When the Heather Blooms (7 page)

On the Friday before he was due to return to Edinburgh Victoria drove him down to Darlonachie and showed him the house where his father had lived with the Grantlys. They called in on Maggie.

‘This cottage will be yours now, Peter. Before he died Luke Crainby transferred the Langmune land into my name and he gifted Ivy Cottage to your father. I suppose he thought Mark would come back to Darlonachie as Doctor Grantlys partner. Maggie pays a rent and I've started putting it into an account for you. It's not a large amount because the cottage is small. Before we knew about you I didn't want to take any rent from her because she moved out of Home Farm to let Libby take over when they married. Billy and his mother insisted on paying a rent and I'm glad now. Even small amounts add up and you'll be glad of it for books and fees when you go to university.'

They called in at the butcher's and the grocer's and stopped to speak to some of the people they met in the village. Peter couldn't believe how friendly they were towards him. One or two said he was like Fraser and Mr Ross, the grocer said he remembered his father coming round with the doctor and he was the image of him. Victoria insisted on making a brief visit to Mr Nelson, who had been her teacher and Mark's. He was an old man now and his eyesight was failing but he always welcomed a visit. She had brought him some fresh eggs.

‘Why! For a moment I thought I was seeing a ghost,' he exclaimed as he peered at Peter. ‘How like Mark you are.'

‘Peter is Mark's son, Mr Nelson. We didn't know until recently.' She gave a rueful smile. ‘It seems to be my lot to discover my closest family when they're already half grown, but I'm so glad to have found Peter. He has been staying with us for the Easter holidays and he may come back in the summer.'

‘Oh I shall, there's no doubt about it. So long as you'll have me,' he added with a note of uncertainty.

‘You can be sure of a welcome at Langmune whenever you want to come, Peter.'

Mr Nelson asked about his education.

‘Just like Mark then,' he nodded with satisfaction. ‘He always excelled at Maths and wanted to know everything about science and nature. Are you going to be a doctor too, young man? It's a very worthy calling.'

‘No, sir. I want to be a farmer.'

‘A farmer!' Mr Nelson looked from him to Victoria and back again. ‘But …?'

‘Mr Nelson thinks that will be a waste of a good brain, Peter,' Victoria smiled, her eyes twinkling as they met the old man's gaze.

‘Aye, aye, well lassie, you and Andrew were the best of scholars but you two had little choice but to find work and earn a living. It's different for young folks since the war. You should persuade your nephew to pursue a good career, Victoria.'

‘At the end of the day it has to be his decision, but I shall do my best to support him whatever he decides to do.'

They took their leave and drove out of the village and past the end of the wood towards Darlonachie Castle and the cottages. Victoria parked the car and they wandered together through the overgrown gardens and round the Castle and the outbuildings. She told Peter about the old days when Sir William was alive and her great-grandmother was the cook. She described the gardens and immaculate grounds, the various cottages, and the people who had lived there.

‘I'm glad to have one last look before they start demolishing the Castle,' she said.

‘I heard Charlotte telling Uncle Andrew they are starting at the beginning of May. She said if he wanted some of the oak doors he should help himself.'

‘Oh, he would never do that! It would be like stealing.' Victoria was aghast.

‘That's what he told her but he did say he would like to buy some. He offered to store some for when Charlotte gets a house of her own.'

‘Yes, it would be lovely to think we had preserved a bit of the past and I'm sure Charlotte must feel sad to see the end of Darlonachie Estate, although she never had anyone to tell her about her Crainby ancestors and her mother had no respect or appreciation of their heritage. Come on, we'll climb up the little hill through the woods and I'll show you where your father and I used to spend our time together.'

The path was overgrown and the sight of it saddened Victoria but the little shelter they had called their cave was just as it had always been. The old tree trunk where they used to sit was a little rotten and one end was growing orange fungi but Victoria was pleased to take a seat. This baby was taking more out of her than the others had done.

‘I've often heard people say you should never return to childhood haunts,' she said when she regained her breath, ‘and I must admit things do seem rather sad and forlorn but …'

‘Oh but I'm glad you've come this once to show me, Aunt Victoria,' Peter said. ‘I've longed to know all about my father. The few times when mother mentioned him my stepfather glowered at her. I think he wanted to pretend he had never existed.'

‘I expect he was jealous.'

‘Jealous of a dead man? How pathetic is that?'

‘Your mother and father loved each other very much, even though they were quite young. I don't think your mother ever stopped loving him and I suppose Doctor Sterling knew that. To be fair, Peter, perhaps you had a better chance in life as a member of his household than you would have done with just you and your mother.'

