THE TIME BEFORE THE FUTURE – PARTS 5 & 6
Archie meanwhile, whistled loudly to himself as he drove along. He had been
right to leave so early & to take the car instead of the Land Rover. The
roads were all but clear & at this rate, he would have plenty of time in
the city before his appointment with the bank. The thought of moving the
Estate's newly restored finances lock, stock & barrel, to another bank,
particularly without telling his father, made him nervous. Still, he had
two very good reasons as far as he was concerned. The first was that not to
put too fine a point on it, was that it been partly Lassles fault, through
pretty incompetent fund management, that he had taken over the Estate in
such a mess in the first place. He was damned if he was going to stay with
them only face losing Glen Bogle again a decade down the track. The second
reason (by far the most important to him right now), was Lexie. If the
mention of Lassles or anything or anyone to do with them made Lexie
unhappy, that was it, they were gone. Oh, Archie knew all too well that he
was letting his heart rule his head in what should have been a logical
business decision, but right now he didn't care. The Estate would survive
without Lassles, of that he was pretty sure, but he was absolutely certain
that he couldn't live without Lexie. The thought of her made him smile, &
almost reflexively he checked his jeans pocket for Aunt Sarah's ring. It
was still there safe & sound. His fiancée would kill him if anything
happened to that. His smile broadened to a beam as he realised that he'd
never allowed himself to think of Lexie that way before. He'd thought of
her as the woman he loved & even as his bride to be, but never his fiancée.
He was just beginning to wonder what his dear, departed brother Jamie would
think of it all when his mobile rang. He looked at the number on his hands-
free & a puzzled frown crossed his face. As far as Archie knew only Lexie
was aware he had his mobile with him. As arranged, his pulled into the
nearest lay-by before returning the call.
"Lex! Hi."
"Hi yourself. How's it going?" she asked.
"Great, apart from missing you like crazy. I was right about the traffic,
so I should be back on time, if not slightly early." He replied hopefully.
"Yeah, I miss you to. I don't know how I kept a straight face at breakfast
though. I was sure Molly would see right through me!"
"And did she?" Archie's voice made it clear that he was enjoying the game &
wouldn't be in the least bit concerned by either reply.
Lexie giggled: "No, I don't think so, but I think Golly might have us
nailed though!"
This time it was Archie's turn to laugh. The Estate's Gamekeeper was a very
quiet, deep man, whom Archie was very fond of but he had the senses of a
hawk combined with the sensitivity of a doe, all wrapped up in the prickly
skin of a thistle. "I should have guessed, I wondered why you were on his
phone! We have no worries with Golly though. I can guarantee he won't say
anything to anyone (including us), unless we mention it first. What makes
you think he's 'got us?" Archie asked curious.
"Well, I don't quite know whether he spotted something or overheard us or
what, but when I came in to hang out his washing, he asked me whether I
seen you this morning. When I said 'yes' but you'd gone into the city, he
moved the phone off some books, put a chair by the desk, mumbled something
about checking the stakes in the paddock fence & disappeared faster than a
dram on Burns' night! That enough proof for you? Lexie teased.
"'Game, set, match' Golly, I think!" Archie agreed. "How did breakfast go?"
