Free Empty Nets and Promises by Denzil Meyrick

down, Hoynes shouted, ‘Don’t be daft, Iain. Get back in here. We’ll take Marshall tae Kinloch in Geordie’s lobster boat.’
    â€˜I’d rather take my chances up here on the pass than navigate the Mull with you at the helm, Sandy.’ He stormed off, tripping over a small boulder, but managed to keep his feet. ‘The McKinnons’ farm is just on the other side, and they’re good folk – unlike you.’
    The fisherman watched him clamber over a large boulder, and soon he was out of sight. ‘You’re a braver man than I gied you credit for, Iain Watson. Who wid have thought you’d bear a grudge a’ these years. I hope you don’t hear the skirl o’ the pipes before you get tae safety – or a boulder doesn’t land on your heid,’ he said to himself. He turned the vehicle round and headed back to the bothy.
    Marshall mumbled incoherently as Hamish and Grant carried him out of the back of the Land Rover and down the beach towards a small stone jetty where Geordie’s lobster boat was moored. Though the rain had eased off, the sea was still angry, whipped into white-horse waves by the strong wind.
    It took the help of the two airmen as well as Hoynes, Hamish, Grant and Geordie to manhandle the injured man aboard the small vessel safely, as the three women looked on anxiously.
    â€˜Are you sure about this, Sandy?’ asked Grant, a worried look on his face.
    â€˜As sure as I can be. Your man here’s lost a lot o’ blood. I learned in the RNR never tae take a blow tae the heid lightly. In any event, between me, Hamish and Geordie, we’ve damn near a hunner years o’ seafaring under oor belts. If we canna get him tae the Cottage Hospital in Kinloch, who can?’
    â€˜I’d be happier coming, too,’ Grant replied.
    â€˜Oh no, you’re not! You’re staying with me!’ yelled Maggie. ‘It’s bad enough losing my father in a mission of mercy, without waving a hearty goodbye to my intended.’
    â€˜See, there’s an example o’ loyalty for you, skipper,’ said Hamish. ‘Jeest typical o’ the wimmen, tae. Fair calculated that you’ve done your bit bringing her up, and noo that there’s somebody else tae take the strain, you’re expendable.’
    â€˜Just you make sure he’s not expendable, Hamish,’ said Maggie.
    â€˜Och, you wid think we were heading intae Corryvreckan the way you’re all lamenting oor early deaths. A couple o’ hours and we’ll be sitting wae a dram, fair getting warmed up,’ remarked Hoynes. ‘I’d like tae take you all, but as you can see, there’s precious little room aboard as it is, whoot wae this Exciseman floppin’ aboot the deck, an’ all.’
    â€˜You’ve made the right decision, skipper,’ said Hamish. ‘I canna see your pair making it aboard. Beth, nae bother, there’s hardly a picking on her . . .’ He stopped when he caught Hoynes’ eye. ‘Och, I’m jeest meaning they’re fine figures o’ wimmen,’ he continued, with a cough.
    â€˜We’ll send a bigger vessel back for you. Wish us luck,’ shouted Hoynes, as Geordie fired up the boat’s diesel engine in a flurry of smoke and clatter. Slowly, against the swell, they made their way out to sea, leaving Grant, the airmen and the three women on the shore.
    â€˜I can see us having the wedding here, Duncan,’ groaned Maggie, as she watched the small boat set sail.
    â€˜Your father knows what he’s doing. He’ll be fine,’ he replied confidently, biting his lip all the same.
    Iain Watson was making better progress than he’d hoped for. He was already more than halfway down the Piper’s Pass. The highest section had been the worst. He’d had to climb over a pile of slippery rocks and mud on his hands and knees, but now he was at the other side, the