‘That's what he keeps telling me,' Peter said. ‘But the house and the surgery belonged to Grandfather. He moved in and took over everything. I expect Grandfather grew too old to argue with him.'

‘Maybe. Peter …' Victoria hesitated, her eyes gazing out over the fields and glens. She could see Langmune like a child's farm in the distance. She remembered when Andrew had first pointed it out to her. Peter was looking at her, waiting. She frowned. ‘I want you always to remember, whatever happens, whatever you need, so long as Andrew and I are alive, you can come to us and we shall do our best to help in whatever way you need us, but …'

‘But? You don't think I should be a farmer,' Peter said, his voice bleak with disappointment.

‘I didn't say that. I want you to consider and I don't want you to choose a path just because it's the opposite of what your stepfather wants for you. It is your life, but Mr Nelson is right. You do have the intelligence to make a good career for yourself. Farming is a hard life. Andrew and I have been lucky. We could never have been where we are now without the generosity of Mr Rennie, and Luke Crainby. Andrew would still have been working for someone else.'

‘I don't think he would,' Peter said. ‘I think he would have found a way, even if it took all his life.' Victoria's eyebrows shot up and she eyed him keenly.

‘How like your father you are. You may be right. Andrew planned to keep a few pigs in a large garden and look after them in his spare time.'

‘And Uncle Willie got started on his own, even if it is worrying him having money borrowed from his bank. I shall never tell my stepfather that. He thinks it's a sin to borrow money but he didn't mind using mother's inheritance to extend the surgery and buy a car. When I stand beside Mimi's father at the very top of High Bowie I feel like a god. It's a wonderful feeling. Anyway I don't mind getting my hands dirty and I enjoy looking after animals. They're more helpless than people. You have to guess what they need. Do you understand, Aunt Victoria? I think there's something in here,' he tapped his chest with his clenched fist, ‘something that tells me I want to work in the open air, and care for things.'

‘You could be a vet,' Victoria suggested.

‘We'll see.' Peter looked at her and smiled and his brown eyes twinkled. ‘I shall tell my stepfather you did your best to discourage me from farming. That will please him and he might agree to me coming back during the summer holidays.'

Victoria missed having Peter around when he returned to Edinburgh and what he hoped would be his last term at school. He had taken two of Billy's and one of Libby's college books home with him but he had done little in the way of his own studies for his final exams. He said he worked hard when he was at school and he didn't see any point in getting brain fatigue. Fraser grinned and agreed with him but Victoria was convinced Doctor Sterling would blame her if his results were poor.

Every day Billy or Libby called in at Ivy Cottage to see Maggie, on the pretext of taking fresh milk or eggs but they were both concerned at her increasing lack of energy and difficulty in breathing. Doctor Ritchie and Doctor Burns both kept an eye on her but they could not give her a new heart and increasing her medication made little improvement. She was always cheerful and pleased to see them and Victoria made a point of calling once or twice a week. She called one evening towards the end of May and Maggie seemed improved. They reminisced happily and Maggie smiled as she told Victoria of her first meeting with Luke Crainby and how he tried so hard to behave as a gentleman.

‘The attraction between us was too strong,' she said with a happy smile. ‘It was like a magnet, a force which would not be denied. I have no regrets.' She went on to talk of her childhood and her parents. It was later than usual by the time Victoria left that evening and afterwards she was always glad she had insisted on seeing Maggie into bed. It was Billy who called the following morning and found the door still locked and Tibbie jumping at the window, needing to get out. Billy reached above the door for the spare key and let himself in, his heart sinking, dreading what he might find. At first he thought his mother was still sleeping, a faint smile on her lips, as though having a pleasant dream, but he soon realised she would have no more dreams. The first thing he did was telephone Libby at work. Libby was his rock in times of trouble. It did not take Doctor Ritchie long to come to the cottage and confirm what Billy already knew but Libby was there before he left.

‘You must have driven like the wind,' Steve Ritchie chided, but in fact Libby's thoughts had been to reach Billy's side and she had little recollection of anything except grabbing her coat and handbag and telling her two assistants what had happened.

Billy decided the funeral should be private but Charlotte and Josh both came down from Glasgow for the day and travelled back together in the evening. Billy appreciated their support. He was more distressed than he had anticipated, considering they had known Maggie's health was so fragile. Libby telephoned Mr Whitworth, her boss, and told him she needed to be off for the rest of the week.

‘I understand you need to be with your husband at a time like this, Libby, but we shall have to have a serious talk when you come back to work.'

