The Lost Soul by Ceci Giltenan

Author:Ceci Giltenan
Language: eng
Format: azw3, epub
ISBN: 9781949407075
Publisher: Duncurra LLC
Published: 2020-03-19T04:00:00+00:00

Chapter 5

Margaret woke before dawn.

She hadn’t slept well. She’d been awake long into the night. So many things were on her mind. Her thoughts whirled relentlessly.

It was all too much for her to sort out.

Finally, before the sun had even peeked over the horizon, she rose and started her day. By the time the sky was light enough for her to tell that it was going to be a clear day, she had most of her morning work completed.

Noah had said, when the bad weather broke, he’d help move their sheep from the high common land down to the better grass on their own fields. Therefore, it was possible he’d arrive this morning. Just in case, she filled costrels with water and put apples, bread, cold meat and cheese in a small leather bag so they would have something for the midday meal.

As she was finishing she heard her grandfather call, “Good morning, Noah.”

“Good morning, John. ‘Tis a fine day for a ride up to the high pasture.”

She wrapped a plaid around her shoulders and left the cottage carrying the costrels and the bag of victuals. There he sat on his horse’s back. Handsome didn’t begin to describe him and her heart fluttered as it always did on seeing him.

Two herding dogs sat on the ground beside him.

Her grandfather hadn’t had a herder for years. They usually kept about fifteen sheep. For a small flock, a herding dog was helpful, but not a necessity. Being able to ride up to the sheep on a horse was nice too. In recent years she and her grandparents had walked to the high pasture, and herded their sheep back down. They hadn’t had a horse for about three years. Again, horses were useful beasts, but it was possible to tend a small farm without one. They borrowed oxen when they plowed their fields.

Then she was struck by an awareness that she was certain the other version if herself had never had—they were poor. Not dreadfully so, but they did without luxuries like dogs and horses. She glanced down at her bare feet. Shoes were another luxury which she didn’t wear in the summer so they would last longer.

Margaret also realized this state of affairs hadn’t come on suddenly. Her grandfather had been able to do less and less each year.

Noah interrupted her musing. “Ye look very pensive, lass. Is something bothering ye?”

“She’s probably just a bit tired,” said her grandfather. “She’s been up since well before daylight and has left me nothing to do.”

Noah frowned. “We don’t have to go today. I’ll fetch Da’s sheep and come back tomorrow.”

She shook her head. “Nay, I’m fine. I’m not tired.” A bald-faced lie. “I’m just wondering if I packed enough food.” Another lie, but she couldn’t very well share her revelation with them.

“I’m sure there’s more than enough. We should be on our way.” He reached a hand out to her and pulled her up onto the horse in front of him. “John, we’ll be back before dark.

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