As she headed back down the footpath, she thought she heard someone, a male voice, singing or whistling a tune.

Oh, dear, she thought, just what she did not want to have happen - for someone to see her and to imagine something unseemly, or for busybody gossip to get back to Edward and his family, especially his great aunt Mòrag, or for any to reach her daughter's ears. What had she been thinking? She opened her parasol to help shield her face from the sun and, hopefully, from whoever it was on the path as well.

He was a young man of about sixteen. At her approach, he gentlemanly doffed his hat and stepped aside to allow her to pass over the patch of drier ground, and said, "Good morning, ma'am. Lovely day, isn't it?"

"Yes, it is," she said. "I was just out for a walk."

Unfortunately, he might have recognized her from church, by face if not by name. "Oh, hello," he said.

"My name is Gendry Waters. I'm here to see Mr. Marston about the apprenticeship," he told her. "Did you happen to see him?"

"Janet Morrison," she replied. "No, I didn't. I don't believe he is in."

Surely that was all right to mention; there was no mistaking when Mr. Marston was working in his shop; the smell of smoke and molten metals in the air, the sounds of hammering.

"Well, good day then," he said. "Enjoy your ramble."

"Thank you. Good day to you as well."

She never was very good at deception. Thank goodness she had left the note out of direct sight!


When Marston returned, he saw Gendry Waters waiting for him on the porch with Gabe. Robert Waters' boy come to see about the apprenticeship. It was his intent now to set up another shop, one closer to the main settlement.

He tethered Stranger to the hitching post for a few moments, and walked up the short set of steps. He wasn't a man who received much social mail, usually it was only for his work. But he checked the old basket on the door anyway. There was a short note, to his surprise, and he nearly crumpled it in his hand in disappointment. It was from her. Just a slip of paper, that could have easily gotten lost or blown away in a breeze. He was tempted to get right back on Stranger and ride into town in answer, to see if he could still catch up to her. But what could he do now, with young Waters here about the apprentice job.

Sir . . . he thought, frowning, and with a huff of displeasure, he shoved the note into his coat pocket. I am no sir.

He was reminded that Gabe was very good at distinguishing between friend and foe.

"Aye, well, come in then," he said, hoping that it did not sound like a bark at the poor lad. He unlocked and held open the door, and followed Gendry into the house.

"Then we'll go over and have a look at the forge."