‘Oh?' Libby was already tense and she felt she couldn't cope with any more trouble. One of her assistants was Mr Whitworth's niece. She was a cheery girl but she was a complete scatterbrain. Libby knew she would never make a laboratory technician. If her uncle had not been the creamery manager Libby would have told him so but it was Mr Whitworth who had given her the job. ‘What sort of meeting?' she asked when he didn't continue.

‘Things have got a bit out of hand while you've been off,' he said. ‘In fact they're in a hell of mix up in the lab. I don't think we'll be able to manage without you at the end of the summer.'

‘B-but I promised Billy I'd give up work then …' Libby began in consternation.

‘I know, I know. As I said we'll have a talk when you come back. I see now I shall need to make changes. Why didn't you tell me Dolly is such a bird-brained madcap?'

‘A-a what …?' Libby gasped, then she gave a sigh of relief. ‘She's a lovely nature, Mr Whitworth but I didn't know how to tell you she's no use at lab work.'

‘Aye, well I know now, and so do a lot of the farmers who are spitting nails down the phone at me. She's sent out some queer results. She must think half the cows give double cream, while the other half gives nothing but water.'

‘Oh dear.'

‘You can say that again. I've told them all you'll sort them out when you come back to work.' Libby set the phone down with a sigh. She longed to stay at home with Billy. He was taking his mother's death badly. But at least Mr Whitworth now knew the difficulties she was having with Dolly and with any luck he would find her a replacement.

Chapter Six

Libby still kept in touch with two of her college friends but she owed both of them a letter so she decided it was time to catch up with her correspondence while she was at home. They had met Billy's mother at the wedding and she told them of her death. They also knew about her problems with her scatter-brained trainee so she told them of her relief now a solution was in sight. She was astonished when Alma wrote back by return. She expressed her sympathy to Billy but from the rest of her letter it was clear she was increasingly unhappy about her own work. She asked whether Mr Whitworth might consider her as a replacement and if Libby would put in a word for her with Mr Whitworth when she resigned at the end of the summer.

Victoria missed Maggie's company and the chats they had shared but she had Peter's letters to look forward to. He wrote humorous descriptions which even Fraser enjoyed now they had met. He said he was working hard at his higher grade exams but he hoped to return to Langmune as soon as they were over at the end of June. When a second letter arrived in the same week however Victoria was concerned.

‘Peter and his stepfather have had a serious quarrel,' she told Andrew when he came in for lunch.
‘
Doctor Sterling has delivered an ultimatum. He says Peter can come here for the summer but he must return for sixth year and to continue his studies to become a doctor. If he refuses he will not get a penny of the insurance money.'

‘It's not his money.'

‘Catriona didn't see her solicitor before she died so Doctor Sterling has control. Peter was relying on the money to help pay his college fees. I feel so sorry for him. He wants to know if he can still come to Langmune.'

Victoria passed the letter to Andrew, her lips compressed.

‘I have to get away from here. I have to think and make my own decisions, even if it means I never go to agricultural college.'

‘Telephone the laddie tonight,' Andrew said. ‘Tell him he is welcome to come and stay for as long as he likes, but we must make him see that Doctor Sterling may be right over this. It's getting more difficult than ever to get a start in farming. Of course he may get a degree in agriculture and go round farms inspecting or advising. There's a lot of that creeping in with all the rules and regulations and grants for projects the government want us to carry out. They still want more production.'

‘I did try to tell him that at Easter but he said he felt a yearning in his heart for the countryside. I suspect he's a bit of a romantic. He said it was wonderful to stand on the highest point of High Bowie and survey the world, yet any farmer would tell him what a hard farm High Bowie is, and what hard work it is to make a living.'

‘We would say that,' Andrew agreed, ‘but I don't think Willie would change it for anything else. He always said he'd never milk cows seven days a week to earn his living. It's always Mary who milks the house cows, if you notice.'

‘Mmm, I suppose you're right. Willie enjoyed Peter's company at Easter. He said he'd never had a young fellow who asked so many questions. He reckons he's like a sponge the way he absorbs things and he has a keen eye.'

‘Perhaps we should treat him as we did Libby and set him to work like the rest of the men. If he finds it too hard he'll know farming is not for him.' Victoria chewed her lip thoughtfully. ‘It may seem hard,' Andrew conceded, seeing her doubtful expression, ‘but Peter has to learn what the life is really like. If he does decide it's what he wants he could work for a couple of years and pay his own college fees. The practical experience will be as much benefit to him as college. He's starting from scratch. Libby and Fraser grew up knowing what's involved. They sense when an animal is sick. It's amazing how much Mimi and Lachlan know already but Peter has everything to learn.'

