Mimi finished her course in bookkeeping and passed the exam. The lecturer announced that he had been asked to recommend someone for a part-time job doing the books for a small building firm. The business was growing and the young builder needed help to send out estimates, bills, and keep a check on materials. Some of the other students were married women preparing to return to work. They wanted more than two half days. Mimi considered and decided it might be interesting to have an outside interest and earn a little money as well. She approached the lecturer.
‘I thought you would be going on with further studies, Wilhelmina,’ the lecturer said in surprise, ‘either the next stage with evening classes or full-time accountancy. You are by far the brightest student in this group.’
‘Oh no, I don’t intend going any further. I wanted to learn the basics so that I can help my father with his accounts, but two half days in a different business might be interesting.’
‘I’ll give you the name and address of the builder then. He is a hard worker and his business seems to be doing well so you will have to be careful he doesn’t give you too much to do for the time he is allowing.’
Mimi was surprised and delighted to get a job at her first attempt. It was a scruffy little office in half of a Portakabin in a corner of the builder’s yard in a village near Annan. When she told her father Willie was flabbergasted.
‘You have plenty of work, lassie. Do you need more money for yourself? I could make you an allowance …’
‘No, no, Dad, it’s not that. I thought it would be good for me to be a bit independent and it will be interesting to meet other people. The work should be quite easy, I think.’ Willie’s car was getting old and he had been considering changing his car for a Land Rover but now that Mimi would need a vehicle he thought he might need to settle for another car. He mentioned this to Josh as they relaxed after their Sunday dinner.
‘Peter is buying a Land Rover so that he can pull a small sheep trailer and move his Suffolks between Darlonside and here at lambing time. Why don’t you ask him how much he wants for his wee Morris? It would be just the thing for Mimi.’
‘Aye, so it would,’ Willie agreed, ‘and I’d like a Land Rover myself. I’ll see what Peter says when he comes back in from seeing his sheep. I think Mimi must have gone with him,’ he added. Josh eyed him speculatively and shook his head at the blindness of his brother.
‘Mimi is with Peter. They get on well together.’
‘Aye, he’s always been a pleasant laddie,’ Willie agreed, ‘I can’t understand that father of his never getting in touch with him. He never did give him the money he was due from that insurance.’
‘He seems to be managing well enough without help from anybody,’ Josh reflected. ‘If anything he might have too much independence. He’s very proud. He’ll make a good husband and father one day. Don’t you agree, Willie?’
‘I suppose he might, if he ever gets time to look for a wife. We haven’t seen so much of him since he took over the tenancy. I expect he’s too busy working, but I miss his company.’
‘Yes, I expect Mimi misses him too. It must be quiet for a young girl up at High Bowie.’
‘I expect that’s why she’s taken on this job for the builder,’ Willie said. ‘I hope she doesn’t do too much. He’s a nephew of Mr Blake who used to be manager at Home Farm in Sir William’s time. His name is Ian Blake. He seems quite easy about the time Mimi starts and finishes so long as she gets the work done.’
‘Is he married?’ Josh asked.
‘No, he lives with his mother and a younger sister. Mimi says he’s the same age as Peter so he has plenty of time yet.’
‘Mmm, I don’t know about that. These days they don’t wait as long as we did, and I don’t blame them. What would you do, Willie, if he wanted to marry Mimi and take her to live in Annan, or wherever he has his business?’
‘Marry Mimi?’ Willie stared at him askance. Josh was not serious but he wanted to make Willie wake up and realise Mimi was an attractive young woman as well as being capable and intelligent. She would be an asset to a business man. Willie scowled and stared into the fire. ‘Och, you’re talking rubbish, man!’ he growled. Josh suppressed a smile but sometimes he wanted to shake his elder brother and tell him to open his eyes. He had sown a seed. He hoped he had said enough to make Willie take notice where Mimi was concerned.
Peter sold all of his Suffolk rams at the autumn sales and he had an excellent trade. He was jubilant. He went up to High Bowie to discuss the sales with Willie since he shared his interest in sheep.
