Adam by Cathy MacRae

Author:Cathy MacRae [MacRae, Cathy]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Amazon: B0175G70MC
Goodreads: 27385559
Publisher: Short Dog Press
Published: 2015-10-28T16:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 10

We spent a couple of hours drawing water and repairing the gate to the little garden. Once the ground warmed, if she stayed here near Strathbogie, she would need a way to keep rabbits and the like from nibbling her plants. For all my admonishments, the fact was it would be some time before she and the bairn could travel, and they would need food.

We waded through the sheep, checking for foot rot and winter sores. But the fleeces were clean, and we dinnae find a lame one in the bunch, thanks to William for keeping their pen clean and well-stocked with dry straw. Pol nipped in and out, keeping the sheep neatly separated as we worked our way through. No matter what she now felt toward me, Pol was a dedicated herder.

The ewes, due to start lambing any day, milled about, bleating their agitation as we sorted through the flock. One particularly grumpy old ewe butted William hard with her bony head and he slipped in the loose straw. I saw him go down, heard his shout of alarm. The noise and sudden movement startled the already anxious sheep, and they jammed together for safety—right on top of William.

I waded through the sea of wooly bodies as Pol darted past me. She faced off with the auld besom, holding her away from William. Catching sight of William’s shirt, I plunged my arms downward and caught him by his collar. Dragging him up, I set him on his feet. His clothing was rumpled and stained with the muck of the stable floor, and his hat hung askew over his forehead. But his eyes glinted fiercely from beneath the brim with displeasure, his jaw clenched.

“Awd biddies,” he muttered darkly as he dusted himself off and shoved his hat back in place.

I laughed. “Ye can say damn this once, William. I’ll not tell yer auntie.”

“When will I be tall like ye and my da?” he complained. “The auld besom wouldnae have taken ye down.”

I eyed him thoughtfully. “Ye grew fast as a wee lad, so I’d say `tis time for ye to take off and grow again. I predict ye will be a strappin’ lad in a few years’ time.”

William squared his shoulders as though his growth spurt was imminent. I motioned to the sheep. “We’ll let the lot out for a bit of sunshine for the afternoon and put them away before dark.”

The sheep bounded through the open doorway, not needing Pol’s encouragement, and settled in to finding what bits of vegetation the melting snow uncovered. The sun warmed as the day progressed and beat down on the back of my neck as William and I did a few more odd jobs. Just after the sun crested above us, Mairi called to us from the doorway.

The lad and I stomped into the house, careful to remove our boots at the door. A noon meal was laid out on the table, fresh bread and some cheese next to the bacon I hadn’t eaten earlier.

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