God's Highlander

by Thompson, E. V.

  ‘Where were they heading?’ Wyatt asked the question sharply. Sheep in such numbers spelled trouble for someone.

  ‘They were on their way to the slopes beyond the Fraser cot. It’s Kilmalie land that was cleared a few years ago, but some of the animals are bound to spill over on to worked land. It’s my opinion that Garrett’s looking to create trouble.’

  ‘You could well be right. I’ll have a word with him when I speak about Elsa taking over the rent here. I’ll be back to let you know how I fare, Lachlan. Right now there’s someone else I must talk to.’

  As Wyatt stood up to leave, Lachlan Munro followed the minister’s glance. Mairi was in the doorway of the cot, surrounded by the children. She was saying her farewells.

  Lachlan Munro gave Wyatt a tired smile. ‘Mairi’s a fine girl, Captain. A good, strong, loyal girl who takes after her mother. You remember the women who’d follow their men into battle, Captain? Right up to the enemy lines? No, of course you don’t. You were too young to have been some of the places I’ve been to. A good one would go into hell to bring her man back – and Mairi’s a good one. She’d make a fine wife for a soldier – or for a minister who’s fighting his people’s battles.’

  ‘I believe you.’ Wyatt never took his eyes from Mairi. He thought she might try to slip away without bidding him a proper farewell. He was right. A wave of the hand and Mairi was out of the garden, swinging barefoot and long-legged across the turf, not heading towards Eskaig, but making for a stream-fed glen that curved deep into the mountains in the direction of the Ross croft.

  By the time Wyatt had said goodbye to the entire Munro family and caught up with Mairi she was half a mile from the croft and well into the wooded glen.

  ‘Have you lost your way? Eskaig is in that direction.’ Mairi waved an arm to where the high shoulder of a mountain ridge stood between the glen and the road to Eskaig.

  ‘Why did you run off as you did? With no more than a wave?’

  ‘I thought you’d prefer it. There’s little temptation in the wave of a hand.’

  Wyatt realised that Mairi was mocking him. He probably deserved it, but there were things that had to be said.

  ‘I want to talk to you before you return home.’

  ‘Oh? Are you going to warn me against leading any other poor man into temptation? Just in case he doesn’t have your own God-given, strength of mind?’

  ‘That’s enough, Mairi.’

  ‘No, it isn’t, Minister. You won’t ever need to feel ashamed again because of me, I promise you.’

  Mairi had taken at least ten paces before he caught up with her again and took her arm. She tried to shake his hand away, but he held her fast. When she turned to remonstrate with him she found herself pulled into his arms – and he was kissing her once again. She continued to struggle for only a few moments before responding as she had twelve hours before.

  When Wyatt stopped kissing her Mairi’s whole body was trembling. His hand came up to touch her hair, but suddenly she shook herself free.

  ‘Why, Wyatt? Why do you do it when you know you’re going to regret it afterwards?’

  ‘I regretted what I did because I believed I had no right. Because I felt I wasn’t certain enough. Now I am. In fact, when I think clearly about it, I’ve known since I first stepped ashore at the Eskaig jetty and saw you.’

  ‘Known what?’ Main hadn’t intended the words to come out as a whisper.

  ‘I love you, Mairi. I want you to marry me.’

  Mairi tried hard to hold her own emotions in check. Only she knew the true extent of her feelings for Wyatt. For this very reason she wanted to be certain he meant what he was saying.

  ‘You’re being foolish, Wyatt Jamieson. Marriage is out of the question for us.’

  ‘Why?’

  Her reply was not at all what Wyatt had been expecting. Her reaction to his kisses had led him to expect a very different answer.

  ‘Why? It should be perfectly obvious to you. I’m a simple Highland girl who owns little more than I’m wearing right now. I’ve never had shoes on my feet, can only just read and barely write. Sums are beyond me. You’re a minister. The most important man in the whole area after the landowner – and many would say more important than him. You’ve served as an officer in the Army and been to a university…. Do I need to go on?’