‘I agree the experience will be good for him, and saving the money. There's the cottage too. We must look for another tenant. Three pounds a week for rent will add up.'

‘I'm sure things will work out, Vicky, one way or another,' Andrew said gently. He knew she felt great affection for her only nephew already.

‘I suppose so but I'd like to give Doctor Sterling a piece of my mind,' she said angrily. ‘Catriona specifically said Peter should do what he wanted with his life and the money was there to help him.'

‘You mustn't get upset,' Andrew cautioned. ‘It's not good for you. Doctor Burns said you were to take life calmly. Has she booked you in at Cresswell yet?'

‘Don't change the subject, Andrew. I don't want to think about going to the maternity hospital. Going to the clinic was bad enough, waiting in line like the cows waiting to be milked. I hated it. You know the names of all the cows and they're all individuals. I felt like a number rather than a person and two of the younger nurses were giggling like school girls until a senior nurse glared at them. I detest it and I'm not going back and I wish I hadn't let Doctor Burns persuade me I should go to the hospital to have this baby.'

‘Hush, Victoria, don't get upset,' Andrew urged, drawing her into his arms and stroking her hair. He'd intended to take her mind off Doctor Sterling and he'd ended up upsetting her. She was easily upset these days but the baby was due in about eight weeks. Having Peter to stay would make extra work and it worried him a bit but he knew Victoria would never hear of postponing his visit.

When Andrew met Peter off the train at Lockerbie station he was glad he had not suggested the boy should stay in Edinburgh. He was thinner and his young face looked haggard. There were dark rings under his eyes too which should not be there in a young man like Peter.

‘I'm glad to see you, laddie,' he greeted him warmly and saw the dark eyes light up for a moment. ‘You look as though you've been working hard at your exams. You're thinner than you were at Easter.'

‘I did work hard for my exams, and I think I shall have done reasonably well in most of them.' He sighed heavily. ‘But if I have it will only make my stepfather more determined to rule my life. Dinah wants to be a doctor and Cathy thinks she want to nurse. Why can't he be satisfied with that?'

For a moment Andrew thought he might burst into tears.

‘I expect he wants what's best for you, laddie,' Andrew said gently. ‘Come on, here's the car. Victoria will have the tea ready.'

Victoria was shocked by Peter's appearance. She couldn't resist giving him a welcoming hug. She was surprised when he hugged her back, almost as though he needed reassurance of some kind.

‘Take your case to your room, Peter, and then we'll have tea. You'll need to eat plenty because supper will be a bit later tonight. Libby and Billy are coming up to see you. Mimi wanted to come too but Mary said she had to wait until tomorrow. I expect she'll be here first thing if Willie will see her over the burn.'

‘Th-thank you,' Peter said huskily. ‘Y-you don't know what it means to be made so welcome.' He disappeared quickly up the stairs unwilling to let them see the tears which had sprung to his eyes. Victoria and Andrew looked at each.

‘He looks exhausted, ‘Victoria said in a low voice.

‘He's very tense. I suspect there have been more arguments.'

Fraser and Lachlan were washing their hands ready for tea when Peter returned to the kitchen.

‘Hi chum,' Fraser grinned, slapping him on the back, ‘it's good to see you again. I hoped you'd be here before Saturday. We're having a farm walk and there's a Young Farmers' dance afterwards.'

‘Aren't you supposed to be working on Saturday?' Andrew asked.

‘I was. I've swapped with Jocky.

‘Hi Peter,' Lachlan joined them, still drying his hands, his grin spreading from ear to ear. ‘Are you for a game of football after tea? I've been practising.'

‘For goodness sake, Lachie, give Peter a chance to get here before you pester him,' Victoria chided, but Peter was pleased to see his cousins and grateful for their welcome.

Billy and Libby greeted him with the same warmth as the rest of the family but after the evening meal was cleared away the conversation turned serious.

‘Are you just here for the summer holidays, Peter?' Billy asked with a smile, ‘or have you decided farming is the life for you?'

‘I-I don't know,' Peter said unhappily. ‘I know what I want, b-but this morning …' he gulped over the lump in his throat, ‘before I left my stepfather told me there's no place for me under his roof unless I study medicine. He says he's supported me long enough and Dinah wants a worthwhile profession so she will make better use of the money Mother had set aside.' There was a stunned silence. They all stared at him.

