Read Online The Girl with the Creel by Doris Davidson - Free Book Online Page A

quivering like you weren’t sure whether to come right into the hall or turn and leave, and when I took you up to dance and felt the curves I’d never noticed before, my heart galloped like it’s galloping right now.’
    His long searching kiss started her heart galloping, too. ‘Peter,’ she gasped, when he drew back. ‘I wish we’d got engaged before I went away.’ If she’d been fully committed to him, she thought wryly, she wouldn’t have done what she did, and there wouldn’t be this little voice in her head now, telling her she was making a terrible mistake.
    When they went into her house, her parents were waiting to celebrate the engagement, and the slap on the back Willie Alec gave Peter was so hearty that it made him stagger. Hannah tutted at her husband. ‘You near knocked him flat on his face. You dinna ken your own strength.’
    Laughing gustily, Willie Alec broke open the bottle of Drambuie he had bought for the occasion. The Silver Star had landed two hours earlier, and he’d been waiting to toast the betrothed couple. ‘You’ve a nose like a blood-hound,’ he joked to Mick, who came in at that moment. ‘You can smell drink a mile away.’ But he filled a third glass. The two women, not being whisky lovers, especially not the sweet liqueur, made do with some of the Hall’s Wine Hannah bought to fortify herself every winter.
    Willie Alec held his glass aloft. ‘Here’s to Lizann and Peter,’ he boomed. ‘May they have health, wealth and happiness, and he blessed wi’ as fine healthy bairns as me and Hannah.’
    â€˜Ach, Willie Alec,’ she reprimanded, ‘you shouldna be speaking about bairns and them just new engaged. And I think they shouldna set the date till Lizann’s nineteen.’
    â€˜That’s a year and a half yet,’ her husband protested.
    â€˜It’ll gi’e them time to be sure o’ their feelings.’
    â€˜Aye, well, maybe that’s best.’
    When the laughing and joking began, Lizann couldn’t help thinking how lucky she was in her parents. Hannah, slim and dainty, with only a few silver hairs shining through the black, did voice her opinion sometimes, but let her man have his own way over most things. Peter’s mother was a big fat lump who domineered her husband. Bowfer was a puny little man who hardly ever opened his mouth when his wife was anywhere near. He was a joiner to trade, working in the same shipyard as his son, and his evenings were spent swilling beer down his throat. He likely needed Dutch courage to go home and share a bed with Bella Jeannie, Lizann reflected in some amusement. Not that he would get much room, for she must take up about three-quarters of it. Willie Alec, on the other hand, was master in his house when he was not at sea. He never bullied his family, but he could be real strict if he thought it was necessary.
    â€˜Come on, Lizann,’ Mick called, breaking into her reverie. ‘Why are you sitting there dreaming? It’s your engagement we’re celebrating.’
    Her father refilled her glass, wrinkling his nose at the smell of the wine. ‘You’re not having second thoughts about it, are you?’
    She laughed along with him, and looking at Peter she said firmly, ‘No, I’m quite sure.’
    Her fiancé walked across the room and pulled her to her feet. ‘I’m the happiest man in Buckie the night,’ he grinned, sliding his arm round her waist and drawing her close. ‘And I’ll be happier still on the day the minister makes her my wife.’
    Mick nudged him in the ribs. ‘It’s the wedding night that’ll make you happiest, though, eh, Peter?’
    The three men laughed uproariously at that, but Hannah frowned at her son for touching on so delicate a subject, and Lizann turned crimson.
    â€˜Ach, Mother,’ Mick cried, ‘stop glowering at me.