The Lost Boy and The Gardener's Daughter (24 page)

Chapter Thirty Two

   “Kin Ah go up, Whitey?” Paul asked, as Whitey returned wae an empty bowl, limping due tae Wan-eye’s rusty nail.

“Yes, but I would watch out…he’s grumpy.  He was very restless through the night again.”

  “Aye, aye, Innes.  How’s that sore arse ae yers getting oan then?” he asked, dipping his heid as he entered the room.

  “Sore.”

  “Is there anything Ah kin get ye?”

  “No, I’m fine, laddie.  I still can’t believe how stupid I was with that second poachers’ retreat.  It just shows you…you can’t let your guard down.  You should always expect the unexpected.”

  “Tell me,” Paul replied wae a sardonic smile.

  “Okay, what’s up?  You’ve got something on your mind.  Don’t worry about Whitey and myself, laddie…I’ll be back on my feet in a day or two.  Your family will want to see you and it’s important for you to get home and get a real job.”

  “Innes, that’s no whit’s bothering me, although it is, if ye know whit Ah mean?  Ah’m no worried aboot seeing ma family…Ah hivnae seen them fur years.  Ah’m worried aboot yersels though,” Paul said, sitting oan the chair, still feeling the warmth fae Whitey’s arse.

  “We’ll be fine.  There’s been a lot worse things have happened to us, I can tell you.  Isn’t that right, Tim?” Innes said, scratching the dug’s lug.

  “Ah’ve come up wae a wee plan.”

  “Oh, aye?” Innes said, raising his right eyebrow wae interest.

  “Well, it’s mair than a plan.  Ah’ve come up wae a good way tae help you and Whitey oot.  It wid make me feel better aboot heiding back tae Glesga…knowing that everything hid worked oot fine and dandy aboot here.”

  “Aye?”

  “It wid also put wan o’er oan they Sellar pricks and The Duke as well, probably.”

  “Aye?”

  “Bit, of course, ye’d need tae agree tae it.”

  “Aye?” Innes repeated, as Paul burst oot laughing.

  “It’s a funny plan, is it?” Innes smiled.

  “It could be if ye stoap saying, ‘Aye’ tae everything Ah say.”

  “Well, spit it out then.  Don’t keep me and Tim waiting.  The suspense is making my wounds itch.”

  “How serious wur ye aboot letting yer boat go tae whit’s his name?”

  “Campbell…Robert Campbell, from Inveraray, on the banks of Loch Fyne?  A real gentlemen and knows his boats as well.  Why?”

  “Ah know how tae get it doon tae him.  Ah’ve managed tae get a shot ae a Landy tae tow it.”

  “Really?  And who would that Landy belong to then?”

  “Aye, well...ye see...ye’ve goat tae think oot ae the box a wee bit and accept that sometimes ye hiv tae use yer imagination…if ye know whit Ah mean?”

  “Paul, you’re skirting about in circles.  Spit it out…from the beginning.”

  “Right, before Ah start, jist tae let ye know Ah hivnae spoken wae or even mentioned this tae Whitey, so if it’s a non-starter, we’ll keep it between oorsels?  Is that okay?”

  “Fine.”

  “Right, here ye go.  Feel free tae butt in, bit hear me oot before ye get yer Long Johns in a twist.”

  “Paul, get on with it,” Innes said, reaching o’er fur his auld clay pipe.

  Paul explained his thoughts.  He telt Innes aboot how The Gardener’s Daughter wanted away fae the strath, how she’d hid the cheek tae approach him first and no the other way aboot…no forgetting tae let Innes know that he’d knocked her back tae start wae.  He knew the shit wid hit the fan tae start wae, bit as far as Innes and Whitey wur concerned, he wid be away, looking fur work.  He explained how he’d studied the map The Gardener’s Daughter hid gied him, that if they stuck tae the coast roads and took their time, the dust wid soon settle, gieing her a chance tae reach her granny’s and how he’d lie low in Glesga fur a few days before coming back tae the croft wae the proceeds fae selling the boat.

  Silence.