‘I’m real pleased for ye, laddie, but you deserve to do well, you’ve worked hard since you got Darlonside.’
‘I nearly sold off all my Suffolks, thinking I’d never have time to give them enough attention, and I thought I needed the capital. I’m glad I kept my ewes and sold the cottage instead.’
‘What are you going to do with the money?’ Willie asked.
‘I’d have liked to build a decent shed.’ Peter frowned. ‘But when the farm is rented I don’t think it would be wise. I’m certain Mr McNay is not in good health. I’d never get proper compensation for any improvements if the farm was to sell. And I wouldn’t like Mrs McNay for a landlord either. I can’t stand the woman.’ He shuddered remembering his last encounter with her.
Her name had come up during a conversation with Libby and Billy and he had mentioned his dislike of his landlord’s wife; he was surprised at the knowing look Billy gave him. Later, when they were alone he grinned and remarked, ‘So McNay’s wife made a pass at you did she, Peter?’
‘How d’you know that?’ Peter asked. ‘I never …’
‘You didn’t have to. I’ve met her and I soon got the message.’
‘Mmm, well it’s getting harder to avoid her. She always seems to know when I shall be around the farm buildings. Yesterday morning she appeared in the barn in her skin-tight jodhpurs. You wouldn’t think she was the mother of two grown-up sons to look at her, would you?’
‘No she keeps herself in shape,’ Billy agreed, ‘but she has a fair conceit if she thinks fellows our age would be interested in her.’
‘Well, she does. She had her shirt open to her waistband and she wasn’t wearing anything underneath it. She must have known I was in the barn because she came straight towards me and held her arms out wide. Of course that left nothing to the imagination. I backed away but she just came closer. She gave that flirty laugh and then she said, “Don’t be shy, Peter. I would enjoy teaching a boy like you a thing or two.” I didn’t know where to look or what to say. I just muttered something about having a girlfriend of my own and darted past her and out of the farm yard. I tell you, Billy, I’m not looking forward to our next encounter.’
‘No-o, I suppose it is a bit awkward. You weren’t tempted at all then? I mean a woman scorned and all that … You don’t want her as an enemy in the circumstances.’
‘I don’t want her at all, enemy or otherwise! I just wish she would keep out of my way.’
‘Maybe you should take Mimi with you to Darlonside sometimes. She’s young and pretty. It might convince Mrs McNay you’re not interested in a woman old enough to be your mother.’
‘That’s not a bad idea,’ Peter nodded.
It was a cold Saturday afternoon towards the end of October when Peter drove Mimi over to Darlonside. He had taken her because he longed for her company, rather than for the benefit of Mrs McNay. Indeed when they arrived he was taken aback to find Mrs McNay in the barn with one of her horses, holding him by a rein while he ate his fill from one of Peter’s bales of hay.
‘Hello Peter,’ she purred in the throaty voice she seemed to assume at will. ‘I guessed you would be coming back to feed your precious sheep this afternoon. Nero was a little peckish but I knew you wouldn’t mind if he had a teeny bit of your hay while we waited for you. It’s such a cold wind out there …’ She broke off as Mimi came into the barn, cradling one of the cats she had stopped to stroke. ‘Who are you?’ Mrs
McNay demanded, the throaty voice discarded for a haughty tone. Peter turned to smile in welcome at Mimi, as he reached out to draw her to his side, his dark eyes warm with love and pride.
‘This is Wilhelmina Pringle from High Bowie. Mimi, meet Mrs McNay, the wife of my landlord. She is stealing some of my hay for her horse, even though we filled the spare stable for her use.’ He turned to face the older woman and his tone was cold. ‘Your husband said it was as much as you would need for the winter. He bought it from me so that there would be no need for you to steal.’
‘Oh, for goodness’ sake, the way you say that anyone would think I was committing a crime.’
‘You are. My hay crop is precious and if we get a bad winter it will all be needed. So you stick to your supply and I’ll stick to mine.’ Mimi sensed the chilly atmosphere between Peter and the woman but she knew how hard Peter had worked to get in his hay. Uncle Andrew and Billy had each sent a man to help him after they had finished their own but he had insisted on paying for the labour. When it was baled and carted inside they had all come to High Bowie to help her father with his. She walked over to the big horse.