  Wyatt looked at her in genuine surprise. ‘What’s any of that got to do with us getting married? My mother was a cottar’s daughter. She died before I was old enough to know her well, but my father swore she was the best wife any man ever had – even though she never learned to read or write.’

  Wyatt looked so hurt and bewildered that Mairi wanted to hug him. Instead she said: ‘It would be foolish, Wyatt. If you weren’t a minister with such high principles, we could do the same as Donnie and Seonaid did at the shielings. The same thing other young courting couples do when they want each other badly enough.’

  ‘You know I can’t do that, Mairi. The soldier in me is sorely tempted, but I’m a minister now. Although I find it hard at times, it’s what I want to be. Besides, that would be no answer at all, for either of us. I want to marry you. To have you for my wife. Nothing less will ever be enough.’

  ‘Marrying our Donnie to Seonaid has addled your brain, Wyatt Jamieson. If I said Yes, you’d wake up in the night in a cold sweat, wondering whatever made you do anything so stupid.’

  ‘That isn’t true, Mairi. I want to marry you. I thought…. I hoped you felt the same way,’ Wyatt was pulling his thoughts together now.

  He was hurt because Mairi seemed not to be taking his offer of marriage seriously. For the first time he wondered whether there was anyone else in Mairi’s life. After all, Wyatt had not been the minister in Eskaig long enough to know all that had gone on before his arrival. There could be a strong contender for the hand of the Highland girl. Someone he knew nothing about. The thought dismayed him far more than the possibility he might have made a fool of himself.

  ‘I’ve told you what I think, Wyatt. I’m far too fond of you to let you do something you might regret later.’

  Secretly, Mairi felt incredibly happy. She did not doubt that Wyatt believed he loved her – and she loved him so much it was an ache inside her that only he could cure – but marriage was not in itself a goal for her. She wanted to have a relationship with Wyatt that would be something very special for both of them. A union that would stand the strain of the many pressures it was likely to come under in the future. A marriage such as her Scots father and Spanish mother had.

  ‘You are fond of me?’ Wyatt was grasping at straws, but he was not prepared to give up all hope.

  ‘I’m more than fond of you, Wyatt.’

  ‘Then…?’

  Before he could say more Mairi’s hand was raised to his lips and cut off the words.

  ‘Think of what I’ve said, Wyatt. Think about it very carefully.’

  Briefly her mouth replaced her fingers. Then she turned and walked away.

  As Wyatt watched her go, admiration was added to the love he felt for the self-styled ‘simple Highland girl’.

  There would be few situations that Mairi could not handle as a minister’s wife. One day she would marry him. It was only a question of time.

  Twenty-eight

  WYATT CALLED ON John Garrett the next day. He had two reasons for the visit. One was Lachlan Munro’s wish that his wife might take over the croft on his death. The other was to learn what Evangeline intended to do. Although she had returned with her father, she had not yet put in an appearance at the Eskaig school.

  One look at the factor’s face when Wyatt was shown into the office at the back of the house was sufficient to tell Wyatt he had not chosen the best moment to call and ask favours.

  ‘What do you want, Jamieson?’ The factor’s greeting was all his scowling expression promised.

  ‘I came to ask after your wife, and Evangeline….’

  ‘What the hell has my family got to do with you?’ Garrett’s m
anner was more than usually obnoxious and held no pretence of good manners.

  ‘I’ve called once or twice while you were away. Your wife was unwell, and her maid had walked out. I sent to the village to hire another….’

  ‘So it was your idea to employ that slattern. I suggest you ought to pay any wages due to her. I’ve just dismissed her. Fortunately I was able to persuade the last maid to come back. She’s worth three of any of the church-going trash to be found in Corpach. God! That stupid girl came into the bedroom unexpectedly, caught sight of my bare backside and damned near went into hysterics. The way some of your people behave, you’d think the human body was created by the devil, instead of in God’s own image. I prefer to have sensible mature girls working in my home.’

  ‘Your wife was very sick. As her minister I was concerned for her. I did what I believed was best.’