  “Well, say something then,” Paul eventually said, haudin his breath.

  “Right, that sounds fine, but where does the transport for towing the boat come in?” Innes asked, as he disappeared in a cloud ae blue pipe smoke and took a wee sip ae his medicinal dram fae doon the side ae the bed, which he thought he’d managed tae keep hidden fae Whitey.

  “Ah’ll take wan ae the estate Landys…preferably George Sellar’s,” Paul replied, as a fine spray mist ae good single malt came flying oot ae Innes’s mooth in a wet cloud, covering Tim in fine wet droplets.

  “Ah kin see why ye might be a wee bit surprised at that, Innes, bit jist think ae the expression oan they basturts’ coupons when they get up and oot in the morning tae discover wan ae their nice, fancy wee Landys his gone AWOL, eh?” Paul laughed, as Wan-eye arrived oan the scene and jumped up oan the bed and Tim’s tail started thumping oan the mattress.

  “Right, you’ve sold the boat,” Innes said. “The Duke’s only daughter manages to get on the train.  What happens to the Landy?”

  “Ah dump it in Inveraray and when The Gardener’s Daughter arrives at her granny’s she explains that that’s where she abandoned it.  The Inveraray polis will recover it quickly enough and get it sent back up here, unless wan ae they thieving basturts decide tae hing oan tae it fur themsels, which Ah widnae put past them.”

  “Can she drive?”

  “Ah don’t know.  That isnae the point though, is it?  She won’t be behind the wheel unless we get stoapped…Ah will.  Whit we need tae dae is get that boat doon tae yer best pal, who, according tae you, is a right gentlemen, who’s goat five hunner nicker burning a hole in that back pocket ae his, get the dosh back up here so ye kin pay aff yer fine...plus...and remember this...hiv a wee bit in yer back pocket fur a rainy day.”

  “Och, I don’t know, laddie,” Innes said, doubtfully.  “Will you be insured when you’re behind the wheel?”

  “Christ, Innes, Ah don’t want tae be cheeky, bit who cares?  Ah won’t be near any main roads.”

  “I didn’t know you could drive?”

  “Innes, how auld wur ye when ye first drove yer auld man’s tractor or car?”

  “Twelve, I suppose.”

  “So, there ye go then.”

  “Och, I would need to speak to Whitey.”

  “Why?”

  “That’s what people do when they’re married.  They share problems with each other.”

  “See, that’s where we’re different.  Ah don’t see any problems here…at least, nothing that cannae be sorted oot wae a wee bit ae thought and careful planning.”

  “Och, I would need to give this a lot of careful thought, laddie.  Ah wouldn’t want you to get into trouble over something that’s nothing to do with you.”

  “Innes, take as long as ye want, as long as Ah know by…whit time is it?”

  “Five past four.”

  “By six o’clock at the latest.  And another thing, feel free tae explain tae Whitey, bit keep the details tae yersel aboot the route.  Whit she disnae know, she cannae worry aboot…plus, if she’s asked any questions later, she cannae be accused ae lying.”

Chapter Thirty Three

  “So, what does it involve then?” Morven asked Saba, surprise in her voice at Paul’s aboot-turn.

  “Morven, I’ve just told you. He’s agreed to give me a lift.”

  “Yes, I gathered that the first time you told me, Saba, but what does giving you a lift actually entail?”

  “We agreed that he would drop me off at a train station.”

  “What train station?  Inverness?”

  “We, er, also agreed that I shouldn’t discuss the details with anyone…including you,” Saba said, avoiding eye contact and feeling awkward.

  “You agreed what?”

  “He said that it would be better if you didn’t know the details, in case you were questioned.  He didn’t want you to be put in an awkward situation where you had to lie on my behalf.”

  “Oh, did he?  And you agreed with him?”

  “What he said made sense,” Saba replied defensively.

  “Oh, come off it, Saba.  You’re not actually going along with that, are you?”

  “I haven’t made up my mind.  I never committed myself.  I wanted to hear what he had to say.”

  “And?”

  “What?”

