Peggy clasped her hands in delight at the thought that her cousin would be at the ball

Now that Saturday was here, June didn’t know how she was going to cope.

Fortunately, there was nothing urgent for Tam to do on the farm, so he was here with her.

He seemed perfectly calm. She could hear him whistling softly on the back step where he was polishing his Sunday shoes.

Sadie was very wide awake. She looked outside with interest when she was carried over to the window and chuckled when June rapped on the glass to stop the kitten digging in the flower-bed. June froze as a car drew up at the gate. “Tam! Tam! They’re here.”

She saw red-headed Rita stepping out. She stroked the top of Sadie’s head, with its downy soft hair in exactly the same colour.

“You hold her, Tam,” she said. “I’ll go to the door.”

“It’s the right thing to do, June,” Tam said, kissing her. “We won’t regret it.”

Tam had been right, June thought two hours later. She would have regretted it if she’d said no.

The visit must have been difficult for Rita, who cuddled her daughter with tears pouring down her cheeks.

New Life

But it did seem to give her a sense that, now, she could move on to her new life.

When she and her fiancé talked about the town they were going to live in, and their plans for the future, she became the lively, chatty girl June remembered.

As they said goodbye June felt a wave of real love for the person who had given them their hearts’ desire.

On impulse she put her arms round Rita and held her close. Rita hugged her back, then, with a last look at Sadie, ran down the path.

As the car drove away June felt sadness and relief. A shadow that had hovered at the back of her mind was gone.

Now Sadie truly belonged to her and Tam. “Thank goodness that’s over.” Tam lay back in the chair and closed his eyes.

She sat down beside him, Sadie on her knee. It would be good to think about something completely different for a change.

“Will you help me with my lines for the play later? I haven’t given them a thought. The first rehearsal’s not far away.”

Tam opened his eyes.

“Good idea.” He spoke in a falsetto voice. “‘You told me you were broke. Where did the Rolls-Royce come from?’ See? I don’t even need the script any more.”

June reached for a cushion to hit him with. “I hope I sound better than that! I want to do a good job of it – not let Peggy Mackay down.”

“I’ll prompt you if you forget your lines,” Tam said.

“No.” It was time that she should move on a little, too. “I’ll go to rehearsals by myself, Tam.” “You’ll be happy leaving Sadie?”

“I can’t expect you to come with me every time and Sadie would be better at home.”

She bounced the baby gently up and down. “With her daddy.”

Deep breath

The car sputtered to a stop after a few yards. “See? I can’t do it.” Peggy turned to Auntie Mamie.

“You’ve been learning to drive for exactly a minute, Peggy. Was Rome built in a day?

“Now, turn off the engine, take a deep breath and start again.”

Peggy did as she was told. It was good of Auntie Mamie to give up her time to such a hopeless cause.

How many afternoons would it take before she threw up her hands and declared that Peggy should never be allowed to sit in a driving seat?

“Relax your hands, dear, the steering wheel isn’t going to run away.

“Good. You’re doing fine. Keep your eyes on the road.

“Mind that sheep. No, it’s decided to stay where it is.”

Steadied by her aunt’s soothing voice, Peggy was soon delighted to find they were a couple of miles away from where they’d started.

“Pull into this lay-by. We’ll stop for a minute. Well done! Did you enjoy that?” Auntie Mamie asked.

“I did,” Peggy said cautiously. “I might be able to do it, provided you’re always sitting beside me.” Mamie laughed.

“Let’s go on. I thought the old aerodrome would be a good place to practise turning and parking.” Turning and parking! That sounded scary. “How about a sweetie first?” Peggy said, playing for time. “I’ve got some butterscotch.”

She leaned over to her bag at Mamie’s feet. “Here, have one.”

“Have Hugh and Donna gone?” Mamie asked, unwrapping the paper.

Peggy nodded.

“Day before yesterday. Alec was upset, I could tell. The boys too, especially Colin.

“He’s moping about with a long face.” Mamie raised her eyebrows questioningly. “Yes.” Peggy sighed. “Hugh’s going to try to get Col work on a ranch for a few months, to see if he likes it, and likes America.

“With luck, he’ll hate them both.” She smiled ruefully. “I don’t think that will be the case, though.”

Her aunt nodded.

“I told Neil what you said about Davy having the police recruitment article.

Good news

“It turns out he did say something to Neil about it.”

“What?”

“Yes. Just general stuff. He asked if Neil thought it would be hard to get in, that kind of thing.

“And I don’t know if you remember, an uncle of Neil’s was a deputy chief constable somewhere, so he knows a bit about it.”

“Oh, no! That’s all I need,” Peggy said. “What’s Alec going to say? Two sons shipping out.

“I’ll have to get Davy to speak to him, but not until after this beastly gillies’ ball.

“It’s three weeks away. Alec will be taken up until then with practising his fiddle tunes.”

“I have some good news for you on that score. Elizabeth is going to the ball!

“She didn’t want to, but the invitation came with a personal note from Lady Annabel saying she hoped Elizabeth would accept.”

Peggy clasped her hands in delight at the thought that her cousin would be at the ball held every September in Rosland House to mark the end of the shooting season.

“Great. We can have a laugh.” More tomorrow

Artwork by Mandy Dixon