Free The Laird of Lochandee by Gwen Kirkwood

for the leather case from the back of the cupboard. She packed a night shirt and a change of clothes from Ross’s chest. She took his tweed suit and a clean shirt over her arm and carried them all to the kitchen, then she added the letters and locked the case. She hurried out to help with the milking.
    â€˜Where’s Rachel?’ Ross asked immediately.
    â€˜I’m taking her place today. The poor lassie is not very well.’ Ross was surprised at her apparent sympathy. He smiled warmly.
    â€˜She was a bit pale and quiet yesterday morning.’
    â€˜Yes, she has not been her usual self,’ Meg agreed. ‘Perhaps she has been working too hard with the harvest taking so long to bring in.’
    â€˜We had better get on with the milking,’ Gertrude said briskly. ‘I have a lot to do today. Meg, I want you to take a basket of eggs over to Mrs McNaught straight after breakfast. She’s going to send me a sitting of duck eggs in exchange.’
    â€˜But I thought you were getting them ready for next week.’
    â€˜No, you must go today. They are all ready. Go straight after breakfast.’ Meg nodded resignedly. It was no use arguing with her mother, but she knew for certain that the exchange of eggs had been planned for next week.
    There were still three more cows to milk when Gertrude followed Ross to the dairy. She watched him empty his pail of milk over the ridged water cooler.
    â€˜I’ve a surprise for you, Ross – a telegram. You remember Jim MacDonald, my second cousin, who farms near the Border?’
    â€˜Yes, I remember him,’ Ross frowned, ‘Is he coming back to visit?’
    â€˜No. There’s a farm on his estate to rent. He wants you to go and have a look at it. It’s a fine opportunity for a fit young man. It’s being offered rent free for the first year.’ She hoped it was still vacant. ‘He will meet you at Lockerbie station today.’
    â€˜Today?’ Ross echoed in dismay. ‘I can’t go today.’
    â€˜Yes, you can. If you take the milk to the station instead of Willie you can travel on the milk train to Kilmarnock. Jim travelled from there down to Dumfries, and then to Lockerbie.’
    â€˜But who will bring back the pony and trap from the station?’
    â€˜Ach, you know as well as I do that Dolly could find her way home from the station blindfold.’
    â€˜We-ell that’s true, I suppose,’ Ross agreed slowly.
    â€˜I have not said anything to your father. You know Doctor Jardine said he should not get upset or too excited. Time enough for that when you have seen the place and had time to consider. Jim will give you lodgings. I’ve packed the suitcase with a few things for you. Your suit is in the kitchen. You can change in the wee back room as soon as you’ve had your porridge. That way you will not disturb your father or waken poor Rachel.’
    â€˜Rachel. I must talk to her …’
    â€˜You can talk when you return. She will be better by then. Don’t dally or you’ll be late.’ Gertrude reverted to her usual abrupt manner. She was tense with the effort of planning.
    Ross was astonished by her encouragement. He had believed she would thwart any opportunity he might ever have to farm on his own. Excitement rose in him but he wished he could tell Rachel. She was too young to marry yet, but if he could establish himself as a tenant farmer he could take a wife sooner than he had dreamed possible. He wanted her at his side more than anyone else in the world. She had dispelled the isolation he had often felt, even within his family. They laughed together and talked together, they were friends as well as lovers. All his thoughts were on Rachel and their future as he blindly followed the plans Gertrude had made for him.
    Cameron was still sound asleep when Meg came for her breakfast.
    â€˜Is Father ill too?’ she asked in concern.
    â€˜Just a bad