Barbie Munro struggling frantically in his arms. It seemed an eternity
before his head rose above the surface of the water and he was able to fill his lungs with great gulps of air. There were a few more anxious moments when he felt the flimsy rescue-line tear, but by then he was able to gain a foothold. Coughing and choking, he was pulled to safety by Mairi.
Overjoyed at their success, Mairi took the baby from Wyattâs arms. Then he collapsed to his knees, coughing up water he was not aware of having swallowed.
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Half an hour later, when they were no more than half a mile from Eskaig, the strangely garbed quartet were met by a party of villagers making their way up the flooded glen. In the lead were Lachlan and Ewan Munro.
Lachlan Munro was not fully recovered from his illness, and his experiences in the storm had done nothing to help his recovery. He staggered rather than walked at the head of the villagers, but when he saw his two daughters he discovered new strength and was the first to reach them.
âThank God! Thank God!â was all the veteran of the Seventy-Second Regiment seemed capable of saying as he held the baby in one arm and hugged Kirstie to him with the other.
His initial relief over, Lachlan Munro began to express his gratitude to Wyatt.
âMairiâs the one you need to thank.â Wyatt was embarrassed by the veteranâs tearful gratitude. âWithout her courage and knowledge of the glen weâd never have succeeded in rescuing the girls â and I think you owe her a dress.â
âI owe the both of you far more than Iâll ever be able to repay.â Lachlan Munro clasped Mairiâs hands, oblivious to the curious looks of the Eskaig villagers who had become aware that Mairi was wearing nothing beneath the preacherâs coat. âWeâd given Kirstie and Barbie up for deadâ¦.â
Lachlan Munroâs voice broke, and Wyatt laid a comforting arm across the ex-soldierâs shoulders. â Theyâre both all right, but what about the others?â
Lachlan Munro turned a gaunt face up to Wyatt. âIâve never known such a storm, Captain. We were all washed away â yet the whole family is safe. Itâs little short of a miracle.â
âThatâs not the end of it, Lachlan. Iâve more good news for you. But itâs news to be shared with the familyâ¦. Where is the family?â
âIn Eskaig. In the churchyard.â Seeing Wyattâs shocked expression. Lachlan Munro said hastily: âItâs best for everyone, Captain. Itâs eviction for anyone who harbours those whoâve been turned off Lord Kilmalieâs land. Weâre camped in the churchyard, but weâre not short of food.â
Anger with John Garrett welled up inside Wyatt, but this was neither the time nor the place to air his views.
âYouâll not sleep without a roof over your head again, Lachlan, but letâs go and find your family. Youâll sleep in the manse tonight. Tomorrow? Well, thatâs what I want to talk to you aboutâ¦.â
Six
T HE VILLAGERS OF Eskaig owned few possessions, but throughout that evening small gifts of food were brought to the manse for the Munro family. Mairi was loaned a dress by a sternly disapproving matron who saw her pass by wrapped only in Wyattâs loose and ill-fitting coat. Hurrying after the dishevelled party from the mountainside, the woman caught up with Mairi as she was about to enter the manse and thrust the dress at her.
âHere, girl. Iâve brought a dress for you to put on. You ought to be ashamed of yourself, parading through Eskaig half-naked. Itâs an affront to decent Christian folk. I donât know what your father can be thinking of, Iâm sure. Before I ordered him inside the house my husband had seen more of you in a single minute than heâs seen of me in thirty years of marriage.â
Careful not to smile, Wyatt said: