Read Online The Road to Rowanbrae by Doris Davidson - Free Book Online Page B

… dancin’ wi’ me, Doddie, an’ goodnicht to you.’
    â€˜Goodnicht, Mysie,’ he answered softly. ‘I’d best nae come alang the road wi’ you,’ he added to Jess.
    â€˜No, Jeems Duncan might see you an’ start wonderin’.’
    Jake’s legs having developed a will of their own, the two women had to help him to walk, but after a few giggles at his expense, Jess said, ‘Do you want to tell me onything, Mysie?’
    â€˜I’ve naething to tell, for Jake an’ you spoiled it.’
    â€˜Maybe it’s just as weel. Another man’s kisses is aye mair excitin’ than your ain man’s, an’ I’d a hard job nae to gi’e in mysel’ but I’ll tell you this, I wouldna really change my Jake for a dozen Frank Mutches.’
    Mysie heaved a lengthy sigh. ‘I’d change Jeems for Doddie the morn, if I got the chance. He treated me like a lady, an’ Jeems whiles mak’s me feel like I was dirt under his feet.’
    â€˜You’d best put Doddie oot o’ your head, lass,’ Jess said, not unsympathetically. ‘You’re Jeems’s wife, an’ that’s what you’ll aye be.’ Her tone became brisk. ‘Noo, come on, we’ll ha’e to get this man o’ mine hame afore he fa’s doon, for we’ll nae be able to lift him, the big, daft gowk.’
    When they reached Rowanbrae, Jeems was standing at the door, but when he saw Jake’s condition, he came towards them. ‘I’ll gi’e you a hand to get him hame, Jess, an’ Mysie, get inside in case the loons waken up.’
    She pretended to be asleep when he returned, and spent the night remembering Doddie’s tender kisses and gentle caresses, so different from her husband’s rough maulings. Her body was aching for the young man, the man of her dreams, but she knew that it could never be. She was bound by law to Jeems, but at least he would never know what she and Doddie had been doing, for nobody except Jess – Jake had been too drunk – could have seen them.
    Unfortunately for Mysie, someone else had seen, and her interlude with Doddie was common knowledge the following day, circulating in the district like wildfire. Jean Petrie, delighted to have some juicy scandal to pass on about Jeems Duncan’s quiet young wife, made the most of it outside the door of the church. ‘I seen her mysel’ goin’ oot wi’ Doddie, though they didna bide lang, but they must ha’e liked it that muckle they went oot again later on an’ never come back in.’
    â€˜Mysie Duncan an’ Doddie Wilson?’ marvelled Alice Thomson. ‘I’d never ha’e believed that, for she’s just a little moose, an’ he’s never looked at ony lassie afore.’
    Mrs Petrie was puffed up with pride at surprising everyone. ‘I was only jaloosin’ what they were daein’, but Meggie Duff tell’t Belle she seen them lyin’ thegither at the back o’ the dairy, an’ it was Belle tell’t me.’ Pausing for effect, she lowered her voice. ‘We’ll ha’e to wait a while afore we ken if onything comes o’ it, but I think somebody should tell Jeems.’
    Hearing this as she passed, Pattie White said, loudly, ‘Keep your lang neb oot o’ it, Jean Petrie. You’re just jealous that naebody’s ever ta’en you ootside to kiss you or dae onything else.’ She swept down the path like a battleship in full sail, but her outburst caused great hilarity amongst the other women and Jean closed her mouth, more determined than ever to inform the wronged husband at the very first opportunity.
    On Sunday night, Mysie badly strained her ankle by stepping on a loose stone in the yard, and Jeems had to go to the well himself on Monday morning. He came storming back, his face dark and contorted with anger. ‘What’s this Eck