Coming Home

by Gwen Kirkwood

  ‘Och, there’s no need. If it hadn’t been for that stupid brother of mine we wouldn’t have been in such bother. You look awful.’

  ‘I feel it but I would have been worse if you hadn’t waited up and let me in. I do appreciate it, really I do.’

  ‘You’d better get down to the bathrooms, though I reckon everybody else has finished with them by now. I’m not leaving until later so I’ll keep Maryanne calm until you come down.’ She disappeared. Too late, Megan knew she should have warned her not to tell Maryanne what had happened. She was a blithe girl but Maryanne loved to chatter and the last thing Megan wanted was for the folks back home to hear she had been out half the night.

  The first thing Maryanne said when they were settled on the train was, ‘Come on then, tell me where you and Derek went for your big adventure? What kept you out half the night? Was it exciting?’

  Thirteen

  Steven’s father was still confined to his bedroom but, with Fred’s reluctant assistance, Hannah managed to get him into a chair in front of the fire. Doctor Burns had told him to move as much as he could to keep his muscles exercised and he was trying hard, but there were times when he was so frustrated by the paralysis in one arm and his leg that Hannah feared he would burst into tears. The weather was still bitterly cold but Steven visited twice more on the back of Jimmy’s motor bike. On the last visit Jimmy had arrived with a more powerful bike which Steven duly admired.

  ‘I’ll sell you my old motor bike at a bargain price,’ he grinned, ‘It’ll be a lot better than your old push bike. You’ll want to keep visiting regularly I suppose, while your father is ill?’

  ‘Mmm, I wonder if he’ll ever get the power back in his right arm. Mother says his right leg is weaker too but he can stand on it so long as he has some support.’

  ‘Ma says a stroke can ruin the life o’ the fittest man.’ Jimmy said sympathetically.

  ‘How much do you want for your bike?’ Steven asked.

  ‘I’d let you have it for twenty five pounds.’

  ‘I’ll think about it and let you know.’

  ‘I’ll tell you what, I’ll bring it round to your place and leave it for you to try. See how you get on with it. I’ve another suggestion to make to you, Steven – well more of a favour really.’

  ‘I owe you plenty of those,’ Steven said. ‘I’ve been really grateful to you for taking me to Willowburn in this cold weather. What’s the favour?’

  ‘Well you know how my father and the McGuires are behind with their ploughing due to the bad weather? And I believe you still have one of your fields to plough?’

  ‘Yes, that’s right, the smaller one.’

  ‘My firm has a second hand Fordson tractor in. I think my boss would let us hire it for a week end to get the ploughing done on all three places. I can drive a tractor but I don’t know how to plough. Dad and me wondered whether you would have a go. He said you’d made as good a job as he’s seen in the field you’ve ploughed with the horses.’

  ‘That’s nice of him,’ Steven said, ‘but I’ve never ploughed with a tractor. Anyway we’d need a plough to fit onto a tractor. The horse plough is no use.’

  ‘Oh I never thought about that.’ Jimmy frowned thoughtfully. ‘I’ll have to ask my boss if he can fix us up with one to fit the old Fordson. If he can, will you have a go?’

  ‘I suppose I could,’ Steven said slowly. ‘Yes, of course I will. It may take a bit of getting used to but if Fred can do it then so can I.’

  ‘Good for you!’ Jimmy clapped him on the back. ‘Dad and Mr McGuire will pay for the hiring, they say, if you’ll do the ploughing. Oh and it would have to be on a Saturday afternoon and Sunday while our firm is closed.’

  ‘A Sunday?’ Steven frowned. His mother never approved of Sunday working if it could be avoided. He chewed his lip. ‘Yes, all right. Let me know if you can fix it.’ After all, the fighting had not stopped on Sundays during the war and this was an exceptional year. They all needed to get their land worked ready for sowing now the snow had cleared.

  ‘You’re a pal,’ Jimmy grinned, ‘And if you like my bike when you’ve tried it out, I’ll make it twenty two pounds, ten shillings.

  ‘All right. I’ll have a go and see how I get on with it.’ Steven returned Jimmy’s irrepressible grin. A motor bike would certainly be faster than his old push bike and he wanted to visit Willowburn as often as he could.