  ‘I won’t have you interfering in my household, Jamieson, do you hear? From what I’ve been told, your church needs to heed what’s happening in its own house. You don’t seem to be making a very good job of that at the moment.’

  Wyatt bit back a cutting retort. Speaking as politely as he felt able, he asked: ‘Did Evangeline return with you?’

  ‘What have my daughter’s movements to do with you? I’m still not satisfied with the story you gave me about the two of you going off to Edinburgh together. If I ever learn there’s more to it than you’ve told me, I’ll have you thrown out of your church, Jamieson, you mark my words.’

  Ignoring the factor’s threat, Wyatt persisted: ‘I’d like to know whether Evangeline will be returning to teach at the school. We can’t bring the girls back without someone to teach them.’

  ‘Is Anderson – or Burns, or whatever you call the man – still teaching there?’

  ‘Of course. Without him there would be no school.’

  ‘Then, you’ve answered yourself. My daughter will never teach in the same school as that convicted troublemaker. If the elders had an ounce of sense, they’d have got rid of the man when I gave them the opportunity. If you’ve nothing else to say, you can get on your way. I’ve work to do.’

  Wyatt’s wasted journey had done no more than give the factor an opportunity to be even more rude than usual. He turned to go. At the door he paused and turned back in time to catch the self-satisfied smile on John Garrett’s face.

  ‘Did you hear anything of Lord Kilmalie before you returned?’ Wyatt asked.

  ‘I saw him. He’s a dying man.’ There was no hint of respect or sorrow in the factor’s expression. Indeed, the smugness was more pronounced than before. ‘Go back to your church and pray for him, Jamieson. When he dies you’ll see changes around Eskaig; that I can promise you.’

  Wyatt found John Garrett’s smug confidence disquieting. He wondered what had occurred in London.

  Wyatt was halfway along the driveway from the house when he heard his name being called. He turned to see Evangeline running, after him.

  When she caught up with him she hugged him affectionately before reproving him. ‘You were leaving the house without seeing me? I’m deeply hurt, Wyatt. Why didn’t you send word to me you’d come calling? I’d have rushed down to see you immediately. I was upstairs with Mother. The servants told me you’ve been to the house to see her while we were away. I’m very grateful, Wyatt. She’s obviously been very confused, but she’s getting better. It seems as though I’ve been away for months. How is Alasdair? And young Jimmy Gordon? Was the physician able to help him?’

  Wyatt remembered Evangeline had not returned to Eskaig on board Donald McKay’s steam launch. Passengers who did usually arrived in Eskaig knowing more about village matters than those who lived there.

  Assuring the factor’s daughter that he and Alasdair were both well, Wyatt broke the news of Jimmy Gordon’s death.

  It came as no unexpected shock, but Evangeline was very upset and shed a few tears on his behalf. After borrowing Wyatt’s handkerchief, she handed it back and said: ‘I’m sorry. Would he have lived if Father hadn’t had Alasdair arrested and put in prison?’

  Wyatt shook his head. ‘It would have made no difference. Jimmy was dying when I first saw him. Alasdair and the school gave him a reason for wanting to live, no more.’

  ‘I must call on Jimmy’s mother when I return to teach at the school.’

  ‘Your father swore he wouldn’t allow you near the school as long as Alasdair was there, too.’

  ‘Father says a lot of things he’d like to see happen. He took me to London to find me a husband, but that didn’t succeed, either. If he tries to stop me teaching, I’ll threaten to run off somewhere with Alasdair. That should frighten him enough to make him change his mind. I’ll be back as soon as Mother’s more settled. At the moment she panics if I’m out of her sight for very long.’

  ‘There’s no need to run off anywhere with Alasdair. Weddings are popular in Eskaig this year. I married Donnie Ross to Seonaid Fraser on the day you returned.’

  Evangeline drew in her breath sharply. ‘Does my father know about this?’

  Wyatt nodded. ‘He rode into Eskaig during the wedding celebrations. ’ He hesitated. ‘You know … about Seonaid?’

