When the Heather Blooms (25 page)

‘Maybe you should take Mimi with you to Darlonside sometimes. She's young and pretty. It might convince Mrs McNay you're not interested in a woman old enough to be your mother.'  

‘That's not a bad idea,' Peter nodded.

It was a cold Saturday afternoon towards the end of October when Peter drove Mimi over to Darlonside. He had taken her because he longed for her company, rather than for the benefit of Mrs McNay. Indeed when they arrived he was taken aback to find Mrs McNay in the barn with one of her horses, holding him by a rein while he ate his fill from one of Peter's bales of hay.

‘Hello Peter,' she purred in the throaty voice she seemed to assume at will. ‘I guessed you would be coming back to feed your precious sheep this afternoon. Nero was a little peckish but I knew you wouldn't mind if he had a teeny bit of your hay while we waited for you. It's such a cold wind out there …' She broke off as Mimi came into the barn, cradling one of the cats she had stopped to stroke. ‘Who are you?' Mrs McNay demanded, the throaty voice discarded for a haughty tone. Peter turned to smile in welcome at Mimi, as he reached out to draw her to his side, his dark eyes warm with love and pride.

‘This is Wilhelmina Pringle from High Bowie. Mimi, meet Mrs McNay, the wife of my landlord. She is stealing some of my hay for her horse, even though we filled the spare stable for her use.' He turned to face the older woman and his tone was cold. ‘Your husband said it was as much as you would need for the winter. He bought it from me so that there would be no need for you to steal.'

‘Oh, for goodness' sake, the way you say that anyone would think I was committing a crime.'

‘You are. My hay crop is precious and if we get a bad winter it will all be needed. So you stick to your supply and I'll stick to mine.' Mimi sensed the chilly atmosphere between Peter and the woman but she knew how hard Peter had worked to get in his hay. Uncle Andrew and Billy had each sent a man to help him after they had finished their own but he had insisted on paying for the labour. When it was baled and carted inside they had all come to High Bowie to help her father with his. She walked over to the big horse.

‘You're a handsome fellow, aren't you?' she said, patting his glossy neck. He snorted and Mimi laughed, her warm low chuckle, ‘and hello to you too then.' Mrs McNay stared at her happy young face and flawless pink and white complexion. She was lovely even without a trace of make-up, and her blue eyes sparkled with pleasure as she looked at the horse. Brenda McNay felt sickened by her youthful innocence and beauty. She gathered the reins, vaulted on to the horse's back, and galloped him out of the barn so fast that Mimi had to jump back to avoid being trampled underfoot.

Peter grabbed hold of her, pulling her against him, making sure she didn't fall. He gathered her into his arms and kissed her. Mimi liked the strength of his arms about her. She knew he had been as startled as she was by Mrs McNay's sudden departure.

‘She's a selfish bitch,' Peter muttered. ‘Thank goodness Mr McNay is nothing like her.'   

They had arranged to go to the cinema but by the time Peter had finished attending to his animals a thick damp fog was beginning to envelop everything, making it difficult to see more than a few yards.

‘It's not a nice night for driving far,' Peter said with an anxious frown as they made their way to his Land Rover.

‘I'd be quite happy to stay home and watch the television if you would like to stay for supper. Dad has a filthy cold so I expect he'll go to bed early.'

‘I'm sorry your father is ill, but there's nothing I'd like better than staying with you, Mimi.' Peter grinned at her. ‘All week I've looked forward to us having a wee bit time together.'

Mimi smiled in the darkness. Her fear was that Peter might get tired of waiting for her. She didn't think she could bear it if Peter went off with someone else, even though she had told him he shouldn't wait for her.

They were both surprised to find Willie huddled over the sitting-room fire before his day's work was finished. He was shivering and he said he felt cold but his weathered cheeks showed twin patches of burning colour and his brow felt hot and clammy when Mimi rested her hand on his forehead.

