you like to see first?”
He made no move to leave.
“You call this a byre, don’t you? I like it. I like everything I’ve seen on the Rosland Estate so far.
“I’ll be carrying lots of good memories back to the States.”
The byre suddenly felt too small for both of them. Elizabeth walked past him to the door.
“We bring the cows back here for milking,” she said over her shoulder. “They’re in the field the rest of the day. I’ll show you.”
Lady Annabel had asked her to give her guest a guided tour of the farm and that’s what she would do. That’s all there was to it.
News
“How was school?” Elizabeth dropped a kiss on top of Libby’s head. First day back after the summer holidays.
“I’m in primary two,” Libby said proudly. “I’ve got a new reading book. I’ll show you.” She ran to get her schoolbag.
“Any news about the school maybe closing?” Elizabeth asked Tibbie quietly.
After a rocky start, her timid elder daughter had settled in well.
How would she fare in the bigger school in town if, because of falling numbers, the council decided to close the one in the village? “I haven’t heard.”
Tibbie finished a row and put her knitting aside. She always had a garment of some sort on the go. But this was on four needles and was too big to be anything for the girls.
“What’s that you’re making?” Elizabeth asked. “A good pair of socks. I noticed he had holes in his when he took his wellies off.
“I didn’t like to ask if I could darn them so I thought I’d make him a pair.”
“Who? Who had holes?”
If it had been anyone but Tibbie Elizabeth would have sworn she gave a tiny wink.
“Andy Kerr, of course. Who else do you know who needs a woman to look after him?”
“Well, you’re just the woman for the socks!” Elizabeth laughed.
“Great minds. I was thinking the same thing, about Andy needing someone to take care of him.
“I know he’s a few years older than Crys, but I really believe – ”
“Crys?” Tibbie grasped Elizabeth’s arm. “Oh, my lassie! Have you not seen it in his eyes? It’s you he wants.”
Affection
What are you saying? You, of all people!” Elizabeth sank on to the sofa.
Tibbie took her hand in a rare gesture of affection. “I know we’d both give the world for Matthew to walk through that door, my dear, but it’s not going to happen.
“You’re young, you’re bonnie and you have your life in front of you. Andy Kerr’s a good man.”
“I don’t – he hasn’t – ”
“He worships the ground you walk on. Anyone can see that – except you, it seems.
“And he’d be a good father to the girls.”
“I’ve never thought of him in that way.” Elizabeth’s face grew hot as she realised that Andy must have felt she was encouraging him – asking him for meals, making him part of the family.
How could she tell him he’d got the wrong end of the stick?
Tibbie squeezed Elizabeth’s hand. “Sometimes, when something’s right under your nose, you don’t see it.”
Elizabeth stood up.
“I can’t eat. I’m sorry, Tibbie – can you tell the girls I’ve had to go down to the farm?”