  ***

  Megan found Steven’s letter waiting for her when she arrived home for the Easter vacation. Her mother chewed her lower lip, seeing how eagerly she opened the letter and how her eyes lit up. Megan was pleased Steven had not forgotten he had invited her to the dance. She had thought he might considering all the worry he must have concerning his father, but her blistered feet were so painful she contemplated making an excuse. If she refused this invitation he might think she didn’t want to go with him; he might never ask her again. She longed to be with Steven, to dance in his arms and have him walk her home. Her father watched the troubled expressions chasing each other over her face as she read the letter.

  ‘Are things all right with Steven? How is his father?’

  ‘Steven’s fine. His father is making progress but it’s very slow.’

  ‘That’s good then. Didn’t you promise to help him with his vegetable garden during your Easter holiday, Megan?’ John Oliphant asked. ‘If you arrange a day to suit all of us I’ll give you a ride down to Schoirhead in the car. I might even let you have a go at driving there. Your Mother bought some L plates. She says she’s going to learn to drive if you can do it.’ He gave his wife a teasing grin.

  ‘I am. I mean it. I can’t have my wee lassie beating me to something like that,’ Chrissie said, squaring her shoulders as though for battle. Megan smiled at her mother.

  ‘There’s no reason why you shouldn’t drive, Mum. Steven’s Mother does.’ She had wanted to impress her parents with her driving but now she didn’t care. She shuddered at the memory of her last lesson.

  ‘I’d like to see how Steven’s little farm looks now he’s had time to sort things out a bit,’ her father said. ‘We could take the brooder back if we tie it in the boot.’

  Normally Megan would have been delighted by her father’s offer but she felt utterly miserable. Apart from being tired from lack of sleep she ached everywhere after last night’s marathon walk and her feet were seriously painful.

  ‘You don’t seem very enthusiastic, lassie,’ Chrissie said with a frown, ‘In fact you look exhausted. Were the exams very difficult? Have you been working too hard?’

  ‘No,’ Megan shook her head. She knew she would have to tell her mother about the blisters because she felt like an old woman hobbling about, but she had to keep the details to herself. ‘I went for a walk last night to blow away the cobwebs.’ She gave a wan smile. ‘It came on wet and it took ages to find the way back. I er… I got a couple of nasty blisters.’

  ‘Soak them in a hot mustard bath and then put some plasters on if they’re very sore. I expect a good night’s sleep will sort you out,’ Chrissie said briskly, but Megan was aware of her mother’s scrutiny. Chrissie knew instinctively that Megan was not telling her the whole story but her daughter would soon be twenty. She had been married by that age and she had resented her mother asking questions. Even so she was shocked when she saw the state of Megan’s feet and she couldn’t help wondering what had actually happened.

  They were surprised when Steven arrived on a motor bike to collect Megan for the dance.

  ‘You didn’t tell me about that in your letters,’ Megan grinned.

  ‘I wanted to surprise you. I’ve only just bought it from Jimmy Kerr. It will be handy for getting to Willowburn to visit Dad. I thought it would be better than walking to the dance if you can trust me enough to ride pillion, Megan?’

  ‘I don’t mind at all but Dad has offered to lend you his new toy.’

  ‘You would be warmer in the car, Steven,’ Chrissie said anxiously. ‘Megan is dressed for
summer in that dress.’

  ‘Oh Mum, we are going to a dance and I shall be wearing my winter coat.’

  ‘Mmm, you look very pretty anyway, Megan, but your mother is right, it would be warmer in the car.’ He smiled and his eyes crinkled mischievously, ‘but I suspect the truth is she doesn’t trust me with her wee girl on the back of a motor bike.’

  ‘Well they are such dangerous things,’ Chrissie said defensively.

  ‘There’s the key for the car, Steven,’ John Oliphant grinned. ‘You try it out and tell me what you think of it.’

  ‘Thanks then, I will,’ Steven nodded. ‘It would be a shame to get Megan’s dress in a mess.’ Megan had only worn the dress once. It was pale green and fitted her slender waist beautifully before it swirled out in a wide skirt, ideal for dancing. The colour matched her eyes and suited her clear skin and vibrant hair.

  As soon as they had gone, Chrissie turned to her husband.

