Em. Chron6

Emily's Chronicles: Part 6: The Highlander
By: Trish, Tammy, and Liddy


Disclaimer: The following is a work of fanfiction. Emily of New Moon was created by L.M. Montgomery and is the property of her, her estate, and her heirs, not me. No copyright infringement is intended and no profit was made.

The old man trudged slowly over the rocky hillside, clutching a well worn
walking stick. It was a chilly morning and he had been slow and unsteady of
foot for sometime. In one hand he carried a small traveling bag, in the
other a crumpled letter. He stopped for a moment to drain the flask that had
been tucked in his belt, his white hair blowing in the breeze. Continuing
on he began to hum to keep himself company. Then he realized that it was a
tune he had not heard in years, one he used to sing to his daughter when she
was small. But that had been a long time ago, and so many things had
changed. Still it was nice to remember those good days, before everything
started to go wrong.

The thought of his daughter stopped him in his tracks. He looked down atthe letter. Lifting it to his squinting eyes he read it for the hundredth
time that morning. The highland winds whipped his kilt around his knarled
legs as he stood lost in thought. This was Malcolm Murray, and the news he
had just received in a letter from Isabel had shook him to his core. How
could it be? Isabel, in the family way? If Francis Carpenter were standing
before him now, he would have knocked the scoundrel flat with a good
highland right cross. He remembered when the letch had sat across from him
at his own dinner table, and asked for his daughters hand. Knowing full
well, that he had already taken it. Then he had left with the wife he had
abandoned years ago, leaving poor Isabel crying on his shoulder. He was glad
she was rid of a man like that, but also knew how deeply she still loved
him, and that she would take him back if only she had the chance. The night
Carpenter had broken Isabel's heart had been months ago. She had even
visited her father in Scotland. Neither of them had known that she was with
child then, but now her frail health during the visit all made sense. He
could only imagine the state she was in now. She was over forty, unmarried,
pregnant, and a thousand miles from home. He had known of women who had
children later in life, and he also knew that they usually did not have an
easy time of it. He was thankful that at least Isabel was at New Moon. He
knew Laura and Jimmy would take care of her. The old man smiled a little
when he thought of how excited Emily must be. But she needed him, and this
time he was not going to let her down, as he had so many in times in the
past. He had to make ammends with his daughter.

As the sun grew higher and warmer in the Scottish sky the old man slowly
made his way to the port. Malcom Murray was returning to New Moon, to his
daughter, and to his grandchild.