Page 45 of A Scottish Love Story
‘I’m not worried, Ciaran. I trust you completely,’ Roxie said simply.
They slept soundly, curled together, secure and warm in their love. It was a good two hours later before either of them stirred.
‘What do you think your mother will say to our news,’ Roxie asked sleepily when she realised Ciaran was also awake.
‘It’s her birthday tomorrow. Oh, no, it’s today now! Our news will be the best birthday present we could have given my mother. She loves you like a daughter already, Roxie. Sometimes I think fate brought you to us, and yet it is as though she has had you made to order and sent by special delivery.’
‘I do hope you’re right that she will be pleased with our news, because she has been as kind to me as any mother could be.’
The second half of the journey passed more quickly than the first, with the roads less busy as they travelled north. Dawn was beginning to break on another May morning as they drew into the farmyard at Oakfield.
Chapter 15
‘Here we are, home again,’ Ciaran said with a broad smile. ‘Don’t get out until I turn on the outside lights, Roxie. Billy will not be here for nearly an hour yet even if he gets here promptly at five o’clock.’
‘We seem to have made good time so we might have time to put the six milking cows through the parlour before he comes?’
‘We?’ Ciaran laughed. ‘I thought you would be heading for the house and a few hours’ proper sleep now.’
‘I’d never leave you to unload them on your own. Everything will be strange to them. We’ll get them out together. Then, if you agree, I’ll help you milk them.’
Ciaran leaned across and drew her close to give her a lingering kiss.
‘I feel I’m the luckiest man in the world, Roxie,’ he said softly before he climbed down from the lorry. A few minutes later, he opened her door and held out his arms. She slipped into them as though she did it every day. He held her close while he kissed her again.
Neither of them dreamed of the news and shock awaiting them.
* * *
‘We shall have to unload the four young calves first. They’re at the back,’ Ciaran said. ‘I phoned Billy yesterday evening before he went home, and asked him and Vic to bed one of the calf boxes for the four calves and a large clean pen for the older animals so everything should be ready.’ He frowned. ‘Billy is not the obliging fellow he used to be. He sounded rather disgruntled to hear I’d bought more milk cows.’
‘I expect they might make a bit of a mess when they see a strange place and a different parlour. He will be even lesspleased at that unless we can wash things down before he arrives,’ Roxie said.
‘The sound of the milking machine and getting cake in their troughs will help them feel familiar and we’ll soon clear up. Once they’re milked, they can have the rest of the day to eat and sleep in comfort in a well-bedded pen.’
It was easier than either of them had expected and they were finishing milking the six new cows when Billy arrived.
‘I’ll take some of this warm milk and feed the four calves we brought,’ Roxie said, leaving Ciaran to discuss the new animals with his dairyman.
She had finished feeding the calves and checking they were well bedded in clean straw and had a supply of water, when she saw a car drawing up beside the house. She was surprised when Donald got out. Ciaran was also crossing the yard, after helping Billy wash down the parlour after the six strange cows had left a trail of mess in their nervousness at being in new surroundings. They restarted the engine to start the main milking, a quarter of an hour later than usual, but Billy should still be finished before the milk tanker arrived around seven thirty to eight o’clock. They went together to see why Donald was out and about so early in the morning. They stared in dismay when they saw how pale and strained he looked.
‘What’s wrong?’ Roxie asked urgently. ‘Is it the baby?’
‘No, no, he’s fine. Oh, Ciaran, it -it’s your m-mother. She — she fell in the kitchen during the night. I — I have just come back from the hospital.’
Ciaran stared at him in concern. ‘Fell?’
‘H-h-hospital?’ Roxie stammered.
Donald pushed his fingers through his tousled hair and looked as though he might faint with exhaustion.
‘We had better go inside,’ Roxie said. ‘Then you can sit down and tell us what happened. I knew I should not have gone away,especially for so long. H-how is Amy now? Can we see her?’ She glanced at Ciaran. She knew how tired he was after the long drive, but now his face was white and drawn.
‘Oh, God,’ he said. ‘I’m the one who should have been here for her.’
Roxie was blaming herself, and near to tears as she ushered them both into the kitchen and sat them down.
‘What happened?’ she asked Donald as she automatically pushed the kettle onto the hot plate of the Aga to boil.