  ‘I reckon Megan is more than half in love with Steven. I do hope she doesn’t do anything rash and give up her college course before she’s qualified.’

  ‘Don’t worry Chrissie. You worried she would never start at college but things worked out. I suppose its natural now she’s all we have and she did look very pretty tonight, even if I am prejudiced,’ he smiled. ‘I expect she will get married some day but I couldn’t wish for a better lad than Steven for a son-in-law. It’s a pity it could be years before he can afford to take a wife. His main ambition at present is proving he can make a success of that wee farm so I don’t think you need to worry.’

  ‘Mmm, I know what you mean, but young love can be painful. Megan has been subdued since she came home so maybe she’s worried about her exam results. I’m sure it’s more than blisters on her feet that’s troubling her, but I’d like to know how she got such bad ones.’

  ‘I’m sure she’ll tell us when it suits her,’ John said easily and drew out his pipe.

  ***

  Megan was surprised to see Natalie Turner at the village dance again. She had always given the impression she was too superior for any of the local entertainment but she soon forgot about Natalie as Steven drew her into his arms for the first waltz. She was barely aware of her sore feet but when a reel was announced for the next dance she elected to sit it out. Steven was surprised and disappointed. Megan was light as a feather and he enjoyed holding her in his arms, in fact he didn’t like the thought of her being held in the arms of the other men he had noticed eying her up, especially the good looking young fellow who had been trying to catch her eye while he was dancing with Natalie Turner.

  ‘You don’t seem yourself tonight, Megan,’ he said as they found chairs at the side of the floor. ‘Didn’t you feel like coming to the dance? Are you tired after your exams?’

  ‘Oh Steven, I was really looking forward to tonight. It’s my feet. They’re a bit sore. I’ve got a couple of blisters.’

  ‘You should have told me. We could have gone to the pictures instead.’ She turned to him, her green eyes alight.

  ‘Could we, Steven? Would you have done that?’

  ‘Of course I would if I’d known that’s what you preferred, Meggie.’

  She chewed her lower lip. Steven used to call her Meggie when he was trying to coax her or humour her when she was five or six years old. He had always been patient and kind, even when Sam told her she was a pest, as brothers do. Was she still a little girl in his eyes? They had always been such good friends but did being friends make it impossible for Steven to see her as a woman? Would he never feel the longing which tugged at her own heart?

  The next dance was a quickstep and before they could stand up together Doctor Lindsay Gray was there, asking her to dance. Steven frowned when Megan had no hesitation in accepting. Natalie had followed him so Steven had little option but to ask her to dance, a circumstance which did not please Megan at all. She made sure she returned to Steven the moment the dance finished and when the compère announced a Gay Gordons she was determined to dance with him even if her feet dropped off, but by the end she had to admit the blisters were very painful. It was Steven who suggested they should sit out the next dance.

  ‘Only if you promise you’ll not go off with Natalie and leave me here on my own?’

  ‘Of course I shall not dance with Natalie,’ he grinned and put an arm around her shoulders, drawing her closer, ‘you’re my partner tonight. Don’t you forget it.’ He gave her a little squeeze and she was happy again.

  ‘So who was the fellow who snatched you from under my nose?’ Steven asked.

  ‘Oh that’s Natalie’s doctor friend, Lint. I’m surprised he remembered me. I haven’t seen him since the Christmas dance. He gave me a lift home because he was staying at Martinwold.’

  ‘I see.’ Out of the corner of his eye, Steven saw Rufus Anderson heading to their end of the hall and he cursed silently, remembering his mother telling him Anderson had a fancy for Megan. He was an only son and one day he would take over the farm.

  ‘Oh no,’ Megan groaned. ‘Here comes Maryanne and her brother.’ Steven was pleased she didn’t seem to welcome their company any more than he did. ‘I don’t think I could face another dance yet. It would have to be a slow one even with you. Steven, I’m sorry I’m spoiling your evening.’

  ‘Don’t be a wee goose, Meggie, of course you’re not. I’ve got you for company and it’s a good band, isn’t it?’ Before she could answer, Maryanne and Rufus Anderson joined them, sitting one on either side of them. Megan felt trapped and vaguely uneasy.