  “What did he actually say, for God’s sake?”

  “Nothing…a few things…I’ve got a lot to think about.”

  “So, you’re not letting me into whatever he’s
schemed up then?”

  “I never said that.  I just need to think things over first.”

   “Saba, I can’t believe you.  Where is the trust between us?”

  “Look, I need to think about what he said.  Let’s leave it at that.  Have you heard anything about Monday?”

  “Why should I tell you anything?”

  “Oh, please Morven, stop fooling around.  What have you heard?”

  “I cornered Bridie, the scullery maid, whilst you were up in the woods with your new pal.  She just about jumped out of her skin when I asked her if she knew anything about a surprise for your birthday.”

  “Oh, what did you go and say that for?  You’ve let the cat out of the bag now.  I don’t want my father to know that I know what he’s up to.”

  “How else was I going to get any information out of her?”

  “So, what did she say?”

  “Nothing.  Your father arrived just before I could use that charm of mine and demanded to know why we were loitering about the gallery, getting paid for doing nothing.  She curtsied to him, avoided eye contact with me and then scampered off like a frightened mouse.”

  “So, you think there is definitely something being planned?”

  “Oh, yes.  Whenever I come across any of the house staff, they go all quiet when they see me.  They won’t tell me anything and now you’ve joined in.  I feel like a leper.”

  “Right, here’s one for you.  Where are the keys for the estate cars kept?”

  “So, you’ve made up your mind then?”

  “Morven, for heaven’s sake, stop answering a question with a question.  Where are the keys kept?”

  “Well, George and Cameron have a key each that they carry with them all the time.  They have a vehicle each and use them every day.  The spare Landy that sits in the stable yard is usually used by Cawley MacLeod, the chauffeur, to go into Tain to pick up perishables that can’t be grown or delivered.  Your father and Riddrie also share this one when they go out and about on the estate.  There’s a spare sets of keys for each vehicle kept in the stable block office, hanging up.  The key for the office is kept hanging up in the Kitchen.”

  “What about fuel?”

  “Cawley takes care of the maintenance.  He makes sure the oil, water and the fuel tanks are checked every night.  If they require to be filled, he does that.  He services them regularly too.”

  “So, if I was to borrow one of them, there would be a full tank of fuel in it?”

  “Yes.  Saba, if you’re going to borrow one of them, please make sure you take the spare one.  George and Cameron will literary kill Paul if he even puts a finger on those vehicles.  No one gets to drive them.  I’ve seen poor Cawley having to trudge down to Ardgay in the rain when the spare one has been in the garage being repaired, rather than getting to use one of theirs.  It’s okay for you, but it will be adding fuel to the fire against Paul if one of their cars has been used as a taxi service.”

  “I’ve no real problem with using the spare one, although you’ll need to point out which vehicle is used by whom.  I have to admit though, that at the end of the day, the estate owns all the vehicles, so I shouldn’t actually have to ask anyone’s permission before using whichever vehicle I choose,” Saba retorted.

  “So, when are you planning to leave?”

  “Sunday night, when everyone’s asleep.”

  “You’re not going to be here for your birthday then?”

  “No. Where in the kitchen is the stable block office key kept?”

  “There’s a key box hanging up on the wall, just to the right as you enter from the hallway stairs.  All the keys are labelled.”

  “Oh and one other thing, Morven?”

  “Yes?”

  “I don’t want you staying up here in the castle on Sunday night.”

Chapter Thirty Four

  There wis a slight drizzle ae rain as Paul started oot, closing the front door silently behind himsel, before hitching up his rucksack and slinging it o’er his shoulder.  He’d tried tae sleep earlier and hid set the alarm clock fur two in the morning, bit hid switched it aff as there wis nae way he wis gonnae manage any shut-eye.  Innes hidnae said much earlier in the evening other than tae wish him good luck.  Whitey hid shed a wee tear and hid made it clear that she didnae approve ae whit he wis daeing.  Paul hid put this doon tae her no knowing how good the full plan really wis.  It hidnae stoapped her fae stuffing his rucksack wae breid, cheese, biscuits and water though.

