making. It will be just the thing for your new fireside.’
‘ You’re making it for me?’ Steven asked incredulously.
‘ I can’t think of anybody who deserves it more. Besides if I know men, it’s the outside that claims all the money and attention but it’s nice to have a place to warm your feet on a cold night.’
‘ It is that. Mother says I can take my bed from Willowburn so if I’ve a table and a chair,’ he grinned, his blue eyes twinkling, ‘ and a rag rug, I shall be all right. By the sound of things I shall have to muck out the sheds so my first priority must be a horse and cart.’
‘ There’s John just coming round the corner,’ Chrissie said, glancing out of the window. ‘I’ll give him a shout. Oh…he seems to be discussing something with Mr Turner.’
‘ Is he there too? I ought to tell him I’ve been successful,’ Steven said. ‘According to the Land Office the reference he gave me helped a lot.’ He looked back at Megan. ‘I do wish you could have come with me, but you do look pale.’
‘ Aye, this is the first day she’s been downstairs. Better not take any risks lassie,’ her mother advised, seeing the longing in her daughter’s eyes. ‘The soup is nearly ready, Steven. Ask John to come in and you can both have a bowl before you leave.’
Steven went to join the two men and they could tell by his expression he had good news.
‘ Have you got a tenancy, laddie?’ John Oliphant asked eagerly.
‘ I have.’ Steven grinned. ‘It’s only thirty five acres but it’s big enough to start off. I want to thank you, Mr Turner, for the reference you gave me. I know it helped to get me the interview.’
‘ I’m glad you’ve been successful, Steven.’ Mr Turner shook his hand and beamed. ‘You deserve it. I know you’ll not let me down.’
‘ Not if I can help it,’ Steven promised. ‘I called in to see if Mr Oliphant was free for an hour. I’m going there now to have a look. The last tenant has died. The rent is paid until May but the widow didn’t like staying on her own so I can take possession as soon as everything is agreed and signed up.’
‘ That’s splendid. I’ll not keep the two of you then,’ Mr Turner said.
‘ Mrs Oliphant says we’ve to go in for some soup before we set off,’ Steven said.
They were almost finished their soup when the telephone rang. Chrissie Oliphant went into the hall to answer it.
‘ That was Mr Turner,’ she said. ‘He would like to join the pair of you. He says he’ll drive you all there in his car. He’ll pick you up in ten minutes. So come on, Steven, eat up some soda scone and cheese and I’ll make you a cup of tea and a slice of apple pie.’
She didn’t mention that it was Natalie Turner’s idea that her father should accompany them, or that she intended going too, although she was also supposed to be off work after a bad cold.
Eight
John Oliphant was surprised when he opened the back door of his boss’s car and saw Natalie sitting there.
‘ I’ve left the front seats for you two old men. Steven you can sit in the back with me,’ she ordered imperiously. Steven raised his brows then he frowned. He didn’t care for the knowing look in John Oliphant’s eyes or the half smile twitching the corner of his mouth. Natalie Turner was the last person he had expected to show interest in a neglected smallholding. She didn’t even take an interest in her father’s prosperous acres so why did she want to come with them? He had not even seen the place himself. He felt irritated but he couldn’t afford to offend Natalie when it was her father who had been instrumental in helping him get a start on the farming ladder.
The moment they arrived at Schoirhead, Steven was eager to view the buildings and discover what facilities he would have. He had also intended walking over the land with John Oliphant but he doubted whether that would be possible with Natalie tagging along. The house was the last thing on his
‘ You’re making it for me?’ Steven asked incredulously.
‘ I can’t think of anybody who deserves it more. Besides if I know men, it’s the outside that claims all the money and attention but it’s nice to have a place to warm your feet on a cold night.’
‘ It is that. Mother says I can take my bed from Willowburn so if I’ve a table and a chair,’ he grinned, his blue eyes twinkling, ‘ and a rag rug, I shall be all right. By the sound of things I shall have to muck out the sheds so my first priority must be a horse and cart.’
‘ There’s John just coming round the corner,’ Chrissie said, glancing out of the window. ‘I’ll give him a shout. Oh…he seems to be discussing something with Mr Turner.’
‘ Is he there too? I ought to tell him I’ve been successful,’ Steven said. ‘According to the Land Office the reference he gave me helped a lot.’ He looked back at Megan. ‘I do wish you could have come with me, but you do look pale.’
‘ Aye, this is the first day she’s been downstairs. Better not take any risks lassie,’ her mother advised, seeing the longing in her daughter’s eyes. ‘The soup is nearly ready, Steven. Ask John to come in and you can both have a bowl before you leave.’
Steven went to join the two men and they could tell by his expression he had good news.
‘ Have you got a tenancy, laddie?’ John Oliphant asked eagerly.
‘ I have.’ Steven grinned. ‘It’s only thirty five acres but it’s big enough to start off. I want to thank you, Mr Turner, for the reference you gave me. I know it helped to get me the interview.’
‘ I’m glad you’ve been successful, Steven.’ Mr Turner shook his hand and beamed. ‘You deserve it. I know you’ll not let me down.’
‘ Not if I can help it,’ Steven promised. ‘I called in to see if Mr Oliphant was free for an hour. I’m going there now to have a look. The last tenant has died. The rent is paid until May but the widow didn’t like staying on her own so I can take possession as soon as everything is agreed and signed up.’
‘ That’s splendid. I’ll not keep the two of you then,’ Mr Turner said.
‘ Mrs Oliphant says we’ve to go in for some soup before we set off,’ Steven said.
They were almost finished their soup when the telephone rang. Chrissie Oliphant went into the hall to answer it.
‘ That was Mr Turner,’ she said. ‘He would like to join the pair of you. He says he’ll drive you all there in his car. He’ll pick you up in ten minutes. So come on, Steven, eat up some soda scone and cheese and I’ll make you a cup of tea and a slice of apple pie.’
She didn’t mention that it was Natalie Turner’s idea that her father should accompany them, or that she intended going too, although she was also supposed to be off work after a bad cold.
Eight
John Oliphant was surprised when he opened the back door of his boss’s car and saw Natalie sitting there.
‘ I’ve left the front seats for you two old men. Steven you can sit in the back with me,’ she ordered imperiously. Steven raised his brows then he frowned. He didn’t care for the knowing look in John Oliphant’s eyes or the half smile twitching the corner of his mouth. Natalie Turner was the last person he had expected to show interest in a neglected smallholding. She didn’t even take an interest in her father’s prosperous acres so why did she want to come with them? He had not even seen the place himself. He felt irritated but he couldn’t afford to offend Natalie when it was her father who had been instrumental in helping him get a start on the farming ladder.
The moment they arrived at Schoirhead, Steven was eager to view the buildings and discover what facilities he would have. He had also intended walking over the land with John Oliphant but he doubted whether that would be possible with Natalie tagging along. The house was the last thing on his
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