Page 18 of The Shadow of a Laird
Gavin was a keen hunter. Not only could he outdo everyone else, but he was not greedy, and was happy to share his skills with others, which made him very popular. He took a slightly bigger share for himself and gave some to feed the orphans so that they had a good supply of meat.
One day, he had caught five and laid them out on the food preparation table, having already skinned them.
“For the orphans,” he had told Maura. “I have kept the skins, we can use them for other purposes. I’m sure you can think of something, Maura.”
When Maura saw his offering, she gasped and looked at him with wide eyes. “These will last for days,” she had said in wonder. “I cannae thank ye enough, Gavin!” She was about to give him a hug, then thought better of it—neither of them were yet sure of where they stood with each other. “I will make a big pot o’ stew. Oh, I cannae wait tae see their wee faces!”
Gavin's heart had swelled with joy as he looked at her shining face, and thereafter he had tried to hunt as many as he could.That way he would be able, at least a little, to make up for the casual cruelty he had practised in the past.
Now, as he stood looking at Brodie, he laughed. “I don’t have much time,” he told the little man. “But since you asked so politely…”
Brodie laughed. “Aye—because ye have tae tart yourself up for the ladies. Dinnae give me any excuses,” Then he dragged Gavin away by the sleeve of his jacket.
Maura watched him out of the corner of her eye. He was a very good man, but still such a mystery.
The next day was Sunday, and although the tavern was open, it was usually much quieter, since many people went to church that day. Gavin was usually off work for most of the day and took the opportunity to wash himself and his clothes, clean his room and air his bedclothes. If there was one thing he could not stand, it was being dirty.
Rain was threatening that day, but he decided that he would take the chance to go hunting anyway, although none of his friends were available to go with him. He felt restless and unable to sit still, and the situation with Maura was still causing him to feel awkward and uneasy.
He had planned to lie in bed with a book Maura had given him. However, when he tried to do so he found himself reading the same page over and over again, so he rose from bed and went through to the bar to pour himself some of his favourite beer.
Then he saw his sling lying on the chair beside his bed and abruptly changed his plans. There was always a need for more meat, and he could not bear to be idle for the whole day, so hedecided to use his time constructively. He deliberately put aside the thought that he would be avoiding Maura at the same time.
It was still dry when he went outside, but within minutes the first drops of rain began to fall. The sky was becoming darker and darker, but Gavin did not even think about turning back. If he got wet, so be it. He had survived before.
Unfortunately, the birds and rabbits made themselves scarce that day, and after an hour of fruitless watching and waiting, Gavin decided to go back inside. The temperature was dropping and darkness was closing in; he would have to hurry back.
He had reached the edge of the clump of pine trees in which he was hiding when he heard a familiar voice. “Gavin!” it called.
Gavin turned at once and saw the last person he had expected to see. Crouching in the half-dark, under the branches of a pine tree. Archie, the Captain of the Guard, was watching him. “Good tae see ye, Gavin,” he said warmly as he moved forward to greet him.
Gavin rushed forward and tried to embrace him, but Archie pushed him away and looked around fearfully. “I need tae talk tae ye,” he said urgently. He was soaked to the skin and looked terrified.
“Archie, it’s so good to see you! I thought you were dead.” Gavin said in disbelief.
“Nae time tae talk here.” Archie’s voice was grim. “There is a wee ruined shepherd’s hut near here. Follow me.”
He plunged into the trees again until they came to what was left of the building. The stone walls were disintegrating, and what was left of the thatch on the roof had giant holes in it, but it was better than nothing, Gavin thought. They sat on a pile of straw in the corner, where there was enough roof left to shelter them from the downpour.
Archie began to talk quickly. “They nearly killed me,” he said grimly. “They gave me a good kickin’ an’ locked me up fora while, but I still have good friends at the castle who helped me escape. I dinnae know if anybody’s followin’ me.” He looked around him warily.
Gavin felt a bolt of rage shoot through him. Archie was a good man and did not deserve such treatment, and all because of his loyalty to the Forsyths. Gavin felt ashamed that he should have to go through this.
“How did you know I was here?” Gavin asked.
“I sent ye tae the village,” Archie replied. “The news that a tall, good-lookin’ well-spoken lad was workin’ at theGoose an’ Ganderdidnae take long tae spread. The elders spent a lot o’ time lookin’ for your corpse. They thought ye had jumped over the wall, but they couldnae find it, so they worked out that ye are still alive. They have been searchin for ye ever since. That is why we must be very careful.”
He paused for a moment, as if he was thinking carefully about what to say next, then he looked up, and the expression on his face frightened Gavin with its intensity.
“They are goin’ tae send out some men tae kill ye, Gavin, an’ I dinnae think ye will have tae wait long for them. Ye should get away as quick as ye can.”
Gavin was silent for a few moments. His thoughts had immediately flown to Maura. He had to warn her; they might assume that since she had employed him she knew a lot about him and kill her anyway, even if they could not prove it.
Moreover, he did not think that anyone who had succeeded in taking over his castle would have much trouble with Maura and the staff of her establishment. Yes, she was a strong, fierce and determined woman, but she was not made of iron.
“I think ye should go an’ see Laird Jamieson,” Archie urged, seeing Gavin’s hesitation. “He an’ your father were good pals, an’ there was even talk o’ his daughter, Elspeth, an’ you gettin’ married at one time, was there no’?”
“Yes, there was.” Gavin sighed.
