Free Coming Home by Gwen Kirkwood

knew he would give him an honest opinion.
    ‘She wants to give me her savings to help me get started with a couple of cows and some hens and a sow, but I can’t help feeling it would be wrong to accept her offer, even if I was lucky enough to get a government holding.’
    John Oliphant considered for a minute or two.
    ‘I reckon your mother is right. You should stand a good chance of getting the tenancy of a government holding after serving your country for the past five years. As to the financing I’m sure she knows what she wants to do with her own money, Steven. She obviously feels she can trust you. I’d say it would be all right to accept her help so long as you never forget what she’s done for you, and you’re willing to help her in return if ever she needs you. Sometimes we have to take a chance in life.’
    ‘That’s what young Crosby said about his father’s buses,’ Steven smiled. ‘He’s full of plans too. I hope I’d never neglect my own mother, whether I borrow her money or not,’ Steven said slowly. He looked around the table at them all and nodded his head. ‘All right then, I’ll make enquiries about the government holdings and if you can put up with me until Monday morning, I’ll go into the bank and do as she asked before I catch the train back to camp.’ He sighed. ‘It will take forever to build up a farm like Willowburn from nothing.’
    ‘You have a lifetime ahead of you, laddie. Deal with things one at a time and plan carefully. You’ll be proud to be your own man and I reckon you’ll do all right for yourself one day,’ John Oliphant said.
    ‘I agree with John,’ Mrs Oliphant nodded, ‘Besides Steven, supposing you did come back to live at Willowburn, how would you and Fred get on when you both want to get married? Where would you live? Could you ever agree about the work, or about money? I don’t think Fred would be easy to deal with. I think your mother is wise to separate you now, even though your father would have liked you at Willowburn and even if it does mean a struggle at the beginning. I agree with John. I’m sure you’ll work hard and make a success and you’ll have the satisfaction of knowing it’s all your own efforts.’
    ‘I hadn’t thought as far ahead as needing a house to get married,’ Steven admitted ruefully. ‘I can’t imagine anybody wanting me anyway until I make a decent living.’ He sighed unconsciously. ‘Goodness knows when that will be, if ever.’ His brooding gaze slid to Megan, then away again.
    ‘ You’ll probably do better than you think, lad,’ John Oliphant consoled him, ‘and at least you’ll be free to make your own decisions.’
    ‘ If I’m lucky enough to get a tenancy,’ Steven reminded him.
    ‘I wonder how Natalie thought she could help you get one?’ Chrissie mused curiously. Steven looked at her.
    ‘ I’ve no idea,’ he shrugged. ‘I asked her father for a reference. Do you think he’ll change his mind if we don’t accept his daughter’s invitation to go dancing?’
    ‘ Mr Turner isna likely to go back on his word,’ John Oliphant said. ‘We don’t always agree about the way he likes things done with the dairy herd, but he’s a man you can respect. He ruins that lassie of his, but if he’s the man I think he is, he’ll never allow young Natalie to influence him about business affairs.’
    Steven glanced across at Megan as she sat listening and watching in silence. Her lovely eyes were troubled. He longed to banish the shadows.
    ‘I would rather go for a walk than spend the evening in a stuffy dance hall. What about you Megan?’
    ‘ I’d like to go for a walk,’ she said promptly. Chrissie looked at her daughter. It was as though a light had been switched on inside her the way her smile lit up her face and made her green eyes sparkle. Her mother’s heart felt a pang of misgiving. Megan had known Steven all her life but she was so young. She had her career to consider and, on his own admission,