‘I think it's more than just a cold, Dad,' she said with real concern.

‘Aye, I reckon I'll feed the pigs and bullocks, then I'll have a hot toddy and go to bed, if you'll see to the rest, lassie?'

‘I'll feed the pigs and attend to the bullocks, Willie,' Peter intervened. ‘I don't think you should go out again on a night like this. Tell me what they need.'

‘Thank you, laddie,' Willie accepted wearily, ‘I can't remember feeling so groggy before. A good night's sleep will help put me right. If the fog doesna lift you should stay the night. It's not much further to travel to Darlonside from here in the morning.'

‘Thanks, I might just do that and I'll feed your livestock before I leave.'

‘Don't you want to wait for supper, Dad?' Mimi asked.

‘No, I'm not hungry, but maybe you'd make a drink of hot milk and brandy please, lassie?'

Later Mimi and Peter sat side by side in front of the sitting room fire glad to be in from the raw November night. They ate generous helpings of the fish pie Mimi had left cooking in the oven, followed by steamed syrup sponge and custard, a favourite of Peter's. As he spooned up the last mouthful he sighed with satisfaction.

‘If only we could sit side by side like this every night at the end of the working day.' He set aside their empty trays and drew Mimi into his arms, looking forward to spending the evening together in comfort. He was grateful for Willie's invitation and relieved he wouldn't need to drive home to a cheerless house on such a foggy night.

Later, lying in bed, knowing Peter was sleeping downstairs, Mimi ached with longing. Peter had aroused her desire, taking her to impossible heights, only to draw back before either of them could reach the fulfilment of belonging. She understood why he always felt guilty when he came near to betraying her father's trust in him, especially here, under his roof, but he had also told her about his parents, how his mother had pleaded with his father to make love to her before he went to war and he had been the result.

‘He was killed. She ended up facing the disgrace of being an unmarried mother. When she told me all this she insisted she had no regrets about that part of her life, and she said she would have done the same again.' Mimi recalled how Peter had taken her hands and looked into her eyes at that point. ‘I couldn't risk that happening to you, Mimi. Your father would never forgive me, but more than that, I would never forgive myself. Somehow we must find a way to belong to each other as man and wife. First I need to establish myself as a farmer and prove that I can keep a wife. Maybe if I can do that your father will help us find a solution.'

Mimi had had to be content with this but when she was alone her heart sank and she couldn't visualise any solution which wouldn't make her feel torn between the two people she loved most in the world.

Willie's feverish cold took its toll and it was almost a week before he felt well enough to attempt the steep walk, even halfway to the top of the High Bowie land. Peter had attended to everything on the Sunday morning but Uncle Andrew had despatched Fraser to herd the sheep each day after that, knowing Peter had his own work to do.

‘Herding sheep up there is harder work than I realised, Uncle Willie,' Fraser declared after the third day he had been on the hill.

‘Aye, this is the first time I've been unable to do it myself,' Willie nodded. ‘It's made me realise I'm not as young and fit as I used to be. Did you notice whether they've started planting trees over the top to the north of us, Fraser?'

‘Is that what they're going to do?' Fraser asked startled. ‘I saw all the lines of ridges. It looks as though they've ploughed deep furrows or something.'

‘They're going to plant all the land further up.' Willie nodded. ‘They must be making a start.' He sighed. ‘They wanted to buy High Bowie peak as well but it's a fair area of land to lose so I turned them down. Now I'm wondering whether I should sell it while I have the chance. They wouldn't come offering again once they move on. They want large areas all together. Makes sense for the planting and for felling the timber.'

‘I didn't know they were doing any planting around here,' Fraser admitted in surprise. ‘Does Dad know?'

‘No, I didn't even consider it at the time. Now I'm not so sure. Maybe you'll tell your father I'd like to talk it over. If I lost the hill acres it would mean going in for a smaller flock of sheep and a different breed.'

‘How would you feel about that?'