‘He wouldn't mean that,' Victoria said. ‘I expect he's disappointed.'

‘He does mean it. He says I can have until the end of the summer holidays to make up my mind; unless I toe the line I've to collect the rest of my things and leave his house for good.'

‘That's awful!' Libby gasped. ‘He can't threaten Peter like that, can he Mum?'

‘I don't know, lassie.' Victoria's face was troubled. She looked Peter in the eye. ‘I'm so glad your mother found the courage to go against his wishes and send for me before she died. I suppose you know he did his best to cut us out of her life after your father died.'

‘That's all in the past,' Andrew intervened. ‘You're here now, laddie, and we're pleased to have you. You have all summer to make up your mind. Victoria and I have discussed what we're prepared to do to help you. You'd better discuss our suggestion with Libby. We made sure she knew what hard work farming involved before she went to college. We wanted her to be sure too.' Peter met Libby's eyes, his dark brows raised.

‘It's true, Peter,' Libby nodded. ‘Some of the work is hard, but I was prepared for that and I knew it was the life I wanted.'

‘It's what I want too.'

‘In that case I propose to set you to work, like Fraser and Jocky Conley and Jem Wright. You'll work alongside them and learn to do whatever jobs are needed. No shirking or taking a day off when you feel tired. Farming isn't like that. Animals still need to be fed, cows still need to be milked, even if you have been up half the night helping one of them to calve.'

‘That's what Uncle Willie said about the lambs,' Peter said. ‘Does that mean you'll let me do proper farm work, Uncle Andrew?'

‘Aye, laddie. We'll probably give you more to do than you want, but when it comes to the end of the summer, you can tell us whether you want to carry on, or go back to Edinburgh and have a profession. There'll be no hard feelings whatever you decide. You'll still be welcome whenever you want to come for a holiday, won't he?'

‘Of course he'll always be welcome,' Victoria said.

‘But right now this is a business arrangement,' Andrew went on. ‘You'll start work on Monday. We're busy with the hay so there's plenty to do. You'll need to learn to drive the tractors. We'll pay you a wage and deduct your board and lodging as it says in government schedule.'

‘You'll pay me? Even though I'm learning?' Peter asked incredulously.

‘Of course we'll pay you. The agricultural rate for a man is seven pounds eighteen shillings and five pence for a forty-seven hour week. It will be a bit less for a seventeen-year-old, and as I said we'll deduct board and lodging. If you work for Willie or for Billy then they must pay you. As I said, Peter, this is a business deal and it'll be hard work. When you've had enough it will be up to you to admit it. If you do decide it's the life you want by the end of the summer, we'll find you work for a couple of years. The experience will be good for you. I know Willie would be glad to employ you for a few weeks when he's lambing, and for the shearing, but he couldn't afford to employ a boy all year round. Maybe Billy will give you some work too when his men are on holiday?'

‘I could certainly do that,' Billy nodded.

‘The broader your experience the better it will be for you. If you save your money for the next two years I reckon you'll be able to pay your own college fees if you can get one of the new grants. You'll be independent of everybody, including your stepfather.'

‘I can't believe it! I just can't believe,' Peter exclaimed, his dark eyes shining. He looked young and eager now; the weary look had vanished, along with the invisible burden which had seemed to weigh him down. ‘I-I can't tell you how unhappy I've been these past few weeks.'

‘Well laddie, we'll do all we can, but you have to be honest with us if you change your mind. I've one thing to ask in return, and that applies to all of you,' he looked at Lachie and Fraser, ‘and that's to consider your mother. You'll know we're expecting another wee bairn in August, Peter?'

‘Ye-es.' Peter blushed. ‘I didn't know when …'

‘Och, never mind about me,' Victoria said, feeling embarrassed. ‘There's the cottage to think about too. We must get another tenant. I shall be putting the rent aside for you, Peter. Billy, do you want any more of your mother's furniture out of Ivy Cottage before we let it?'

‘I think we've taken out all the things we want to keep, haven't we, sweetheart?' He smiled at Libby.

‘Yes, we have, but Mum, if you could hang on for a couple of weeks? You remember Alma? She's coming up for an interview at the creamery. I told Mr Whitworth she's looking for a job away from the city. I'm almost sure she'll get it. She's had the same training as I had from Miss Cuttle. She'd be ideal and I wouldn't feel I was letting Mr Whitworth down either.'

‘Does that mean you're giving up working then?' Victoria asked.

‘Yes, at the end of the summer. I've agreed to stay until my successor gets into the routine.'

‘About time too,' Andrew said. ‘Billy has been very patient.'