Page 65 of A Scottish Love Story
‘No, I haven’t. Tommy mainly used two bulls his father had bred, but when we did use AI, a person from the company came and did it.’
‘Well, if you’re still here six months from now, and you would like to have a go, give me a reminder and I will arrange for you to go on a training course. Billy never wanted to do anything like that. I usually do it myself, but it would be handy to have someone else who could do it if I was away, even for half a day. It’s important to get the timing right.’
Chapter 20
Ciaran had rarely acted on impulse when it came to his business, especially the care of his dairy herd, but he had been impressed by Harry’s knowledge and caring at the Willowbrook sale. Then he had seemed genuinely eager to see the cows when he came with Tommy for Roxie’s birthday surprise. He had automatically helped with the milking without any prompting, so it was clear he was not lazy. Now the month’s trial was over and Ciaran knew he would be very disappointed if Harry decided he wanted to move back south.
During the first two weeks, Ciaran had made a point of being at every milking with Harry, but he had no doubts about his ability, or about his hygiene, something which had sometimes irked him with Billy when he was in a hurry to get finished. Fortunately, Harry seemed happy and settled, and an added bonus was that he got on well with seventeen-year-old Vic, answering his questions, and encouraging the youngster to use his initiative and learn to drive the tractor now he was of age for a licence.
‘I’m sure we could have a honeymoon abroad, Roxie, now that we know Harry intends to stay,’ Ciaran said. ‘I feel instinctively that I can trust his reliability. Do you think it would be worth trying for a late booking?’
‘We can’t do that. I don’t have a passport,’ Roxie said. ‘In any case, I have seen so little of Scotland I am looking forward to exploring, just the two of us.’
‘Oh, I’m looking forward to exploring too, just the two of us, but it’s not the countryside I have in mind,’ he said with a wicked grin. ‘Ah, Roxie, I do love the rosy colour rising in your cheeks. I wonder if I can get you to blush all over?’ he said teasingly.
* * *
Roxie’s colour deepened when she thought of the birthday present Lucy had made for her. It was the finest pale blue silk, alluringly transparent, or almost, with only lace ruffles for the tiny sleeves and edging the low neckline. She had not shown it to anyone, even Jenny when she had come one afternoon to try on the dress Lucy had made for her as matron of honour, but she had been full of praise for Lucy’s ability as a maker of stylish dresses. Roxie had proudly showed Jenny and Amy the lovely wedding dress she was borrowing from Lucy.
‘Oh, my word, lassie, this is beautiful.’ Amy had gently stroked the heavy slipper satin. ‘It looks very expensive.’
‘It was,’ Roxie said ruefully. ‘Lucy said it would be a shame to only wear it once so she was pleased when I told her I would be honoured to borrow such a dress if I ever found a husband. She said she would put it away for me when my turn came. I didn’t think she had really meant it until she reminded me. She said it was probably the most expensive wedding dress her mother could find. I think she was a little hurt because she felt it was to make up for her mother not coming home to help her make the wedding arrangements.’
‘Oh dear.’ Amy frowned. ‘Were her parents not at the wedding, then?’
‘Yes, they arrived home two nights before the big day, with a very expensive double string of pearls.’ Roxie’s tone was dry. She felt no amount of money could make up for a mother’s love and her presence on such an important occasion. ‘Lucy never moaned or criticised, but I sensed she would have preferred to have had her mother’s help and support. She had to arrange the reception and all the wedding arrangements and invitations on her own. Fortunately, Steve and his parents helped wherever they could. Her grandmother was too frail by then to be any help. In fact, she died three months after the wedding. She lefther house to Lucy, and a lovely tribute saying what a blessing her cheery company had been in her declining years.’
‘Ah, that was nice,’ Amy said warmly. ‘She would have been grateful for Lucy’s youthful presence in her home.’
‘Yes, Lucy really appreciated it.’ Roxie smiled. ‘But she suspected her mother was quite miffed. She took it as a criticism of herself because she rarely spent time with her mother. Most of her time was spent travelling abroad with Lucy’s father as soon as Lucy was old enough to go to the grammar school, and could stay with her grandmother. I’m not sure what his work is, but it is something for the government. They are quite wealthy.’
‘Oh, dear, I hope it didn’t cause any estrangement between mother and daughter.’
‘No, I don’t think so. Lucy and Steve are very happy together anyway. That is the main thing.’
‘I am looking forward to meeting your friends when they come on holiday, Roxie. I hope you have invited them for at least one meal with us.’
Jenny chimed in. ‘Oh, yes, you must do that. I’d love to meet them, too, and their little girls. They are wearing the same cornflower blue as us, aren’t they?’
‘Yes, they are.’
* * *
It was a beautiful autumn day at the beginning of September and Roxie was a mixture of excitement and nervousness. The wedding was far bigger than anything she had ever contemplated. Tommy told her that all their old friends from their Young Farmers’ Club days were keen to come. There were too many for a minibus, so they had hired a small coach and booked themselves and the driver in at the hotel. She knew Tommy had done the same for himself, Beth and Maggie, but the three of them were coming up the day before and spendingthe night with Ciaran so that Tommy would be on hand to travel with Roxie to the church and give her away. Ciaran, Donald and most of their friends were wearing their kilts. Lucy had been delighted when she’d heard that. Donald’s parents were also booked in at the hotel for the night. They planned to take care of Peter and put him to bed in their room when he got too tired to watch the dancing.
‘Everything seems to be falling into place,’ Amy said with satisfaction. ‘I am so happy to be here and to be able to enjoy Ciaran’s wedding day at last.’
As a tribute to her, and also in appreciation of her remarkable recovery, the ladies of the church had asked if they could decorate the church for the wedding and preserve many of the floral decorations towards the harvest thanksgiving the following week. Both Amy and Roxie were overjoyed by the results and the effort they must have put in to transform the little stone church into a glorious floral splendour. Most of the regular members of the congregation knew this would probably be the largest wedding they had witnessed for several years. The Baxters were well respected in the parish and had always been generous supporters of their local church.
When Roxie caught a glimpse through the open doors, she was stunned to see the church filled to capacity.
‘Where can they have come from?’ she whispered to Tommy, her hand trembling on his arm. ‘Neither of us have many family members.’ Tommy covered her hand with his firm warm grip to steady her.
‘You both have many friends, sis, all wishing you happiness,’ he whispered back. ‘You should be proud. Walk tall, walk straight...’ He hummed softly, close to her ear, and grinned. Then she recognised Mr Jamieson from the carol service. He was one of the two elders welcoming them in at the door. He gave her a big smile and all his good wishes before she and Tommybegan to walk slowly down the aisle towards Ciaran and Donald, who looked smart in their kilts. As they drew near, Ciaran half turned towards them. His eyes widened, his tense expression softened, filled with love and wonder at the beautiful vision walking towards him. Watching them from the front seat, Amy smiled happily, even as she wiped a tear from her eye.
When Ciaran clasped her hand in his, all Roxie’s nervousness disappeared and she gave him a radiant smile.
The country hotel where they held the reception afterwards had been Amy’s choice. Roxie remembered how Tommy had tried to persuade Amy to let him pay for the reception, as their father would have done, especially when so many friends of his and Roxie’s had travelled north to attend.