‘I suppose we should all be prepared to change. I've had time to consider these past few days. Mimi could never manage to herd the hill and it wouldn't pay to employ a shepherd.'

‘No-o, I suppose not. I hadn't thought of that. Dad will enjoy a talk with you. He might even decide to sell our top field along with yours. It's pretty steep and it borders yours and he knows I'm more interested in cereals than sheep.'

It was almost inevitable that Mimi would suffer from the same feverish infection as her father and it kept her from going to work at the builder's yard the following week. When she returned she was dismayed to find a pile of bills and invoices waiting for her attention. She hated getting behind or in a muddle. She decided to take sandwiches and continue working into the afternoon to catch up.

‘I do appreciate your doing this for us, Mimi,' Ian Blake said, popping his head round the door of the small space he euphemistically called an office. He smiled at her. ‘Keep a note of your extra time. I'm off to look at a job as a subcontractor for two new houses. I shall not be back until about six o'clock.'

‘That's fine,' Mimi nodded and returned his smile, ‘I'll stay until four o'clock, then I've jobs to do at home. There's plenty to keep me going here.'    

She worked hard all day and felt a glow of satisfaction as she closed the last of her ledgers. The November day had never been light and now darkness was creeping in fast. As she bent to slip the ledger into its proper place she heard the door opening. ‘I wasn't expecting to see you back so early, Ian,' she called without looking up. There was no reply and she glanced over her shoulder as she stood up and reached for her jacket from the back of her chair. Dick Pearson, the plasterer, stood with his arms folded, his back against the closed door, almost as though he was standing guard to keep her prisoner. Mimi felt a quiver of uneasiness. She didn't like the young plasterer, although Ian had told her he was excellent at his job and very skilled. He always made her feel uncomfortable. It was the way his eyes followed her if ever she had to cross the yard when he was loading his materials into his van. He had short red hair and green eyes with a fair complexion. He could have been quite attractive but Mimi didn't like his receding chin and thin, rather cruel mouth.

‘Is there anything I can get you?' she asked as she slid her arm into the sleeve of her jacket.

‘You'll not need that on!' He grabbed hold of her and swung her round to slam her hard against the door. She gave a yelp of pain. The door was old, salvaged from some derelict building. It had an old-fashioned latch with the sharp end pointing to the inside. It pierced Mimi's shoulder. Pearson was oblivious to her pain. He was pressing her back against the door with the length of his body. She felt she was going to faint as the metal sank deeper into her flesh, even through her shirt.

‘The latch,' she gasped. He didn't seem to hear but as his fingers clutched her shoulders they encountered the warm stickiness of blood. He yanked her away from the edge of the door. The rusty latch jerked ruthlessly out of her flesh with a spurt of blood. Pearson didn't care. He shoved her back against the door panel, his hands groping at the waistband of her trousers. His intentions were clear. The prospect filled Mimi with horror and made her even more nauseous than the searing pain in her shoulder. She felt she was going to faint, or be sick, or both. She struggled valiantly to hold on to her senses. There was no one to come to her rescue even if she screamed. Her strength was puny compared with his lean hard body and muscular arms. She sagged in despair. 

Chapter Twenty-three

Pearson had a young wife and family but he revelled in the feel of Mimi's small, neat body. He fastened his mouth on hers with sickening force, taking away what little breath she had; everything went black. Mimi felt his hard bony fingers groping at her stomach, trying to push away her trousers.

Through the mists she recalled a conversation between Alma and Libby. Her knee came up with all the strength she could muster. She was as surprised as Pearson. He recoiled with a furious gasp, clutching himself. Mimi felt her leg was going to collapse. She was trembling violently, but she pulled open the door and slipped through. She sobbed in fear and frustration when the sleeve of her jacket caught in it. She pulled it free and shot the bolt on the outside. She didn't wait to fix the padlock they used at night. She made a limping sprint for her car. Her hands were shaking. She dropped the keys, half sobbing as she fumbled amongst the stones and soil. Her brain hadn't registered that Pearson was locked in the office until someone unbolted the door. Her only thought was to get away and never come back.

