God's Highlander (22 page)

‘What does she want with John Garrett?' Wyatt was thinking of what Hamish Murdoch had said before he left Eskaig.

‘That's none of my business.' Suddenly the plump house-servant gave Wyatt a malicious smile. ‘But if the factor doesn't return for a month or two I doubt whether you'll need to ask such a question.'

T
HE FUNERAL OF Jimmy Gordon was in sharp contrast to that held for centenarian Archibald Mackinnon. It was sober and solemn, and none of the Highland gentry was among the many mourners.

However, there was no shortage of tears. Genuine grief from his family and young friends from school and village. The graveside service was conducted by Angus Cameron. Tears coursed down the Eskaig elder's face as he read from the book of Revelation: ‘And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.'

Lining up to commiserate with their colleague and his daughter, the other elders agreed they had never attended a more moving funeral service than the one conducted by Wyatt and Elder Cameron that day.

Most of the Ross family were at the funeral, and Wyatt thought Mairi would remain behind to speak to him. He looked forward to chatting to her once again. It would be a few moments of pleasure in an otherwise depressing day.

To Wyatt's surprise, he saw Mairi walking away along the road with the rest of her family while he was still talking at the graveside.

By the time the last of the mourners had left the churchyard and Wyatt had caught up with the Ross family they were already on the track leading to their mountain home.

‘Mairi … wait! I want to speak to you.'

‘If it's about the books you loaned me, I'll have one of the boys drop them in at the manse when they next come to the village.'

‘It has nothing to do with your lessons….'

Magdalene Ross said something in a low voice to her husband. He
gave a nod to Mairi, and the remainder of the family began to walk on along the path.

For a moment it seemed Mairi would follow them, and Wyatt said hurriedly: ‘I thought you'd stop and talk a while to me, back there.'

Mairi shrugged. ‘I didn't think it was right. Not at Jimmy's funeral….'

Mairi blinked rapidly, and Wyatt saw she was close to tears. ‘Anyway, you had lots of your friends around you. I was surprised your precious Evangeline wasn't there, too.'

Wyatt frowned. ‘I'm sure she would have come, had she not been away. She was very fond of Jimmy. We all were. But what has Evangeline to do with anything?'

‘After you both went off in a boat to Glasgow together I thought you probably couldn't bear to be parted – or wasn't she all you expected her to be? Perhaps you'll be trying someone else now.' Mairi's scorn should have shrivelled him. ‘And you a minister, too. It's a fine example you're setting, I must say.'

‘Mairi Ross, I do believe you're jealous.' Wyatt spoke quietly, but he found it difficult to keep the pleasure he felt from showing in his voice. Mairi would not show jealousy unless she really cared for him. She was hurt by what she believed to be his duplicity.

‘Jealous? You have a very high opinion of yourself,
Minister
Jamieson. Why should I be jealous, for goodness' sake? Because I let you kiss me? If I were jealous of everyone who did that, I'd never have time to attend to anything about the croft and Pa would soon want to know all about it.
Jealous
indeed!'

‘You're jealous, Mairi Ross, and it pleases me that you should be. Yet you have no cause. Certainly not where Evangeline Garrett is concerned.'

‘Oh? Are you saying you
didn't
go off to Glasgow in Donald McKay's boat with her, when I heard Donald McKay himself say so on his very next trip?'

‘I caught the boat from Eskaig, yes, but no one was more surprised when she boarded the same boat at Corpach….'

Main's snort of derision would have been the envy of Binnie, John Garrett's house-servant.

‘I was even more surprised when I learned we were both going to Edinburgh for the same reason.
To have Alasdair Burns released from gaol
.'

There was no derision in Mairi's expression when she spoke again. ‘It was her father had Burns put
in
prison. Why should she want to help him get out?'

‘Perhaps for the same reason you're so upset at the thought of me going off with Evangeline Garrett.'

Mairi coloured up, but there was no anger in her now. ‘As I said before, you have too high an opinion of yourself, Wyatt Jamieson. If I'm pleased that there's nothing between you and that Garrett girl, it's for
your
sake. She's not for you. Her father will be nothing but trouble for any man who marries her.'

‘I'll pass your warning on to Alasdair.'

‘I must catch up with the family now. I have work to do at home.'