‘You’re a handsome fellow, aren’t you?’ she said, patting his glossy neck. He snorted and Mimi laughed, her warm low chuckle, ‘and hello to you too then.’ Mrs McNay stared at her happy young face and flawless pink and white complexion. She was lovely even without a trace of make-up, and her blue eyes sparkled with pleasure as she looked at the horse. Brenda McNay felt sickened by her youthful innocence and beauty. She gathered the reins, vaulted on to the horse’s back, and galloped him out of the barn so fast that Mimi had to jump back to avoid being trampled underfoot.
Peter grabbed hold of her, pulling her against him, making sure she didn’t fall. He gathered her into his arms and kissed her. Mimi liked the strength of his arms about her. She knew he had been as startled as she was by Mrs McNay’s sudden departure.
‘She’s a selfish bitch,’ Peter muttered. ‘Thank goodness Mr McNay is nothing like her.’
They had arranged to go to the cinema but by the time Peter had finished attending to his animals a thick damp fog was beginning to envelop everything, making it difficult to see more than a few yards.
‘It’s not a nice night for driving far,’ Peter said with an anxious frown as they made their way to his Land Rover.
‘I’d be quite happy to stay home and watch the television if you would like to stay for supper. Dad has a filthy cold so I expect he’ll go to bed early.’
‘I’m sorry your father is ill, but there’s nothing I’d like better than staying with you, Mimi.’ Peter grinned at her. ‘All week I’ve looked forward to us having a wee bit time together.’
Mimi smiled in the darkness. Her fear was that Peter might get tired of waiting for her. She didn’t think she could bear it if Peter went off with someone else, even though she had told him he shouldn’t wait for her.
They were both surprised to find Willie huddled over the sitting-room fire before his day’s work was finished. He was shivering and he said he felt cold but his weathered cheeks showed twin patches of burning colour and his brow felt hot and clammy when Mimi rested her hand on his forehead.
‘I think it’s more than just a cold, Dad,’ she said with real concern.
‘Aye, I reckon I’ll feed the pigs and bullocks, then I’ll have a hot toddy and go to bed, if you’ll see to the rest, lassie?’
‘I’ll feed the pigs and attend to the bullocks, Willie,’ Peter intervened. ‘I don’t think you should go out again on a night like this. Tell me what they need.’
‘Thank you, laddie,’ Willie accepted wearily, ‘I can’t remember feeling so groggy before. A good night’s sleep will help put me right. If the fog doesna lift you should stay the night. It’s not much further to travel to Darlonside from here in the morning.’
‘Thanks, I might just do that and I’ll feed your livestock before I leave.’
‘Don’t you want to wait for supper, Dad?’ Mimi asked.
‘No, I’m not hungry, but maybe you’d make a drink of hot milk and brandy please, lassie?’
Later Mimi and Peter sat side by side in front of the sitting room fire glad to be in from the raw November night. They ate generous helpings of the fish pie Mimi had left cooking in the oven, followed by steamed syrup sponge and custard, a favourite of Peter’s. As he spooned up the last mouthful he sighed with satisfaction.
‘If only we could sit side by side like this every night at the end of the working day.’ He set aside their empty trays and drew Mimi into his arms, looking forward to spending the evening together in comfort. He was grateful for Willie’s invitation and relieved he wouldn’t need to drive home to a cheerless house on such a foggy night.
Later, lying in bed, knowing Peter was sleeping downstairs, Mimi ached with longing. Peter had aroused her desire, taking her to impossible heights, only to draw back before either of them could reach the fulfilment of belonging. She understood why he always felt guilty when he came near to betraying her father’s trust in him, especially here, under his roof, but he had also told her about his parents, how his mother had pleaded with his father to make love to her before he went to war and he had been the result.