"Ok." She said brightly, "Hector grumbled a bit, but he too busy trying to feed Rommel tit-bits on the sly to get cross!" "Sounds like my father!" Archie chuckled. "Listen, Darling, I hate doing this, but I'm going to have to go if I want to get to the jewellers before the meeting, I'm sorry." Lexie sighed: "I know, you're right, but drive carefully & hurry back. I love you." "I will Lex. I love you to. Bye!" "Bye." With that Archie reluctantly hung up & continued his journey. As ever when he was came to the city these days, Archie found himself with mixed emotions. There was the relief that when people looked at him they did so without too much expectation in their eyes coupled with curiosity about how many of the passing strangers he might be related to, but today there was also the feelings of elation & excitement of the past two days. God, he was happy! Happier than he had ever been. Oh sure, in the past going back to Glenbogle after a trip to the city he would have felt the tiniest pang of longing for old life, but now it was in the city where he felt a little like a fish out of water. It seemed so noisy, hurried & impersonal, compared to his home. Somewhere in the back of his mind, Archie wondered when he had started to think of Glenbogle as 'home' again. He couldn't say for sure, the place had just sort made its way into his bones, not that he was complaining anymore! One thought led onto another & he began to wonder when he had actually fallen in love with Lexie? Archie knew when he had admitted it to himself (yesterday afternoon when Stella had told him how she felt), what he couldn't pin-point was when it had actually happened. This beautiful, caring, bright firecracker of a woman had slowly seeped into his soul without his being aware of it. Some day, a little way further into their relationship perhaps, he'd ask Lexie when she'd realised how she felt, though Archie had a feeling her answer might well leave him with even stronger regrets about not having seen sense much sooner. He pulled into a parking space in an underground car-park near the city centre, having checked his watch, & after a swift change of mind, he headed off to the bank. He wanted to get the meeting & get it over with so that he could get to his more pleasant task, finding a top notch jewellers. He was determined that nothing but the very best was good enough for Lexie. Down by the loch, the mist rolled in & knowing she had to bring a flask of soup down to Golly, Lexie decided to grab a jumper before she left. At the bottom of the stairs her hand settled on the banister & to her surprise felt something soft. She looked down & discovered that her hand was resting on a jumper that due to its size, could only be Archie's. Acting on a sudden impulse, she picked it up & pulled the sweater over her head, rolling up the sleeves to make it reasonably wearable. His after-shave permeated it & she inhaled & sighed contentedly. A little voice in her ear whispered that she was being incredibly sentimental but she really didn't care; it felt right. It was nearly as nice as one of Archie's hugs. With that, she fetched the soup & started the half kilometre or so walk to the water's edge. Golly lifted his eyes from the water when he heard her coming, He was a quiet as ever but his eyes were smiling: "Lass." She smiled at him: "Golly, hi. I brought you some home-made vegetable soup." "Thank you, it's welcome." As he took the flask his eyes fell on the sweater & twinkled just a fraction. "Good idea." The Gamekeeper was man who's motto could have been 'few words, but well chosen', & they both knew he wasn't talking about the soup. Lexie went & stood calmly with her back to Golly, leaning on a flat rock looking across the loch: "Thanks. How's the doe? Archie said you were worried about her." "Aye, I am, but if she makes it to Sunday, she'll be fine." Golly said. "Let me know?" Golly nodded: "I will." After that each was silent for several minutes before the Gamekeeper spoke up again: "So, Archie's got the reins of the Estate back again." He said taking a sip of the hot liquid. It was another cryptic statement of fact & Lexie couldn't fail to see the meaning: "Yep, she left last night, after the ball." Golly sighed with relief: "That's best. It's good to have one of the family in full charge again." "It sure is." Lexie drew a contented breath & then remembered the 'ring' in her pocket. She turned to the older man & gave him the can pull. "It's too sharp, it'll rub away at a chain." She explained. Golly nodded, smiling slightly; he knew: "it'll be smooth by dinner." Then he pocketed the ring, took another drink & turned back to clearing an outlet blocked by reeds. Lexie knew a cue by now when she saw one: "I'll see you later then; the food will be on the table at six." "Right you are. I'll be there." With that Lexie walked away, smiling to herself, secure in the knowledge that she & Archie had at least one solid supporter in the glen. TO BE CONTINUED...