“Now, what would you being doing with these, Paul?” she’d asked, haudin up the number plates fae Innes’s auld clapped-oot Landy.

  “Ah’m no sure.  Ah’ve taken them because they might come in handy,” he’d replied.

  Wance he’d convinced Innes and The Gardener’s Daughter that everything wid work oot, it hid jist been a matter ae waiting.  That hid been the hardest part though.  He’d spent the last few days checking and rechecking, gaun o’er the route in his heid and oan the map.  Wance he wis sure where he wis gaun, he’d written doon the names oan a piece ae paper, ae aw the main road junctions and settlements that they’d need tae keep an eye oot fur.  Writing oot the list wid save them the bother ae hivving tae keep looking at the map.

  He hidnae seen or spoken tae Morven since that last night up at the burn, when he’d asked her tae get The Gardener’s Daughter tae come up tae meet him.  He knew she widnae be speaking tae him, because when he’d asked Richie Rich whit Morven wis saying aboot whit they wur up tae, she’d jist mumbled something aboot how she’d telt Morven she wis leaving, bit hidnae gied her any ae the details.

  “Of course she’s annoyed.  She’s my friend. She doesn’t understand all the secrecy.  It was difficult for me,” Joan ae Arc hid bleated.

  “Aye, bit ye’re also her boss, who’s hid her slaving efter yer arse ever since ye goat here, so Ah widnae feel too cracked up,” he’d hit her wae, cursing himsel fur gieing her a bit ae lip before they’d even goat near a set ae wheels.

  “Look, I’m not asking you to be my friend.  All I want to do is get home to New York to be with real friends who respect me for who I am.  Whether you believe it or not, I’m actually a good person.  All I want from you is a lift.  I don’t want to be with you any more than you do with me.  If it’s alright with you, I’ll keep myself to myself and you do the same,” she’d spat at him, green eyes oan fire.

  “That suits me fine and dandy, hen.  Jist you make sure that ye’re doon in the stable yard wae the keys and Ah’ll take it fae there.  Ye’re no the only wan that’s got a lot tae lose aboot here.”

  He knew he wis oot ae order starting a fight before they’d even set aff, bit every time he thought ae her da and they Sellar pricks, and whit they’d done tae Innes and poor auld Tim, he couldnae resist hivving a crack
at her.  Oan the bonus side, it meant she knew who wis the boss oan the trip, even though she wis providing the wheels tae get the boat doon tae Loch Fyne.  It wis important that she knew tae dae whit she wis telt, withoot coming back wae any lip.  His freedom depended oan it.

  Although it wis the middle ae the night, it wis still light enough tae see the ootline ae the road and the trees.  The rain hid stoapped by the time he turned in at the castle gates.  He’d never been this close tae the castle and decided tae take the long way in.  The Gardener’s Daughter hid said that he should jist keep walking up the drive and the stable block wid be oan the right haun side.  He couldnae miss it, as it hid a big archway entrance below the turrets. Apart fae getting a scare fae a deer rushing across the drive in front ae him, Paul reached the block withoot any mishaps.  He crept through the archway and peered intae the yard.  A single light wis oan ootside a door that hid ‘office’ painted oan it.  Tae the left ae the office door and opposite the arched entrance, three big, bottle green shiny Land Rovers sat.  He looked aboot.  There wisnae a sound and there certainly wisnae anywan hinging aboot.  He moved across tae the first set ae wheels and looked inside.  He put oan his gloves and tried the haundle, bit it wis locked.  He tried the other two Landys bit they wur the same.  The wan in the middle hid a canvas cover oan the back, so he climbed intae it and settled doon tae wait.  It hid never entered his heid that The Gardener’s Daughter wid renege oan taking the trip…until then.  He sat cursing himsel.  He’d feel a right diddy if he’d tae heid back tae the croft wae his tail between his legs.  Whitey wid probably be happy, he thought, bit it didnae solve how they wur gonnae pay aff Innes’s fine and keep him oot ae daeing some time at Her Majesty’s pleasure.