Her shoulder was throbbing and she could feel the sticky blood with the tips of her fingers. Her legs were trembling so much she had difficulty pressing the accelerator. As she came into Darlonachie she saw the lights on in the doctor's surgery. Better to ask one of the doctors to look at her shoulder rather than worry her father. He must never hear what had happened.

‘The surgery doesn't start for another quarter of an hour,' the receptionist began, then she saw Mimi swaying and rushed out of her cubicle, yelling, ‘Doctor, Doctor!' It was Doctor Ritchie who ushered Mimi into the consulting room.

‘Put your head down, Mimi,' he said, ‘you'll not feel so faint. However did this happen?'

‘I-I caught it on the door latch.' He helped her ease her arm out of her cardigan but the material from her blouse was caught in the wound. ‘I'm afraid this is going to hurt,' he warned. ‘It is surprisingly deep. It's going to need stitches. What really happened, Mimi?'

She didn't want to think, even less to talk about it. She began to shiver but she didn't make a murmur as he stitched up the jagged cut and put a dressing on.

‘I'll take you across to the house. June will make you a cup of tea. You're not fit to drive. Leave your car here for tonight.' Mimi tried to protest but she was feeling light-headed now. Mimi knew June through her friendship with Libby and their children. Steve had asked her to get at the truth but it was only when they reached Libby's that Mimi burst into tears told them both what had happened.

‘H-he will st-still be locked in the sh-shed …'

‘He deserves to be locked in a prison cell!' Libby declared furiously.

‘No, no!' Mimi stood up in alarm. ‘I don't want Dad to know what happened. I'm not going back there, not ever.' She began to shake again. June frowned.

‘You're suffering from shock, Mimi. I think you ought to get to bed. Didn't Steve tell you to take a hot drink and a couple of aspirins?'

‘Y-yes, he did.'

‘I'll take her home,' Libby said. ‘We'll tell Uncle Willie you've had a bit of a fall.' She knew he would never let her out of the house if he heard about this, but the man deserved to be punished. ‘Are you sure you don't want anyone to know about this, Mimi?'

‘Yes, yes, I'm sure. I-I couldn't bear it. And he has a wife and two children. It would be awful.'

‘Dear Mimi, thinking of other people …' Libby sighed.

Ian Blake returned to find Dick locked in the makeshift office and cursing profusely. He said Mimi had locked him in for a joke. Ian didn't believe him and his suspicions were confirmed when Doctor Ritchie telephoned him with a warning for Dick.

‘Mimi needed stitches in her shoulder. She was in shock but she refuses to report the incident. Tell Mr Pearson I shall have no such scruples if I hear so much as a whisper of anything like this again.'

The following morning Ian Blake arrived at High Bowie. Willie had set off up the hill with his dogs when he arrived so Mimi gave him a cup of tea but she was adamant about giving up her job.

‘I'll sack him,' Ian promised.

‘No. You've told me how good he is at his job and his wife and children would suffer. I only work two mornings a week so I'm resigning now.'

‘Will you keep my accounts if I bring them to you here? Please, Mimi? You've made such a difference to my business. I could bring you all the invoices and accounts once a week.' Mimi agreed to this arrangement so long as he brought them himself.

It was the Saturday afternoon of Christmas Eve when Ian Blake arrived at High Bowie with a gaily wrapped gift for Mimi. She was talking to Peter beside one of the hen houses so Willie invited the young builder into the kitchen while he shouted for Mimi. Willie quirked an eyebrow when he saw Peter frowning at the personable young man handing Mimi a Christmas present.

‘All the employees get a Christmas cockerel,' Ian grinned, ‘but that would be like bringing coal to Newcastle. Anyway my sister reckons all girls like a surprise so she chose this.' Peter seemed to relax at this explanation and he sat down beside Ian at the kitchen table.

