Read Online The Road to Rowanbrae by Doris Davidson - Free Book Online

he’d had more than enough already. His cheeks were scarlet, his hair, greying now and thinner, was sticking up untidily, but he was enjoying himself and his feet were tapping in time to the music. Standing next to him was Drew White, the miller’s son, who was about the same age as Mysie herself, but his sister, Nessie, a year or so older, was skipping around, grinning and flaunting herself at any man who would look at her. Jeems had started something with his evening walks – or had Nessie always been like that?
    Some small children were running through the dancers now, adding to the noise by yelling, and Kirsty Mutch, one of the farmer’s daughters, was having a heated argument with Johnnie Thomson, Alice’s youngest, both only six, but with fully-fledged tempers. Before they came to blows, Joe, Johnnie’s father, dragged him away by the scruff of his neck, and Kirsty turned aggressively on the girl standing nearest her. She had picked on the wrong person, however, for Meggie Duff, six years her senior, gave her a shove that almost knocked her over.
    Effie and Denny Petrie, thirteen and fifteen respectively, and Robbie Duff, fourteen, were huddled together in a corner, all of them looking as if they hadn’t come to this social gathering of their own free wills. Thirteen-year-old Jinty Mutch, Kirsty’s sister, was sitting forlornly on her own, her eyes riveted on something at the other side of the room, and when Mysie turned her head to find out what, she saw Gavin Leslie on a bale of hay with Freda Mutch, who was wearing a tight silky dress that had slid up so far as to be indecent – her very knees were showing. So Jean Petrie’s story was true, Mysie thought, sorry for Jinty, who was likely embarrassed for her mother, for it was a terrible way for a farmer’s wife to be carrying on.
    â€˜I see Mistress Mutch is busy.’ Unnoticed, Jean Petrie had seated herself next to Mysie. ‘I tell’t you she was takin’ up wi’ Gavin, but fancy her bein’ so brazen in front o’ her man. Nae that he looks worried aboot it.’
    Following the other woman’s gaze, Mysie could see that Frank Mutch’s eyes were also fixed on his wife and the youth, but he didn’t seem to be jealous. Transferring her attention to the side again, Mysie saw that Gavin was pulling Freda to her feet, and although she put up a show of arguing for a few moments, she went outside with him willingly enough.
    â€˜Aye,’ came Jean’s low voice. ‘I thought that would happen. He’s a randy little bugger that ane, an’ Freda’s nae better.’
    Mysie rose with the intention of moving away, but her way was blocked by a young man who had just appeared in front of her. ‘Are you nae dancin’, Mrs Duncan?’
    â€˜Naebody’s asked me,’ she replied, without thinking.
    â€˜I’m askin’.’ He held out his hand to her and led her down the floor. ‘I dinna ken what Eck Petrie’s wife was sayin’ to you, but you looked as if you needed some help.’
    â€˜Aye, I’m nae ane for listenin’ to her nasty gossip.’
    â€˜I was watchin’ you for a while, wonderin’ who you was, an’ it was Jake Findlater tell’t me you was Jeems Duncan’s wife. I’m Doddie Wilson, cattleman at Waterton for five year, but I’ve never seen you at a meal an’ ale afore.’
    â€˜Jeems doesna like dancin’, an’ he would never come.’
    â€˜Is he here the nicht?’
    â€˜No, he bade at hame wi’ the twa bairns.’
    â€˜He’s nae feared to let you oot on your ain? You’re such a bonnie quine, a’ the men’ll be after you.’
    Blushing, she said, ‘There’s nae fears o’ that.’
    â€˜I would, if I thought you … wouldna object.’
    There was something in his dark eyes that made Mysie’s heart skip a beat. He was everything