‘I'll call in to see you tomorrow. I'll be coming to visit Seonaid Fraser and her father.'

Mairi's manner underwent another rapid change.

‘Why?'

‘I'm the pastor here. I like to visit all my parishioners as often as I can.'

‘The news that she's carrying Garrett's bastard hasn't taken long to reach you.'

Her words jolted Wyatt. It seemed Hamish Murdoch was not the only person to recognise her condition.

‘If she's in trouble, I must see what I can do to help.'

‘Seonaid's never been short of men ready to help her when she's wanted them.' Mairi's next words explained much of her bitterness. ‘She's got young Donnie staying at her house to help with the chores and the animals. Don't tell Pa you've been to visit them when you come to the cot tomorrow. He's barred Donnie from coming home for as long as he's carrying on with Seonaid.'

‘I'll have a chat with Donnie and see what I can do.'

‘Thank you.' Mairi laid a hand on Wyatt's sleeve for a moment. ‘Tell Donnie to get word to me if he needs anything. Tell him … he'll always be my favourite brother, whatever happens.'

 

Wyatt called at the factor's house before heading into the mountains. Charlotte Garrett looked better than she had on his previous visit, although she was still confused about the absence from the house of her husband and daughter. Binnie had succeeded in finding a girl from
Corpach village to work as Charlotte Garrett's personal maid. She seemed a sensible girl, and Wyatt felt happier when he left the factor's house this time.

The sun was hidden from view behind a thin layer of high cloud, and there was an autumnal chill in the wind blowing across the slopes of the high lands. Wyatt shrugged himself farther inside the turned-up collar of his coat and lengthened his pace. He had an uneasy feeling the day ahead was going to prove difficult.

Donnie Ross and Seonaid Fraser were coming from a small thatched stone shed when Wyatt approached the Highland cot. Donnie, looking thinner and even younger than when Wyatt had last seen him, was bloodied from fingertips to elbow. Seonaid, noticeably plumper than before, was also spotted with blood.

When Wyatt expressed consternation, Seonaid explained: ‘One of the cows had trouble calving. I thought we'd lose both cow and calf, but Donnie saved them.'

Donnie shrugged. ‘I've done it before. The cow came from Cameron of Loch Lochy. Most of his animals have the same trouble calving. We've two of them at home.'

‘He's just being modest, Minister. Donnie has a way with animals, as he has with all things on a holding. Even the vegetables seem to grow twice as fast for him. Me and Donnie can make a go of things here, I know we can.'

Donnie Ross was embarrassed by Seonaid's praise. Extending his bloody arms, he said: ‘I'll go and wash this off. I'll bring some water in the bucket for you, Seonaid.'

She nodded, and Donnie Ross made his way to the stream that ran close beside the grave of Seonaid's mother.

‘You once told me you wanted more out of life than you'd find in the Highlands.'

Seonaid peered down at her bare and dirty feet. ‘That was before I got to know Donnie better. He wants to marry me. He's really very kind, Minister. I've decided I
will
marry him.'

‘What about the child you're carrying? Garrett's child, if rumour and my own eyes are to be believed.'

‘Donnie knows about the baby – but there's no reason to believe it's Garrett's. It's just as likely to be Donnie's.' Seonaid spoke defiantly, as though expecting Wyatt to argue with her.

Instead Wyatt asked: ‘What does your father think of you wanting to marry a Ross?'

Wyatt was looking towards the stream, to where Donnie Ross had finished washing off his arms. Skimming the excess water from his skin with the heel of each hand, he filled a wooden bucket with water and began climbing back up the hill towards the cot.

‘My father won't speak to Donnie. Won't even allow him to sleep in the house. It'll be different when we're married – and we
will
be married. I've told Father about the baby. If he tries to stop me marrying Donnie, I'll refuse to name the child's father. Then I'll be sent to prison and he'll starve to death left here on his own.'

‘If I'm to marry you, I'll need to speak to him, Seonaid – if that's really what you want.'

Seonaid Fraser said nothing until Donnie Ross was almost within hearing, then she nodded. ‘I want you to marry us. You'll find my father in the cot, lying on his bed, sulking. That's how he spends most of the day since we had words. If he starts any of his nonsense, you can remind him of what I've just said.'

