Two Kinds Of Truth(40)

I crane my neck a little closer to the glass and see Jamie’s face turn deep crimson. He throws his arms into the air, and in return, Ally points an accusing finger close to his chest.

“Don’t come here causing trouble,” he says, and they engage in a full-blown argument. My eyebrows knit together with concern, so I dash into the hallway and pull on those boots and grab a coat.

Just as I’m opening the front door I hear Jamie shout “Get back in yir car and get off our land”.

“Hey, what’s going on here?” I ask, hurrying towards them. I’m just a few feet away when Ally spins on her heels, her mouth twisting into an expression of disgust. Her green eyes now bulge wide as she looks at me as though I’m something she’s found stuck to the bottom of her shoe.

“Oh, look who we have here. If it isn’t the temptress herself.”

“What do you mean by that?” I say.

“I thought he would have chosen someone a little more…educated, but then again, he always had a weakness for a pretty face.”

“I don’t think there’s any need for you to talk to me like that,” and I jut out my chin in disdain.

Jamie clears his throat. “I’ll not tell ye again, Ally. I said get yir arse off my land!”

She spins around and glares at him. “Fine. If that’s the way you want to play it. But just make sure Callum knows I need to talk to him,” at which she grabs the door handle and climbs into the front seat of her car, starts the engine and slams the door shut. There’s a crunch of gears and the back tyres spin before she releases the hand-break and leaves the farm in a cloud of smoke.

“What’s got her all riled up?” I say.

Jamie shakes his head and takes a deep breath.

“God only knows, but she’s mad about something.”

“Why, what did she say?”

“Och, she was upset. Kept repeating over and over that she needs to speak to Callum.”

“About what?”

“I couldnae say.”

“Was it animal stuff?”

“Nah; I dinnae think so.”

“What then?”

Jamie takes in a deep breath, letting it out slowly before he turns away from me, as though trying to find a means of escape.

“Jamie, tell me; what is it?”

He rubs the back of his head with his fingers, then thrusts his hands inside his pockets and takes a steadying breath. “I hate to be the one to tell ye, but she’s Callum’s ex.”

“Oh?” I gulp. “He never said.”

“Aye, and I’m sorry to be the one to break it to ye. However, she dinnae leave me much choice.”

I pull my coat a little closer. “No, I guess not. But I just don’t get it. I mean, why now? What’s the meaning of her turning up here, unannounced, and shouting the odds?”

“I dinnae know for sure. I thought she was coming to check up on the bull, but as soon as she got out of the car, she demanded to see Callum. I explained he’d returned home and she just flew off the handle.”

My eyes search out his. “But why the sudden urgency to speak to Cal? Did she give you any clues at all?”

“Nah, she talked in riddles. Said she wasnae willing to keep secrets any longer.”

I suffer a shiver of unease. “Secrets; what secrets? What the hell is she talking about, Jamie?”

He shrugs. “You’ll have to speak to Callum, I guess.”

I bite my lip. “Don’t worry, I will.”

Jamie shoves his hands deeper inside his coat pockets and takes a step closer.

“Are yir all right, lass?” he asks, “because ye look a wee bit upset.”

“I’m fine,” and I give him a wide smile to prove it.

“Do ye want to do something today?”

“Like what?”

“Perhaps take a drive into Camburgh to do a bit of shopping?”

I shake my head. “Thanks, but I don’t think so. Maybe another time.”

“If ye like, we can always call in to see Findley on the way back?”

My head snaps towards him and he laughs out loud.

“Aye, I thought I’d catch yir attention if I mentioned the wee bairn. Do ye want to go and visit him?”

“Yes, that would be great.”

“Then I’ll see ye once I’ve finished workin’ in the barn,” at which he strides off across the farmyard. I hesitate, just a tad, and then head back to the sanctuary of the farmhouse.

***

I’m inside a quaint little shop that sells an array of Scottish souvenirs. There are shimmering glass cabinets filled with silver brooches and bright shiny pins, jewelled daggers and highly polished whisky flasks. It’s eye catching, but not enough for me to want to buy.

“Let’s go and grab a coffee,” I suggest to Jamie.

He heaves a sigh. “I thought you’d ne’er ask,” and he turns and grabs the door handle.

A small bell jangles overhead as we step outside.

“Huh, where did the rain come from?” I huff and pull up the collar on my coat.

“The sky maybe,” Jamie suggests with a snigger as he quickly zips up his jacket.

“Oh, very funny, but I didn’t bring a brolly with me and I’ll get soaked.”