  ‘I’m closer to my father than anyone, Wyatt. Did you think the whole of the Highlands knew of his affair with Seonaid and I didn’t? She isn’t his first mistress, and she won’t be the last, but I do believe he was fonder of her than he was of the others. This would explain the foul mood he’s been in since our return.’

  Evangeline seemed almost to be talking to herself. Suddenly she raid: ‘Wait here for me. I’m coming to Eskaig with you. I think we should tell each other all that’s happened during these last few weeks. I have a lot to tell you about London – and Lord Kilmalie’s heir….’

  By the time Eskaig was reached Wyatt knew as much as Evangeline about her father’s frequent meetings with the heir to the Kilmalie title and estates. Her information left him sorely troubled.

  Evangeline knew nothing of the details of the two men’s talks, but John Garrett’s arrogance and assuredness were significant. The factor must have come to an agreement with the Kilmalie heir about the estate’s future. Wyatt wished he knew more. It might prove to be of vital importance to the residents of his Highland parish.

  The reunion of Evangeline Garrett and Alasdair Burns would not have met with the approval of Evangeline’s father. They clung to each other for some minutes, oblivious to the presence of the Eskaig minister. The warmth of their greeting took Wyatt by surprise. He had thought Evangeline to be joking when she made the remark about eloping with Alasdair. Now he was by no means certain.

  When the two teachers separated they continued to hold hands and chattered about Alasdair’s incarceration in the gaol in Edinburgh as though it had all been a huge joke. Yet Wyatt knew they were both aware how serious it had been – and the man responsible for Alasdair’s arrest was still capable of coming between them.

  Wyatt also remembered the factor’s threat made to him only that morning. He did not doubt that John Garrett would go to great lengths to break up his daughter’s relationship with Alasdair Burns.

  Twenty-nine

  THE NEWS OF the death of Lord Kilmalie reached Eskaig only weeks after John Garrett’s return from London and Edinburgh. It pushed all other issues into the background. The news was brought to the Highland village by Charles Graham, the Kilmalie estate administrator. He arrived in a specially chartered steamer with surveyors and clerks to reassess the estate assets. The arrival of so many ‘outsiders’ caused great unease among the villagers and those whose futures leaned heavily upon the Kilmalie estate.

  The party disembarked at the rickety Eskaig jetty on a Saturday morning under the curious gaze of many children and villagers. The new arrivals recruited the older boys to carry their baggage to the inn, paying them generously. Although nothing was said of the reason for their visit, the news of Lord Kilmalie’s death was in the village before the luggage.

  Word was brought to the man
se by a breathless village boy. He had sprinted all the way from Angus Cameron’s house, spurred on by the urgency in the voice of the church elder.

  Wyatt abandoned the sermon on which he was working and hurried to the inn where the villagers were beginning to gather, Elder Cameron among them.

  ‘Have you been told officially of Lord Kilmalie’s death?’ Wyatt put the question to the solemn-faced elder when he reached him.

  ‘It’s true enough. The administrator’s here with his staff to value the estate for the new landowner. One of the crew of the boat that brought them is a Corpach man. Oh, yes, it’s true enough. I fear we’ll see more changes than we want hereabouts. I’ve heard the new laird’s from Australia, the place where the British government sends all its convicts. We can’t expect such a man to have our interests at heart. Giving him a title’s not likely to make him a gentleman overnight. No, Minister, Eskaig will regret the passing of the old Lord Kilmalie before any of us is very much older.’

  Wyatt remembered the resentment against ‘the old Lord Kilmalie’ when the landowner had appointed him as minister of Eskaig. He did not remind the elder. Instead he said: ‘I’m going in to see the administrator now. Will you come with me?’

  ‘I will, although it will be the first time I’ve ever set foot inside such a place.’ Angus Cameron led the way determinedly to the door of the Eskaig inn, the crowd parting respectfully before him.

  The Kilmalie estate administrator greeted Wyatt cordially and shook hands with Angus Cameron.

  ‘My visit to Eskaig is a sad occasion, I fear,’ said Charles Graham when the visitors had seated themselves in his room. ‘You know, I presume, that Lord Kilmalie is dead?’