Advancing to meet Donnie, Seonaid Fraser took the bucket from him. As she carried it inside the house, she called: ‘I won't be long, but I need to change out of this dress and wash it before the blood dries. You speak with Donnie, Minister Jamieson. He'll tell you when we'd like the wedding to be.'

Donnie Ross seemed unable to find words to talk about anything once Seonaid had disappeared from view inside the cot.

‘You were supposed to be telling me when you and Seonaid would like me to marry you,' Wyatt prompted, after a long silence.

‘As soon as you can…. This week?'

Wyatt smiled. ‘You'll need to wait at least a month, Donnie. We'll read the banns from the pulpit on the next three Sundays. But, first, I'll need to talk to Hamish Fraser and your father.'

Donnie Ross stiffened. ‘Pa doesn't want me to marry – but he won't stop me. I'll marry Seonaid by declaration if I have to.'

‘Marriage by declaration', a formal statement made before witnesses, was valid in Scottish law, but it was a custom that was frowned upon among traditional Highlanders. Many families felt deeply ashamed if their offspring were not ‘decently' married, in a church.

‘I doubt if that will be necessary, Donnie. Your father's only thinking of you – and you
are
both very young.'

‘Age has nothing to do with it. I've wanted Seonaid to marry me for as long as I can remember. Anyway….' Donnie dropped his gaze to the ground at his feet. ‘We must be married as soon as possible. There's a baby to think of now.' Donnie looked up at Wyatt, and the simple honesty of the young man was almost painful to see. ‘I do love her very much, Minister Jamieson.'

Wyatt put a hand on Donnie's shoulder. ‘I know you do, Donnie. I believe Seonaid is very fond of you, too. Don't worry; things will work out, I promise you.'

 

Walking beside the prospective bridegroom on the way to the Ross croft, Wyatt hoped he had not made a rash promise.

It had not been difficult to obtain Hamish Fraser's agreement to the wedding. Lying on a feather-filled mattress in the darkness of the cot, Seonaid's father told the Eskaig minister his daughter could do whatever she wished, adding: ‘She will anyway.'

He wanted to know nothing of the wedding plans, neither would he attend the Eskaig church. The two young people would have his grudging consent to wed, but they would not enter into married life with his blessing.

Wyatt anticipated even stronger opposition to the proposed union from Eneas Ross.

The head of the Ross family was seated on a stool inside the doorway of his cot. He had been watching the approach of his youngest son and the Eskaig preacher for many minutes.

Mairi had seen them, too, and ran to meet them before they reached the house. Greeting Wyatt with a warm smile, Mairi gave her young brother a hug and a kiss that left him in no doubt where her sympathies lay.

‘Is all the family at home?' Donnie asked the question anxiously.

‘They're all about somewhere. Pa sent Tibbie to find them all when he first saw you coming.'

‘Does he need their support against me?' Donnie asked bitterly.

‘You know Pa better than that.' Mairi linked her arm with his and took his hand, squeezing it affectionately. ‘He doesn't need
anyone's
support once he's made up his mind about something. I think he's sent
for them in the hope they'll be able to change your mind about Seonaid. He
is
upset, you know. He really does believe you're doing the wrong thing.'

‘He
won't
change my mind.' Donnie spoke fiercely to hide the hurt he felt at his father's opposition. ‘I intend to marry Seonaid.'

‘I know that. So does Ma. And Dugald and Stewart. I don't want you to marry Seonaid; I don't think she's good enough for you – but I'd probably think that about anyone you wanted to marry. It's your decision, and you're my brother. I'll stand by you.'

‘So it's to be Ma and her four youngest against Pa and the rest of the family?'

‘I suspect you've also got Wyatt on your side.' Mairi looked past her brother to where Wyatt walked beside them in silence. ‘The odds could be far worse.'

‘I hope your father will look upon me as an impartial third party,' said Wyatt. ‘If he believes anything else, we're not likely to get anywhere with him.'

‘You can stop right there, young Donnie.' The powerful voice of Eneas Ross halted them at the gate. ‘You can come in, Minister. I'll have you in the house, too, Mairi. But Donnie knows he's not welcome in my house while he's living under the roof of Hamish Fraser.'