The Silver Link by Gwen Kirkwood

Author:Gwen Kirkwood [Kirkwood, Gwen]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Lume Books
Published: 2015-11-18T05:00:00+00:00

EIGHT

The following morning they had just finished breakfast when the telephone rang. Helen Armstrong answered it on the kitchen extension. Her eyes widened and she pressed the silence button.

`It is Allen Lawson's uncle, the one who has the haulage contracting business. He sounds perturbed…` Roguie took the receiver but as he listened his expression became grim. He frowned at Elspeth abstractedly.

`Yes, I shall check them myself. You are absolutely certain they are green? Yes, Abe. Thanks for letting me know. I shall go in myself - now.` He gave his mother no time for questions. `Change of plans. I have to go into town,` he announced curtly. `Oh Roguie, can I beg a lift to collect my car?` Elspeth asked eagerly. `The garage telephoned to say it was ready before I left Everanlea, but I haven't had an opportunity to collect it.`

`Very well. Be ready as soon as I have changed.` His brusque manner did not alter during the journey to Langholm and he offered no explanation for his extraordinary mood. He drove in silence, his jaw clenched. At the garage his haste to be free of her company was barely concealed and Elspeth's voice was decidedly cool as she thanked him briefly for the lift.

`If only you had trusted me…` he muttered, already revving the engine. Elspeth slammed the door shut, thankful she had found the strength not to trust him last night. He was unpredictable. He was unreasonable.

Elspeth's own irritation was soon dispelled by the pleasure of being behind the wheel of her own little car again. On the spur of the moment she decided to drive into Dumfries to sort out a query over the car's insurance in person. The contract shearers' help had speeded up the Arnhill clipping. She was not expected back at Everanlea for at least one more day. It would be a good chance to visit her father too and discuss Gran Elliot's health. She sighed happily. It seemed ages since she had seen Ian and Stuart, her young brothers.

Thirty miles later, a glance at the fuel gauge made Elspeth pull into the petrol station on the outskirts of Dumfries. It was an automatic reaction to glance in the rear mirror before opening the door. Her eyes widened. For one wild moment she thought she saw the Arnhill car coming out of the narrow road beside the filling station. The main road was busy and the driver of a cattle lorry waved the green car into the stream of traffic so that he could turn into the road which lead to the market. Elspeth chided herself for imagining things.

After she had dealt with the insurance query Elspeth was just walking past the ancient building known as the Mid-Steeple in the centre of the town when a familiar voice called her name. She spun round, her face alight with pleasure at such an unexpected encounter. Mairi Raines had been a close friend since the first day they had both passed through the imposing red-sandstone portals of Dumfries Academy - the school where J.

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