Rhanna by Christine Marion Fraser

Author:Christine Marion Fraser [Fraser, Christine Marion]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Hodder & Stoughton
Published: 2013-02-27T23:00:00+00:00

PART FIVE

SPRING 1934

ELEVEN

It had been a winter of severe winds tempered by mild damp spells. A short, cold snap in February brought the deer down from the hills and it was quite usual to see them sharing a potash from the same pail as an unruffled cow.

Dodie kept a special little supply of hay for the deer. Strewn a few yards from his cottage it attracted a number of the gentle-eyed, gracious creatures which he loved to watch.

Dodie was very contented with his lot these days. He had acquired several hens who supplied him with his breakfast eggs; as well as Ealasaid, he had a ewe in lamb. Fergus had given him the sheep in return for the horseshoe which he said had helped him to get well.

When March came the ewe gave birth to twin lambs and all three were housed cosily with Ealasaid because Dodie couldn’t bear the idea of the baby sheep weathering the high winds. The ewe and her family trotted after him like devoted dogs and he shouted at them or waved his arms but to no avail. Inwardly his heart brimmed over with love for his animals and he strode over hill and moor in his flapping raincoat and flopping wellingtons with the sheep plodding faithfully behind.

He was helping with the lambing at Laigmhor and three figures in the field watched his coming.

‘Dodie had a little lamb . . .’ chanted Shona, giggling.

Mathew shook his head. ‘Ach, he’ll never sell the damty things. He’ll make pets o’ them and keep them forever! It’s wondering I am you gave him the yowe, McKenzie.’

Fergus looked at the stooping tattered figure whose mouth was forming the familiar ‘He breeah!’

‘He has more in him than meets the eye,’ said Fergus quietly. ‘Dodie is smelly, dirty, and eccentric, but his heart’s as big as his head! When he came to see me . . . the time of the accident, he left behind his stink but he also left behind his faith and I needed all I could get then. He’s a cratur nearer to God than any of those kirk-going hypocrites who talk behind each other’s backs. Aye, Dodie’s a good man.’

Mathew said nothing. It was hard-going, working side by side with Fergus. Mathew was grieve now and honoured, yet awed, that he had been given such a responsible position. He was eager to please, yet in his own reserved way tried to appear nonchalant before Fergus. He was also embarrassed at having to give orders to men twice his age yet they had been pleased that he had been given the job. He was the likeliest choice. The other men had their specific skills whereas he knew a little about everything. It was what he didn’t know that frightened him. He was marrying in the summer, the little cottage that had been Hamish’s awaiting him and his bride. Fergus had given Maggie the option of staying on but she was unable to bear Rhanna without Hamish and had moved back to Edinburgh to live with a sister.

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