The Legacy of Lochandee Read Online Free PDF Page B

dressing up for?’
    â€˜Of course it is. Who else would it be?’
    â€˜Don’t know, do I? Always afraid I am, ’case somebody else might come along and snatch you away,’ Nick said seriously. Bridie put her gloved hand on his knee and gave it a little squeeze.
    â€˜No chance,’ she grinned. Nick took his hand from the steering wheel and held hers where it was against his thigh.
    â€˜I couldn’t bear it, Bridie. I can’t wait much longer …’
    â€˜I know.’
    â€˜Went to see the Brigadier’s solicitor yesterday, I did …’
    â€˜Goodness, you haven’t wasted any time!’
    â€˜Wasted enough already, we have. He doesn’t see any reason why I shouldn’t be able to buy three-quarters of an acre near the garage. Thinks the whole farm will be to sell soon, he does. The Brigadier’s daughter has no plans to return to Scotland, see. All her family are in Canada, settled there, they are.’
    â€˜He thinks she’ll sell Nether Rullion!’ Bridie sat up straight, the dreamy smile gone from her face. ‘I’ll bet Dad doesn’t know that. He was supposed to be going to see the solicitor too and he never said anything – at least not to me.’
    â€˜Better not mention it then. He may not want to worry your mother.’
    â€˜No-o. You could be right. He’ll be upset though. He’s put so much time and effort into getting the farm back into production – we all have. We would have to cut back our dairy herd too.’
    â€˜Duw, Bridie! Wish I’d never told you, I do’ Nick said impatiently. ‘Forget your precious cows for one afternoon, can’t you? Prospect of getting our own home, there’s thrilled you should be.’
    â€˜I-I am. But you know farming is my life,’ Bridie said defensively. ‘It’s all I’ve ever done, all I know. Nick … Times have changed since the war. Lots of women work now. I know this is not the right time to talk about it, but if we did build a house would you mind if I kept on working at Lochandee?’ She was relieved to see a slow, wry smile spread over his lean face.
    â€˜Never expected anything else, did I, bach. Always knew Lochandee and your beloved cattle were my biggest rivals, didn’t I. But surely you would not spend as much time with them as you do now though, and there’s children we’ll be having, I hope. They’ll not take second place with you?’ The look in his eyes brought the colour rushing to Bridie’s cheeks and Nick chuckled. ‘There’s looking forward, I am, to making babies with you, Bridie Maxwell.’ He threw back his head this time in a great laugh of delight at the sight of her deepening blush. Then he remembered Bridie had never had any other boyfriend except himself. He had almost snatched her from the schoolroom. He sobered and his voice was tender. ‘The luckiest man alive, I am, when I’m with you. You’ll not forget it, bach?’
    â€˜Not so long as you keep telling me,’ Bridie promised demurely. ‘Where are we going?’
    â€˜Anywhere. There’s good it is, just having you to myself for a day. Sandyhills, is it? A long walk along the sands, we’ll have? If it’s cold you are, I’ll warm you, and we can eat our picnic in the car. Please you, does it, Bridie?’
    â€˜Sounds fine to me. I love your Welsh lilt, Nick. It’s always more pronounced when you’re happy or excited.’
    â€˜Speak my best English, I do, for your parents. But ba-ad, it is, when I’m angry,’ he mocked in a throaty roar, ‘so Conan tells me. Forgetting him and his old garage today we are, though. So,’ he grinned wickedly, ‘there’s a little kiss and cuddle I get for afters, is it …’
    It was a sunny day for November but the clouds were scudding before a stiff breeze. The Galloway hills were