‘He was killed. She ended up facing the disgrace of being an unmarried mother. When she told me all this she insisted she had no regrets about that part of her life, and she said she would have done the same again.’ Mimi recalled how Peter had taken her hands and looked into her eyes at that point. ‘I couldn’t risk that happening to you, Mimi. Your father would never forgive me, but more than that, I would never forgive myself. Somehow we must find a way to belong to each other as man and wife. First I need to establish myself as a farmer and prove that I can keep a wife. Maybe if I can do that your father will help us find a solution.’
Mimi had had to be content with this but when she was alone her heart sank and she couldn’t visualise any solution which wouldn’t make her feel torn between the two people she loved most in the world.
Willie’s feverish cold took its toll and it was almost a week before he felt well enough to attempt the steep walk, even halfway to the top of the High Bowie land. Peter had attended to everything on the Sunday morning but Uncle Andrew had despatched Fraser to herd the sheep each day after that, knowing Peter had his own work to do.
‘Herding sheep up there is harder work than I realised, Uncle Willie,’ Fraser declared after the third day he had been on the hill.
‘Aye, this is the first time I’ve been unable to do it myself,’ Willie nodded. ‘It’s made me realise I’m not as young and fit as I used to be. Did you notice whether they’ve started planting trees over the top to the north of us, Fraser?’
‘Is that what they’re going to do?’ Fraser asked startled. ‘I saw all the lines of ridges. It looks as though they’ve ploughed deep furrows or something.’
‘They’re going to plant all the land further up.’ Willie nodded. ‘They must be making a start.’ He sighed. ‘They wanted to buy High Bowie peak as well but it’s a fair area of land to lose so I turned them down. Now I’m wondering whether I should sell it while I have the chance. They wouldn’t come offering again once they move on. They want large areas all together. Makes sense for the planting and for felling the timber.’
‘I didn’t know they were doing any planting around here,’ Fraser admitted in surprise. ‘Does Dad know?’
‘No, I didn’t even consider it at the time. Now I’m not so sure. Maybe you’ll tell your father I’d like to talk it over. If I lost the hill acres it would mean going in for a smaller flock of sheep and a different breed.’
‘How would you feel about that?’
‘I suppose we should all be prepared to change. I’ve had time to consider these past few days. Mimi could never manage to herd the hill and it wouldn’t pay to employ a shepherd.’
‘No-o, I suppose not. I hadn’t thought of that. Dad will enjoy a talk with you. He might even decide to sell our top field
along with yours. It’s pretty steep and it borders yours and he knows I’m more interested in cereals than sheep.’
It was almost inevitable that Mimi would suffer from the same feverish infection as her father and it kept her from going to work at the builder’s yard the following week. When she returned she was dismayed to find a pile of bills and invoices waiting for her attention. She hated getting behind or in a muddle. She decided to take sandwiches and continue working into the afternoon to catch up.
‘I do appreciate your doing this for us, Mimi,’ Ian Blake said, popping his head round the door of the small space he euphemistically called an office. He smiled at her. ‘Keep a note of your extra time. I’m off to look at a job as a subcontractor for two new houses. I shall not be back until about six o’clock.’
‘That’s fine,’ Mimi nodded and returned his smile, ‘I’ll stay until four o’clock, then I’ve jobs to do at home. There’s plenty to keep me going here.’
She worked hard all day and felt a glow of satisfaction as she closed the last of her ledgers. The November day had never been light and now darkness was creeping in fast. As she bent to slip the ledger into its proper place she heard the door opening. ‘I wasn’t expecting to see you back so early, Ian,’ she called without looking up. There was no reply and she glanced over her shoulder as she stood up and reached for her jacket from the back of her chair. Dick Pearson, the plasterer, stood with his arms folded, his back against the closed door, almost as though he was standing guard to keep her prisoner. Mimi felt a quiver of uneasiness. She didn’t like the young plasterer, although Ian had told her he was excellent at his job and very skilled. He always made her feel uncomfortable. It was the way his eyes followed her if ever she had to cross the yard when he was loading his materials into his van. He had short red hair and green eyes with a fair complexion. He could have been quite attractive but Mimi didn’t like his receding chin and thin, rather cruel mouth.
When the Heather Blooms Page 25