‘I shall put it beneath the tree and open it in the morning,' Mimi smiled, ‘but please say thank you to Christine for me.'

‘Christine?' Willie repeated, frowning. ‘Christine Blake? She wouldn't be the wee bairn who used to come for holidays when Mr Blake was farm manager at Home Farm?'

‘Yes, that's right. We both came. Chrissie can't remember much, but I do. Uncle Henry took me everywhere with him. There used to be a cart track just before we came to High Bowie land. He said the track had once been the boundary between the two farms, but two of the best fields from the bottom of High Bowie were put onto Home Farm.'

‘Aye, I've heard that story before, now you mention it,' Willie nodded. ‘It's a pity they took the fields away. We could have done with them now that I'm selling the hill for planting trees.'

‘You've decided to sell then?' Peter asked.

‘Aye, it seems the best thing to do for Mimi's future.'

‘Och, you'll have no need to worry about Mimi's future, Mr Pringle,' Ian said, winking at Mimi and giving the cheeky grin which always showed a dimple in his cheek. ‘I've already asked her to go out with me but this fellow beat me to it.' He looked at Peter with a twinkle in his eye. ‘I'm just waiting for her to get tired of you then I shall be up here every day.'

‘I hope Mimi will never get tired of me,' Peter said without any answering smile, ‘so you'll have a long wait.'

‘Aye, just my luck,' Ian gave an exaggerated sigh. ‘I'd better be off before you throw me out, or give me a black eye.' He wished them all a happy Christmas and went off with a cheery whistle.

Willie seemed to be deep in thought for some time after Ian Blake had gone. He was beginning to think Josh and the rest of the family were right about Mimi being an attractive girl, in spite of her limp. Neither the young builder nor Peter was the kind to pursue a girl for a bit of extra cash.

It was after supper when they were sitting before a blazing fire that he brought up the subject of the cart track again.

‘I'd forgotten about that old track,' he said. ‘It's rough and overgrown now but it could soon be opened up again with Billy's caterpillar tractor. It wouldn't do for a car of course but you'd be all right with the Land Rover, Peter.'

‘I would? Where does it go to?' Peter asked, wondering what was on Willie's mind.

‘It goes across to Darlonside, and it used to go on through the strip of woodland. It came out behind Darlonachie Castle.'

‘I see …' Peter frowned, still at a loss to know what was in Willie's mind. Then he saw the twinkle in his eyes.

‘I know you two have always been good friends, ever since you arrived in the glen, Peter. I'm wondering if it's a bit more than friendship these days.' Willie looked from one to the other and saw Mimi blushing, looking pink and pretty. Pride swelled in his breast. Her happiness meant more to him than anything on earth. ‘Was young Blake right, then?'

Mimi chewed her lower lip but Peter knew he had to seize this opportunity; it had to be a moment for truth. He didn't want to make Willie unhappy but he loved Mimi. He would always love her, and it was becoming impossible to resist the temptation of making love with her.

‘I know Mimi is not nineteen until March,' he said, ‘but I've known for a long time she's the girl I want to marry. I understand you will want the best for her, Willie, but so do I. My future depends on whether Mr McNay will renew my tenancy when the lease is up, and maybe you feel that's not enough security to …'

‘Whisht, laddie!' Willie held up his hand, looking into Peter's earnest brown eyes. He had always liked the lad.

‘Do any of us know how secure our future is? When we came to High Bowie we had a lot less than you have, but we were prepared to work hard to make a success. I know you're not frightened of hard work either so I've no fear on that score. All I want is Mimi's happiness and you've always treated her kindly.' He turned to look at Mimi's flushed face and bright eyes. ‘What about you, lassie? What do you want?'

‘I love Peter, Dad,' she said.