"Ok." She said brightly, "Hector grumbled a bit, but he too busy trying to feed Rommel tit-bits on the sly to get cross!" "Sounds like my father!" Archie chuckled. "Listen, Darling, I hate doing this, but I'm going to have to go if I want to get to the jewellers before the meeting, I'm sorry." Lexie sighed: "I know, you're right, but drive carefully & hurry back. I love you." "I will Lex. I love you to. Bye!" "Bye." With that Archie reluctantly hung up & continued his journey. As ever when he was came to the city these days, Archie found himself with mixed emotions. There was the relief that when people looked at him they did so without too much expectation in their eyes coupled with curiosity about how many of the passing strangers he might be related to, but today there was also the feelings of elation & excitement of the past two days. God, he was happy! Happier than he had ever been. Oh sure, in the past going back to Glenbogle after a trip to the city he would have felt the tiniest pang of longing for old life, but now it was in the city where he felt a little like a fish out of water. It seemed so noisy, hurried & impersonal, compared to his home. Somewhere in the back of his mind, Archie wondered when he had started to think of Glenbogle as 'home' again. He couldn't say for sure, the place had just sort made its way into his bones, not that he was complaining anymore! One thought led onto another & he began to wonder when he had actually fallen in love with Lexie? Archie knew when he had admitted it to himself (yesterday afternoon when Stella had told him how she felt), what he couldn't pin-point was when it had actually happened. This beautiful, caring, bright firecracker of a woman had slowly seeped into his soul without his being aware of it. Some day, a little way further into their relationship perhaps, he'd ask Lexie when she'd realised how she felt, though Archie had a feeling her answer might well leave him with even stronger regrets about not having seen sense much sooner. He pulled into a parking space in an underground car-park near the city centre, having checked his watch, & after a swift change of mind, he headed off to the bank. He wanted to get the meeting & get it over with so that he could get to his more pleasant task, finding a top notch jewellers. He was determined that nothing but the very best was good enough for Lexie. Down by the loch, the mist rolled in & knowing she had to bring a flask of soup down to Golly, Lexie decided to grab a jumper before she left. At the bottom of the stairs her hand settled on the banister & to her surprise felt something soft. She looked down & discovered that her hand was resting on a jumper that due to its size, could only be Archie's. Acting on a sudden impulse, she picked it up & pulled the sweater over her head, rolling up the sleeves to make it reasonably wearable. His after-shave permeated it & she inhaled & sighed contentedly. A little voice in her ear whispered that she was being incredibly sentimental but she really didn't care; it felt right. It was nearly as nice as one of Archie's hugs. With that, she fetched the soup & started the half kilometre or so walk to the water's edge. Golly lifted his eyes from the water when he heard her coming, He was a quiet as ever but his eyes were smiling: "Lass." She smiled at him: "Golly, hi. I brought you some home-made vegetable soup." "Thank you, it's welcome." As he took the flask his eyes fell on the sweater & twinkled just a fraction. "Good idea." The Gamekeeper was man who's motto could have been 'few words, but well chosen', & they both knew he wasn't talking about the soup. Lexie went & stood calmly with her back to Golly, leaning on a flat rock looking across the loch: "Thanks. How's the doe? Archie said you were worried about her." "Aye, I am, but if she makes it to Sunday, she'll be fine." Golly said. "Let me know?" Golly nodded: "I will." After that each was silent for several minutes before the Gamekeeper spoke up again: "So, Archie's got the reins of the Estate back again." He said taking a sip of the hot liquid. It was another cryptic statement of fact & Lexie couldn't fail to see the meaning: "Yep, she left last night, after the ball." Golly sighed with relief: "That's best. It's good to have one of the family in full charge again." "It sure is." Lexie drew a contented breath & then remembered the 'ring' in her pocket. She turned to the older man & gave him the can pull. "It's too sharp, it'll rub away at a chain." She explained. Golly nodded, smiling slightly; he knew: "it'll be smooth by dinner." Then he pocketed the ring, took another drink & turned back to clearing an outlet blocked by reeds. Lexie knew a cue by now when she saw one: "I'll see you later then; the food will be on the table at six." "Right you are. I'll be there." With that Lexie walked away, smiling to herself, secure in the knowledge that she & Archie had at least one solid supporter in the glen. TO BE CONTINUED...