The Betrayal of Maggie Blair - By Elizabeth Laird Page 0,51

Peter Boag. He had already taken my things off Samson's back, and he put the bundle in my arms.

"Good luck. You're a one, you are. I'll come and find you if the other ear goes."

I was so shaken by the suddenness of this parting that I didn't know what to say. I looked around to see that the boat was already pulling away from the shore. I sprinted back to it and had to run through the shallows, splashing wildly, before I could scramble on board. The wind had caught at the sail, and the oarsmen were already at work.

I looked back at Mr. Lithgow. There had been no time to say goodbye to him or to thank him for his part in saving my life. He hadn't even looked on to wave but was walking back to his cows.

I'm just a bit of finished business to him, I thought. He's done with me now.

A dreadful loneliness swept over me. For the first time, I was truly alone. Granny had given me, in her own strange way, into Tam's care, and he had passed me to Mr. Lithgow. There was no one I could turn to now. In the days of the drove, I had grown used to the quiet, thoughtful men and the slowly moving cows. I hadn't had to think of what road to take or what to eat or where to rest at night. But now, as I looked out at the mile-wide sweep of the mighty Clyde, I knew that everything was up to me.

Kilmacolm, I said to myself, my knuckles whitening as I gripped the wooden side of the boat. Ladymuir. Uncle Blair.

The words were like one of Granny's spells, full of mystery and magic. They held all my hopes.

***

It was already well after midday when I stepped ashore on the far side. The crossing had taken a long time, with contrary winds, and I was afraid that I wouldn't find my way to Ladymuir until after everyone was in bed.

I fumbled for my shirttail and untied the penny, but when I offered it to Mr. Gillies, he shook his head.

"Keep your penny, lad. Archie Lithgow paid me. He told me to put you on the track for Kilmacolm. You've to take the path east along the bank here, to that small stand of trees you can see in the distance. Turn along the path there and follow it up and over the hill. It winds around a bit, but follow on and you'll come to Kilmacolm. You'll see it below you in the hollow. The crossroads is beyond the kirk. Turn south, down to the right. You'll see the peak of Misty Law up ahead. I don't know the farm you're looking for, but that's the way to Lochwinnoch."

He was off at once, calling to one of the boat lads to tie up more securely before disembarking the cattle. There was no reason for me to linger, and I took a deep breath and started walking fast along the water's edge toward the rowan trees, warmed by the thought of Mr. Lithgow's care for me, even after we had parted. I should have known better than to expect fine words from him at parting. I should have known that wouldn't be his way.

Chapter 16

I came to Ladymuir late in the evening. My feet were sore from fast walking, my arms ached from the weight of my bundle, and my stomach was growling with hunger. Worst of all, my heart was hammering with shyness and fear.

What if they turn me away? I kept asking myself. Where will I go?

I'd met few people along the road, but it had been easy enough to find Kilmacolm and the path leading from there to Lochwinnoch. There were clusters of farm hamlets squatting in the folds of the hills all around, and I might have walked right past the track leading to Ladymuir if I hadn't luckily met with a peddler, who pointed it out to me with a grudging flick of his head.

This is it, I told myself. I'm here. Now for it.

If I hadn't been so tired and hungry, I think I'd have stood for hours in that narrow, muddy lane, plucking up the courage to step up the few hundred yards to the cluster of long stone buildings under the shade of several tall ash trees. But it was already late in the long summer evening, and I knew that if I didn't screw my courage