‘Well then I reckon it's time we changed places, lad. I shall have a bit of spare capital when they pay for the land that I'm selling for forestry. They'll not start on this side o' the glen until next August. If you wait until then I reckon we could swap houses. Do you think the factor at Croston would take me on as a tenant for your cottage when you move in here?'

‘Oh but I couldn't …' Mimi turned to Peter, her blue eyes wide and pleading. He squeezed her shoulder and she relaxed against him.

‘It would distress Mimi too much if you were to move out of your home, Willie, and I should feel like a usurper. Couldn't we change bedrooms instead of houses? I could move upstairs and you could move down? Would you be happy with us all under the same roof?'

‘Won't you young folks want a house to yourselves?'

‘If you're willing to share then so are we,' Peter said. ‘I know Mimi would be unhappy thinking of you on your own down at Fellows Cottage. To be honest I wouldn't like it either.'

 ‘Peter's right, Dad. You'd be miserable without your dogs and sheep to see every day. I know that bout of flu took a lot out of you but come the spring you'll be good as new.'

‘We-ell …' Willie frowned. ‘I've worked hard all my life. I can't say I'd enjoy having nothing to do except potter in the garden.'

‘Besides, if you're talking about combining High Bowie and Darlonside there'd be too much work for me on my own,' Peter said. ‘Is that what you were thinking of when you talked about clearing the track?'

‘That was the idea. You could run the two places together, I thought.'

‘But you're not ready to retire yet, Dad …'

‘And I don't want to give up the tenancy. If ever it is to sell I might have a chance to buy the land as a sitting tenant.'

Willie's smile widened as he looked from one young face to the other.

‘I always knew you had ambition, laddie, but you have a kind heart to go with it, and that's a fine combination in a man. I think I'll open that bottle of malt whisky and we'll drink a toast to the future as well as to Christmas. What d'ye say?'

‘Oh Dad, I'm so happy!' Mimi flung herself into his arms and hugged him as she had done as a child. His face softened and he met Peter's eyes over her head.

‘Welcome to the family, Peter,' he said. ‘Will you manage to wait until next autumn for the wedding?' They were more than happy now they could plan for a future together. Having Willie's blessing meant everything to them.

Mimi was nineteen in March and Peter took her to Edinburgh for the day to buy an engagement ring and to meet his sister, Cathy, for lunch. Already everyone knew they were to be married in September. Mimi didn't feel she should have a proper wedding without her mother but both her father and Aunt Victoria insisted Mary would have wanted her to have a day to remember. Mimi had agreed but she insisted it should be family and close friends.

When Cathy joined them for lunch she inspected the new ring and rejoiced with them.

‘I wondered whether you would be my chief bridesmaid, Cathy?' Mimi asked.

‘Oh, Mimi, I'd love that? Are you sure?'

‘Of course we're sure. You might wish you'd refused though when you hear Lucy and Kirsty are desperate to be bridesmaids. Molly says she has only agreed to dress up and be a bridesmaid because she is cousin to both of us but we think she feels quite special.' She grinned. ‘She is a real tomboy, but she has already stated her choice for a dress the colour of primroses. How would you feel about that?'

‘I think it would be lovely. Maybe we could have pale green sashes or something, though I believe it is the bride who decides these things?'

‘I don't mind what anyone wears. I'm just so happy we're going to be married,' Mimi said and her eyes danced as she looked across at Peter.

She's lovely and so innocent, Cathy thought, and she must have had courage to survive the effects of the polio. She met Peter's eyes. He looked happy and contented.

‘I can't tell you how glad I am for both of you,' she said.

‘We shall send Dinah and your father an invitation,' Peter said, ‘though I don't expect either of them to accept. I'd rather they didn't unless they can be happy for us.'

‘We don't see much of each other. Whatever I do it never seems to be right. I've been thinking I might apply for a place in Dumfries to do my midwifery training. Dinah is very scathing about it. She reckons there'll be no need for midwives soon, with the contraceptive pill being made available in this country. She doesn't want babies herself.'