  ‘Do you remember Steven, Maryanne?’

  ‘No, I don’t think so,’ Maryanne frowned, then she smiled, ‘but I’m pleased to meet you.’

  ‘I remember Steven. You were a year older than me at school. You and Sam were great pals, weren’t you?’ Rufus said. He looked gravely sincere as he added, ‘I was really sorry to hear he had been killed.’

  The two of them talked about farming for a little while but during a lull in both conversation and music Maryanne asked, ‘Have you recovered from being out all night with Pauline’s brother, Megan?’ She giggled. ‘I must say you look lovely tonight, but you looked terrible the next morning coming down on the train.’

  Megan felt Steven stiffen beside her and she said sharply, ‘Don’t exaggerate, Pauline. I was not out all night.’

  ‘Well maybe not all night but it was well after midnight because I met Pauline on my way to the bathroom and she was putting a hot water bottle in your bed and worrying about you still being out with, with what’s-his-name.’ Megan glanced at Steven. He was sitting straight backed, watching her intently but the laughter had gone, his blue eyes were shadowed with disappointment – and something else – sadness? But why should he feel sad? Maryanne was only teasing; she was never malicious, but it was obvious that Steven believed her. Megan’s heart sank. Rufus had heard Maryanne too.

  ‘I thought you were supposed to be a model student, Megan? It seems you have hidden depths when you’re away from home,’ he grinned. ‘Does my sister do anything naughty I should know about?’

  ‘Of course not, and neither do I,’ she said irritably. Rufus raised his eyebrows knowingly, as much as to say “pull the other leg”. Megan rolled her eyes and grimaced in annoyance.

  ‘Come and have this dance with me and tell me all about this exciting college life.’

  ‘No thanks, I’m sitting this one out.’

  ‘I’m surprised you’re here at all,’ Maryanne said with genuine sympathy. ‘Pauline said you had blisters on your feet by the time you got back. Are they still very sore?’

  ‘A bit. I…’ she looked unhappily at Steven. ‘I think we’re leaving soon.’

  ‘Oh but they’re serving refreshments after the next dance. You must wait for the interval,’ Maryanne urged.

  ‘We will,’ Steven nodded, then he looked at Megan, ‘but I see you weren’t exaggerating about having sore feet. We’ll go home after that.’

  As far as Megan was concerned the evening
was ruined even before Natalie butted in. Having heard only the tail end she demanded to know why they were leaving early. Rufus filled her in with a wildly exaggerated account of Megan’s escapades at college. She listened helplessly, knowing none of them would pay any attention to her denials. She had often heard it said, he who protests too much, convicts himself, so she sat tight lipped and silent, miserable on account of her throbbing feet, but she was more miserable as she sensed a growing constraint between her and Steven. How could he believe Maryanne’s tale about her being out half the night with Derek Cameron? But she knew he had already drawn his own conclusions. She wanted to explain, but why should she feel guilty? She had done nothing wrong, except be too naive.

  ‘Now we shall have a dreamy Scottish Waltz until you’ve digested your fish paste sandwiches,’ the compere announced in jocular tones after the interval. ‘After that we’ll liven up the rest of the evening with some of the new dances.’

  ‘I’d like to stay for the waltz, Steven,’ Megan said eagerly. She turned to him and he nodded and smiled down at her, taking her in his arms and drawing her close as the band began to play, but she had seen the shadows in his eyes. For the first time in their lives there was a barrier between them.

  Fourteen

  Natalie couldn’t wait to tell her parents about Megan’s escapades. She was tired of them thinking their herdsman’s daughter was a paragon of virtue, as well as being clever and intelligent. She recounted Rufus Anderson’s version about her staying out all night with the brother of a college friend.

  Even her mother considered Megan neat and pretty with her ready smile and pleasant manner, but it was her hair which Natalie envied, although she had to admit there was no conceit about Megan. Natalie was also irked because she suspected Steven Caraford was more than a little in love with her, whether he realised it or not, and to make matters worse she knew Dr. Lindsay Gray would have been dating Megan by now if she’d given him the slightest encouragement. At work he never missed an opportunity to enquire about her. So Natalie relished being able to inform them Megan Oliphant was not the perfect angel they had all believed.