Page 44 of A Scottish Love Story
‘Oh, Ciaran, it would be a dream come true,’ she whispered huskily. He didn’t care if they were in a cowshed where anyone could come in, he lifted her off her feet and kissed her passionately. When he glanced up, he saw the man from the AI company standing at the end of the shed grinning. He gave them a thumbs-up, then turned on his heel.
* * *
The sale went extremely well. Ciaran was successful in buying six of the cows he had marked, including Roxie’s favourite. He had also bought an older cow on a whim after a remark Harry had made in his youthful wisdom. As the young man had predicted, she was a low price, due to her age, but she was in calf to a well-bred bull, and she had a fine pedigree as well as good milk records, so the calf alone could prove valuable in time. He went on to buy the two in-calf heifers. He was well pleased with his day’s purchases, even though he had spent considerably more money than he had intended.
It had been an incredible day in so many ways — and there she was. Roxie. He’d managed to catch her on her own. Resisting the urge to pull her into his arms, he grinned at her instead, with no doubt a very goofy smile on his face. He asked if she’d like him to take her furniture back with them while he had the lorry.
‘You would never have room. I’ve been worrying how you’ll manage to transport so many animals home.’
‘I was drunk with love, my darling. If I could, I would have bought them all for you. Harry says there are four young calves,still unregistered. I bought the mother of one of them. He said the other day you told him you would take them all with you if you’d had anywhere to keep them, so if we can fit them in comfortably we will take them too.’
‘What size is your lorry? It must be huge!’
‘It is. It is far too big. To tell the truth, this is only the second time I’ve driven it with the container on. I bought it second-hand to use as a flatbed truck for carting straw at harvest time. I buy straw from Kelso and North Yorkshire. We never have enough for bedding in our area. I have a man who drives for me if I’m too busy to go myself. Normally the transport costs more than the straw, so it’s a help to have my own lorry. The elderly man who sold it to me included the container for free. It had been his son’s enterprise until he was killed in a motorbike accident. It broke his father’s heart.’
‘That’s tragic . . .’
‘I know, but that’s the reason I have such a big lorry. So shall we load your furniture first, then I can put the partition up to protect it from the cows?’
‘If you’re certain we can get everything in.’
‘I can. Maggie said I was to tell you she’s cooked us a proper dinner, which we must eat before we set off for home. There is no hurry because Harry is going to milk the cows and the roads will be quieter in the evening.’ Resisting no longer, he drew her close and gave her a hug and a lingering kiss. ‘I can’t tell you how happy you have made me, my darling Roxie.’
* * *
Much later, Roxie was amazed how little room her furniture took, with Beth’s cousin helping to carry the larger pieces and carefully pack everything with sheets and blankets for protection. Harry waited to help load the cows safely, then tuck up the four young calves in a small pen well bedded with straw atthe very back of the lorry. Roxie had a feeling Harry was near to tears as he saw them all loaded. She wondered if Ciaran thought so too because he said, ‘Keep in touch with us, laddie. Call to see us if you’re up our way. If ever I need a herdsman, I’ll let you know in case you happen to be looking for a change of job. Isn’t that right, Roxie?’
‘If you say so. Good luck, Harry, in whatever you do, and thank you for being such a willing helper.’
Roxie felt near to tears herself now almost all the sheds were echoing and empty, the last remnants of her father’s working life were gone. Tommy sensed her feelings. He felt empty himself now that his father’s beloved herd had been scattered to various parts of the country. He turned to hug Roxie and whispered huskily, ‘He would have understood, and forgiven me, I hope. He would have been so proud of all you have done to make such a successful sale, Sissy. You made it a fine conclusion to his life’s work and achievement.’
Roxie nodded, blinking back her tears but too full of emotion to speak.
Tommy cleared his throat and urged Harry towards the kitchen, telling him dinner was waiting for them, before he turned one last time to give Roxie another hug, almost reluctant to see her leave Willowbrook again, but he promised to keep in touch regularly from now on and wished her well for the future. He shook hands with Ciaran, promising to travel up to Scotland for their wedding.
* * *
Darkness was falling as Ciaran drove the large lorry steadily up the motorway. He and Roxie discussed the sale, the events of the day, and the people Ciaran had met and looked forward to meeting again when they came up to Scotland for their wedding.
‘I can hardly believe we shall be planning a wedding so soon,’ Roxie said a little breathlessly. ‘I hardly dared believe you would ever want to marry me, Ciaran.’
‘My darling Roxie, you got under my skin the first day you arrived, even if I was a bad-tempered brute. Every day since, I’ve wanted more and more of you. I can hardly believe it. Even now, I can’t believe how lucky I am. And I like your brother. I think he’s had a rotten deal, even though he does say it was his own fault.’
‘Oh, I’m so glad you think you can be friends. It will take him a long while to get over this episode, I think.’
‘I suspect that lovely lassie, Beth, might help him put his past behind him,’ Ciaran said shrewdly. ‘Your friend, Maggie, was overjoyed when she heard we were getting married. They think a lot of you, those two women.’
‘I have known Maggie most of my life and she couldn’t have been kinder or more helpful when Mum took ill. She never let us down.’ In spite of the excitement, gradually they both began to yawn as the engine purred steadily along.
‘I think we should stop and have a rest,’ Roxie said, knowing Ciaran must be even more tired than she was herself.
‘I agree. We’ll look for the next road services. I don’t want to stop in a layby in case some scoundrel opens the doors to let the cows out for sheer devilment.’
‘I never thought of that.’
It was not many miles further before they came to a suitable service station with plenty of space for large transports. They went to the toilets before they settled down. Although there were lights on all night, Ciaran clasped her hand all the way to the door. He was waiting outside to escort her back and he couldn’t resist giving her a quick kiss the moment she appeared.
As they got back to the lorry, he said a little diffidently, ‘I’ll lay two blankets on the fold-down bed and open up my sleepingbag so it will act as a quilt to cover us. We shall have enough room if we cuddle up close.’ He gave her a tender kiss. ‘I’m too tired to do anything but sleep, so don’t worry, my darling.’
