When the Heather Blooms by Gwen Kirkwood

that?’
    For a moment Andrew thought he might burst into tears.
    â€˜I expect he wants what’s best for you, laddie,’ Andrew said gently. ‘Come on, here’s the car. Victoria will have the tea ready.’
    Victoria was shocked by Peter’s appearance. She couldn’t resist giving him a welcoming hug. She was surprised when he hugged her back, almost as though he needed reassurance of some kind.
    â€˜Take your case to your room, Peter, and then we’ll have tea. You’ll need to eat plenty because supper will be a bit later tonight. Libby and Billy are coming up to see you. Mimi wanted to come too but Mary said she had to wait until tomorrow. I expect she’ll be here first thing if Willie will see her over the burn.’
    â€˜Th-thank you,’ Peter said huskily. ‘Y-you don’t know what it means to be made so welcome.’ He disappeared quickly up the stairs unwilling to let them see the tears which had sprung to his eyes. Victoria and Andrew looked at each.
    â€˜He looks exhausted, ‘Victoria said in a low voice.
    â€˜He’s very tense. I suspect there have been more arguments.’
    Fraser and Lachlan were washing their hands ready for tea when Peter returned to the kitchen.
    â€˜Hi chum,’ Fraser grinned, slapping him on the back, ‘it’s good to see you again. I hoped you’d be here before Saturday. We’re having a farm walk and there’s a Young Farmers’ dance afterwards.’
    â€˜Aren’t you supposed to be working on Saturday?’ Andrew asked.
    â€˜I was. I’ve swapped with Jocky.
    â€˜Hi Peter,’ Lachlan joined them, still drying his hands, his grin spreading from ear to ear. ‘Are you for a game of football after tea? I’ve been practising.’
    â€˜For goodness sake, Lachie, give Peter a chance to get here before you pester him,’ Victoria chided, but Peter was pleased to see his cousins and grateful for their welcome.
    Billy and Libby greeted him with the same warmth as the rest of the family but after the evening meal was cleared away the conversation turned serious.
    â€˜Are you just here for the summer holidays, Peter?’ Billy asked with a smile, ‘or have you decided farming is the life for you?’
    â€˜I-I don’t know,’ Peter said unhappily. ‘I know what I want, b-but this morning …’ he gulped over the lump in his throat, ‘before I left my stepfather told me there’s no place for me under his roof unless I study medicine. He says he’s supported me long enough and Dinah wants a worthwhile profession so she will make better use of the money Mother had set aside.’ There was a stunned silence. They all stared at him.
    â€˜He wouldn’t mean that,’ Victoria said. ‘I expect he’s disappointed.’
    â€˜He does mean it. He says I can have until the end of the summer holidays to make up my mind; unless I toe the line I’ve to collect the rest of my things and leave his house for good.’
    â€˜That’s awful!’ Libby gasped. ‘He can’t threaten Peter like that, can he Mum?’
    â€˜I don’t know, lassie.’ Victoria’s face was troubled. She looked Peter in the eye. ‘I’m so glad your mother found the courage to go against his wishes and send for me before she died. I suppose you know he did his best to cut us out of her life after your father died.’
    â€˜That’s all in the past,’ Andrew intervened. ‘You’re here now, laddie, and we’re pleased to have you. You have all summer to make up your mind. Victoria and I have discussed what we’re prepared to do to help you. You’d better discuss our suggestion with Libby. We made sure she knew what hard work farming involved before she went to college. We wanted her to be sure too.’ Peter met Libby’s eyes, his dark brows raised.
    â€˜It’s true, Peter,’